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akflyer added a post in a topic New to forum
Welcome SP.. I am thinking you will fit right in here on the dark side!
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tcj added a post in a topic N94JE
Strut fairing is the one add on that gained me more performance than it's weight penalty cost me. I haven't timed the climb rate to be sure but it does seem to have increased. The cruise speed at 5800 rpm went from 75 to 85 mph and the power off glide improved significantly too.
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SkyPirate added a topic in Introduce yourself
New to forumHey guys n gals, new to this forum, 6' n ugly, dont know why if you cut a 10" piece of chrome molly and it's short, if you cut it again it's still too short, im in central missouri for now, hunt , fish, fly, 1+1 does equal 3 if you cross your eyes just right
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
I never weighed the PVC struts when I put them on my plane, but I knew they were heavy.. damn, I may go to a different style fairing if I can figure out a lighter way to do it. Maybe use the PVC ones for a mold and make them out of CF.
Your right about the one ounce, or one pound at a time.. it adds up quick!
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tcj added a post in a topic N94JE
Weight gets added one ounce at a time throughout the building and then the "Improving it" phases.
The original kitfox classic 4 sales brochure lists the empty weights as 580 with a 912, 560 with a 582, and 495 with a 503.
The 495 with the 503 required no polyspray, no wing tanks, no strut fairing, no false ribs, etc. I built mine pretty bare bones but did install, two wing tanks, top and bottom false ribs. I put three cross coats of polyspray on the top surfaces but only two cross coats on the bottom of the fuselage and bottoms of the wings. It weighed in empty at 547.
Seven years later it weighs 573. 26 pounds gained one ounce at a time. Actually, 12 pounds was all at once when I added PVC wing strut fairing.
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
I would have told him to pound sand..That is mixing certified terms with experimental planes.. If I was building a certified plane, I could say I overhauled it, but I can't say I zero timed it.
Not to get all caught up in the book stuff, I am still head scratching where the weight came from. What paint system did he use? Is there so much paint on it that you cant see the weave of the fabric? That is one quick way to add pounds on a plane.. It is a fabric plane, you should be able to see the weave. If you shoot so much on that you cant see the weave, 1 your heavy and 2 its gonna ring worm on ya. The grove gear adds a few pounds over the stock gear, but nothing that should be making it that damn heavy. I have full extended baggage in mine as well as 1" .058" lift struts and a few other things that I did that put some pounds on the plane, but I cant even come close to your weights if I tried.
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE
The "actual W&B" will be done in a few days with everything installed properly.
I have read that part of the FAR's before but for some reason it just made more sense to me now. The IA did not charge me a dime to review anything, the only logbook entry that came under scrutiny was because of wording. One of the previous owners wrote "removed engine, overhauled engine per rotax specifications, reinstalled engine". The DAR let it slide but because it a a major modification and he did not own nor was licensed as a Rotax Major Repair Facility he cannot use the term "overhauled". Either way it was all resolved and it was free.
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Tim Tophoven added a post in a topic N94JE
One should also remember that anything not installed in the aircraft when weighed for weight and balance needs to be listed on your equipment list with weight and arms recorded for each recording. Aircraft should be completely assembled for weight and balance, why list your seat and turtle deck on a equipment list?
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akflyer added a post in a topic Cheap Pacers
It depends. If you put a climb prop on it your looking at a 95 mph cruise. Cruise prop 115-125 cruise. It's what I'm gonna build or buy again!
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C5Engineer added a topic in Hangar Talk
Cheap PacersAnyone been watching the prices on 160hp sealed strut decently equipped Pacers? They are going for low 20s. I could never sell my Avid bit I wish I could take the wife and kid on a trip once in a while for less than $150 an hour it cost me to rent a 172. Leni what's a realistic cruise speed in one with 8.50s? How about insurance and maintenance? They are listed on several sites as one of the most affordable planes out there to own. Hey a guy can dream right?
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SkyPirate added a post in a topic Pi$$ing contest over at Kitfox forum......
I know this is old stuff, but from what I have heard,..what I suggested to George on how to fix his plane was spot on, his plane fly's straight, unless there are posts I missed while having surgery around that time or shortly after and he un did what I suggested he do to fix it
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic N94JE
Read the above paragraph carefully its straight off the EAA website. You could write I had lucky charms for breakfast in your book if you wanted to! in fact you could take that logbook and toss it in the trash and still be completely legal provided you have a statement somewhere like above that has been signed by an A&P (doesn't need to be an IA) in the last 12 mos. I just get a sticker for my log book. No one ever sees it except me and what is in it is just for my own gee wiz info. I have drawings and all kinds of crazy stuff in mine. I sincerely hope you have not been paying a guy to fix misspelled words in your logbook.
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic N94JE
Q. I’ve seen some amateur-built aircraft with very detailed maintenance records, and some that are much less complete. Aren’t there regulations that govern recording of aircraft maintenance? What is required to be in the aircraft logs?
A. The regulations regarding aircraft maintenance and the recording of same are found in FAR Part 43. However, the first section of Part 43 talks about the applicability of the part. Taking a look at Part 43.1(b) we find the following verbiage:
This part does not apply to any aircraft for which the FAA has issued an experimental certificate, unless the FAA has previously issued a different kind of airworthiness certificate for that aircraft.
