tcj

Bird cage.  Kitfox and RV9 in a tiny T hangar.

Thanks for the update.  It's good to know the pattern worked.

The windshield with my kit came as a 48"X49" piece of Lexan with lines where to cut to get to the starting point to install it.  Here's the measurements for a pattern that is about 1 to 1.5 inches outside the sides of the finished windshield.

Start by drawing a centerline down the center of the 49" length.  Then measure from that center line to draw the red side lines of the windshield.  Then you can temporarily install it on the airplane and and mark where to make the finished cuts.

I have a Kitfox model 4 windshield.  I'm pretty sure it is the same as a model 3.  Anyhow the new windshields come with the pattern roughly outlined about an inch or so outside the final fit.  I can go out to the shed and get the measurements on this one later this morning.

Thanks for posting that Mark.  I really enjoyed seeing the upgrades you have made in the airplane.  Watching the angle of attack on approach was especially interesting to me.

We get a "Gap Wind" here in Ellensburg WA.  Wind blows through the Snoqualmie Pass gap  that acts like a venturi.  On one flight when I was near the end of 40 hour test flight phase on my model 4 kitfox it was calm early in the morning with forecast for wind later in the day.  I decided to go ahead on my planed test flight and just listen to the ASOS broadcast and head back to the airport when the wind started to pick up.  The runway is aligned with the gap wind so no problem I thought.

I didn't think it through very well and headed out to the east.  The strong wind always blows from the west. I kept checking the ASOS until the broadcast wind was 13.  I headed back then noticed I wasn't making much progress over the ground.  Air speed was 80 mph but my hand held GPS speed over the ground was 30.  It took me about an hour to get to the airport.

When I entered my normal mid field pattern entry the ASOS wind was 23.  I made my normal turn to final at 1/2 mile from the runway threshold and slowed to 50 mph.  The Kitfox started descending but made no forward progress.  I increased power to normal cruise setting of 5800 RPM and pointed the nose down.  When over the threshold I raised the nose to 3 point attitude and the Kitfox set down gently right on the numbers with zero ground roll and the taxi way exit to the left.

The Kitfox has powerful controls and didn't have any problems taxing back to my trailer.  Once in a while a cub will land here in those winds but they usually just sit on the runway pointed into the wind with power on and call the FBO for a couple people to come out and hold the wing tips while they taxi to parking.

If you are taking a check ride or flight review and the instructor/examiner asks you that question, the correct answer is, up elevator makes the airplane turn.

FWIW, the only thing that makes the airplane stall is the pilot pulling back on the stick.  Always remember that when you are in a turn.

Merry Christmas.

Impress your pilot friends with your knowledge of Sants's sleigh.

Cleck on the PDF file below to open

Pilot_s Notes Sleigh I & II.pdf

Wow! You have really made some great improvments on her.  Are those vortex generators on the wings too?  looking very nice.

TJ

Yes, if the throttle is closed so the carb slides are down.  If carb slides are up just a little the enricher won't pull any fuel.

Here's the Mike Strattman article about the enrichener.   https://www.cps-parts.com/cps/pdf/Part60.pdf

The parts needed are detailed at the bottom of the page.  I suspect you can still get these from CPS

Best file handle in the tool box.

They put up electric reader boards on the highways in NE Oregon when they were disposing the nerve gas stored at the Umatilla Army depot.  The purpose was to alert people in case of a nerve gas leak.  My wife called them Kiss your ass good by signs..."If you can read this sign, bend over and kiss your ass good by".

I recognize that area.  I think its a wheat field.  You can zoom in on google maps.

I'm having trouble posting a link to Google maps that works,.  I'll see if i can fix it.

Try this https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rowena,+OR+97058/@45.6698675,-121.2934784,4696m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x5496197f27a0eb79:0xcc011ca5b797764d!8m2!3d45.6723426!4d-121.2684056

The link works when I copy and paste it on my computer but it gets some strange results when I paste it into this post.  The lat and long is 45.6628, -121.2854

My various fuel tank sight gauges.  My wife made these in photo shop.  They would print out the correct size to use on the fuel tanks of a Kitfox model 4.  I'm not sure if posting them here retains the correct size when printed.  Feel free to use if you wish.

I always liked the Bombardier sprocket decal on the Rotax engines in the early Ski Doos.  It shows the heritage of the Rotax engines.  I think Bombardier purchased the Rotax company many years ago too.  That's a 50 year old memory so it may be faulty.  Anyhow, heres a link to a company that makes all the old Ski Doo decals.

https://skidoodecals.afegraphics.com/view_product.php?adminshopping=&product=68SupOlymE-Recoil-SK00011

And on for the 670 people. https://skidoodecals.afegraphics.com/view_product.php?adminshopping=&product=94Summit670-Rotax670-SK02968

I think they are used to mount a radiator in some applications.

The Aviation Department at CWU here in Ellensburg borrowed my kitfox a couple times for display on Campus.  Of course I hauled it in on the trailer.  I unloaded it and pushed it onto the campus with the wings folded then spread the wings.  People kept asking how it got there.  I started saying, " Landed right here on the sidewalk."

You should do that too.

520

Santa forgot his pilot's operating handbook at our house last night.  I made a PDF copy of it.  Click the PDF link and impress your pilot friends with your knowledge of the Mark I and II sleigh.

Merry Christmas from Ellensburg,

Tom Jones

Pilot_s Notes Sleigh I & II.pdf

These cables and throttle quadrants look interesting.  The cables wouldn't fit the kitfox throttle reverser bell crank.  You would need to use one of their Throttle quadrants to attach the pull cable.

Web page http://www.aerocontrols.net/price_list.htm#PRICE_LIST

cables and splitter brackets http://www.aerocontrols.net/Throttle Cables.htm#THROTTLE_&_CHOKE_ASSEMBLIES

Throttle quadrants http://www.aerocontrols.net/Throttle Cables.htm#THROTTLE_&_CHOKE_ASSEMBLIES

I can't remember ever seeing any mention of a log book for an amateur built experimental plane in the regulations.  My operating limitations mention "The records" for recording completion of the phase one flight test hours and "Maintenance records" for recording condition inspections.

I keep an EAA Amateur Built Aircraft Log Book for the airframe stuff and an Engine Log EL 13P for the engine.  I record the condition inspections in both books.  Both for my own information and in case I ever install a different engine and or want to sell either just the engine or air frame.  I figure it ads value too.

I never did understand the purpose of a CHT on a 582. My 503 CHTs run about 350 to 400 F with a maximum limit of 480.  Minium before take off is 200.  Dave lockwood gave me a free Rotax hat for knowing that.

Rotax lists the CHT on a 582 as optional.  http://www.ultralightnews.com/rotaxinfo/rotax582.html

I have really enjoyed seeing those operations in the sky the past couple weeks.  A few days ago we were in Yakima and a couple C141's...I think...were making approaches to Yakima airport in the smoke from wildfires.  It was very impressive!  Thanks!!!

I noticed your photo of the Carbon Glacier on Mt. Rainier.  Here's a photo of the Emmons Glacier my wife took one year ago on Aug 25 2016.  It's around the corner to the left of your photo.