Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Avid Bart added a post in a topic Announcement!   

    I'm planning on flying my Avid in from MN this year.
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  2. wypaul added a post in a topic Announcement!   

    Hey Larry I can’t seem to find any info on the Avid anniversary has the EAA posted anything?
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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Flyer MK IV for sale   

    Just a heads up, I had taken a deposit on the Avid late last fall, with the buyer to pick it up by end of April.  I got a message from his today saying he is going to have to back out of the deal.  So after the first of May, the Avid will be back on the market.  JImChuk
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid IV 912 engine conversion   

    I finally got around to checking and comparing the Kitfox  and Avid firewall angles in relation to the wing carry throughs.  The Kitfox ends up being about 91 1/2 degrees, and the Avid is about 95 degrees.  The bottoms of the firewalls are further ahead then the tops of the firewalls.  The bottom of the Avid is further ahead than the Kitfox bottom.  Hope that makes sense.  I'm thinking I would still maybe use the Kitfox mount, and use the center bottom attachment point on the Kitfox mount as the starting point.  The center attachment points on the Avid are about 3/4" wider than the Kitfox mount so in modifying that, bushings could be turned enough to make up the different angle of the firewall.  Then the top two Kitfox attachment points are removed from the Kitfox mount, and new ones fabricated to fit the Avid mounting points.  This is how I see it at this point.  I think it would be way less work for me than building an entirely new mount, and I happen to have a spare Kitfox mount as well.  
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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic I can’t believe it’s not winter   

    Glad you are having a good time.  I pulled my skis off a week and a half ago, and since then we got two storms that dropped about 8" each time.  JImChuk
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  6. Good old number 29 added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    I can’t believe it’s not winter
    I’ve been enjoying the last bit of winter, here in my neck of the woods. The snow will be too far gone, on my home strip, for skis, after this week. 

    I did find the limits of my Federal 1500 skis, a few days ago. Eighteen inches of rotten snow, loose, wet, granulated ice, under four or five inches of crust. Sorry, no pictures of that adventure. Yes, I did fly out of it, after getting unstuck for the sixth time. 
     
    Two lessons from that. One, hard crust in the morning can be a very soft mess in the afternoon. Two, skin those skis with plastic to widen them. I’ve thought about it since I got them, but never had a problem until now. It’s a good thing I didn’t find those limitations on a glacier, or in the mountains. 
     
    Misadventures aside, I’m enjoying the nice warm weather, and being careful where and when I land. 
     
     





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  7. Willja67 added a post in a topic Catalina canopy   

    From the pics I can see online it looks like the canopy is flat wrapped around a steel tube frame with a fiberglass "skull cap".  As long as you've got that steel frame you shouldn't have a problem. Just glue some foam blocks together and carve and sand it to get the cap, then fiberglass it and wrap the lexan sheet around the frame. 
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  8. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Avid with a Volkswagen   

    I think it might be pretty heavy requiring weight in the tail to bring it into balance. Useful load will be compromised.
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  9. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Announcement!   

    Ron Turner and I are hoping to fly there from Washington State this year. Last time we flew in was pre Covid.
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  10. Ron added a topic in Avid Catalina   

    Catalina canopy
    Does anyone know who built the Catalina canopy? I checked with LP Aero and they didn’t make it.They said if I had an old one they could use it, but the kit I got is missing it.
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  11. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Announcement!   

    Yes, in the ultralight area.  I should have specified that...
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  12. whizzers added a post in a topic Avid with a Volkswagen   

    Where I'm at right now/ I have borescoped the engine, and the interior is clean as a hound's tooth. Compressions are over 110PSI on the starter. Oil pressure on the starter 25 psi.To this point I still have no idea what engine I have. There is a new set of spare pistons/jugs that are marked 91.95. I( have to look into the engine again with the borescope to see what's in there.
    I have the test stand nearly done, and as soon as I fabricate an instrument panel for it, I will run the engine up on the test stand. I fabricated an intake system "Y" pipe out of schedule 40 PVC to test it and get dimensions, , but a buddy came up with the intake system off a Great Plains that will fit. If I can find a local metal fabricator that can mandrel bend thin wall, I'll copy it.
    I did a W&B on the plane, and it weighs 540 lbs dry, but the c.g is at 9" behind the leading edge, which is too far forward. I expected that.
    Plan is to run the engine on the test stand, then deal with the airframe. I recognize that it may be a one person airplane, but in over ten years, I have flown a passenger less than a dozen times anyhow.

    Despite what was claimed, I am relatively certain that the plane is actually a "B" model extended speedwing. It has an offset rudder, a side radiator, and  ASUZA wheels with mechanical brakes. Also 3/4 inch lift struts. Probably 950 lbs gross.
     
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  13. Avidventurous added a post in a topic Avid with a Volkswagen   

    you can find a lot of threads here about how crummy the performance is, poor rate of climb etc. However this guy doesn't seem to have much problem.
    https://youtu.be/nRWzKMYz9eA
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  14. Avidventurous added a post in a topic Announcement!   

