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just received a quote from McMasters, UNBELIEVABLY, worlds going to hell in a handbasket

I’ve got memorabilia that goes back to day one

So Back in the mid 90's John Larsen had cloth patches made to promote the avid flyer. Does anyone remember the size of them or by any chance have one in their possession?

That's how I see it.

long time no update...

work, family, house refurbishing and flight lessons are only few excuses why my bird is not flying yet again. Honestly had disillusioning moments during the rebuild. But fortunately finally all the small achieved objectives puzzles together so hopefully there will be a flying plane again someday...

partial success

rebuilt 582 with all new cylinders, pistons, crankshaft,...

new wingtips

reworked fuselage, blasted, painted and smoothened out for Oratex

next put back header tank/fuel lines, wires for trim, ACL and antenna and lots of reaming prior installing all new AN hardware...

Thanks for taking care!

Good point to start from. No need for too strong springs as only purpose is preventing slack, right?

I finally measured mine this evening, and they are about 2 1/4" loop to loop.  3/8" diameter, and .035" wire.  JImChuk

I have not had them on the Mangy since the rebuild...

Sorry Tommy,  I meant to measure mine today when I went flying.  Forgot.  So just now I went out to the garage to measure and get some pictures of the ones for my new Kitfox.  Couldn't find them....  From memory, they are about 3/8" in diameter, and pretty fine wire.  About .035" or so.  They have to be short enough so they don't want to come unhooked when that pedal is pushed all the way in.   Mostly I think their main function it to keep the rudder cables tight.  I'll try to remember tomorrow....  JImChuk

I need new rudder springs, but unfortunately have no usable samples.

Has anybody rough spec. (dia./length/spring rate). I`m located in Europe, so ordering via mothership isn`t an option... Thanks!

So I'm just going to throw this out there... I am wondering how much like the ellipse the structure of the wing is on this plane? The ellipse wing being somewhat complex in that it had to be "skinned" in a full jig if I am remembering this correctly. This is such an aerodynamically neat plane on so many levels...

Here are some pictures i took of it in Deans shop. I was very impressed with it. He made the prop that is on it in these pics. I took a picture of the jig he used to make the prop. Pretty cool.

I'm hoping that you might be able to pull it out and spread the wings and get a bunch of pics both overall and of little details.  There's an awful lot to be learned from a master just by looking at his work. 

Glad to see you guys chimed in, I was privileged to have my Mk 4 in Deans shop for about a year while he was building it, we helped each other, of course, ‘who got the best of that deal?’ All of your thoughts and recollections are as I know them. Has it ever flown? All I can tell you is one Monday morning after we had checked out the engine, static RPM etc. I removed some wheat stubble from the axles. Beautiful work and engineering!

Was just looking at weight of the Continental engine, and this is what I found on Wikipedia.    That means a Jabiru 4 cylinder would be just a little less weight on the nose.  Hmmmm.  I see the plane's paperwork is still up to date as well, no airworthiness certificate yet though???  Wonder if the plane was ever flown?

A40-4

Single ignition, 40 hp (30 kW) at 2575 rpm, dry weight 144 lb (65 kg),^[2] Steel backed connecting rod inserts

A40-5

Dual ignition, 40 hp (30 kW) at 2575 rpm, dry weight 156 lb (71 kg)^[3]

Interesting airplane for sure. Very interesting airfoil profile from what I see in the pictures. Structure  seems to share a lot of mechanics with the ellipse. How the wings fold and the front wings pins pull...streamlining of the struts and the airframe. A very cool piece of work. The workmanship looks just exceptional. wonder how it performed or does perform?

If I remember right... wasn't that engine out of the first plane he ever owned?  Didn't he track it down, then designed the plane around that engine?  

15K is cheap for that bird!

Wow, did I read that right?  45' wing span?  Guess that is why it only needs 40 HP.   Do you know empty and gross weights JImChuk

Sent off the spinner for the 2-blade propeller yesterday.

Correction——inside width and headroom both 35.5” not 37.5” as stated,   Sorry.

Dean donated his last airplane to Lewiston Idaho EAA chapter 328, however like most of our shops and hangers were out of room. So we need to sell.   Some specs, WS 45’ fuselage OA  15’10” inside cabin W 37.5”, headroom 37.5”, power 40hp continental, 0 smoh  new prop. No paperwork.  $15,000 Or best offer.    Jack.   509 254 3068

I'm workinig on a kifox, so don't often look to see what's happening in the catalina world.  Mine has a hirth f30, 100hp on it.  Started out with a clutch, but the hirth clutches do NOT like sudden drops in power, (eg: about to take a buzzard strike!!). While several builders solved the tail-heavy CG by pouring lead in the nose, I put a pipe flange on the passenger-side floor, and install a 25 pound barbell weight when flying solo.  With 100 hp, I have no problems getting off the water at gross, and can easily hit vne in flight.   This one's mine..  http://youtu.be/v8N8fQ803iA     And, if possible, a clutch makes water operations much more manageable.

The hirth engines are not as well supported as the rotax, as far as technical information and parts go. I'm going with a 912 uls in the kitfox.

-Jack

Austin, TX

Odd in a way,  I think it's kind of rare for a Kitfox to burn.  Also, it looked like a pretty open area that would have been conducive for an emergency landing.  Not sure if there is a skid trail, or it was windy and burnt stuff got blown in one direction.   At any rate, sad to see it happen.  JImChuk

Not much info available. Couple news links in the ASN article.

Shame.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/348717

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