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Activity Stream



  1. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    Leni, thanks for that.

    I do not yet know which notch I am on - I have not had the tops off the carbs (basically because I could not find a manual on how to do it). I have watched the Rotax training video for the 912 Bing adjustment - will the 582 be similar?

    The prop is a wooden Peery prop - I have no idea what the figures are for it, but I believe it is the original as installed in the aircraft.

    Which VP prop do you have? Is it CS or straight VP? The wooden prop on mine looks great, but I guess it will be in line for replacement sooner or later (there is some separation of the varnish layer on one tip (although this does not cause me any vib problems at all and the varnish is smooth edged where it is separated so I am not too worried).

    As for the 50 hour, I was also going to clean the air filer (again! it doesnt seem like 5 minutes since I last cleaned it on the way from England). I will probably wait until these last 6 hours are complete before going into the carbs - as things are I can keep things in check (just), but Latvia is full of huge fields and meadows so if it all goes wrong I just pull the power and land

    Many thanks again

    Jezz
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  2. akflyer added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   



    I knew it was below the belt.. I'll take the penatly points and keep laughing Nice to hear the local logger is not laughing! hmm... is that how a certain little yellow kitfox came to be


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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   



    I would say you need more pitch. 6700 straight and level is a bit too much. I set my prop for 6500 max straight and level then start backing off the power (I have an inflight ajustable prop). If the EGTs go down as you climb then you are too lean at low level. What main jets are you running? If you have the clip on the lowest notch in the needle then you may need to change needles and needle jet. What prop do you have and what are your main jets?

    As far as a 50 hr tear down, I would do nothing more than change plugs and look in the exhaust ports and do a compression check.


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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   


    I too have lost alot of friends to accidents. It is a way of life up here. After my accident, I didnt fly for awhile, then when I did get back in the air, I was mr. cautious for the first 10 hrs or so, but then the old feelings soon came back and I was back down on the deck swamp running and not even thinking about what could go wrong (to a certain extent). I am allways looking for suitable landing areas, and not taking huge risks, but if the terrain allows, you can be the wheels (or floats) are not more than a couple feet off the ground.


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  5. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    Hey Leni

    It took me a couple of days to wait for weather, women and will to get up.

    Static was a bit over 6100 - from fully warmed up, water about 185 F and EGTs within limits, but I didnt keep it there as the I was a bit concerned about the water.
    S&L flight RPM was 6700 (although it was as turbulent as hell so there may have been some residual RPMs in there from the conditions) - Water about 185, EGT about 1200 F max (although I have seen it trying to peak higher than this - as soon as I see it is heading that way I am back on the throttle.

    During climbs at low altitude I am seeing the water temps heading up above 180, by the time I am up to 3000' that is solved.
    Also, at 3000' AMSL things are a lot better with the EGTs.

    At 1000' AMSL and 6100 RPM in straight and level I have about 180 water and 1200 EGT
    At 1000' AMSL and 6000 RPM in Straight and level I have about 175 water but the EGT tries to edge its way above 1200, which I can either adding more RPM, or taking a climb.
    At 1000' AMSL and 5800 RPM in Straight and level the water temp is well within range, but the EGT goes up really fast and if I don't catch it in time I am forced to pull the throttle and descend.

    At 3000' AMSL and 6100 RPM in straight and level the water was still about 180 but the EGT was down slightly to about 1150
    At 3000' AMSL and 5800 RPM in normal straight and level flight, water about 165 and EGTs back up to 1200
    At 3000' AMSL and 5800 RPM in reverse power command (i.e. nose somewhere pointing to heaven and anchoring on to the stall), everything settled down - water 160ish and EGTs down to 1050.

    So, any thoughts? Is this an indication that I am running too lean? Should I change my jets? Change the notch for the needle? (lowest notch is richest isn't it?).

    I am due for a 50 hour check in about 6 hours, so I shall be spending quite a bit of time learning the engine - we should also get our new hangar on the airfield (an old fire station garage - plenty of room for an Avid ) by that stage.

    Anything special I should look out for during the 50 hour check? I have the Rotax manual which I am going to spend a bit of time with before taking the baby apart.

    OK, that's it for now - I have had my hopes of flying tomorrow crushed by the director of the CAA (I have to come to the office tomorrow), and by the weather forecast - looking like the proverbial !

