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Activity Stream
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
Good find ther C5Engineer. Seems he is very happy. Only time will tell how it works for him though. If I had the money I would probably do it right now.
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EDMO added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?
I wish someone would have taken some photos of the Kitfox to post on here.
EDMO
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
I've been watching this thread closely http://ppcflyingforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9503
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0
I don't believe they did from the IV through the SS.
The I, II and III had incidence changes between them culminating in the extreme high tail flying III. I believe this was an attempt at alleviating the yaw proclivities from the overly small P51 shaped tail that Denny was so attached to.
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?
I too spent quite a bit of time looking over the Kitfox at the Oratex booth in the UL area. Honestly I was not that impressed by the covering job done on the Kitfox. The product is quite impressive. They could have spent more time doing a better job covering half the plane than rushing a crappy job on the whole thing.
If a guy were to cover the plane in a single color or single color per major part (fuselage, wing, tail, etc.), then use vinyl graphics over the single color for accent.
Trying to two tone the fuselage in the way they did, did not look very good, IMO.
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
yes it uses the 582 dual ignition head. you do not have to change anything electrical, everything 582 works with the 670.
from what I have been "told" if you use Rotax Ricks exhaust then the powerband is smooth, designed for your aircraft respectively and he has a lot of avidfox experience.. If you use a 582 exhaust then the powerband is very smooth but the engine only makes about 66hp, not really any gain over a 582. If you make your own exhaust you can make power in the 105hp range but the powerband is going to be snappy like a dirtbike or high strung snowmobile and the engine life is greatly reduced.
With his Kitfox/Avid exhaust you can make a minimum of 87hp, 97hp on the new version apparently. The engine TBO is 450 hours. Total overhaul cost is $1,175. Fuel burn is between 4.5-5GPH in Cruise, upwards of 6.5-7GPH on takeoff. Still better savings then the 582, well my 582 anyway. My last email conversation he explained the rods and pistons he uses are not run of the mill cast pistons, they are supposedly much nicer, like a high end racing set.
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dholly added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0
I was unaware Kitfox made changes either to the airfoil or angle of incidence relative to the wing spars on the KF4-7 wing??
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lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
So I am assuming it has the dual ignition. Sounds pretty good. How is the power band. Is it steady throughout or does it suddenly produce power at certain rpm's.
Thanks
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
Of Course!
The 670 is almost identical to the 582, other then it is 1/4" Taller. The early model 670's were all predrilled for the Rotax "C" and "E" Gearboxes. I think Rotax Rick machines his cases out though, he does a lot of custom work to these engines. They are not your run of the mill 670. I know he machines out the bearing races and goes to a larger "caged" bearing as found in a more modern engine. This supposedly improves the reliability over the "standard" 670
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lv2plyguitar added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
Does the c drive bolt onto that engine?
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Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
My concerns over drawing too much current pretty much went away with the advent of LED lighting. I converted my position lights with plug in replacement bulbs and purchased a LED landing light. I have a computer muffin fan on my cabin heater which is pretty efficient as well.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
I am liking that fuse box! Will be a nice clean install! I think I may order one for my new panel! Thanks for the link to it
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EDMO added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0
Probably a little more than that - Yes, the angle of attack,(engineers call this "incidence"), will set the angle of the fuselage in flight, setting the angle of the horizontal stabilizer, prop angle, etc.For instance, My Subaru engine is heavy, and I wanted less downslope on the rear of the bottom of the rib, which pushes the nose of the plane down, requiring the up elevator or up flaperon, or even weights in the tail, to trim it, like a lot of the planes flying with this and other engines and the undercambered ribs.
So by using the profile of the Kitfox 4 rib on the bottom, I hope to eliminate some of the downward nose forces, and trim out better for all conditions. (I hope)
Note that I did not change the angle at which the rib sets on the spars, like the later Kitfoxes.
EDMO
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Mendlerr added a post in a topic AK 670 Powered Kitfox on Barnstormers
Just thought I would update this thread with some information I found.
Rotax Rick now has the Rotax 670 "Blue Head Edition". 97hp for takeoff, 70hp roughly for cruise and 5gph fuel burn. Price is the same or just slightly higher then the original 670
Trade in your 582 and the 670 is $3,400 with all new parts and an addition $700 or so for the tuned exhaust for the kitfox
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tbucket added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0
I see the difference in the ribs I will bet that if you change to some of the rib designs that I see that you would also have to deal with the angle of attack on the wing also [just by looking at the location of the rear spar cutouts] correct?
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EDMO added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?
Doug,
What about prices - per yard? - per Plane? Envelope or blanket?
