Activity Stream

That was one of the fixes way back when was to glue in triangles.  I know of more than a few that were fixed this way.  I like the new ends that KF uses on the drag tubes.

 

I really like the beef up on that drag tube, that will be real strong. Think maybe i might do that before i cover mine. Wonder if a guy was to hysol in a triangle piece of plywood between the drag tube and the spar if that would do that same thing.

Ed do you have pictures of the newer construction? Jack said he was not at all impressed with this early Kitfox wing construction vs. an Avid. No triangulation on the drag braces, less ribs, etc.

Amazing that it didn't flutter in flight. Guess this shows how good our round spars are.

EDMO

Jack said it looked like it had been in an accident at some point due to some patch work. What's scary is it was being flown like this.

Anyone ever see ribs broken like this? Impact? Ground loop? Transporting without braces? Twisting?

Those ribs acted like the grain was going all in one direction - Plywood does not usually break clean like that...

I have a hard time believing that the broken drag tube did all of this - maybe it all happened from the same cause at the same time?

The newer Kitfox drag tube to spar brackets are a big improvement over this old type.

EDMO

Yep, I made new ones a couple yeas ago that I got in the aircraft section at the local grocery store.  Teflon cutting boards work perfect or is you can get some UHMW that will work as well.

 

Joey, I like the skylight in that turtle deck I will have to do that on mine.  I have thought about doing it 100 times, but seeing pics of how someone else did it helps!

 

well since it is 40+ and raining at the house and I no longer have snow in the front yard, I am thinking I will be going back to wheels in the next week or so and I should have some flying reports for you on the new springs.

 

so what is the serial number of this air frame/ project as it came from avid? There are some implications with crooked airframes causing a bit of this maybe at times but sounds like you have a bigger problem with the flap attach ribsbeing glued in the wrong place maybe???

well I couldn't get a 2.62 gearbox ,well I could but rick got me a used one out of Austria with3.1 so basically I get free clutch with the savings .so I guess same prop with more pitch ?prop moving slower is better I would think.

Fresh annual, brand new blue head 582 installed, 115 TTAF.  For more details and photos:

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avid-Flyer-For-Sale/270446786333995

One of the UK's mandatory modifications is to sandwich the trailing ribs between .025 aluminum angles glued and riveted - Some in the US have made this modification to their ribs to strengthen or fix them. You could use this method to change the rib ends and reinforce them like Leni said.

The other possibility is to add material to lengthen the steel flaperon hangers by making a longer hanger and riveting it to the old one with structural rivets to make the flaperon hang straight in a lower position, or simply cut the vertical arm and rivet in an extension strap after clamping them for a test fit.

If one wing is slightly out of being true, you may have to make some adjustments on your controls to keep from having a "heavy wing" after test flights.

EDMO

I would wonder if you were to put a digital level on the rib next to the fuselage on each wing, are they the same?  (same angle of attack)   Leni mentions  if the lift struts are the same, and I agree, but check the wings at the fuse. first then further out.  I'm just guessing, but you have to start somewhere, eliminating things as you go....  Jim Chuk

EW 480lbs.

So, with EW 480, that gives you 470 lbs of load for 950 GW - a perfect load/weight ratio for that engine.

If mine comes in at 850 EW, then with the same 470 lb load, I am at 1320 GW, with a larger engine, stronger fuselage and landing gear, and more fuel burn.

I think what I am trying to say, is that with a light plane, you don't need more GW to haul the same load.

EDMO

Any ideas on how it came to be this way?  Jim Chuk

Bandit, I am curious about your performance. Cruise, climb, STOL? Thanks.

My serial number ends in E. I guess this makes it a Bandit. It has 083 spars. HH spacing and double false ribs as well as 7/8 struts. Does not have the plastic smooth wing cover on the front spar or the chrome sticks. Plane was on floats when I bought it. GW is set at 1200. EW 726. Since my bad landing(crash) I got a super deal on a complete fuselage (basically a complete aircraft) minus the wings and engine . Going to take a little time but she will fly again!

I hate you, Doug.

 

Just thought you should know.

EW 480lbs.

walmart has them in the cooking section. there the white cutting boards i think they are either the 1/8th inch thick ones or the 1/4 inch thick ones.

Thanks all for the responses. The Flaperon has not been drilled in place yet and is clamped in place. Making a scarf joint may work but not sure I feel comfortable making it strong enough. I may do more damage. Is it possible to heat the trailing edge ribs up with a heat gun and reposition then reglue in proper position. I could cut holes on the covering to get the heat gun in and then re patch the wing when finished? I would have to of course reposition the ribs and I wonder what this would do to the covering on the bottom of the wing. Think it would develop a large wrinkle? Think the top covering would stretch enough?

Thanks

Bill

The factory told me my Bandit's GW would be 950lbs with the stol wings.

So, what is your empty weight / usefull load?

EDMO

The factory told me my Bandit's GW would be 950lbs with the stol wings.

Here's a few pics hope they help.

Perfect! That helped me really visualize where they go. My kit is also missing the pieces that mount inside the turtle deck and fuse that captures the Flaperon tube. Do you know what material and diameter they are made from?

Thanks,

Bill

Logtruck driver sent me these pics. He recently acquired a Kitfox and noticed that one wingtip seemed to twist rather easily. The previous owners had been flying it this way. Variable washout...cool! Kinda scary.