Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. SuberAvid added a topic in Local Fly in's   

    EAA Chapter Chili Feed
    Since things have been a little quiet on this front I thought I would at least report that we had a good fly-in chili feed yesterday at one of the guys place on W. Beaver lake. Unfortunately not too many flyers; mostly drivers. One of the other guys who has a Z701 called me to make sure I was going to fly. Seems it is pretty embarrasing to have a fly-in with no fly-ins . We at least had 4 planes this year instead of 2 last year (guess who the 2 were?). I made the ultimate sin of not bringing my camara though . Still, had a lot of good hangar talk and way too much food; and I got to stretch the Avid for a little bit. With our recent melt down (Palmer was up to 49 degrees) I didn't know what Wolf lake was going to be like. I knew it was plenty solid, just didn't know if there would be a lot of water on top of the ice. Turned out it wasn't too bad, just some slush pools; and all the other lakes out to the West still had snow. Coming back to Wolf lake last night; it is amazing how far you skate on wet ice . I am not sure I would ever have stopped as long as the prop was turning; finally had to just gently turn it around and start skating back to the truck and trailer to load it up and tow it back to the hangar.

    Hope things get cold again soon, I need a little more winter flying . Come spring I am going to hae to bite the bullet and start transfering parts to the Avid+. Life is going to be tough with no flying airplane .

    When are you Kenai guys going to do your pancake breakfast this year? Maybe that will be my last flight before I pull the wings?
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  2. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    I guess I have the feeling comfortable bit to come to me. I flew an Avid spin-off a few weeks ago, called a Eurofox, and it felt comfortable after about 30 mins except I will have to re-learn what my feet are for!!! I stopped flying sailplanes in 1995 and it seems that the sensitivity of balance balls on GA aircraft has been increased since those days!

    Damn damn damn!!!!

    Is there an option to retrofit the Avid with yaw damper?

    OK, off the funnies now - I am going to see her on Friday. For some reason I feel like a nervous lover on a first date.

    I fly to the UK on Thursday morning, make out the check for the portion of the payment that I was not able to transfer from my bank in the first hit, then on Friday I am going to see the current owner and make myself broke in a single hit. Cant wait!!!

    The current owner has put the wheel spats back on for me and re-installed the OAT probe(it is an Annex 6 (II) requirement that all international flights of GA aircraft have an OAT indication. The wheel spats had been taken off because the current owner is flying from grass, but I think I will only be doing 1 or 2 flights from grass before we leave the UK, but for that I will have to wait until April at least

    So, next Saturday I will be back from the UK and will be sure to add some photos - I only wish they could be airborne ones
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  3. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   

    Ya 40 hours took forever. I felt completely comfortable in the airplane after about 10.
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  4. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    That makes good sense to me now. After I made my previous post I spent about 2 hours going through all the Avid accident statistics and comparing the causes to those of Lycoming/Continental driven machines. It seems to make quite a bit of sense, especially with the 2 strokes, to restrict your possibility of harming someone else until the engine has had a time to run in and you have a feel for the aircraft. It does seem that 40 hours is a bit excessive though, but I guess the FAA have no other way of ensuring that you comply with the manufacturer's maintenance handbook etc. at least this way they have given themselves a clean conscience.

    Jezz
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  5. horsepower added a post in a topic Road trip   

    Joey, California has lots of beautiful country,most people think of it as nothing but skyscrapers and housing developments.Which it does have plenty of them also.I know the area your pics are at real well as I was born in Ashland, Oregon just over the border.Lots of hunting and fishing in that area,pics bring back good old memories.Randy
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  6. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Road trip   

    I met up with the buyer of my Ultralight early today and got back on the road early so I said screw it and just kept driving. I drove 810 miles in just under 13 hours. It was a nice drive though down I-5. I got some sweet shots of Mt Shasta along the way.







    The view just driving



    My other big hobby besides Avids is Toyotas. I have a fully built 4-Runner that is a full on rockcrawler. My wife drives a Camry and I drive a fairly modified Tundra. I have gobs of Poser shots and here's a few more.



    These shots were actually taken at the Weed, CA airport that I stopped to check out.


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  7. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    The 40 varies with the aircraft. If you are using a certified engine, and a known airframe, this time can be as little as 5 hours. If you are using some home made engine made from an old washing machine he may make the time 1,000 hours.

    40 is kind of a standard for common experimental equipment. But, it's really at the discretion of the FAA representative.
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  8. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    Thanks for that Randy. Perhaps the 40 hrs is linked to the ICAO time it takes to get a license. Perhaps they think that if you have done 40 hours in the thing then you should be proficient to fly it? Anyways, I am in the middle of working out the test schedule for when I take delivery of my baby. I am going to do probably 5-10 hours before setting out on the track back. Photos will be forthcoming!

