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Activity Stream



  1. dholly added a post in a topic I need an ELT antenna   

    Yeah I know most E-AB's mount ELT's inside but the manual says use an external antenna only. Maybe to meet FAR 91.52 rather than performance, regardless, there are no internal antenna install instructions. It does say to keep 3' away from comm antennas. Since this ELT is only a year or so old and a pretty popular model, I just figured finding a replacement rod antenna would be easy.

    Also, after RTFM, it says to position the antenna vertically w/ the tip up but my ELT and rod antenna were mounted horizontally. How necessary is antenna orientation really for best performance? I know why it was mounted the way it was due to the lack of handy up/down tubing in the KF III so fabricating a new antenna mount to properly orient an external antenna internally may be the best answer. Either way, I need a new antenna.
    Check those old parts boxes and let me know if you have something that will work before I try to braze the old rod antenna.
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  2. egp8111 added a post in a topic 582 cylinder replacement   

    that was the problem ! thanks
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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic I need an ELT antenna   



    One thought... buddy of mine wrecked his plane (the time you really need the ELT to work) it ended up on its back... guess what happened to those antennas that were on the turtle deck / wing root.. he heard the elt going off in his head set so he went on to the next issue.. got out of the plane, made sure the passenger was OK then set about getting a fire going etc... blizzard cam in that night.. he kept going back and putting his head set on and turning on the radio and confirmed that the ELT was going off... took 3 days in a blizzard before it hit him that the antennas were broke off. He pulled the ELT out of the plane, ran up the built in antenna and presto.. withing minutes rescue was looking for him.

    I put the antenna for mine behind my seat inside the plane. if it gets broke, the ELT will be destroyed and I will be long past caring if it does not go off. The mounting instructions for mine said it was fine to put it inside the airframe on a tube n fabric plane.


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  4. C5Engineer added a post in a topic I need an ELT antenna   

    I built a little plate and riveted it in where the turtle deck post is. My antenna is mounted upside down inside the fuse. If it's on the top of your plane if you ever flip her over on her back it's gonna break off and be useless. Most taildraggers I've seen have them in the fuse. You can buy a whole new AmeriKing ELT for pretty cheap these days. How old is yours?? Might be a better route to just replace it all or invest in a 406.
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  5. Russ. added a post in a topic I need an ELT antenna   

    Doug the ELT antenna should not be mounted on the belly. I have mine on the turtle deck. Comm. ant. on other side. Russ.
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  6. dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    I need an ELT antenna
    I notice the rod antenna on my Ameri-King AK-450 ELT is broken and I can't seem to find a quick source for a replacement rod. Even if I did, the installation manual say the rod antenna needs to be positioned vertically (which mine is not) and I wonder about it's effectiveness mounted inside the fuse with the 'farady cage effect'? So maybe a whip to the belly or turtle deck mount, or is that too close to the com antenna? Make my own? Suggestions pls.
    • 4 replies
    • 42,056 views


  7. dholly added a post in a topic Instrument Panel markings   

    Well Leni, I'll never make this a beauty fox but it doesn't take much time to slap a little lipstick on a pig eh? Last night I ripped all the instruments out and sprayed a little matte black on the small panel. I'm just going to try a low-tech lettering solution on the light part first, ie., laser printer on a clear shipping label with some clearcoat. If it looks too cheesy I'll probably try the decals. In any event, that old wood style had to go...

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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic The Difference between a Good and a Great Landing   


    now that is funny !


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  9. Trackwelder added a topic in Jokes   

    The Difference between a Good and a Great Landing
    According to an old flight instructor with over 38,000 hours instruction. A Good Landing is one you can Walk away from. A Great Landing is one that the plane can Fly away from. He says I am making great landings for a tricycle but they may only be good for a taildragger
    • 1 reply
    • 6,314 views


  10. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Avid Catalina   

    Supposedly it is complete, and tthe pictures show it finished to upholstery, there are supposed to be a few flaperon/rib tails that need to be redone but nothing I haven't repaired before. If it is true the original builder had a stroke after completion but before getting an airworthiness certificate. and the paint appears to only be in silver. The present owner isn't after money until I show and the price is resonable. It could be a good deal or it could be a waste of time, maybe just need paperwork to put it as a 2 person craft.
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  11. akflyerbob added a post in a topic Avid Catalina   

