Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. akflyer added a post in a topic More flight time on N84KF   

    sounds like a great way to vacation.. Good luck on the training.  The champ is a piece of cake to fly and landings are a no brainer in it... you want something that will keep you on your toes try a pacer in a good cross wind!  Speed management is the key to a good landing.  Get you speeds set up on approach dont come in fast then try to bleed it off right at the end as you will float way down the runway.  If the plane stalls at say 40 then my approach would not be over 45 when I cross the numbers.  A quick flare to arrest sink rate and you are on the ground with the stick in your lap!  Most of the strips I fly into do not allow you to be floating down the runway.  you have one shot at it and if you are too high or fast, you better get the power in now and go around or you will be cutting trees at the end or swimming in the river..
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  2. JSD added a post in a topic More flight time on N84KF   

    They're starting my training right out on a taildragger next month so I guess that's the only way I'll know to land. It took a little search to find a place that would do that. Figured I might as well start on what I'll be flying & get that endorsement right off. I live in Colorado but will just take a truckload (I'm in the trucking biz) out to Ohio and they say I can camp there in my sleeper and fly twice a day for as long as it takes. I've got a bunch of time reserved on their Aronca Champ. So that'll be my vacation. ;D
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  3. 84KF added a post in a topic More flight time on N84KF   

    Because the Series 5 sits at such a nose high attitude on the ground, getting it to achieve this position just prior to the 3-point landing requires that the stick be way back when it touches down.  Now, that's the norm for any taildragger, but being so light, with such a slow stall speed, makes it critical in 84KF.
      Here's the physics of a botched 3-point landing.....
      Normal approach, when over the numbers start to round out, level off, and keep pitching nose up to flare. If the speed is a bit to fast yet, hold that nose high attitude and bleed the speed off. With speed now decreasing, more back pressure is required to "hold" that landing attitude.  Now the fun.

    If the mains touch first, with the tail still up, the downward momentum of the tail forces it to continue down, increasing the angle-of attack, you get increased lift again and plane shoots up again What many pilot refer to as a "bounced" landing is actually the result of the plane getting a quick burst of "new" lift from the rapid increase of angle-of-attack when the tail continues down (quickly) when the mains are on the ground acting as the pivot point.

    I guess my point is ...  have the airspeed and attitude correct at the moment of ground contact or the plane will "bounce", and to get it in the correct nose-high attitude requires that , at the time of stall, the stick be ALL the way back. If it's not, and the mains contact the ground with excess airspeed, (then momentium moves the tail down) it will balloon back up.

    I won't get into "wheel landings" right now. But that's why the timing of touchdown on the mains and simultaneous forward stick pressure is necessary in that situation.

    Here's another teaser picture.  I like to refer to this hanger as my "toy box", although they are not my toys.  But then again doesnt the mechanic really own the plane and just let's the pilots fly them??
    steve


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  4. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Pancake Breakfast, Swap Meet and poker run
    EAA 975 is hosting their annual pancake breakfast, swap meet and poker run on Saturday the 30th.  Hope the weather holds!  Any Alaskan EAA members or anyone with an interest in aviation is welcome.
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  5. akflyer added a post in a topic More flight time on N84KF   

    Keep it up Steve... you will find me on your doorstep begging, pleading and crying......

    now tell us the story about why you learned to keep the stick in your lap.. she get a but squirrely on ya?
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  6. 84KF added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    Mans best friend....
    Take your pick.... I won't say which one it is.

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  7. 84KF added a topic in Kitfox V   

    More flight time on N84KF
        Not much wind this evening, so 84KF got another 1.1 hrs in the air.
    The engine purrs when at 4,000, 4,500 rpm and is performing great. I'm starting to trust it more now, and getting use to the high rpm noise, although at 4,000 rpm it now sounds no more annoying then the the Lycomings and Continentals at 2100-2200 rpm. I'm amazed at how smooth the engine is through out the entire rpm range.
      Only one landing today, on pavement, but I know now to make sure the stick is ALL the way back when the ground and tires meet. With 1st notch of flaps...stall at 38-40 indicated.
    39.1 total time.

    I'm including a Stearman pic for Leni.
    steve



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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic A&P on duty... the price is right too.   

    Welcome aboard!
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  9. JSD added a post in a topic A&P on duty... the price is right too.   

    Yes thanks for the link & offer. Steve, we talked in email once & I got busy & didn't get back to you but found your explanation very informative. I do prefer this particular format for a forum over the email list type though I don't tend to post much. I sure don't see any problem with having more than one forum dealing with the same subjects. I'll post some pics of my fledgeling project when I get some time. I've got it stored now until I build my shop. : Thanks again for the interesting book.
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  10. akflyer added a post in a topic A&P on duty... the price is right too.   

