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  1. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Tire size   

    I drive a VW....  
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  2. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    I WASNT WORRIED about the struts - I don't like the flimsy, weak main attach for the HS. You could probably stand on my HS and not break the attachment. Undoubtedly overbuilt, but you could do something lighter and still be stronger than the original.ED
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  3. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    I think my design borrowed from Piper / Maule is about the strongest HS attachment you could get - Check out the Foxy Flapper Fotos in Kitfox IV.
    EDMO
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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    I am thinking larger struts and cutting out the existing bolt bosses and using 1/4 bolts.  What you are really talking about here is the shear strength and the 3/16" should be plenty, but for the few hours it would take, upsizing the bolts may not be a bad idea!
     

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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic Tire size   

    And some are just used to EVERTHING being bigger!
    EDMO
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  6. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    I am certainly the last one in the world who would tell you not to do your own thing, or try to come up with something better. I had already guessed your reason, but wanted you to say it.
    For my 2 cents worth - I say "jump in and see if it floats" pun intended!
    EDMO
    PS You might think about a stronger HS attachment?
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  7. akflyer added a post in a topic Tire size   

    I will agree on the bushwheels to an extent... 90% of those who have them, do not use them for the intended purpose.  Landing on 2000' grass strips are not what they are meant to do.  I can tell you first hand, there is a huge difference on river rock landings with 26, 29 and 31" bushwheels.  I have not flown 35" tires yet, but I they say the difference is as much going from 31 to 35 as it was from 29-31.  If I was really working the plane, there is NO substitute for the big tires.  That said, I would not go bigger than the 26" on the avid.  That is the perfect tire for us guys who do play off the beaten path with them.  I would also venture to say that alot of the bent up gear and fueselages would not have happend if they had the 26" tires beacuse, yes, they DO soak up the bumps that damn good
     
    You got into the whiskey again??    That truck caption is FN hillarious!  and true!  KInda like my buddy says that owns a jewlery shop.. When guy come in to buy rings for the wives/GF it pretty much holds true, the bigger the diamond, the littler the dick
     

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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

     
    Larry, you would get too spoiled only working 6 months a year That would give you way too much time to fly, and WAY too much time to day dream while your stuck up here.
     
     PM me your quals and what kinda job your looking for!
     

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  9. akflyer added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

      why did michelin invent the run flat tires... or a better mud and snow tire? 
     
    The tail gets real low when the plane rocks back to get on step.  Anything hanging below the rudder hits the water and casues drag, extending the time it takes to get up on step.  I am all about shorter take off runs, and still getting the job done.  increased surface area works.  that has been proven in alot of float installs on various airplanes.  Some beavers have the ventral fins  under the tail like the one Dean designed for this plane.  Others have the ones that I am looking at building.  Different stroked for different folks I guess.  I think the twin fins on the horizontal stab look better. 
     
    The reason for them is not to make handeling better in a cross wind, but to counteract the additional side area from the float profile forward of the CG. 
     
    The big fin under the plane, in addition to hiting the water, makes a great something to get ripped off on the docks, trees on the shorline etc
     
    Kinda like why use grove gear instead of the stock bungee gear... your sold on the fact that its a superiour gear... I am not gonna rgue that one with you, because it is a much better gear than the stock narrow gear
     

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  10. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    I work outside for a living.  I don't care what the heat index is.  It is just to f'n hot to do much of anything...
     
     
    You got a job for me up there on the 'slope?  I can deal with misquotes but this southern heat is killing me.
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  11. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    Well, with the exception of #2 - where I think the Slipstream will overcome x-wind effects, and that is what the fins are for, I tend to agree with you.Now Leni, we need your reasoning for the addition of this cute modification! And why are you not "going with the crowd"?
    This is the best use of this site - A meeting place for minds and ideas and problem solving - Well, with a smattering of joking too!
    EDMO
    EDMO
    Is there an echo? Heat index is over 100F here - too hot to do anything else on plane.
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  12. EDMO added a post in a topic Tire size   

    Sending this from the home origin of BIG FOOT, and the beginning of monster truck tires, I don't think it means we are missing anything! It opened up a lot of new opportunities for some of us young ones! Maybe others are "missing something"! Ha! Oh, you were talking about the Alaska Cubs that the FAA had to put a limit on tire height? EDMO
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  13. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Tire size   

    Cartoonish million dollar aktires are 90% for posers compensating for something else lacking in their lives...

    Just look at the doofuses over on BCP.

