Activity Stream
Activity Stream
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akflyer added a post in a topic The Difference between a Good and a Great Landing
now that is funny !
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Trackwelder added a topic in Jokes
The Difference between a Good and a Great LandingAccording 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
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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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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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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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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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dholly added a post in a topic Tailwheel Spring
Anyone using the Grove aluminum tail spring... good or bad?
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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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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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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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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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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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dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar
Inductive Panel Mount TachsShopping 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
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dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar
Instrument Panel markingsThe 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?
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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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dholly added a topic in Kitfox III
Windshield/skylight replacementOk, 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.
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egp8111 added a topic in Rotax and other engines
582 cylinder replacementcuriosity 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
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Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Memorial day
Amen.
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dholly added a post in a topic Memorial day
In Memorium
The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children. -William Havard
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy
The cost of liberty is less than the cost of repression. -Web Dubois
The story of America's quest for freedom is inscribed on her history in the blood of her patriots. -Randy Vader
Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Dream of battled fields no more.
Days of danger, nights of waking. -Sir Walter Scott
The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem. -Rev. Aaron Kilbour
Thank you for giving your Life to preserve our Liberty and Freedom.
May The Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
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akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar
Memorial dayTo all those who have served, are now serving or will in the future a heart felt thank you! Without your sacrifices I would not have and enjoy the freedoms I do today.
<to all the fallen
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akflyer added a post in a topic "Club 3" is now open...
Nope, Johns was a mod II I think it was 465. I think it automatically changed your title when you hit the number of posts.. I will fix it back
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dholly added a post in a topic "Club 3" is now open...
@Larry- no plans for OSH yet. Seems every year I find a way to go but this year somehow the $$ just got a whole lot tighter. If I do make it, you know where I always camp and you can bet I'll wander on over to see how cold your beer is.
@Leni- I didn't even notice that. Site admin probably stripped me cause I've been slacking, lol. And I'm sure you're right, the Avid+ will be taking a backseat for a while while I get my flying fix. I'm very comfortable flying this M3 as is, but I still want to change the windscreen (crazed), fuel lines and fluids etc. first. I can't believe how light this thing is, will be updating W&B with the spring gear. Grove claims 24.3 lbs. on their website for the M3 gear so I bet it adds less than 9-10lbs net. Wasn't your bro John's KF a M3? Do you recall his empty weight on wheel gear?
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akflyer added a post in a topic "Club 3" is now open...
Hey Doug, I just noticed your no longer a club fatbastard builder... did you change your status or did the site do it when you hit X amount of posts As the original fatbastage builder on htis site, you can have that title back should you want it
I would bet you find that you will spend alot less time working on the fatbastard and alot more time flying the KF for awhile. When I first got my plane in the heap of shit it was in, I had it 99% restored in the first 3 or 4 months. Then my brother showed up with his KF from OK and I mothballed my project and put almost 300 Hrs. on his plane the first summer it was not until he sold his plane that I got back on my project... and it took me less than 2 weeks to have mine in the air.
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akflyer added a post in a topic A glimpse into Dean Wilsons workshop
Holy shnikeys i want his work shop and 1-100th of the talent that man has! One of these days I may get the chance to meet him when he cmes up here for his summer trips.. or at a fly in down there. He truely revolutionized the home build industry and gave us one hell of a fun bird to fly!
< to the man behind the dream
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dholly added a post in a topic A glimpse into Dean Wilsons workshop
Joey- these are really some awesome pics of Dean's 1909 Curtiss Model D Pusher replica, thanks for sharing! I knew he was working on this after reading an interesting thread about a 1911 Curtiss Pusher project on the EAA's Oshkosh365 website a while back. I actually live a short crow hop and splash from the Curtiss Museum on Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, in fact, several in my H2O pilot group are active in the Museum's restoration shop and building Curtiss replicas. There is a Schultz drawing based Curtiss Model D-IV replica hanging in the airport at ROC, but their crowning achievement was building and flying a replica of the 1914 Curtiss flying boat "America" a couple of years ago. Did you know Curtiss pioneered in the design of seaplanes and flying boats and is remembered today as the Father of Naval Aviation and, to the great chagrin of the Wright Brothers, the founder of the American Aircraft Industry. I highly recommend a visit to the Curtiss Museum website as it is a facinating glimpse into both early aviation and the genius of one man whose talents led to many notable accomplishments with lasting impact (kinda like Dean!).
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