FredStork
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Everything posted by FredStork
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FredStork added a post in a topic Wanted: Big wheels and tyres for Avid IV
I still cannot give you any feedback on the Desser 850-6 but now I have 2 landings on them.. Yes, I did my first flights after the complete re-build yesterday! It felt like an early Christmas..,
No issues what so ever... perfect balance no strange tendencies. Felt very much as before the re-build to be honest..
First landing after 2 years was a true kiss landing, the tires are like fluffy pillows... A minor bounce on the second landing but nothing to be ashamed of.
Look, no hands...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Flying With The Doors Off Avid Mark 4
..maybe you could chill a few beers if you hang them in a wet bag in the prop wash...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Flying With The Doors Off Avid Mark 4
I'm doing a 3rd version that I highly recommend, I fly with the doors closed but open the windows... Much less drag, less risk of stuff falling out, can be used even by newbie passengers (opening the door in flight can be a bit scary first time you fly), great for photo...
And installing windows to open is a perfect winter project. Details and more photos on my blog, June 18th post
Nothing beats flying with your elbow out the window on a hot summer day...
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FredStork added a topic in Two Strokes
Simonini Victor 2Is anyone else using a Simonini Victor 2 on an Avid Flyer or Kit Fox?
I changed from an old Rotax 532 a few years ago. At that time I found very little information and almost no first hand experience on this engine and, once I have decided to buy it, I created a blog to to share my experience and eventually get in contact with other Simonini Victor 2 users.
2 years ago I made a hard landing and took the opportunity of the repair to completely rebuild my plane. My blog changed direction during this work and became the "Oratex adventure". However, I have now (finally) completed the restoration and my blog is now again the Avid Flyer Simonini Victor 2 adventure. I'll pick up where I left. i.e. at 63 hours of pure joy on the engine. At my last flights (2 years ago) I was consuming 30% less than with my old 532 and have had no issues (but 63 hours is nothing...). However, going from 60 HP to 92 I had to increase the pitch on my 3 blade warp drive so much that I think I lost efficiency. I now have a new 2 blade fixed pitch prop made specially for the engine and plane. We will see what difference it makes.
I will continue posting my experience on my blog and happy to answer any questions.
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FredStork added a post in a topic UNLICENSED PILOT CRASHES PLANE, KILLS 5
There was an article in France some time ago announcing 4 people injured in an ultra light aircraft accident. Normally the journalists call ultralight for light aircrafts unless it looks like something you build using and old lawnmower and I assumed the just did it the other way around this time (ultra lights in France, like the Avid Flyer and other Kitfoxes are limited to 2 seats).
But for once they were right... Thay had crashed into 2 persons on the ground....
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FredStork added a post in a topic Wanted: Big wheels and tyres for Avid IV
There were some rave reports on the old Yahoo US Avid Flyer list. Comments like " I love them", "landing on pillows" so I got a pair.... So far I have only tried mine on the ground (!), first flight is planned to this weekend. They do give your bird an attitude...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
I confirm, Simonini is big in powered parachutes where the competition is less dominated by Rotax. Everyone say that are very interested in the Victor 2 engine but that "next time" they change they will take Simonini...
In Europe Victor 2 is popular for auto giros (new thinkers) while all other have been eating Rotax for breakfast, lunch and dinner for so long they actually think it should taste that way...
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FredStork added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar
Center of GravityThe recommended CG for the Avid flyer model C is, if I'm not mistaken, forward limit 11.185 inches and aft limit 16.5 inches from the leading edge. (I have a hand written note on the cope on the manual I have saying "19.0'' STOL wing Dean Wilson". Not sure what that is worth..).
Being nose heavy is a common problem for the Avid Flyer and I assume many of us are flying close to the forward limit. While that is not a problem I was just wondering how efficient this is. We compensate a forward balanced plane with engine and/or elevator or trim.
Would we gain noticeable performance/fuel reduction with a better initial balance (say in the middle of the advised CG range)?
Any thoughts, experience, expertise on this?
I have a Model C HH, and unless I go on a long comping trip with a lot of luggage I will always fly close to the forward limit. And I do have a permanent trim force on the stick...
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
No problem. You have the link to Simonini Italy in the link section on my blog, but I'll make it simple for you, here is a link to the page with English pre-selected... You will have to click "Contact" or scroll to the bottom of the page.
I hope this helps
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
Lorenz,
I'm not sure I'm reading you correctly. Who do you refer to when you say "the owner", if you mean the owner of the engine you are already talking to him. If you want a private conversation with me this forum provide direct contact between members. If you mean the manufacturer you can eaily find Siminini Italy on the web.
In regards to fuel consumption I mentionned a 30% reduction going from my old 532 (the single ignition version of 582) that easily cinsumed up to 18 liters while I'm now down to 12,5 liters per hour. More details can be found on my blog (see below) that I created with the intention to share my experience with the Simonini Victor 2 engine. You need to scroll back 2 years as I have had a interuption in the fying due to a complete rebuild.
I now starting flying again and have a new propeller that after the first ground test appears very promising. I will be posting information shortly on the blog.
Regard
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
Hi Lorenz,
if I answer the questions in reverse order I think the 3rd one will be obvious...
3) I have not personally measured, and even less compared, the torque for nor Simonini Victor 2 or Rotax 912. But as you can easily find on the web they have the same torque (103NM) if we compare the Victor 2 to 912 UL (I'll let you compare Victor 2 plus and Vioctor 2 S to 912ULS and 914UL...)