    Mine is actually an amphibian, not a Catalina model. I don't know the diff.
    However it is 38"(inside) wide at the shoulder. The gear is not on mine but I put the gear
    legs in and, aprox, 58" out side of tires, w/sponsons @ 4" wider.
    The wings, mine, @ 15'6" long.
    As for plackarding the back seat, for w/b the second person rides in the back,
    if you carry one.
    All the vidios I've watched, the passingger is in the back. I have not watched
    a vidio with 3 aboard.
    What stage of build is the plane in?
    Bob
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  12. akflyer added a post in a topic Inductive Panel Mount Tachs   



    Great, looks like you just cost me some money. I was going to re-do my pannel and take some weight out of it, and some of these gauges look pretty cool. I have used 5 or 6 differnt tiny tachs and never had an issue with them. I know several places are putting thier label on them. I was in the toy store a couple weeks ago looking at one from Mercury Marine and it was IDENTICAL to the tiny tach ( they has a few of each) just with a different brand on it.


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  13. akflyer added a post in a topic Instrument Panel markings   


    I know alot of guys that use this on model airplanes, but never thought about it for doing the pannel. I would wonder how it will hold up unless you shoot a clear over the top when you are done. If you do go with it give us a reports and let us know how it turned out. you should be able to make some pretty trick labels with it!


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  14. dholly added a post in a topic Tailwheel Spring   

    Anyone using the Grove aluminum tail spring... good or bad?
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  15. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Avid Catalina   

    I have a chance to buy an unfinished Catalina but before I take a long drive to look at it, can somebody tell me what the interior cabin width is? it would also help to know if it will fit on a 20' flatbed carhauler, what is the width of the wheels to the outside so I don,t drive a thousand miles and find out I brought too small of a trailer. I am almost done with my A model, widening the rear of the doors afew inches and replacing the wood stringers with metal, when my wife finally gets around to teaching me how to put pictures up there will be a boat load. Finally mediated with the railroad over my back so I can get a few toysand the catalina looks like a good job the DAR said that as long as I mark the backseat as baggage only I can fly it Light Sport.
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  16. dholly added a post in a topic Windshield/skylight replacement   

    Well, after reading a recent post on another site where the skylight pulled away from the butt ribs and blew out the turtle deck, I wanted the backers but I just couldn't bring myself to start cutting fabric yet lol. And sometimes I just get stubborn enough to take the hard road as a matter of principal. Anyways, I didn't realize the windshield post holes were in the wrong place until looking in the manual for rivet sizes and already match drilled the new windshield. so as long as there is no safety issue I guess I'll just re-do the way it was and save having to replace the trim angles.
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  17. dholly added a post in a topic Instrument Panel markings   

    Agree they look great but one reason I'm liking the decal printer paper is the ability/flexbility to produce more than simple two-line lettering labels. For example, think of round background graphics for the face on a Main and Aux fuel selector valve, or even reproduction color logo decals etc.
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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic Windshield/skylight replacement   



    Couple holes in the tubes are not going to be a deal breaker... I would put a little hysol over the hole to keep water out and call it good. or run the windshield rivets back in place. U spent alot more time dicking with the backers than I would have.. Ida cut the fabric in about 2 seconds flat and had it done in an hour, but that is why you will have a beauty and I have a beat around the bush, alder basher

    make the fat bastard your show bird and get the KF in the air


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  19. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Instrument Panel markings   

    My yellow plane has, and I plan on using on my 1200 rebuild, regular "P-Touch" plastic labels. They stick well, are totally customizable and are water resistant.
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  20. dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Inductive Panel Mount Tachs
    Shopping for the best price on a TinyTach TT2A and was surprised to find a local (to me) company makes and sells a similar product for under $40. I've read a fair number of posts about faulty TinyTachs and wonder if anyone has heard of or has any experience with the SenDEC tach? Among others, Cabela's sells it and it has rec'd 4 out of 5 stars rating there. https://www.sendec-p...s.com/index.php
    • 6 replies
    • 1,231 views


  21. dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Instrument Panel markings
    The instrument panel in the KF III is actually 2-piece, the standard 'small' panel itself which fits in the poly panel fuel tank recess and receives the instruments, and the panel fascia which covers the rest of the fuel tank. I made up a new panel facsia in cream white (like Cub J3 instruments) and will repaint the small panel in black.

    I will need to add new panel markings to both, but the typical homebuilt decal sets from ACS and the like strike me as a waste since so many decals are not applicable and I would need to buy two sets due to the two-tone panel. They actually don't include what I want anyways. I know several have custom labels or placards made but I'm looking for a budget alternative.

