Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. akflyer added a post in a topic ORATEX FABRIC   

    I am pretty sure he is in Anchorage or in the valley. I know he is someplace in that area.
     

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  2. EDMO added a post in a topic ORATEX FABRIC   

    I talked to the man at Oratex today and he is sending me a catalog and free sample -
    He says that they do not make the 3000 now because of lack of orders for it, and the 600 is too light for the Kitfox, so the 6000 is about the only choice left - I have my doubts about the prices being cheap, but we will see.
    I forgot to ask where he was in Alaska.
    EDMO
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  3. Avidchaz added a post in a topic KITFOX RIBS   

    Brett has come back and said he can sort me Avid ribs ....so looking good.
    Thanks for offer of help and ideas.
     
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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic Crash Lone Pine California   

    It depends on the plane... I would not try a 180 turn under 500' in say a 182.  But I would not think twice about doing it in my Avid.
     

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  5. akflyer added a post in a topic ORATEX FABRIC   

    if it says that you can have a 180 OR a 270 wrap.... well... that kinda leaves it up to you.  If you can do 180, but not 270, I would say the choice is pretty clear
     
    I have covered A LOT of models with oratex, I would love to do a full size plane with it!
     

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  6. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Neither am I...
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  7. C5Engineer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Nice 912 powered Avid for sale
    Not mine... it's on Barnstormers. Would make a nice plane for 20K. An 80hp Kitfox IV just sold for 30K last week.
     
     
    AVID MKIV LOW TIME • $21,000 • AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY • N62PT, ELSA, 410 hrs frame & eng, 1998 Bandit w/extras. Fuse extended w/latest taller, wider gear &floor truss, Extd Speedwings & flapns, Maule T/W, 2/15g tanks & header w/ low fuel wrning, Elect trim. Rotax 912UL, 410hrs, 2005 rebuilt gbox, Sport gnd adj prop, VGs, Strobes, Nav, Taxi & lndg lites. KX125 nav/com, Headsets, KT76A Txpdr, ACK encdr, AK450 ELT, Intcom, Lo Fuel alarm, Carb Temp, EGT, ECT, Oil Tmp & Oil Prss, Fuel Prss, Rotax Tach, VSI, ALT, ASI, Trn Co, V/A, Strobes, Nav Lites, Wing Fuel Gges, Aerothane. SPORT PILOT LEGAL Fldg Wings, Hangared 100%, Insp 2013, 2E8 Dexter, Mi • Contact PETER T. WATERS, Owner - located NORTHVILLE, MI USA • Telephone: 248-924-0223 . 248-437-4244
     

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  8. EDMO added a post in a topic Tricycle gear   

    You are right -although others have said you could swap sides, IT DONT WORK!
    Randy, SuberAvid, in Alaska may have a set?
    How about cutting and modifying your gear so that it does work?, or, build from scratch?
    Sorry I haven't called - been really busy selling my Grove gear and other things - needed to know if there was something I could help you with before calling - guess I cant?
    EDMO
    P.S. Just thought - I have an extra Kitfox gear that you could modify if you don't want to cut up your original gear.
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  9. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas tank   

    At what cost, and from who?I think Chris has the best idea - about $2 worth of epoxy where the leaks are.
    EDMO
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  10. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Oh no, I'm not hiding the switch under the hood on my bird.
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  11. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Paul-- Say it with me: Electricly Ground Adjustable.
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  12. EDMO added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    ORATEX FABRIC
    First, go back and read what Doug and I posted in "NEW FARBIC", and watch the video.
    Sorry, I should have posted this on that heading.
    I have been checking out - well, trying to check out - the Oratex Coverings, and have had limited success, but watched 3 videos. Cant find prices or how to get a catalog -
    BUT HERE IS THE BIG QUESTION WE NEED ANSWERED:
    They showed a Kitfox with this covering at Oshkosh. The instructions say to make a 180 or a 270 degree wrap around the leading edge with the first layer - A 180, I can do, but - HOW DO YOU wrap 270 around a leading edge that has ribs sticking to it like ours?
    Looks like you would have to split it at each rib?
    I think the drawing really shows much more wrap than that - maybe more than 360?
    ON MINE, with the plywood-covering extending 12 inches back from leading edge, there is NO WAY to make more than a 180 wrap - guess that will work?
    I got the Alaska phone numbers - will call them tomorrow.
    EDMO
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  13. Bandit added a post in a topic Gas tank   

    Installed 2 plastic tanks inside the old fiberglass tanks. Each tank holds 5.2 gallons.



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  14. dholly added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    Great explanation, thanks Larry.
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  15. wypaul added a post in a topic Crash Lone Pine California   

    I remember my CFI drilling me on almost every take-off, push the nose down and  land straight ahead if you are below 500 AGL with a power failure.  The accelerated stall caused by the turn is a unforgiving killer.
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  16. EDMO added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?   

