tcj

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Everything posted by tcj



  1. tcj added a post in a topic Hi from the UK   

    Nice looking plane.  Jabiru engine?
    edit, just reread your first post and see it is a Jabiru.
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  2. tcj added a post in a topic Qestion about installing my spar Inserts   

    If the inserts are not vertical it will be a bastard wing.  The strut attach brackets are designed for a rivet pattern to capture the insert at very specific locations with the insert vertical.  Kitfox warns to be very careful to not even nick that insert web.  To keep from hitting the web with a rivet hole the rivets will be located so that forces on the rivets will not be as designed in relation to shear or tinsel strength.
    I would use the parts supplied with the Kit.
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  3. tcj added a post in a topic EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT data plate locations   

    The  Manufacturer, Model and Serial number is what is required.  The plate with the other stuff covers that so will work too.  Most planes it is on the left side of the fuselage under the horizontal stab.  It is supposed to be attached to a structure that is not removable and will survive a fire.  That is difficult on a fabric plane.  I just made a backing plate out of aluminum to put on the inside of the fabric and riveted the plate to it.  I was thinking the DAR might want some other attachment method but he didn't say anything.
     
    Just have a rivet gun, drill and such on hand to fix it on the spot if the inspector says so.
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  4. tcj added a post in a topic Yup, Did a Dumb   

    I managed to do that the first time I unloaded my kitfox.  My trailer is an old tilting two place snowmobile trailer.  I added a 16 foot tube for the tung.  I figured I didn't need ramps.  Just tilt the trailer bed.  I measured carefully to make sure when the bed was tilted there would be clearance from the front edge of the trailer bed to the bottom of the fuselage as the plane rolled of.  it was close but would clear.
     
    I didn't let it down slowly with the winch...just let it roll off by itself.  When the main wheels hit the ground the bungees stretched enough to scrape the bottom of the fuselage on the front edge of the trailer bed.  Didn't break the wood stringer but poked a couple holes in the fabric. 
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  5. tcj added a post in a topic Tailwheel Springs   

    My original two leaf spring top leaf is not full length.  The manual instructions are to take care to round the aft end to a kind of point and smooth that end real good so it can not cause a fracture point on the full length bottom spring.  I have made some hard...actually quite a few real hard when I was learning to fly my kitfox...landings.  Our paved runway here is cracked and real rough, rough enough that it says "Rough" in the facilities directory and it hasn't broke.  But...I keep hearing stories about those springs breaking and causing rudder and other damage so this year I replaced it with the two full length leaves off the three leaf spring that Kitfox sells.
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  6. tcj added a post in a topic GRAPHITE/NYLON BUSHINGS ON ALUMINUM?   

    My kitfox manual says to NOT use a pencil to mark on aluminum spars because it can cause corrosion.
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  7. tcj added a post in a topic Idle Brain B4 The Holiday   

    Stall strips cause the inboard section of the wing to stall before wing tips stall.  This gives the pilot a warning that a full stall is eminent while the wing tips are still flying and thus aileron control still available to level the plane,  while pressure on the stick is relaxed to break the stall.  Avids and kitfox accomplish this with wing twist (washout).  The inboard section has more angle of attack than the wing tips.
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  8. tcj added a post in a topic Handheld radio issues   

    My kitfox is loud compared to the Cherokee I used to fly.  have youn tried a foam muff covered with a leather muff.  That's what i had to do.  Now others say it's loud and clear.
    http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/av/headsetx_microphones/micmuf.php
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  9. tcj added a post in a topic Fuel Guage Scale 6 Gallon Wing Tank   

    My wife made a set for 12 gallon tanks with photo shop.  They are calibrated for my hand built airplane so may not be accurate for any others.
     
    Here's the plain placards for the 12 gallon kitfox model 4 wing tank.  You can modify these in photo shop to your wing calibration etc.  also you can add "Capacity" and "Unusable Fuel" labels to meet that requirement for placards.
     
    I just printed on plane paper, stuck them to aluminum sheet with double sided sticky paper and covered with clear shelf paper.  They have faded some.  You could put the files on a thumb drive and take it to a sign shop and they can print them on vinyl decal sheet.



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  10. tcj added a post in a topic FLAPERON BUSHING QUESTION   

    Yes, the hinge rotates on the bushing.  There is #40 oil hole drilled just aft of the weld centered on the hinge bearing housing.  There is a 3/32 x 1/8 in. aluminum pop rivet in the spar 0.16 in. from the flange end of each bearing as a stopper to keep the bushing inside the hinge ring.
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  11. tcj added a post in a topic ZENITH 701/801 CRASH???   

    Initial attack fire crews found a crashed plane burning in the Nine Mile Fire east of Oroville, WA and first thought it was the cause of the fire.  Now they don't think so.
     
    The Nine Mile Fire in Inciweb,http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4517/
    "The Nine Mile Fire started on the afternoon of August 13 and is under investigation. The fire was NOT caused by a plane crash."
     
     
    The plane crash in the Wenatchee World http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2015/aug/15/authorities-identify-plane-crash-victims/
    "OROVILLE — Authorities on Friday recovered the remains of two people killed in a plane crash east of Oroville Thursday, and released their names on Saturday.
    Albert Losvar, 88, of Loomis owned the Cessna T-182 that went down on Rise Road east of Oroville. It’s presumed he was piloting the plane, although the other person in the plane, Brian Downing, 62, of Surry, British Columbia, was also a pilot, said Okanogan County Coroner Dave Rodriguez."
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  12. tcj added a post in a topic rotax rick   

    In the bottom right corner of the reply window click "More Reply options"
    Then click "Choose Files" snd select the photo stored on your computer.
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  13. tcj added a post in a topic Barefoot Flying   

    The instructor I got my kitfox dual from wore Bowling shoes when flying.  I just can't bring myself to fly even as a passenger without wearing some substantial shoes or boots.  I always think, what if I make an unexpected landing and have to walk a long ways in rugged country?.  It took me a couple years to learn where my feet need to be in my kitfox to clear all the tubing etc.
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  14. tcj added a post in a topic STITS PLAYMATE WITH WINGS FOLDED   

    Here's a short video of the Playmate for sale showing the wings being folded.  It is a different and interesting process.  The wings are very easy and fast to fold.

