Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    I installed a clutch with my new prop also. Never looking back. Best investment I've made on my kitfox yet
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  2. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Gas tank   

    Welcome to the forum DirtriderDave! Several different options out there to fix your tanks. Most people end up replacing the tank or putting a new smaller tank inside the old one. Calling Bandit.....
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  3. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    I'm sure Doug is laughing at that request, Ed.  You would have to meet and speak with Paul S to know there is no possible short explanation to anything!  
     
    My earlier post is a good short synopsis of his observations to me.  The KF-I was a good little [copy of an Avid].  One of the things of the Kitfox design is the P51 looking tail, that Dan Denney had a hard-on for.  To make it look right, it was in fact too small.  To compensate for this the II re-incidenced the wing and tail to lift the tail into the slipstream more to gain effectiveness.  The III did this further, making it fly tail high.  Ironically this process did little or nothing to help the Yaw issues.  Denney is not an engineer or airplane designer. He's a salesman.  (And it showed)
     
    With the IV, Denney actually hired an aeronautical engineer.  This is why the control system changed along with the airfoil and finally the tail...
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  4. EDMO added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    Can you put his "long winded" explanations into something "short winded", for us?EDMO
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  5. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Plus, Paul, you have a clutch on it. That can't hurt...
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  6. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    Doug, Seehafer told me of the incidence changes between the early Kitfoxes. I consider him a fairly accurate, if not long winded, source.
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  7. akflyer added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    I have been running for 3 yrs with no problems..
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  8. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    I am. I know a few others are too
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  9. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    So if I've got a 3:1 gearbox, the prop of choice would be the three blade, 72" standard pitch ultralight IFA? IVO still maintains that the three blade and 3:1 gearbox is a bad combo, knurled hubs or not. It gets a little pricey if I have to pop $500 for a 2,62:1 gear set too. Is anyone currently running with the three blade and 3:1 gear ratio?
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  10. lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers   

    Your ruining my day Leni but you are probably right. 
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  11. EDMO added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?   

    Doug,
    I'm sure that we can figure out how to put the glue on the fabric.
    My main concern is the COST, and how does it compare to the old method?
    EDMO
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  12. EDMO added a post in a topic A fun website for the technical types...Ed you'll like this one   

    Great Site Joey,
    I started saying "I had all that in AMT college" until I got to the Wright stuff - THEN it really got my attention!
    Good stuff to study for next few months when not building.
    "There is always more to learn."
    Thanks,
    EDMO
    BTW - My best design book is "Design of the Aeroplane", by Darrol Stinton, engineer and test pilot in England. He has another book, out of print, that is not useful to the homebuilder, but I have it too. The translations from English to American is fun to read too. I hope you carry a "Torch" with you in your "aeroplane", so you can check your "tyres", etc.
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  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    I think the illusion that the ribs set on the rear spar differently between the KF1-3, and the KF4-7, may just be an illusion - the distance from the bottom of ribs to rear spar are different because of the profile of the 4-7 in that area is thicker. The distance from spar to top may be about the same?
    The incidence was changed from the KF-1 when the KF-2 was built, according to Ed Downs - This was done by changing the height of the rear crossover tube. I don't know about any later changes in incidence, but there could have been some.
    I don't think the washout has much to do with this, but I sure wish I had 1/2 inch instead of the original amount. Too late to worry about that for mine.
    EDMO
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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers   

    Jeff,
     
    I would be thinking about the power valves and the upside down engine install!!  That is why I am mounting mine right side up.  I think Bob has one of his 670's that he was not going to use, you may be able to get it from him or work out some sort of swap for the 582 and some $.  Worth talking to him anyways. 
     
    In any case, I would REALLY think lang and hard before putting a power valve engine in Avid inverted.  Your talking about ALOT of mods to get that exhaust in the cowling too.
     
    The best performance upgrade you can do right now is to put gas in the tanks and REALLY learn your airplane and the different techniques to get you in and OUT of those small places.
     

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  15. akflyer added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

    Doug, the wings were built originally with 1 3/4" or even 2" of washout in them.  I think they are now built with 1/2" total washout.  I am thinking this is what other are talking about as AOA.  I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time
     
    FWIW, I am going to rebuild my wings at some point using the KF IF profile and 1/2" washout.
     

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  16. akflyer added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    I would NOT go with the high pitch blades.  At the suggestion of my brother, I bought high pitch blades for mine.  After burning up 3 of the electric motors, I figured out why.  By using the ground adjustable hub, it took A LOT of tq to flatten those blades out to give me take off RPM.  The normal blades work just fine.  In reality, your only talking a couple half second bumps of the switch to go from take off to cruise.  I have not had any more issues burning up the motors since I went  to the standard pitch blades.  I can lug the engine down to where I can only turn 4800 on take off or flatten it out till I over rev at half throttle. 
     

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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Curtiss Seaplane Fly-In. Hammondsport, NY   

    You guys down South get all the good stuff... One of these days I will be able to attend some of these cool fly ins!
     