2) Yes, Victor 2 is even lighter than the Rotax 582 so you will gain over 10kg (22lbs +)
...so with the same torque, more horse powers, the instant acceleration of a 2 stroke and less weight the answer is given.. takeoff and climb is outstanding and the less weight you have when landing the better it is.
I will soon provide new in flight numbers as I'm now trying my new propeller. The ground tests yesterday were very promising...
I hope this helps
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Towing with fuel in the tanks
Go to my my blog and scroll down to June 18th "My best modification" post. You can click the photos to see the detail, the ret is in the text.
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FredStork added a post in a topic Towing with fuel in the tanks
Hi Jon,
2 issues with towing with fuel. The first is, as you say, the extra load where you don't want it bouncing up and down. Even with empty tanks make sure you ALWAYS use the tow struts when towing...
The second issue is the fuel getting siphoned out of the tanks spraying your windscreen and door windows. A drop of fuel on plexiglass will make it white, fuel running on it will make it crack...
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Wanted: Big wheels and tyres for Avid IV
Well, there is frequent misunderstanding that people with airplanes have a lot of money. People with airplanes maybe have been rich but have no money left.... I'm at the end of a complete re-build of my bird... well, I think you get the picture..
Someone wrote something like "an airplane is a hole in the sky that you throw money through", and there is truth in that.
The Maule mechanism is good but the hard rubber wheel less so. If I can get to where I want for 100$ rather than the double I'm sure I can find a hole to put the difference in...In worst case I could always buy fuel...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Wanted: Big wheels and tyres for Avid IV
Thanks!
Yes, the low quality rubber show on the photo...
I was thinking about Matco rim and tire
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FredStork added a post in a topic Wanted: Big wheels and tyres for Avid IV
Has anyone found a pneumatic tail wheel that fit on the maule gear? I'm tempted to try to adapt the 6" Matco rim and tire...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Windshield attachment Model C #378
I used a (black) double sided sticky foam tape, About a 1 mm thick. Apply it first to the horizontal instrument panel, position the windscreen correctly and pull off the protective (second side) file from between the screen and tape.
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
L Saupe and E Bored,
Good and bad news... As you can read on my blog (scroll down to April 2011 and see also May 2011) the bolt pattern is the same and the propeller axis will exit so close to 532 that no real modification to the cowl is required. Less than 1 cm lower and increasing so slightly the spinner diameter fixes that...
Now to the "bad" news.. While the same bolt pattern is probably all that matters if you mount "free air" on a gyro or trike the different shape of the engine might not be compatible with your current "under cowling" engine mount. The rear part is wider and the starter is placed on the side of the engine (where is should be) and not protruding at the back where no one want it... (how did they think?). I had to partially modify the engine mount and the shape of the firewall.
I also modified the the back-plate of the engine and moved the coils to save some space (and gained some weight!).
I also added a small bulge to the cowling to avoid the spark plug caps from touching the cowling. It was close with the 532 and even closer with Victor 2 - this might not be your case depending on cowling. This is the only area where cowling might need to be modified due to the shape of the engine.
The exhaust pipes might require you to cut a slot somewhere but most likely not to change the over all shape.
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
and by the way, nor fuel valves or even running the carburetors dry will help when you have this issue, after 10 days - we tried all...
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FredStork added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2
Emory,
thanks for reading my blog ! Did you see my 10 December 2013 post about the NGK BPR9ES spark plugs, where P stands for "Projected insulator type"? I have the plugs in but don't have 1 st hand experience to share yet but Simonini Victor 2 friends tells me they resolved the fouling problem. "P" plugs are also used for inverted Rotax 2 strokes to resolve the same issue.
It won't help you, but might help someone else...
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Fred's films
Salut Manu!
maybe I could stop and say hello if I succeed to do my "I had a dream" flight next summer.. I still have that dream
Amicalement
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic I've got it covered......
Ed, do you have the reference/link to the 3M hotmelt glue you mention? I have been searching but not finding it...
And in regards to experimenting with alternative products I strongly recommend to use the original Oratex hotmelt as reference. If we find stronger or as strong cheaper it is a win...
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Model C ?
Nope, straight bing carburettors, just like on my old 532, pre mixed fule, no leaning or mixture control. But honestly, it is not my fuel consumption that is outstandingly low but 532/582 that is outstandingly high... I consume like a 912 (but get 10 hp more and less dead weight...).
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FredStork added a post in a topic Fred's films
Hi Ad,
no not yet (and today it is snowing !!!!!). This is what Mike posted on the US Avid Flyer yahoo forum when he shared his experience:
As far as a speed difference I expected that I would slow down a mph or two but really can't see a difference. They are 6 inches larger in diameter and my liftoff speed went from 35 to 32 so I like that. Landing and taking off is allot of fun though as with the big side walls they really soak up the bumps.
As soon as I have personal experience I will post on my blog.
Regards
Fred
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FredStork added a post in a topic Model C ?
Edmo,
no, those are not Swiss mufflers. One of the "secret" of the high power of the Simonini Victor 2 engine is that it has tuned exhaust pipe, one for each cylinder. They are rather bulky as you can see but with 92 HP from a 2 stroke engine consuming 30% less that a 65 HP ROTAX it is something that is easy to live with...
Read more about the Simonini Victor 2 on my blog...
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