Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I was out in the garage looking at my fusaloge for the MK IV again, and got to thinking that this whole set up would be a lot stronger if the center of the V was tied verticly to the seat truss as well.  Without that tie, a lot of inward pressure is applied to the front  landing gear attachment  in a hard bounce.   That of course is what would pull the sides in, just as it did.  I think if one built the V off of the seat truss with the right triangulation of tubing, it would be very strong.  Of course then it wouldn't be removeable.  A verticle tube between the cross tube and the V would definatly help.  One could then put a strap in front and back of that tube to connect to the seat truss.  There is a tube going forward from the front of the seat truss that you would have to work around, but it could be done in a number of ways.  I'll include a rough scetch I drew up to try to show what I mean.  I'm sure this would all be stronger as well if the seat truss was infilled as much as possible.  I keep wanting to go to this topic cause I don't want a bent up covered fusaloge at some point in the future.
     

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  2. dholly added a post in a topic Model 4 Rudder Pedal Mod   

    Here's another interesting option for the 'E-style' pedals that incorporates a toe stop.

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  3. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    That plane is already certificated as an "E-LSA"?
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  4. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Model 4 Rudder Pedal Mod   

    no joke, i paid $0.88 per plate, $2.88 for a box of aluminum riverts and $2.98 for a long roll of anti-skid tape. 
     
    the cheapest mod i have ever done to an aircraft before and it really only takes a few minutes, no need to remove the pedals i just drilled and cleco'd them in place them went back with rivets when i was done drilling.
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  5. Guest added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    This Avid Plus I am working on turns out to be an Experimental Light Sport plane. This enables me to take a 16 hour course to become the repairman for the plane.
     
    Tuesday after work I began a long trek from Washington to Cornig CA to take the course offered by Rainbow Aviation on Thursday and Friday. I spent more time driving than in thecourse, but it was a very worthwhile experience. I came away with a far better understanding of what Experimental Light Sport is and certificate of completion that will enable me to be the Repairman for my plane.
     
    I learned a lot and believe the course was worthhwhile beyond just the obvious outcome of becoming the repairman. I got back home Saturday night and 1500+ miles later.
     
    ChrisB
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    The plywood is a good way to go if you want to add strength and don't have it all bent up already.  Avid required the plywood infill if you went to the wide bungee gear.  If you have it all uncovered anyway, the metal might be better.  Take care,  Jim Chuk
     
     
    I have thought that infilling the trusses with plywood would work equally as well as sheet metal, and wouldn't require fabric removal.  Haven't done it yet on mine, but as I get more adventurous, I probably should.
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  7. wypaul added a post in a topic CarbMate   

    I think that you will like it Randy.
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  8. Logtrucker added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Paul, Sorry about your gl problems, just thought I might throw in my two bits worth. Be sure to check your tracking, No Tow In! The t.d.s like a slight tow out mutch better. Probably you've already considered this, anyway a reminder, for what it's worth. Logtrucker
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  9. wypaul added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I will take the release off of the tailwheel before I try this again. My first thought was to convert to the tri gear but don't really want to do that.

    David I looked at the video of the Grove gear test and I am considering that route. What does it take to use the Matco wheels and brakes or are different wheels required for the swap?

    I hate to give up on the spring gear but I really have all the experience I want repairing the fuselage. I will be doing some reinforcement of the fuselage while I have the fabric off for repairs.

    I have some photos of KF brake setup with the MC mounted to the floor and different pedals. I would like to see what is working for others so I am not spending time reinventing.
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  10. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Matco uses the same style control mechanism as the Scott, but costs a fraction of the price and weighs much less.
     
    I would agree that the Maul tailwheel combined with poor brake design and insufficient rudder effectiveness has caused many, many groundloops of these planes.
     