    Jezz
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  9. horsepower added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   

    Here in the U.S after the D.A.R. inspects your airplane and everything passes then he will give you an area near your airport that you can fly. This is usually a 40 hour time frame and during that time you are not allowed to take a passenger.I guess they figure it will take 40 hours to get the bugs worked out of it.I guess its a good thing but 40 hours does seem excessive.Good Luck with your new toy. Randy
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  10. Jezz added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    Thanks for the pic Joey. The 196 was my number 1 choice because I think it gives the best value for money. I have a lot of space over on the right hand side to put avionics (and an extra 30lbs for free to fill it up with thanks to Leni helping me sort out my W&B), but I really don't want to put a panel mount over there. Aside of the fact that it would probably cost as much as my aircraft, I will be doing some instruction in her and I wanted a GPS I could take out so I can give the students a hard time with map and compass

    I am pleased that the 196 is serving you well - I just can't wait to get mine in the air now. SOoooooo impatient I am!!!!!

    Have you clocked up any hours these last few days? What is this 40 hour restriction all about anyway? I think things are a bit different over here in Europe so it is a bit confusing for me.

    Jezz
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  11. popslick added a post in a topic Avid Catalina   

    Haven't seen any progress for one long time, whats going on Bob, I want to see this thing fly when I come up in July!
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  12. C5Engineer added a topic in Hangar Talk   

    Road trip
    Pulling out of here at 330AM in the morning to meet the buyer of my Powered Parachute 400 miles North of here. I'm coming about halfway back. I got invited to stay the night from a guy off another forum on a Flying Ranch up near Mt Shasta. Hopefully I can make a good contact and have a cool destination to fly to this summer. 900 miles and I'm planning on being back by Noon on Sunday...can't wait... :hammerhead:
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  13. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Buying my new Avid   


    I have a 196 in my Avid also. I've been flying all types of planes with it for the past 4 years. I've never had any issues with it. I updated the database once is all.

    I just used a RAM mount over on the right side of the panel.


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

    My new GPS (Garmin 196) came yesterday!!! That is the belated valentine for my new baby. Just another week of waiting and I will see her again :D

    Leni - did you get back yet? Don't want to pester as you have been a great help already, but I was just wondering if you had managed to find those extra files? Hope you are having a great time in the snow - we started to thaw here yesterday, but a bit of -10C overnight and now back with a healthy covering again this morning!

    Jezz
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  15. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Where did you fly today ?   

    Put on another ~4 hours today of ski flying. This is just too fun! We spent most of the day hoping from one lake to another testing (abusing) the new tail ski in as deep of snow as we could find. Eventually we found an area with avbout 10" of fluffy snow under a 1/4" hard crust. It works pretty good so far.

    The guy with the champ in the photo has TrickAir skis (he is an A&P and works with them). Note the tail wheel on the Champ and on my Kitfox. They are both 6" Mauls, but mine has the ski attached.

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  16. Bandit added a post in a topic Where did you fly today ?   

    These Avids and Kitfoxes are just a blast to fly. Put my 7" tailwheel on today. Went out to try it, landed on a few hills and valleys,man what a beautiful evening. Check my U-Tube video of taking off circling and landing in about 45 seconds.I just tried it once tonight, with pushing it a little more I think I could shave a few seconds off that time.
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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Gearbox Clutch   


    AKFLYERBOB and myself are running them. I love it for cold starts or warming up on floats. The engine starts and idles MUCH better without having to get that prop swinging. Idle is rock solid at 1500 RPM. The down side is you cant stop the prop in the even of an engine out so the glide suffers alot.

    Having a dead battery out in the middle of nowhere is another big issue, but so far I have not had any troubles. You can change out to the clutch real easy even if the engine is mounted so it is something you can upgrade to real easy later on if you want to.


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  18. horsepower added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Gearbox Clutch
    Any of you guys run a clutch on your C gearbox? Sounds like a good thing other than trying to prop start but dont know a thing about them.I dont really have an extra 500.00 to throw away but if it is something that a guy should get then now would be the time to do it as I dont have my engine permanently mounted yet. Thanks Randy
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  19. Bandit added a post in a topic Opinions on Matco TW's?   

    Before I flew tonight I was looking at my Matco tailwheel. To me it looks like they would release easier if the rudder control arm was lowered 2" To 3". The way it is set up now most of our pressure is pulling the tailwheel arms upward. If the rudder control arms were lowered so the pull would be at less of an angle I would think it would release easier. Take a look at Joey's tailwheel picture and see what you guys think.
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  20. Bandit added a post in a topic Phase I complete!   

    Congratulations, I'll bet it is nice to have your time flown off.
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  21. horsepower added a post in a topic Phase I complete!   

    Good job Joey,Im hoping to get mine up and flying by this fall or sooner.When I see you guys with your pics and videos I get a little jealous so have been burning the midnight oil.I havent even been working on my dragster and thats usually priority.Glad to see your new engine is working out too. Randy
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  22. akflyer added a post in a topic Phase I complete!   

    congrats! now the fun begins when you can take the kids and wife up for rides and share some of the good times!


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  23. Russ. added a post in a topic Phase I complete!   

    Congrats Joey,
    Looking forward to getting mine done this summer. Russ.


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  24. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Phase I complete!   

    Congrats, Joey!!

    Now I'm gonna have to come all the way back out there, again, for a ride...
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  25. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Opinions on Matco TW's?   


    To do that you need brakes that work. That's next on the mods list. I extended my arms out an inch and put compression springs on it today and it works great now. Can't wait to get my brake project done and my 21's on there.
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