How is this stuff attached?
ED
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic I R Student again
If I can be a CFI at a Podunk FBO, tow a banner around, or check out a pipeline on a daily basis I'd be a happy camper. I have been flying from A to B for over 5000 hours and 15 years with the Airforce. I have NO intentions of trying to do that again making 1/3 as much money and being gone twice as much from my family than I already am. I know where your coming from and want no part of that scene.
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dholly added a post in a topic Mk IV with wing extensions - specs\p0
Ed is correct. I have posted photos in numerous threads comparing the various early/later kitfox ribs vs. Avid HH/STOL and Speed/Aerobat ribs. Someday I'll just make a post and put them all together for easy reference. To save search time, here are some photos showing the diff between Riblett designed Kitfox models 4-7 laminar flow rib (truss style web cutouts) and Dean Wilson designed Avid Speed/Aerobat rib (oval style web cutout). Also interesting to note that KF 1-3 and Avid HH/STOL under cambered rib airfoils are not the exact same profile as most folks seem to believe.
[edit] I would add that, while not shown in the pics below, the extruded leading edge cuff is an integral part of the Riblett laminar airfoil.
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allonsye added a post in a topic I R Student again
Way to go Joey. Training and more training is always a good thing. Just know that flying commercially isn't as glamourous and as fun as it used to be what w/post 911 security and the bean counters having put an xtra sharp pencil to the bottom line. Where I work, you'll need a min of 1500 hrs PIC time before they'll even think to offer you an interview (likely Avid 2-stroke VFR time would NOT mean much to most operators either
In fact (which has surprised me) my soon to graduate AF Academy son who had every intention of going to flight-school is now thinking of pursuing his engineering major instead in the AF instead of flying. In the long run, he'll be able to afford anything he'll want to do and on his own and not dependent on the aviation industry for a decent living, an industry that is exceedingly cyclical and rife w/layoffs. Different strokes - different folks as they say. The point I'm making is civil aviation (even military from what I've been hearing) just ain't fun anymore (not like flying Avids is - - more like a real job.
In your case, a few short years AF retirement, a fresh degree -- you'll do great. Just don't put any great expectations in the aviation industry.
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dholly added a post in a topic NEW FARBIC - NO PAINT?
I spent quite some time chatting with the German supplier of Oratex at OSH this year. They had a vendor spot in one of the main exhibition buildings and the US supplier had another tent in the ultralight vendor area. Between the talks, several instructional videos, hands on exams and the Oratex600-covered Kitfox 4-1200 on display, this covering system is a -very- serious contender for my Avid+. I might even consider a possible re-cover of my KF4 with the stuff, something I would not have given a second thought to because of the painting involved. Once this fabric is shrunk, all UV and top color is already done... and it looks GREAT like a high dollar two stage poly job. Less time and expense than Poly or Stewarts. Brilliant! http://www.betteraircraftfabric.com/
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allonsye added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
Don't look for it anytime soon Ed. The FWF of this C HH is torn apart and as I dig deeper into this new acquisition I find more stuff under the panel I don't like (eg. wiring looking like spaghetti everywhere and tube fuses stuck up under the glareshield where they couldn't be readily accessed). That will be a source of topic for another thread. Stay tuned. I suspect I'll be needing lots of help from the collective on this project as I work toward it's airworthiness.
Presently I'd like to look over folks examples of wiring diagrams if anyone has any to share or can point me to a good thread or linky. I'm needing to establish an updated buss and circuit protection. I'm running only a xpndr, vintage Garmin 100, Whelen nav/strobes, intercom and pwr to KX99 not to mention this heater/fan acquisition.
Likely to go this route for circuit protection:
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/Fuseboxes/PC-8/pc-8.html
But as I said - need to start a new or join another thread.
Thanks all,
Paul in NC
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jackak added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
Doug,
I'll let you know how it works, with luck I'll get to use it this winter.
Jack
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EDMO added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
Congrats on winning the bid - Since this was made just for the 582, I would think the draw would be OK, if you don't have other heavy current users, like landing lights. You may have to turn off the blower to turn on the lights, etc.
Looking forward to the specs and maybe a photo of this in your bird.
EDMO
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allonsye added a post in a topic Cabin Heat
Well..........Thanks to HighCountry's posting, I bid and won the fleabay listing. My thinking was this would be simpler as close to plug and play as possible than fabing up radiator air/scat hose/dist-box. But d'uh......it didn't occur to me till after the bid/purchase -- how much current will the fan draw? Oh well we shall see. I'm concerned now about exceeding the specd 12.8 582 alternator output.
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Airventure 2013
What Doug said...
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