    I will go for "less labor, no toxins", but what do you figure it is "20% less than"?
    $1000? $800?
    And - I watched the repair video too - showing how their colored patches go on like duct tape, with glue already on them.
    EDMO
    Added: I went to the site <betteraircraftfabric.com> and it talked about Oratex 600 for "Ultralights", 3000 and 6000 for "airplanes" - each number is the KILOS that the plane weighs - Wonder which they covered the Kitfox with? Guess it was the 6000, since the sign has that on it?
    and - NO prices in the catalog, or where to order a REAL catalog - I downloaded the PDF, and that was no help on prices.
    EDMO
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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Paul, if you go to the IVO ultralight IFA, I may be interested in your medium.  I dont think the ultralight will work too well for my 800 conversion... although, the 912 guys seem to like it and I will really not be making too much more power than they will.
     

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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic 'Nother Noob in NC   

    Oh, I fogot to mention... When I was kicking his tail in cruise, He was on ski's and I was on Full Lotus Floats
     

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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic 'Nother Noob in NC   

    After the changes I had to make to my cowling and radiator set up, I would be willing to bet you good money that the belly radiator you have is doing nothing more than adding weight and an insignificant amount of cooling fluid to the system.  With the lip on the bottom of the cowling, 99% of the air is going right over the bottom of that radiator and its sitting in stale, hot air from the cowling.  I had to cut the lip off the bottom of my cowling and drop the radiator down almost 3" below the bottom of the fuse to get it into good clean air where she would keep the temp in check on a 90 degree day.  I am hoping that the MK IV in-cowl radiators I have for it now will let me take the belly radiator off and loose some weight and drag.  Of course, now I have to fiberglass the lip back on the bottom of the cowling
     
    You have a very nice looking bird, and you should be happy with it compared to a Tcrate.  I regularly fly with my buddy who has a 100 HP BCD12 that was moded.  I kick his tail in take off, climb and cruise, wheels, ski's and floats.   He does get me on fuel burn in cruise though, unless I throttle back to 5200 RPM to let him stay with me.
     

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  20. allonsye added a post in a topic 'Nother Noob in NC   

    Thanks SG. I took a chance on this and unseen. It does have a few issues related to the way it was wired but otherwise a very nice aircraft and I'm enjoying sorting her out -  it will take a bit to get her airworthy FWF. The airframe is in exceptional condition. And, no need to rub anything in on my part. - 
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  21. akflyer added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers   

    I didn't mean to ruin your day, and it may very well work out, however, based on the experience I have with RAVE in snowmachines, I would be hesitant to install them inverted.  If you do install one inverted, your looking at having to pull and clean the valves probly every 5-10 hrs to assure smooth operation of them.  I thought of 100 ways to modify the housing for the "power Vales" (the arctic cat equivalent) and each one led me down the path that it would be better to just install the engine upright and not have to worry about them.
     
    I would bet that the new engine mount I come up with for the Avid to mount my 800 upright, will work just fine with the 670 also, so then it is a matter of exhaust.  There are lots of guys using this engine in the Rans S-9 and a quick search will come up with some do's and don'ts that they have found to work.
     
    As far as wiring the valves shut, well you just gave away your low end grunt to get that prop swinging, or you gave away the power on the top end to take that pitch load at climb and cruise.  Some of the 670's opened up at 4500 some at 6500 depending on the spring installed in the RAVE valve.  A lot depended on the application for normal riding or for drag racing.   I am the last person to tell anyone to NOT use try or modify and engine to try and get better performance, I am doing that very thing myself however, I am just saying to think it through, do some research, and talk to the guys that have been FLYING this engine.  Don't take and engine builders word that his engine is the best thing since sliced bread... We have seen dozens of these claims and dozens of guys close up and fade away as the latest greatest engines failed and planes were destroyed and people were killed.
     
    http://www.bwid.net/S9/670.htm   This guy has been running his on an S-9 (I want one bad) and went through the trials and errors to get the 670 to stay running and not melt down.. As you can see in his post, one of the fellows he knew took that final flight West due to a failure of the 670. 
     
    In defense... I know a lot of people have died flying behind a 582, AND the rotax 912 (for you two smoke haters)   No engine is impervious to failure.  I have had my 582 fail on me, but it was due to something besides the engine (faulty thermostat and radiator cap) as well as the placement of the radiator.  It is not the engines fault that we do something stupid and melt down the engine.  I have had failures with Lycoming engines that were more likely to kill me, and it hurt a lot worse when I hit the dirt with that plane versus my Avid.
     
    I would love to see the 670 perform in the Avid as I think it would be a very nice flying plane, but I would not just bolt one on and go, hoping for the best.
     

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  22. allonsye added a post in a topic 'Nother Noob in NC   

    The builder had one toooooo many radiators and installed it. Aren't 2 radiators plenty?
     
    This aircraft has the Holman fiberglass cowel with nose/inlet mounted radiators.
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  23. allonsye added a post in a topic Crash Lone Pine California   

    Interesting! I'd never heard of this or thought of as a emergency strategy where practical.  Anyone else?
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  24. dholly added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?   

    ~20% less cost, appreciably less labor, no toxics
     
     

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  25. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Thanks guys. I hope to join the IFA club in the near future.
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