    I would highly recommend that any new Avid/Kitfox pilot, regardless of tailwheel experience, remove the unlocking cam from the Maul tailwheel until they have at least 100 hours and 300 landings in their plane.
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  11. 6320012s added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Oops, correction, I have a Maul TW, and have been wanting to switch to a Scott.
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  12. 6320012s added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I have thought that infilling the trusses with plywood would work equally as well as sheet metal, and wouldn't require fabric removal.  Haven't done it yet on mine, but as I get more adventurous, I probably should.
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  13. 6320012s added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Paul,
    I  ground looped my KF 3 a couple times right out of the box.   The second time was on pavement and folded the landing gear.   We concluded the Scott tailwheel to be the culprit, but the brake geometry made it nearly impossible to recover once it started to go.  ie. hard rudder correction caused opposite brake action that was more powerful than the rudder input.  My fix was to replace the gear with aluminum spring gear, fix the dog on the tailwheel, and reconfigure the brake pedal geometry.  Since then, I have felt in full control, and my CFI agrees the set up is much better.  The spring gear is wider than the KF 3 gear and I think that helped a lot.    I also put on tubeless Nalco 21" tires that I could leave pretty soft.  With all those tweaks and some practice, I now feel very in control both on gravel and on pavement.   However, my pre-flight does include a tail wheel check to test the trip mechanism.
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I guess if you strengthen the weakest link in the chain,  then you break the next weakest one.   My thoughts are this, if one was to somewhat infill the seat truss with metal, that would strengthen that.  Good plan even with the standard bungee gear.  I see where some have infilled the sides of the fusaloge as well.  I've done both of those on the Avid MK IV I'm rebuilding.  Wonder what is the next weak link.  Looking at the bent top crossbar on the cabane, I wonder if it had a verticle tube between the cross tube and the V if it would have held up.  Of course, the more tubes you get in there, the more weight and drag.  I'm thinking that some light gauge aluminum going from the flat fusaloge to the bottom of the V in front and back of the V with just the tabs sticking out would streamline things quite a bit.  (was looking at pics of a Champ yesterday, and it's got a V built into the fusaloge and it's all covered in fabric)  Question to others, has the Avid V been bent in any of the times that things got bent?  Do they even use the top cross tube?  Maybe it's built with larger/thicker tubing???  I don't know.  Good topic for discussion though.  Take care,  Jim Chuk
     
    PS  just went back and re read your earlier post Paul where you mentioned the verticle tube between the crosstube and V.  Don't  know if I read that before and just forgot or what.....  Well my dad had alshiemers for about 5 years before he died so who knows.....  He was about 87 though when it started,  I'm only "only" 61
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  15. wypaul added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I haven't quite figured out this new format and have trouble figuring out where to make the attachments yet so I will try this again.
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  16. wypaul added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Ok I have some more photos of the damage to the fuselage.
     
    I wish I knew for sure but from what I know is that on landing as the plane was slowing down and then the ground loop.  I did bounce the plane a little on touch down so the question is was the gear damaged in the bounce or in the ground loop.  My thinking at this time is that the tailwheel released and caused the ground loops but I really have no idea.  I set the bakes so they were very hard to reach this time so I am fairly certain that I did not get on the brakes.
     
    I have 800 hours in a Q-2 TD which is pretty twitchy on the runway, with no ground loops so I am baffled with the problems that the Avid is presenting.
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  17. dholly added a post in a topic Model 4 Rudder Pedal Mod   

    Good to hear it helped you out. I find the large, flat pedal face more comfortable and confidence inspiring all around, particularly when landing and sliding up to brake. Probably be the best $1.50 I spent on my plane.
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  18. akflyerbob added a post in a topic Emergency Ski Bottoms   

    Ask Leni who tought him that.
    I always carry a 20'X 16" roll of heavy visqueen just for that purpose.
    Tape it ovet the nose of the ski an push it under and away you go.
    And its good for more than several landings/take offs.
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  19. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Man ejected from plane... and no it wasn't a fighter   

    Ed it opens from the rear....should of been a non event!
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 582 been sitting   

    How long since it had new seals.  Rotax says every 5 years, and while that is probably real conservitive, If it's been a lot longer, it could be a good idea to get new seals and an inspection and decarb could be done at the same time.  That's easy for me to say though, I have a snowmobile outfit about 10 miles from me that will do that for about $250.  They've done something like 8 different engines for me and I flew behind all of them with no problems.  Take care,  Jim Chuk
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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    I've been thinking of making my own gear, have the tubing now for it.  I'm not sure it's the right thing to do, but I'm wondering about using bungees instead of the springs.  Multiple wraps of 3/8" bungee would make it easier to adjust the tension, If you wanted, the slots could be longer which would give more travel as well.  Bungees would be less weight than the springs.  Can any one give me the actual advantages of the springs besides not having to replace them? Thanks,  Jim Chuk
     
    PS I mentioned longer travel, and thought about how often when a seat truss bends with the standard gear, it happens when you reach the limiter cable.  Ofcourse you can only have so much travel before the prop would hit, but maybe sometimes a bit more would help. 
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  22. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Not wanting to open an old wound, but can you give us the details of what happened?

    Airdale has been shipping with a softer spring lately. This may or may not help.

    My buddy with that gear has also had some issues - bent legs and bent hardware...
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  23. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Model 4 Rudder Pedal Mod   

    I made a pair of these yesterday, attached them and then covered them in anti skid tape. The airplane is much more controllable while taxing now
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  24. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Kitfox IV Questions   

    Another fun fact, with me and full fuel I can pick the tail up to level flight attitude while sitting still. Lots of fun
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  25. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Kitfox IV Questions   

    We did install a rubber isolator to attempt to stop the oil leak. I will have to see how it goes
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