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Nice pictures Randy! Glad your hunt was successful so far from home!

Had a great time meeting Mark (Chewie) while I was in Hood River this last trip and visiting the WAAAM museum with him.  Here are some more pictures just to get everyone drooling.  Concentrating on biplanes this time.  How about those WACO's!  New additions since I was there last.

Oh, I can't resist; and my elk from a fun, successful hunt!

Empty CG was for the plane only.  Not to worry, I didn't fly it as a UAV.  The most forward CG was with pilot only and min. fuel.  With the 10lb in the rear cargo area the CG was 11.39 in this configuration.  It took the 10lb in the cargo area to get it within the forward CG limit.  In the Avid+ the wing tank arm is at 15" but the seats have an 18" arm which helps.

 

Ed, my empty weight is 830 lb.

Thanks for the weight comparisons - I guess 733 would be light for the Soob - I am hoping that mine comes in at 800, but have to wait until it is finished to know that - Maybe I'll go on a diet.

With my 4"extended leading edge, cutting off 1 1/2" of rear of rib by doing the Riblett conversion, and making 15" ailerons and flaps, I am figuring a CG range of 13.2 Forward, and 20.4 Aft - using same % as Avid.

I hope my calculations are right for 60" instead of 51" standard chord. I need to go measure the chord again.

The 13.2" forward would be maybe 7 to 8" if I had standard wing, and would not be in the approved range of 11.185 to 17.

These are all just calculations - Someday I will have the real numbers.

I should have about 160 square feet of wings.

EDMO

I have a similar idea for my project Mangy Fox...

I don't really like yellow (says the guy with a yellow plane) but I like the visibility it affords...

Wow, that is even nicer in the close up pictures.  I can't remember if you said what you did to the plane when you built it.  Obviously you greatly increased the rudder but it looks like you stretched it also, is that right?  I like the clean routing of the water lines and radiator scoope; hard to do with the regular Avid to get the plumbing through the gear.  JackAk did a nice job on his but was able to run the lines down the center since the additional width of the Avid+ gives about 6" between the ends of the gear legs where the bungees wrap.

You are going to be like the rest of us now, as Joey described, where we can't stop looking at our birds and taking pictures of them.  The real fun is in flying them though, I have 289 hours on my Suber Avid now and am still loving it.

I'm not sure that it matters what your empty CG is. It wont fly without you in it (hopefully) so I would think that what really matters is forward CG with the lightest pilot and lowest amount of fuel being inside the CG envelope. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean by empty CG?.... Wing tank fuel is figured at 15" and people are at 16", so both of those move the CG back. Jim

Empty CG was for the plane only.  Not to worry, I didn't fly it as a UAV.  The most forward CG was with pilot only and min. fuel.  With the 10lb in the rear cargo area the CG was 11.39 in this configuration.  It took the 10lb in the cargo area to get it within the forward CG limit.  In the Avid+ the wing tank arm is at 15" but the seats have an 18" arm which helps.

Ed, my empty weight is 830 lb.

Jim on some airplanes especially bigger tricycle ones it's important to know the empty CG so they don't tip over on their ass when they are sitting there empty on the ramp. On our little planes it's not a factor. Mine is forward of 11.185 empty as well. All my calculations with me and fuel in it put it in the 12 range. I'd like to have it closer to 14-15. Hoping getting rid of my side radiator will shave some more weight off the nose.

Sam I totally forgot my friend Bill had a set of extended speed wings hanging on the wall of his hangar. I spoke with him yesterday and it sounds like you two have been in touch. Hopefully you can make a deal and get back in the air. Rancho Tehama is a really cool little community. I fly up there frequently.

Really like that paint scheme! Congrats on the solo! Now the real fun begins. Just remember to wiggle your toes when your on short final. Even after 330 hrs and a 1000 landings I still have to Psych myself up a little before landing on pavement. About the time you think you have it down pat she'll throw you under the bus.

Sounds good Leni, and Ed

I am thinking the water will be stiff enough when I get home in a few days to fly off of on ski's.  Vodka definitely makes one braver

 

Hey Leni,

I finally got to fly briefly yesterday; weather was not great so just flew around the patch for an hour to blow the dust off.  I was in OR for about 3 weeks hunting and last week had to fix everything that broke while I was gone.

