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  1. 1avidflyer

    Posted

    I just looked at that Avid with the 912, and that is a sharp looking airplane. I have no doubt, that it would fly rings around the one with the Suberu engine. I would bet that he would have to throttel back to "just" cruise at 90 with the 912. STOL performance would have to be far better as well. Far lighter = better usefull load also. If it was me, I'd be focusing most of my attention on the Avid with the 912. $1000 more, but who knows, that might go away in a deal..... Take care, Jim Chuk

    Hope the guy with the Sub isn't reading this, but it's just how I feel and you asked....

    If I were to buy the yellow/white Avid in Wyoming, what could I sell the EA81 for, maybe as a FWF package and install a Rotax 912 or 914UL. I've been told atleast $25,000 to do the Rotax conversion which is definitely out of my budget at this moment but might be food for thought in the future.

    From my quick calculations it would increase useful load from around 70-100lbs which would make a substancial increase in performance solo and dual with no decrease in HP and the fuel burn should remain around the same.

    I'm also curious what can be done to increase cruise speed. The owner has told me I could turn out some higher RPM's with a prop adjustment and might be able to get to a 90mph cruise but I would take up alot more runway and turn higher RPM's which would in turn reduce engine life. Would Vortex Generators and Gap Seals help in any significant way? Would it be possible to mount the radiatior anywhere else? I've heard of the cowl being modified to mount the radiator up front and reduce alot of drag.

    Thoughts, experience?

    1 person likes this

  2. Mendlerr

    Posted · Edited by RMendler

    If I were to buy the yellow/white Avid in Wyoming, what could I sell the EA81 for, maybe as a FWF package and install a Rotax 912 or 914UL. I've been told atleast $25,000 to do the Rotax conversion which is definitely out of my budget at this moment but might be food for thought in the future.

    From my quick calculations it would increase useful load from around 70-100lbs which would make a substancial increase in performance solo and dual with no decrease in HP and the fuel burn should remain around the same.

    I'm also curious what can be done to increase cruise speed. The owner has told me I could turn out some higher RPM's with a prop adjustment and might be able to get to a 90mph cruise but I would take up alot more runway and turn higher RPM's which would in turn reduce engine life. Would Vortex Generators and Gap Seals help in any significant way? Would it be possible to mount the radiatior anywhere else? I've heard of the cowl being modified to mount the radiator up front and reduce alot of drag.

    Thoughts, experience?

  7. Av8r3400

    Posted

    Leni - Most of the tubing I have used is 3/8" x .035" tubing. On the tail alone I think we have used near 30'. There is some 1/2" and 5/8" x .035" used, too, but not much - a couple of feet each, tops.

  8. Av8r3400

    Posted

    I agree, Doug. Nice setup there.

    I have short human arms, not the long orangotan arms some guys have. I'm thinking of a 90Ëš mitered joint with a small "T" handle on the end to reach it...

    1 person likes this

  9. Av8r3400

    Posted

    Four for Four is a pretty comparable airplane dimensionally, on the ground.

    In the air a Kitfox IV or later is FAR superior. (Sorry Avid guys) The wing and control system is leaps and bounds superior in it's speed, handling and control.

  10. dholly

    Posted

    Ha, and I thought mine was simple. Much easier than making up the spring loaded thumb button and cutting notches in a plate radius. This flap handle idea works great, just need to be able to reach it. tongue.gif

    post-53-13631346831562_thumb.jpg

  11. Mendlerr

    Posted

    Well i think the kitfox idea is fading fast but I'm still going to take a look at it and see what one looks like up close. It should be similar in dimension to the avid mark iv. If not the same correct?

  12. akflyer

    Posted

    IMO - a Kitfox IV with a 582 that is PERFECT, including the Gold Lindy it won at Oshkosh last year, might be worth $20k if the motor was zero timed.

    Some points to consider:

    Lowrance GPS - Worthless Junk. Unsupported by anyone now.

    The King KX76A Transponder is a $250 unit (little value)

    The rest of the panel looks very heavy - Gyro instruments? Really?

    I bought a IV-1200 Classic a couple of years ago (my restore project) with a 912 in it for $18k.

    That plane is a $15k plane, max.

    X2 Larry is just about dead on with his thoughts on the plane. The only kicker is, the light sport market is heating up and it seems to be turning the corner and gaining some value as guys are loosing the medicals or are on a fixed income and can no longer afford to fly the gas guzzlers..