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  14. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    Thought #1 -- how does the h-stab attach to your plane? Is there enough beef there to handle the forces you want to put there?

    #2 -- in a x-wind situation, will these fins do anything? Look at the silhouette of the plane. Answer: not much.

    #3 -- adding a ventral fin to the trailer tongue mounts is how Wilson designed it to work. Why reinvent the wheel?
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  15. akflyer added a post in a topic Tire size   

    we are men, bigger is always better right?? 
     

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  16. dholly added a post in a topic Mk IV wing-fold time   

    That is a great example of the K.I.S.S. principle, I like it!
     
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  17. dholly added a post in a topic Tire size   

    I also swapped out the narrow 6" AeroTrainer tires on my 4-1200 for the Aero-Classics 8.00 x 6 x 21 tires. No complaints here. I bought tires and tubes direct from Desser, free shipping and tire talc.








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  18. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    Suggestion: How about just one braced on the bottom for a start, maybe a little larger there than you had planned - see how much it helps before worrying about top? This is unknown territory.
    EDMO
    Believe I read somewhere about fins not being really effective unles the height is at least 1/2 of horizontal chord? HS chord? Including elevator chord? I don't know! For a complete - top and bottom fin, height should equal chord.
    Adding this: I would have to find my original fin to measure it, but guessing about 9 inches high and 18 inches long. Maybe that will help in determining size?
    Could you brace the top one to your wing-fold brackets?
    ED
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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    Good Idea!  Gives me something to think about!
     
    Thanks Ed
     
    The pic shows what I am thinking about doing wit the black outline on the tail.  One on each side should be good.  I have seen them on Citabrias and Beavers and several other aircraft. 
     
     


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  20. EDMO added a post in a topic Mk IV wing-fold time   

    Thanks to both of you for the trailer photos - you have given me the basics to start my planning - the last one looks to be easier to load, and probably more practical for me since my Grove wheel base is over seven feet wide. was this a modified trailer of some type, or built from scratch?Joey, I was a little shocked that you used 2 x 4s for a RUDDER LOCK - We always used 1/2 inch plywood for the same thing. Think you could get by with something lighter?
    EDMO
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  21. EDMO added a post in a topic Venteral fin... or fins   

    Amateur Opinion from one who tends to overbuild - I would weld in mounts. Just don't have a lot of faith in 3/16 bolts - but that depends on where and at what angle the leverage, and possible flutter, would come from - the struts form a triangle mount, and that is a lot stronger than a single attachment. Would like to see some photos of the tested and proven outcome - interesting thoughts - you probably watched the 747 that carries the space shuttle, or an old Bellanca tri-tail?
    Good Luck with your experiment - Hope it works good for you.
    EDMO
    P.S. Afterthought - Below the HS, you could attach a small strut from the fin to your HS strut, and have that same angle brace for your fins. Just a thought.
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  22. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Venteral fin... or fins
    I need to build some fins for my plane.  The EDO floats are alot deeper and the side area really shows up on a windy day with the nose hunting and pecking around.  These are rudder intensive planes anyways, and the additional float area really makes it a work out at times.  Instead of the large fin under the fuse like the factory had, I was thinking about making two fins to bolt top and bottom of the stab using the tail brace bolts.  What so you guys think about using those points to mount a fin say 12" tall the width of the elevator top and bottom on each side ?  You think the two little bolts would hold them along with the tail braces? 
     
    I am thinking there will not be too much force on those bolts so it shouldn't be an issue.  Worst case, I can cut a couple holes in the fabric and weld in some new bosses to bolt through a little bit outboard of the tail braces.
     
    Any ideas or thoughts?
     

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  23. akflyer added a post in a topic Fun at the Gold Mine   

    I need to get a new camera.  Randy always gets good shots of me, but my shots of him are always fuzzy.  My good camera is just too bulky to try and swing around the plane. 
     
    Doug, your right on the charging bear.
     
     
     

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  24. kosseman added a post in a topic Mk IV wing-fold time   

    well the rudder lock is a piece of 3/4 conduit bent in half with foam water pipe insulation slide over it put it over rudder squezze end together and rapp it with a bungee cord to hold it
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  25. rlmankins added a post in a topic Tire size   

    Thanks for the advice on the tailwheel. Will be sure to order dual fork 8 inch, not that much more. I will look at the aero classics also. Best place to buy aero classics? Spruce seems to be ok for tailwheel. I am assuming I will need to make new cables for the tailwheel. Are you running the dual spring rear tailwheel mount?
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