    My research has led me to 'laser water-slide decal paper', like this. Comes in black or white, which I need and seems simple to use. Any body have experience or able to provide insight how this might work? Probably preclude the use of wrinkle black paint on the panel though. Thoughts?
    • 11 replies
    • 1,588 views


  22. akflyerbob added a post in a topic 582 cylinder replacement   

    Are you aligning the ring with the stay pin in the ring gruve?
    Both ring gruves have a pin to keep the ring from turning.
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  23. dholly added a topic in Kitfox III   

    Windshield/skylight replacement
    Ok, bear with me...

    The new to me model III windshield was crazed at the forward carry thru tube and really needed to be replaced. Since the plane came with a bunch of stuff including some clear and tinted .060 Lexan, I figured I'd get that out of the way first and the long Memorial Day weekend provided the opportunity. Not having done this before I was a bit nervous about cracking the Lexan but that ended up being the least of my worries.

    Both the windshield and skylight were riveted on. Once I figured out the best size bit for the job, drilling out the rivets went pretty smooth... for the most part. Unfortunately, the rivets holding the skylight to the butt rib capstrips had a tendency to spin and some were generally stubborn as hell to get out. Did I mention, the builder went the distance and completely covered the butt ribs, which looks great but offers little to no access to grab a rivet shank while drilling. Suffice to say, many of the original 1/8" holes in the capstrips are probably 5/32" or bigger now.

    Using the old windshield for a template was a snap, I cut the outline with a fine tooth metal/plastic blade in a Multi-tool (Harbor Freight's Fein knockoff) and drilled the polycarbonate with a standard 1/8" metal drill bit. Following the Manual instructions I went back and enlarged all holes to 3/16", +1/16" to allow for expansion/contraction with (hopefully) minimal cracking/crazing. I brought the new windshield down to final size and smoothed the edge with a small sanding drum in the Dremel then 220 grit on the palm sander. I'll ease and final polish the edge with some 600grit by hand after taking off the protective film.

    For the reinstall, rather than upsize all the holes and use larger rivets into the capstrips or risk pulling new rivets through the capstrips, I decided to make some .035 alum backer strips for 1/8" x 3/8" large flange aluminum rivets I had in inventory. I really didn't want to cut the fabric over the butt ribs for access, so I had to work through the fuel gauge inspection cover in the right side, and a small opening in the outer left side near the rear spar. I tried match drilling the strips with the old skylight pattern and slipping them into the butt ribs first. Had to work with two pieces per side and with a lot of fiddling and trimming, finally got them cleco'd in place. Well, kind of, I was still unable to get all clecos in so I marked the strips in place and used the 'prototype' strips to make a final set of backer strips with better hole placement.

    After finding the white part of my Hysol supply had crusted over, I followed a tip that heating slightly in the microwave softens to mixing consistency and prepared a batch of epoxy. Not sure if the earlier heating or the 90* hot weather caused it to go off quick, but even with the stuff placed in my beer fridge to keep cold it was a race trying to get the strips epoxied in place before it became too hard. It was also a messy job trying to snake the strips into the covered butt ribs but the job is done and it's done right without the need for any fabric patchs. I'm a bit surprised the KF III construction manual recommended riveting directly into the wood capstrip, though it sounds like manuals were revised sometime later to recommend backer strips. In any event, I'm hoping I kept the Hysol far enough from the holes to prevent gluing the clecos in place while it set up, and the glue on my iPhone screen come off. Grrrr...

    The foregoing drama aside, the only real issue I have is with the front windshield post rivet position. From what I see, the manual says to butt the windshield edge to the tubing and drill through the corner angle, lexan and mounting tabs. Mine was originally drilled through the mounting angle, lexan and into the tubing. Clearly incorrect and I don't want holes in the tubing that compromise strength if I'm banging around on floats. So the question now is do I remove the corner angles (looks like they just 'snap pinch' over the tubing and are held on with the two rivets securing the door gas struts) and weld the holes shut? Or add some Hysol and a steel rivet to close each hole? What's the fix here? Funny how the simple jobs tend to turn into more than anticipated, I guess Murphy is alive and well.
    Getting closer.
    • 13 replies
    • 15,002 views


  24. egp8111 added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    582 cylinder replacement
    curiosity got the best of me wondering if my 582 with 27hrs.TT was a boat anchor after being stored for 8 yrs, so I started taking it apart to have a peek inside. One thing lead to another and soon I had the cylinders off. Good news all the needle bearing looked good on the conrod bearings etc. I'm going to send it off to be serviced by a Rotax expert but I need to get the cylinders back on. I read the Rotax manual etc. but I can get the cylinders back on past the lower piston ring. Is there a trick here or is it just me ! thanks
    • 2 replies
    • 4,421 views


  25. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Memorial day   

    Amen.
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