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Good catch Chris on the trike gear in the tailwheel spot.  Sharp eyes.  JImChuk

Thanks! Yes the gear moves so easily from extended to retract it is amazing. I feel lucky that the idea to use a bungie came to me :-)

Regarding the battery, I don't know. I just took the fuse to the airport to put the wings on and I will do a W&B. and figure out if I need to move it or not. That's where it was. I'll move it if W&B says I should. Good call and thank you!

I have it all re wired and re plumbed, have run the engine so its pretty much ready to go. I just got an email from the FAA yesterday asking me what phase 1 fly-off radius I wanted! Can you imagine that? Since when do they ask? They have been wonderful to work with on this project.

Welcome! This is an incredibly helpful and knowledgeable group.

That looks like a nose wheel weldment in that fuselage. Worth it weight in gold IMHO. That means the plane can be easily converted between trike and TW configurations making it more saleable to a much broader audience.

One thing I notice is that the fuse appears to be sitting on trike gear positioned in the TW mounts. If you are planning to fly it as TW you will need the TW gear legs which are longer and swept forward.

But that and many other details are a long way from being important right now.

Congratulations on your new plane! Avids are awesome.

I almost bought an Ellipse! It was a beautiful plane. Could fly very fast and very slow. This was many years ago. It was an unfinished "kit" The wings came completed because they were so complex. Made of wood. Then common sense took over (for me anyway) when I realized just how difficult it would be to repair a wing if a ground loop or something damaged it. And I would be just the one that something like that because I like to fly and land lots of places that are sub optimal. I ended up passing on it but it was a GORGEOUS plane and would have been incredibly practical except for the complexity of the wing.

Hi all,  a flying  friend of mine passed away and I am helping his widow sell off some stuff.  I have a bunch of more pictures of each item, but will just post one of each for now.  

2 Skycom ANR headsets with cell phone or music connection.  Aircraft spruce sells them for $240 each.  They appear to have never been used.  $140 each

2 Sigtronics S 1M headsets, also appear to be unused.  $100 each.

Garmin GPS Map 295 with extra mounts, antennas and case.  Manuals. Works good.  $225

Bendix King KX 99 hand held radio. Spare rechargeable battery, battery pack for AA batteries, charger, headset patch cord, case, manual.  Works good.  $125

Private message me and we can connect.  Thanks,  JImChuk

So glad to hear Dean is still doing OK. I bought Avid kit 44 from him, What a great guy!!!!

Randy Rentz

Ill take it

Ed at edshoe5272@gmail.com has a deal for you.  For those who may not know, the Ellipse was Dean Wilson’s 4 place design, but only 5 or 6 were ever built, It was featured here several years ago, maybe someone can pull it up? BTW, Dean is still doing OK.

One is for a 582.  The other one I am not certain what it was purchased for.   It comes with an Arrow 500 engine that I am not sure if I am going to use.  It is new old stock, but there isn't much information out there about it.

Well welcome to the group. looking under the plane I see what look like motor mount or mounts, looks like more than one. Do you know off hand what engine they/it are for?

Thanks.  I have been digging into this forum for a while and have already learned so much.  But it is all academic until I get this plane home and start working on it myself. 

Regarding engine choices for the catalina...it's all about weight and W&B. The Catalina is fairly tail heavy and the engine is located back of the aircraft's c of g. From my experience using a 912, I would not install anything heavier because you will have to add weight in the nose to fly solo....that means heavier engine + ballast to fly:(

Lastly the fuselage upper structure was designed for 65Hp and the most powerfull engine installed with dean wilsons blessing was the 912. I would not trust the structure to be strong enough for more horses....if you do I suggest a structural analysis.

L.

Brilliant chris, keep at it and you will fly her soon:)

One question I have for you: why is your battery located that far back? The catalina is tail heavy and I found that the battery in the nose helps a lot on my Catalina.

L.

Welcome to the group.  And we welcome questions!  Pictures always are nice as well.  JImChuk

Hello,

I have been lurking for a long time here and just took the plunge and bought an unfinished Avid mk IV kit.  I am driving to Virginia in a few weeks to pick it up.  The first step is going to be going through everything to see what is there, what is missing, what is broken, etc.

I will probably have many questions.  I beg your patience.

I have a Rotax C box, just need a serviceable 3.47:1 gear set.  Let me know if you have a set for sale. Thanks, Brad

I have a Rotax C box, just need a serviceable 3.47:1 gear set.  Let me know if you have a set for sale. Thanks, Brad

Bye Ed! You are missed.

Chris

Washout is one of those internet things where an idea with almost no merit becomes a full on debate point. Ethanol in fuel is another thing that somehow is deemed pure evil, but let's save that for another day.

The amount of washout on an Avid is low, but in the pack for all airplanes. Reduce the washout at your own risk, it serves a real purpose in providing roll control while near stall. Somehow washout gets to be the whipping boy for reducing cruise speed, I am not sure why. A degree or two reduction of angle of attack at the wing tip actually makes the overall wing more efficient, since it makes the lift distribution come closer to the ideal elliptical wing.

We all take that final flight sometime. Some leave a positive legacy in their own special way and I certainly feel the better for having met and talked with him over the years. Blue Skies Ed, from all your friends at AFF!

Most if not all of the avids were built on the same washout level using the 2 inch block. Depending on engine some mk4 planes can do 125 mph with that amount of washout.

The first issue I see is your poor glue joints from the wing rib to the spars will be so stressed they will eventually pop loose.  I would adjust your prop first and see if that helps.

My Model 1 wings were built with a 2" block under the spar to set the washout as opposed to the 1 3/4" block called for in the plans.  I never flew it but was told it cruised at about 65 mph. This is about 10 mph slower than most of the cruise speeds i have heard for the early foxes with 65 hp and I suspect the increased washout plays a big role in that. 

Just fyi the current model 7SS uses a half inch spacer.  I wonder how much faster the early foxes could be with that amount of washout? I've read a few posts on the subject but didn't  that see question answered.

In any case I'm interested in cutting off the aft upper end of my lift strut and installing a rod end in the hopes of removing as much twist as possible. I've read a few posts on the subject.  I saw the caution about fuel tanks. I have 1 6 gal aluminum tank in the right wing so I know I can't go crazy. Do you think it's possible to get a full half inch out of it? Or will I be lucky to get even that extra 1/4" out?

Any things that i need to be aware of if I go this route?

Damn

iso nose gear for a kitfox Model 5...thx!