    In advance, thanks guys - all thoughts welcomed!

    Jezz
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  6. Jezz added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   


    Hi Joey

    I'm pleased you took me up on the suggestion - I remember being just as cautious after my first.

    It is perfectly normal that your confidence takes a hit when you have lost someone who you knew well, and who you considered to be a good pilot. I remember after my first I spent the biggest part of the flight thinking about everything that could go wrong with the aircraft, with my piloting etc. Just a few flights later and everything was back to normal for me. I hope you get back to 100% confidence soon!

    dholly, I think what we are talking about is the hit that your confidence can take. I have, over the years lost many friends to accidents, 1 midair, 1 in-flight breakup, 1 during a display, several through very poor decision making resulting in pilot error accidents. After each of them I spend some time looking over what I could improve to ensure I do not end up in the same boat, but what I do now is not a patch on the mulling and musing that I did after the first. Had I not gotten straight back into the thick of it after the first, I think I know I would have started to analyze which would have caused me to worry which would have made me analyze more and so on. It may have been that I would never have gotten my confidence back to where it was before had I not taken the bull by the horns.

    Jezz
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  7. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   


    Oh man that was a friggin good laugh Leni! I can't believe you remembered that. Definitely down and to the inside as far as jokes go but, suffice to say, the little logger next door ain't laughing any more.


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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   



    Damn nice digs there Mr. Bet the privacy would be better with a few extra trees on the hill side OK so that may have been below the belt... but this is the AFF site so you should expect it by now!






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  9. dholly added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   

    One thing I have noticed after fatal plane crashes is that a lot -and I mean A LOT- of folks, both pilots and non-pilots alike, say it's best for pilot friends to "get right back on the horse again". It certainly may be the best advice but I don't really understand why. After losing my friends, I never once thought about giving up flying. In fact it only made the resolve to finish my build or buy a plane even stronger, as one never knows when his/her time will come. Hell, I'm not getting any younger and owning my own plane and having the ability to go flying whenever I want has been at the top of my 'bucket list' for a very long time. Of course events like this effect everyone differently, but I wonder how many who lost a loved one in an auto accident ever considered simply giving up driving? You can argue that driving is a practical necessity while flying is simply a leisure activity but, really, is it optional or so easy for most pilots to walk from flying? I do wonder. The time, training, expense and sacrifices of becoming a pilot and aircraft owner is an investment made by a few select and very dedicated individuals, and I suspect 99.9% of them who have not already voluntarily hung up the headset continue to fly out of a love and passion so strong it is nearly impossible to extinguish. We do fly on after unexpected tragedies such as this, and becoming better, more appreciative pilots for it is the best way to remember our friends. Give support to the families who may or may not have fully understood their passion. And don't forget to invite your friend to fly along with you in spirit now and again on a particularly beautiful day, he would appreciate that.
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  10. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   

    Well Russ, all I can say is after working myself silly for the past 30 years, at least I got something to show for it... like a big fat mortgage!
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  11. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   

    Joey-- I know where you are right now.

    Don't stop, keep flying. (was my mistake...) Do this for your friend, he would want it this way.


    Remember your family and be safe, but don't stop the joy of what you have started. In his memory.




    My sympathy, prayers and thoughts to you and theirs...
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  12. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   

    Thanks everyone! Jezz thanks for the suggestion. I took you up on it and went flying for a bout 30 mins. This has hit me pretty hard. After the most thorough preflight and the most conservative approach and landing I've done in a long time I felt alot better.
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  13. Russ. added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   


    Hi Doug,
    Nice digs, looks like the Taj Mahal. Russ.
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  14. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   

    The latest addition...

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  15. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   

    Projects...










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  16. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   

    Inside and out...










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  17. dholly added a post in a topic NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works   

    Framing and siding...










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  18. dholly added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    NE AvidFoxFlyer Skunk[y beer] Works
    Thought you might enjoy seeing some pics of the shop I built. Farmed out the real heavy stuff, but did the rest myself over a few years with a little help from friends. Learned a lot in the process. You can see a couple of my Avid projects in various states of disrepair along the way.

    Nice not having to run to an airport hanger to work on your project, but kinda tough taking off in the back yard.










