Knuckledragger

I was all set to order the gauge and take on the challenge of making up a probe, then you guys posted.   Your sanity check probably saved me hours of wasted time!

Yes, I think those will work.  Shoot me a PM to arrange the purchase.

"a set of wheelpants for the city flyers"

Yes.  I have a set of the wider gear legs for it and a Matco tail wheel.  Planning to use these tires:

http://www.desser.com/Aircraft-Tires-and-Tubes/21800-6-4-PLY.asp

I would like to buy a set of floats that can be used on an Avid Mk4 582.

I actually need them.

I was fine being land bound around all the other amphibious planes that seem to be everywhere in central florida.  Fine and dandy.  Then, this guy posted this video and ruined it for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foPn48ap46Y

Good points.  We lose perspective down here in Florida.  People here break out the parkas when it dips down into the 50's.

Agreed.  I'm now in the air in the system camp, and I suspect a bad thermostat.

This is in Winter Haven, just across the field from Jack Brown's.  Seaplane rating is next.  I've gone flying lake to lake in a Searey a few times recently and worked on some landings and take offs, and to get the feel of above and behind thrust.  We also did dry land so I could get another type of tailwheel experience.  The other pilot is a CFI, so it counts towards the rating.

I'm the chubby, excited guy in the back seat.  That's where a solo pilot would sit, so I guess its the least common denominator kind of a thing.

Went up for about 2 hours of training in a 1946 Cub, powered by a 65 hp Conti.  What a sweet plane

We started at a nearby paved strip into the wind, then over to a grass strip for more practice, then finally 'home' to operate in crosswinds.  S turning the plane a bit seems to come a bit natural.  The part I need to 'get' is how much control effort to use on the pedals to 'dance' it in a straight line while rolling out.

On a side note, flying with the doors open on the cub inspired me to try this on my plane finally.  What a thrill!  It flies about the same with just the PIC door open and becomes a draggy handful when I pop the passenger door open too.  I knew to avoid slipping into landing.  It was like I got a new plane!

I experimented with several quantities and weights and the difference in shipping is always about $10-12 more for shipping.  Personally I think the extra 10 bucks for rolling it to me is worth it.

+1 on this.  Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to stop working on it and walk away.  I can't count the number of engineering challenges met or bugs fixed quickly after giving up and coming back hours later or the next day with a fresh perspective.

I wonder if there was a chunk of ice in the belly rad lines...

If so, the water did indeed come from the overflow bottle (more technically, the 'expansion tank').  Then as the system cooled and contracted, 2/3 of the fluid in the bottle got sucked back into the system.  This is to be expected.  Given the hypothesis that the belly line was plugged with ice: the thermostat would open as normal, but no circulation would take place allowing a rapid rise in temps and pressures in one specific area.  This would lead to the release of pressurized fluid into the overflow/expansion tank (AKA Puke Tank).

I'm glad your buddy came with his arms!  Under this scenario, your engine would have suffered an overheat condition and possibly seized.

Since it was below freezing, I would include a few squeezes of the radiator hoses especially around the belly radiator to check for frozen lines in your pre-flight checks.

Got it!  It all makes sense now, I think.

http://amzn.to/1YR7sOO

Bandit,

I don't understand what you mean by "The fasteners I used pressed into a hole I drilled into the ribs"  Maybe a couple of pics would help?  Since you used 10/32 machine screw fasteners around the outside edge, I guess you installed nuts somewhere as well?

Bandit,  what thickness alu did you use? How did you bend it to match the shape of the wing, or is it thin enough that just fastening it will shape it?  What fasteners are you using?

Ed, I believe this is addressed by the phrase, "and it uses the fabric as the way to assure good air passage for aerodynamic effect".  Nonetheless, your comment gave me a hearty chuckle!

But if it freezes over, you'll be asking all these other guys what to do

I hope it passes quickly!  I think I'd kick a car out into the cold and have that plane in my garage or figure a way to get it into the dining room before I left it out in that storm, yikes!

We need a video of you pushing that perfect snow around with your skiis!

Jim, where are you in this pic?

Call Rod at Performance Products LLC  (208) 761-8244 

I'm very happy to see this thread take form.  I too have a slowly disolving wing tank; mine in an avid.  I had the lucky fortune of making contact with a gentleman in AR who had 2 flat bottom wing tanks that I think will fit my bird.  I'll start taking picture and measurements and report findings here.

One interesting note: I drained my tank a couple of weeks ago to replace fuel lines.  Upon refilling it I discovered that it holds 15 gallons, not the "advertised" 13.  Draining took place through the fitting that feeds the header tank.  I left the fuel flow meter set up for 13 gal at full, It's just nice to know a couple extra gallons are in there.  Perhaps the extra volume is gained by not having the undercamber shape?

Yeesh!   Plenty of places to fly in the US & Bahamas for me before I start trying to complete that checklist.

You had my hopes up with the Bahamas, till I read New Zealand!  Bahamas is ~60 miles from the last uncontrolled airport on my way to the beach.

Jose, did you read the responses to the similar thread you started in the correct area of the forum for this type of aircraft?

Check the boots for cracks and the seal of the boots on the carbs and intake to be sure air isn't getting in somewhere else.