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  15. tcj added a post in a topic Gas on Lexan   

    My Kitfox has the nose tank with the filler neck right in front of the windshield.  I use a Mr. Funnel and there are always tiny droplets splashing out.  I just wiped them off and had no problems for about 8 years.  Last year those tiny droplets started leaving spots that would not clean off with any method I tried.  then a larger drop hit right near the bottom of the windshield and it instantly cracked about 2 or 3 inches long.
     
    I have heard that Lexan is multi layered and gasoline evaporates fast which cools the outer layer/layers quickly causing it to crack.
     
    Now here's a good one for you.  A fellow here was sumping his gascolator with a clear plastic fuel tester he had used for years with both auto gas and avgas.  As quickly as the fuel flowed into the tester it turned white and cracked all to pieces.  Everyone is still scratching their heads about that one.  He fills his gas cans with alcohol free gas at the same station I fill mine.  I hav't had any problem with my fuel tester.
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  16. tcj added a post in a topic Engine run wings folded?   

    I run mine with the wings folded sitting on the trailer.  Make some cardboard pieces to fit in the wing root rib end openings to keep the prop wash out of the wings.  I have run mine up to full throttle.
     
    The bottom of the wing brace will fit if you make a little bend in it there.


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  17. tcj added a post in a topic GSC Mounting on C box - 582   

    Use your torque wrench to see how much torque is required to turn the nyloc nut before it contacts the prop flange then add that value to the final torque.  Do you have the GSC installation instructions?  Lots of cautions noted installing a GSC prop.
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  18. tcj added a post in a topic But Rib Fuel Line Routing   

    The fuel line and the vent line both run forward now but when I made the holes the fuel line ran down the diagonal like you want.  I used a little sander drum on a dremmel to enlarge the holes a little at a time while I swung the wings back and forth to check how the fuel lines were acting when folding the wings.

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  19. tcj added a post in a topic Rod End Bearings   

    The rod ends in my pictures do not have any markings on them.  The Kitfox part numbers are 93001 for the male and 93002 for the female.  Kit plane manufacturers keep those outsourced part numbers pretty close to the chest.
    The measurements are:
    Overall Length of the female 1.75 in.  (1 and 3/4)
    Diameter of Head .75 in. (3/4)
    Thickness of Head housing at the outer edge .125 in. (1/8)
    Ball hole .1875 (3/16)
     
    The third rod end in my pictures...on the rod in the control column that connects the sticks together is Kitfox part number 93003 (FRE-48).  That FRE-48 matches the female rod end number you have circled in your first post.
    The measurements of it are:
    Overall length1.375 in (1 and 3/8)
    Diameter of Head  .625 in. (5/8)
    Thickness of Head .25 in. (1/4)
    Ball hole .1875 in. (3/16)
     
    In the Aircraft Spruce catalog there tables with measurements for the various rod ends.  Realizing my measurements are crude and they may be off by a few thousandths but I can't find any close to my measurements.  They all seem to be larger.
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  20. tcj added a post in a topic Rod End Bearings   

    I can't follow what you mean by "misalignment angle capability because of the way the control column rotates".
     
    The male and female rod ends that are screwed together and connect the aileron bell crank to the control stick  have a narrow shoulder around the ball so they can rotate with up and down elevator input.
     
    Here's a couple photos showing them.  There was a guy posted on the old Kitfox list forum about rebuilding a kitfox.  He installed the wrong rod ends here...ones with the wide shoulder that are ment to just push/pull not rotate too.  The connection broke on about his second or third test flight.  he was able to land using just rudder and elevator inputs.


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  21. tcj added a post in a topic Bending Control Rods   

    They bend pretty easy.  Set the seat in place and look to see where any clearance is needed.  I bent mine by placing the rod below my knee where I wanted the bend and pulling on each side like breaking small fire wood.  It seems they all came with a slight bend about in the center.  I can't remember for sure but I didn't have to put more bend in all of them.
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  22. tcj added a post in a topic Fold the Wing Drain the Tank?   

    If you rig up your trailer so that the plane sits level you can swing the wings back without leaking gas.
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  23. tcj added a post in a topic Brake Build Question   

    The revised Model 4 manual (1996) says to file material from the brake calipers if the mounting hardware impinges on the caliper before it completes its travel to one side or the other.  My original manual did not include these instructions.  The diagram shows arrows pointing to the area where the bolt heads interfere with the caliper in your photo.
     
    I used a round file to file both the inside caliper and outside caliper on my brakes to clear the mounting bolt heads and nuts.
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  24. tcj added a post in a topic Avid Catalina: first Condition Inspection, advice on logbooks?   

    The only required log book entry in an Amateur Built experimental is the condition inspection.  However, I enter everything I do to my Kitfox.  It will be a valuable asset if I ever decide to sell the plane.  It also keeps all my information in one place when I need to look back to find out when something was replaced...like wheel bearings or spark plugs... and what I did to repair something.
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  25. tcj added a post in a topic Just Super STOL at Osh   

    That kind of gives me the creeps.
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