    :BC:

  13. akflyer

    Posted

    yeah, that looks like a bit more than my little 2110 bored and stroked VW :lol: ... but even with what I have, I put a brand new 97 chevy with a 350 vortec to shame on a paved road... he would have never thought I could take him, but by the time I shifted from 3rd to 4th gear he was just a dot in the rear view and I was over 100 MPH. Its fun to play with in the mud and sand. Many times I put big jacked up 4X4s to shame with mine dancing across the top of the mud. I will have to dig out the old video tapes and comvert them to digital and post up some vids one of these days.

    :BC:

  14. akflyer

    Posted

    She be looking good Larry! I like to see progress pictures! I know your putting alot of thought into this so your going to have an awesome finished product! I do like the trim tab and the over size feathers! You are really making me think about ordering up some tubing and getting it delivered to the house before I get home this time! What size tubing did you use for the elevators? I am 800 miles away from my plane right now so I cant measure the tubes. I may have to lay it out and get an idea for how much of what I need to order... or if you would be so kind, maybe you have an idea of how much you used that you may pass along :lol:

    :BC:

  15. Av8r3400

    Posted

    IMO - a Kitfox IV with a 582 that is PERFECT, including the Gold Lindy it won at Oshkosh last year, might be worth $20k if the motor was zero timed.

    Some points to consider:

    Lowrance GPS - Worthless Junk. Unsupported by anyone now.

    The King KX76A Transponder is a $250 unit (little value)

    The rest of the panel looks very heavy - Gyro instruments? Really?

    I bought a IV-1200 Classic a couple of years ago (my restore project) with a 912 in it for $18k.

    That plane is a $15k plane, max.

  16. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Jim, Just a reminder when you make the push-pull elevator tube - If the bushing is already installed in the fuselage, you will need to insert the tube before riveting the last end on it.

    If not, then make sure you put the bushing on the tube before riveting the last end on it.

    You probably knew that, but just reminding you - when you get my age, you need reminders for everything!

    I will try to get measurements on the 1 and 2 tubes this week. If not, please remind me!

    ED in MO

  17. Mendlerr

    Posted · Edited by RMendler

    I think the guy wanting 26 for a 582 powered KF is smoking crack. I don't care how nice it is, that is pretty high for that plane.

    :BC:/>/>

    I was thinking the same thing. What would think is reasonable for it? I may make a counter offer

    I'm leaning more towards the avid even though it doesn't have much time since a major repair. I just worry about the avid having mechanical and structural issues even though it doesn't appear too

  18. Av8r3400

    Posted · Edited by Av8r3400

    Got some more done today. Lots of the $1.25 putzy little jobs that add up to a finished project...

    Here is a view of the tailwheel mounted on the spring. Yes, there could be a hazard of crashing the wheel into the rudder. I believe the bottom of the rudder would absorb an impact and bend rather than jam *if* the spring were ever to break. The spring is a three-leaf model made by a local spring shop with a much better overall design than the "S" shaped oem Avid or Kitfox spring that are known to break real easy. I don't do the extreme off airport work that a lot of you guys do, so again, I'm not that worried.

    post-36-13631308138124_thumb.jpg

    This is the "gate" that I made up for the flap handle. I have a "for-real" trim tab, so the infinitely adjustable flaps used to trim are not needed for this plane. I saw a similar setup on Paul Seehafer's plane and like the simplicity and positive action of it.

    post-36-13631308224694_thumb.jpg

    This will give me four "notches" of flap action: 0Ëš, 8Ëš, 16Ëš and 24Ëš. My yellow plane is rigged to give some reflex at the bottom for nose up trim and up to 26Ëš of flap which I do use on occasion. This setup will be slightly less.

    We also got the door strut mounts finished up and welded in place on the door frames and fuselage opening. There may still be a little "tweaking" to do on the door frames yet, but that remains to be seen.

    My new wheels and brakes came in today from Grove. I got the 6x6 "tubeless" wheels and double puck brakes for this beast. I may just wind up ordering a custom (taller) spring from them yet, but we'll see...

  19. EDMO

    Posted

    The true man's man runs a Cadillac Northstar motor in his sand rail these days. With a turbo or two, I've heard of them getting 600+ hp pretty reliably...

    He wouldnt get far on the little aluminum beerkeg gastank, and 50-cent-a-gal, gas we had on our VW's - but must be a hell of a ride!

    Ed in MO

  24. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Ed- the feds fail to account for the layers of body fat necessary to weather the upstate NY winters. Translation: I eat out too often. :)/>/>/>/>

    We all eat out too often - Engineering theory 101: The cold air that produces the need for more insulation also is denser and the lift of the wings is enhanced to make up the difference.

    (Unless your scales are "air density compensating",Cheating on scales is necessary)! Just ask a woman! :lol:

    Ed in MO