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  19. dholly added a post in a topic Kitfox IV main gear & axles   

    -sold-
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  20. dholly added a post in a topic Inductive Panel Mount Tachs   

    After a bit of conversation with SenDEC, it appears the best option for 2-strokes is their Fastach FS500. Can be found for slightly more $ than the TinyTach. Spec sheet .pdf is attached.
    pn801-822 Fastach.pdf
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  21. dholly added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   

    So sorry Joey.

    Why bad things happen to good people will forever be one of Life's mysteries. Once the shock of sudden loss wears off, losing friends and family still sucks. But we fly on. Not quite 3 years ago, only a few days after Mike and I flew home from OSH in his seaplane, he and Dave crashed on takeoff. Dave was the guy who pushed me to start flying again after 20+ years and welcomed me into the local H2O pilots group his energy created. Among their enviable attributes they were passionate, accomplished pilots who had logged thousands of hours and truly loved flying. That skill allowed them to walk away from an engine out in an old T'craft that put them in the trees a year earlier, but not this time. Just a terrible loss for the families, community and our group, and our grief was heavy and lingering. But an amazing email to the group by one of the spouses who saw through her grief changed a lot of attitudes and helped the healing process begin. I'm certain she wouldn't mind my sharing if it provides some small measure of comfort.



    Dear friends,

    I just want to take this opportunity to wish all of my flying friends a very happy and healthy new year. I also want to thank you all for the tremendous support you have given me in these past few difficult months. I know that all of you lost two dear friends, too, yet you have made it a point to take the time to check in on me. Please know that I am equally worried about you. You lost friends who were sharing your passion, and I don’t want any of you to lose that joie de flying. Just remember that Mike and Dave would want you to fly on, just as they did after last year’s accident. And remember, too, if they could have written a script for themselves to leave this world, it would have been as they did. Probably not so soon, but I can confidently say of Mike that he died with no regrets and as a happy man. We should all be so fortunate. A car accident would have been a true tragedy. It is difficult for me to relate to your feelings on this. I can’t quite imagine what it would take to lose a friend training dogs, my passion. I have no doubts walking onto a training field. I hope that you will not hesitate, either.

    I would also like to thank you for the tremendous joy you brought to Mike during his life. Yes, he had a great passion for flying, but he also had a great passion for all of you. You gave him a chance to truly unwind and forget for a moment the “other person†he needed to be at work. Yes, he loved his career, but he needed a release and you gave him the opportunity. I am forever grateful to you for helping to make him a happy man. Just remember the gin: he truly would have done anything for all of you!

    So, I wish you all continued flying in clear skies, good health and the pursuit of adventure and joy which Mike and Dave exemplified. Be well and happy!

    Yours,
    Laura

    Do not lose that joie de flying.
    We should all be so fortunate.
    Be well and happy!

    Indeed.

    We fly on.
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  22. Jezz added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   


    Hi Joey

    Sorry to hear the bad news. I never know what to say at a time like this except to be assured that, as one global community, our thoughts are always with our fellow pilots who fail to come home, and with those friends and family they leave behind.

    From experience though, may I suggest you take your own bird for a little trip ASAP. My first really knocked the confidence out of me, but my friends forcing me to fly the very next day was the best thing they did.

    Once again, sorry for the loss.
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  23. Jezz added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   


    Hi Joey

    Sorry to hear the bad news. I never know what to say at a time like this except to be assured that, as one global community, our thoughts are always with our fellow pilots who fail to come home, and with those friends and family they leave behind.

    From experience though, may I suggest you take your own bird for a little trip ASAP. My first really knocked the confidence out of me, but my friends forcing me to fly the very next day was the best thing they did.

    Once again, sorry for the loss.
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  24. SuberAvid added a post in a topic First overnight camping trip in the Avid   

    Beautiful pics; looks like you need to make that a habit. Some very nice country. Can you hunt there?

    Always fun trying to fit your gear in the Avid isn't it? I have not been able to fit enough for two people to do it in one trip including the passenger. I guess it depends on how comfortable you like to be, and I like to be warm and dry if possible.
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  25. horsepower added a post in a topic Lost a friend to an accident yesterday   

    Sorry to hear that Joey, I have been watching the pictures that you post with your Rans flying buddy,take a little time off and do something with your family.There is always comfort in that.Sorry for the loss. Randy
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