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  18. dholly added a topic in Local Fly in's   

    Curtiss Seaplane Fly-In. Hammondsport, NY
    Curtiss Seaplane Fly-In. Hammondsport, NY   Please join us in Hammondsport, NY (south end of Keuka Lake) September 14th, 2013 for a fly-in to celebrate Glenn Curtiss and the birthplace of the flying boat. This event is the week after the Greenville, Maine International Seaplane Fly-In.   Friday-no planned activities, but the town docks and amphib ramp are available. Those that arrive have a great time in the local bars and restaurants.   Saturday-local flying, a seaplane parade around Keuka for those interested, lakeside displays of current restoration shop projects, and a Sat. night party at the Curtiss Museum.   The Glenn H. Curtiss museum is open all weekend. We have many airplanes, including replicas of the 1914 Curtiss America, the 1911 A-1, and the 1912 Model E; all flown by the museum in recent years.   Use 123.45. Use caution at the docks. If you pull in nose first; there is no "facing", or break wall, on the boardwalk that runs in front of the town docks. Be careful not to let your floats get under the boardwalk. If the wind is out of the north, making the docks unmanageable; there is a good beach at a county park on the south-eastern shore.   Amphibs may taxi up the ramp just west of the town docks.   There is a small grass strip about 1 mile southwest of town, just west of Rt. 54. Kolo field, uncharted. Try on 123.45 to get a ride, or call the museum. Penn Yan (KPEO) airport is a 30 minute drive.   http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/ (607) 569-2160






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  19. C5Engineer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    A fun website for the technical types...Ed you'll like this one
    This is actually some required reading for that class I'm taking. So far I am really digging the class. It's not too difficult and looking through they syllabus none of the material is going to be anything I haven't at least heard of before. Next week is Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance...My bread and butter as a Flight Engineer
     
    Some great aerodynamic lessons from the Wrights
     
    http://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/shortw.html
     
     
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  20. dholly added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Rotax Service Bulletin – Publication Index, Revision 14
    Reprint of Email rec'd from Rotax Aug 12, 2013
     
     
    SB-ALL-000-R14.pdf
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  21. dholly added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0   

     
    Again, I don't believe there were any changes at all to either the 4-7 rib profile or angle of incidence relative to the wing spars. I also do not believe there were any changes at all to either the KF 1-3 rib profile or angle of incidence relative to the wing spars. To the best of my knowledge, the location of the rear spar cutout in the rib web never changed in 1-3 models or 4-7 models and are completely interchangeable respectively. The only changes that I am aware of that would result in an overall aircraft angle of incidence was the addition of front adjustment holes for the KF 3 elevator and the different elevator adjustment methods used in the KF 4-7 models. Please enlighten me if I have that wrong!
     
    [edit] add pic of my KF3 showing elevator adj holes, I used middle position IIRC

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  22. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    I couldn't tell you what mine is. I bought it used. It is supposed to be a 72" three blade and with the cams centered I was making 5800 rpm static with it tied down.
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  23. dholly added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?   

    Larry - initially, Russ and I thought the same. However, conversation with the guys revealed the Kitfox covering job was not finished. IIRC, two guys applied what you saw in about 10 hours in anticipation of the show so the US distributor could have some sort of large scale static display. Again, after spending quite a bit of talk time, particularly with the German Co. owner, I only came away with two potential negatives: First is that both the receiving part (such as a rib capstrip) and the underside of the fabric had to have one coat of the water-based, heat activated glue applied. That meant you had to cut, place and clamp the fabric in place to mark the attach points so you knew where to apply the underside-of-the-fabric glue before shrinking. Not as easy as activating the Polytac through Polyfiber after shrinking IMHO. Second had to do with patch procedure. Specifically, patches need to be made structure to structure, Rib to rib or tube to tube. This will require the removal and reapplication of adjoining finishing tapes to prevent a built-up look. The current glue (2nd gen) is much more tenacious that it's predecessor and finishing tapes can not be peeled off without destroying the fabric underneath. It can, as was demonstrated to me, be carefully peeled away leaving the under fabric intact with just the right amount of heat and pressure. The glue is so tenacious, once applied to capstrips and fuselage tubing, it is near impossible to remove. The parent co. guy said they are in the process of testing solvent combinations that would work with the additional application of heat, and that the best success to date came from a combo of nail polish remover and something else along with the heat. I have two of the fabric/glue samples they were handing out and was going to do a test using one of my old damaged Aerotrek wings. I'll let y'all know.
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  24. lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers   

    I will be ordering soon.  Cant have to much power in Alaska.
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  25. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Prop Problems   

    Hey all of you who are using the ivo ifa ultralight, did you go with the standard pitch or the high pitch blades?

    After a discussion with ivo they told me to purchase the standard pitch blades for my Kitfox.

    I am definitely rethinking that. I have to pitch the blades up about 75% of their travel just for takeoff or else I overspeed.. I cannot flatten the pitch out at all so I really do not have that much adjustability. I am taking off at what should be cruise pitch just to keep my tiny tach under 6,500
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