An amateur-built aircraft receives an experimental airworthiness certificate at the very beginning, so this section tells us that the regulations found in Part 43 do not apply. That being the case, none of the record-keeping requirements of Part 43 are applicable. The only entries that are strictly required are those found in the aircraft’s operating limitations, issued by the FAA as a part of its airworthiness certificate. Mainly this would be condition inspections each year and the flight test sign-off, along with transponder tests (if a transponder is installed) and pitot/static tests if the aircraft is to be flown under instrument flight rules. There is no strict guidance on what to put (or what not to put) in an amateur-built aircraft logbook other than what is required by the aircraft’s operating limitations.
At the time of the airworthiness inspection by the FAA, the owner of the aircraft, whether or not he/she is the builder, will be required to record that a condition inspection has been completed on the aircraft prior to the FAA inspection. This initial condition inspection is recorded using the same language as later condition inspections, as follows:
I certify that this aircraft has been inspected on [insert date] in accordance with the scope and detail of Appendix D to Part 43, and was found to be in a condition for safe operation. [signature], Owner
The FAA also likes to see at least one hour of ground testing recorded in the aircraft records. This is not a strict regulatory requirement, but is very common among airworthiness inspectors.
The other requirement is for the flight testing to be properly recorded. The aircraft’s operating limitations will contain the appropriate language to use for closing out the flight-test period, as shown here:
I certify that the prescribed flight test hours have been completed and the aircraft is controllable throughout its normal range of speeds and throughout all maneuvers to be executed, has no hazardous operating characteristics or design features, and is safe for operation. The following aircraft operating data has been demonstrated during the flight testing: speeds VSO ______, VX ______, and VY ______, and the weight ______ and CG location ______ at which they were obtained. [Aircraft total time], [signature], [type of pilot certificate and certificate number]
Other than this, the annual condition inspections, and documentation of major changes as directed by the aircraft’s operating limitations, there isn’t any regulatory requirement to log anything! Of course EAA recommends a “best practice†of proper logging of all maintenance in accordance with Part 43 even though it’s not strictly required. This not only promotes safety by having a record of what has been done to the aircraft, but also increases the value of the aircraft at the time of sale.
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SkyPirate added a post in a topic Ultimate oops
a little modification and he could have a home made 337
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE
He mostly works on experimentals around here. An illegal entry like one that says "new gear" or "fixed mag" and signed by the owner. It is not specific at all and a bunch of words are misspelled. It's kinda funny. I just try to be as descriptive as possible with my logbook entries. It's all fixed now though.
I still cannot wrap my head around this weigh problem. I don't understand what could be adding 50lbs to my airplane?
Are all you guys using ELT's, Strobes, ect? I understand I have a fuller panel then most and the grove gear, wheels and brakes do not help but I've had it all apart and it does not weigh that much.
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
One other question.. you said there were illegal entries in the log book.. what could really be illegal in an experimental? Is your IA familiar with experimentals or is he just used to working on certified stuff?
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic 912 Gearbox
I don't have the soft start module on my motor. On the 80 hp motors the lower compression doesn't require this feature for a smooth start.
On the 912 they suggest that plugs be changed every 100 hours. This is quite conservative, they easily are still good at 150 or even 200 hours. Mine currently have about 20 on them.
Plug wires, on the other hand, may be something to investigate...
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
daaaaaaumn! well... you can loose another 12 pounds by going with a lithuim battery, then after that its getting down to just stripping the plane back to a bare bones KF and not putting in a panel and gizmo's like your flying a lancair. That is still a lot of weight to try and shed! I finally figured out it was cheaper to take 50 pounds off me and not the plane, but I still wanna ditch some weight out of the plane.
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE
It's an odyssey battery and that weight measurement was with all the fuel drained, no seats, no turtle deck, and some other miscallaneous things. I don't understand why it's so damn heavy
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akflyer added a post in a topic 912 Gearbox
Do you have the soft start module? I am sure you have looked at plugs, but are they clean? Have you put on new plug wires? I had a vibration/ rough spot in mine that was driving me nuts, but new plug wires cured it. It seems that if I don't change the plugs every 25 hrs or so it starts running rough, even though the plugs look great! I went to iridium plugs this time and am around 15 hrs and so far so good, will see the next time I am home hopefully as I swing past that 25 hr mark.
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
YIKES! I thought mine was a pig with a 582 coming in at 550 pounds.
What battery do you have? The extra header tank and tubing cant be more than 5-8 pounds. Were your main tanks empty when you weighed it?
I still have plans to put mine in a serious diet to try and get it down in the 540 or so range.
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic 912 Gearbox
Well, it didn't help. The Vibration is just as bad as ever.
Monday I start making phone calls. LEAF, Lockwood and anyone else I can think of. I had my EAA Chapter meeting today. One of our members works for Bombardier. I had a long discussion with him. I got some ideas. More work to come.
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE
well we are just finishing up the annual and did a new W&B. I think my old W&B was incorrect because after removing 15-20lbs of useless crap the airplane weighed in at 658lbs!!! Not sure what to do now other then start taking more stuff out. I think a large part of the extra weight is the complex fuel system and miles of wiring under the panel. I was really hoping to see a number around 610.
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akflyer added a post in a topic N94JE
You can move that bag further back under the turtle deck and let it go down inside the fuse. Next time I load up for the lodge I will take a pick of mine, and all the crap I can stick back there.
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic N94JE
Here is a picture of my cargo area on my B model. I had this made by Fisher Upholstery in Eagle Idaho. They used to do all the interiors for Avid and Kitfox and still have most of the pieces on file. You can kind of see my fuel plumbing. It's is just one line from each wing to the aluminum spar header tank and that is it. I later added a shut off from the left tank. From their it goes straight up the side and out the firewall to the mechanical pump. My fuel flow transducer is between the header and the firewall.
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