    Thanks for the offer and the link.  I have downloaded the PDFs and made my own book.  BTW, if you have it in the PDF format, you can hit control F type in whatever you are seaching for and it will find the related words.  I use this feature ALOT in dealing with code books and code question.  Real nice quick reference tool!
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  11. 84KF added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    A&P on duty... the price is right too.
      This post is to re-establish the offer to assist, if possible, with aircraft related information and such.  I don't have specific Kitfox construction experience, just 30 + years in general aviation service, maintenance, and restoration as an A&P with I.A.. Dope and fabric is included.
      I was a maintenance instructor for a number of years at a FAA approved Part 147 A&P school also.
      I would always tell new student that "I don't know everything about aviation maintenance, but give me a few minutes and I can look up the correct information..."

    I think the best reference for building any aircraft is AC 43.13 1b  Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices


    http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99C827DB9BAAC81B86256B4500596C4E?OpenDocument

    Best to have in handy book form, but it's available on the net in many forms.

    steve
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  12. 84KF added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Auto fuel (?)
    Through Internet research and conversations with gas station managers, I am led to believe that Shell V-Power premium auto fuel has no additives such as methanol. Just unadulterated hi-octane gas

      Can anyone confirm this as such? If so, it would seem to be the choice of auto fuel for my 912 UL.  It is more expensive than Speedway or Clark and such, but still..., much less than 100LL avgas at the airport. And I won't get the excess lead contamination that Rotax warns about.


    steve
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  13. akflyer added a post in a topic my mod C   

    Last ones for now.  The metal trailing edge was added and all flaperon hanger rib tails and cap strips were replaced.  The wings are rib stiched for that extra piece of mind when flying though turbulent mountain passes.




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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic my mod C   

    Engine was rebuild and 0 timed with new crank and the works.  New "C" box with Clutch was added for float flying..




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  15. akflyer added a post in a topic my mod C   

    and some more




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  16. akflyer added a post in a topic my mod C   

    and a few shots of the various stages of the re-build.

    The red lines indicate the welds on the two sections of the upper longerons that were bent when the previous owner put her on her back.





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  17. akflyer added a topic in Avid Model C   

    my mod C
    Well due to the new site software, I guess I will start all over with this one.  I picked up a basket case the last week of September 06 and now have it about 90% re-built.  The fuse and right wing are ready to go and the left wing should hopefully be completed by the middle of June.. looking for a test flight date of around the 22nd or 23rd if all goes well.




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  18. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    It OK to post over here
    For those who are lurking and not posting for fear that you may be banned from the other site, I think I can safely say that the automatic banning of anyone who posted over here is over with.  The new mods over on the list have much cooler heads and have actually been very helpful in the last week or so.  My hats off to Guy and Mike
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  19. 84KF added a post in a topic looks like it is heating up on the other side   

    Although.... I thought "Top Gun" was a good movie.

    " Do some of that pilot shit Mav....."

    But I also like "The Right Stuff" where the real Chuck Yeager is playing the old bartenderhandy man at Ponchos early in the movie.

    anonymous


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  20. 84KF added a post in a topic Ahh... now I see. I think.   

    Ahh....  great!!

    Here's some Stearman smoke for ya.

    Thanks,
    steve

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  21. akflyer added a post in a topic Ahh... now I see. I think.   

    OK steve, I figured it out.. It was a permisions box I had to check.. I would have thought that a global mod would have automatically had all the permisions, atleast all of those that a regular member has... I guess that just proves what happens when you ASSume something
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  22. akflyer added a post in a topic Ahh... now I see. I think.   

    hmm.. thats wierd.. the attach option shows up right under those that you listed.. I will check settings again..
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  23. 84KF added a post in a topic Ahh... now I see. I think.   

    These are what have to choose from...., but no "attachment" option.

    Additional Options... 
      Notify me of replies.  Lock this topic.
    Return to this topic.  Sticky this topic.
    Don't use smileys.  Move this topic.


    shortcuts: hit alt+s to submit/post or alt+p to preview
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  24. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    looks like it is heating up on the other side
    hmmm... I don't think the lets be friendly thing is getting a certain new moderator any Brownie points on the "other" site..  It seems most guys want to keep a little anonymity on the site... is it me or are the posts slowing way down over there?
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  25. akflyer added a post in a topic Ahh... now I see. I think.   

    Steve,
    do you see the additional options in blue below and on the left side of the text box?  I can, and when you click that it opens the attachment option.

    Let me know if this works for you or if I need to reset your user ID

    Leni
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