Water looks good and hard on most lakes now; quite a few folks were out ice fishing with ATV's and UTV's.  My son in law went out this afternoon on Wolf Lake and said there was about 8".  A lot more than I expected.

I put the skis on the plane when I got back to the hangar yesterday.  Let me know when you are back in town and if you are going to be heading out this direction or to the lodge.  I will try to catch up with you; of course if you are flying the 180 it will have to be while you are on the ground.

Hi Willis,

 

Your plane is looking GREAT and coming in a 733 lbs is amazing!

 

My empty CG is 9.17.  With the forward CG limit at 11.185 and rear at 16.5 my solution was to just keep a minimum of 10 pounds of survival gear in the rear most baggage area 

 

Look forward to hearing your test flights reports.

I'm not sure that it matters what your empty CG is. It wont fly without you in it (hopefully) so I would think that what really matters is forward CG with the lightest pilot and lowest amount of fuel being inside the CG envelope. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean by empty CG?.... Wing tank fuel is figured at 15" and people are at 16", so both of those move the CG back. Jim

I am thinking the water will be stiff enough when I get home in a few days to fly off of on ski's.  Vodka definitely makes one braver

 

Talked to a friend of mine this evening, and he said there was 4 1/2" of ice on a local lake this morning. That should hold the Avid on skis.... even without the vodka! Jim

Thanks Bryce;

 

Ed, what´s with my rudder???  could you get me the mail address of the guy Ulf you sold the LND.gear? I sent a mail, inviting all Avid and Kitfox owners in Sweden to meet and join this forum here, but more than half of the mail address came back as unvalid, I got them from EAA sweden or a kitfox.eu.

 

Regards

Dimi3

Your rudder looks great - more square at top than most Avids I have seen - but more like the Airdale - probably works better than the rounded rudders.

Send Ulf a PM on this site - I just got a message from him, but could not remember your handle - He is "Snowpaw" on here - If you don't know how to use the members list or send a message, we can help you. Cute plane - guess there is a reason for no numbers on it? changing countries maybe?

Best Wishes,

EDMO

Unfortunatly, I think I will beat your 16 year record - Been trying to get mine built since 97, and 2 daughters and a divorce and 2 moves to Missouri from Alaska, a wrecked plane, which had never flown, in the Yukon, 2 new homes rebuilt, a new wife, and still 2 more years to go to finish!

Congratulations on a nice-looking bird.

Good Flying,

EDMO

Robert,

I would like to hear more about the "new bushing" as compared to the early ones.

EDMO

I would like to learn more about building flaperons. I bought a Raven (Kitfox clone) project that needs flaperons. 

I'm new to building and hope to learn alot from you guys.

Wayne

Here is a picture of the F7A the first set is almost complete. The linkage rods are design with replacable stud instead of welding Grade 8 cap screws to the end of the tube which results is unknown strength. My fabricators wanted to be sure that these units are safe and high quality. This will run the price up some but I think that you will agree that it will be worth the extra few bucks. I will post the price when my fab guys let me know what they have to have to build these.

That was a little off topic. I need another drink...

(You should see the absolutely crude jig that Brett has for making flapperons....  !)

That was a Japaneese sold car.  Note the mirror placement and right hand drive. 

I was told by a former coworker from Brittan that cars in Japan were mandated to be off the road by three years of age.  These cars are then highly saught after in Brittan for their good condition and low miles.  I wonder if they are going to Russia, now too, despite the fact that they drive on the right side of the road...

I am thinking the water will be stiff enough when I get home in a few days to fly off of on ski's.  Vodka definitely makes one braver

That is one good looking bird!  and with that rudder, you should be able to handle some serious crosswinds! 

Congrats on the solo!

YIKES!  hmmm guess no one ever told them you cant steer when your brakes are locked up   Was deffinately some good laughs in there though!

thanx randy ,wolverine, I soloed it last night ,after 10 dual for a taildragger ,87+ knot and d airspace endorsments. I  just went out and had fun with it for a couple hours today ,what a plane . i love the engine .