    Where? When. Ultralight barn?
    (Trip booked already)
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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid IV 912 engine conversion   

    Sorry,  I should have said, leading edge of the wing is the datum point.  I haven't checked for any offsets with the 912 Kitfox mount, but did on my Avid with a factory made Jabiru mount.  The Jabiru engine was not twisted to one side or the other.  Also, in checking for up or down offset, the prop was at 90 degrees to the underside of the wing spars.  I need just a small rudder trim tab as the plane tends to turn to the right just a little bit.  Here are a couple of pictures of crudely checking the up and down angles.  You did get me thinking, now I'll have to compare my Kitfox 4 and Avid MK IV projects to see if the firewalls are at the same angle in relation to the wing.  Can you post up a picture of your ring mount?


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  16. CGB3 added a post in a topic Avid IV 912 engine conversion   

    Thanks for the info. I am sorting through the posts.
    Yes I am worried about the CofG. Where is the datum point (11.2-16”) measured from?
    That is why I’m looking for the builder manual and weight and balance info. It is obvious to me that the mount I have will have to be modified. The thrust line of the engine is my biggest question as there should be an offset to the right which the mount has of 2.8deg but if I were to make attach points on the firewall as it came, the angle of the engine will point down 15.5deg?? So I bought a Kitfox mount hoping it would work with the Avid but…no.
    So is there any known thrust line angles for the MK IV and a 912 and where is the CG supposed to be are what I’m looking for.
    I also am changing the gear to Grove spring gear and moving them forward to complicate things further but hopefully help ground handling.
    Thanks Jeff
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid IV 912 engine conversion   

    Maybe you noticed this topic was discussed recently,  Not trying to sound negative in any way, just wondered if you saw it and were able to glean any info from it.  Avid empty weight and balance is about 11.2" to 16".   Avids do tend to be a bit on the nose heavy side even with a 582.  IN that other post, I did talk some about how I would modify my Avid firewall and the mount to make the Kitfox mount work in the Avid.  With the regular Kitfox 4 mount that uses 4 arms bolted to the engine, my prop flange face on a 912 is 24 1/2" from the firewall.  I have a Kitfox 5 ring mount style that was modified to fit the Kitfox 4, and with it the prop flange face on the 912 is 28 1/2".   I wonder if your ring mount is any different in distance out than mine is???   The 4 arm mount would be helpful for the nose heavy condition with the Avid if it keeps the engine further back.    JImChuk
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  18. CGB3 added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Avid IV 912 engine conversion
    Hello all, I’m new to these forums so a bit of background. I fly trikes and also have an advanced ultralight called an Aerostar Festival R40 with a private license in Canada. I have some engineering background but it’s been 40 years since I was in school.
    I recently purchased a badly ground looped Avid IV Heavy Hauler and am slowly straightening out the fuselage. While looking for info etc. I found a 912 Kitfox engine mount with the Rotax ring and I have a 80hp 912 from a trike. None of the mount points align so it needs to be modified. I have no idea how the 912 engine should be placed and if there are offsets and angles that need to be incorporated into the thrust line and where that line should be. 
    I see the manuals that someone has downloaded here on the forum and have printed them up but there is no weight and balance section so I’m looking for a more complete builder’s manuals for the Avid. 
    If anyone is willing to pass on some of their experience and has a manual I would be greatly appreciate it.
    Thanks, Jeff 
    Picton, Ontario 

     
    • 6 replies
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  19. Ron added a post in a topic New builder   

    I would like to visit and see your projects.
    my email is rkline7@icloud.com
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  20. fokkerc1 added a post in a topic Bought an Avid Catalina kit.   

    The Kitty project is NOT dead. I am currently working on a Porsche 944 which I will sell when done. There is a 1981 X-11 project to wrap up. Then the car hoist will only be needed for repair jobs. I can do work on the Kitty again.
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  21. fokkerc1 added a post in a topic New builder   

    I live just outside Hershey, Pa and have 2 Catalina projects.
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Looking for MkIV 912 engine mount   

    Looked at this some more, and if I used a Kitfox mount, I'm thinking I would only modify the firewall at the bottom for the bottom Kitfox mount.  I would remodel the upper kitfox mount tubes to fit the Avid locations.  That will probably allow the carbs to stay in the original Rotax location, rather than switching them side to side like you have to do with the Kitfox mount.  Less work as well.  Still want to look long and hard at my Kitfox to make sure I'm not setting a trap for myself by not thinking of something that ends up being in the way.   
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  23. 1avidflyer added a topic in Kitfox V   

    Width of firewall on Kitfox 5 to 7 needed
    Hi all,  I'm trying to find out what the width of a Kitfox 5, 6 or 7 is.  I have a smooth cowl for one of them, and want to modify it to fit a Kitfox 4.  Thinking about cutting out a wedge shaped piece to make the back part of the cowl narrower to fit the Kitfox 4.  Can anyone grab a tape measure and measure the firewall at it's widest place?  Thanks,  Jim Chuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic "Built from parts"   

    The certified world of airplane registration is far different from the experimental world.  I think it will be harder to certify a Chief than an Avid or other experimental.  Easiest way is probably to find another basket case with paperwork and put them together.  I looked up the 8050-3 form, and it's an FAA official form that they use from what I could tell.  The 8050-1 is the request for change of ownership the buyer submits, and the 8050-2 is the FAA bill of sale provided and signed by the seller.  JImChuk
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  25. Avidventurous added a post in a topic "Built from parts"   

    That's encouraging... I think
    Thanks
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