MnAvidFlyer

Contributing Member
 View profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    55

  • Joined

  • Last visited


Posts posted by MnAvidFlyer

  2. Posted

    Hi guys,

    I finally flew my Avid Flyer A for the first time today after owning it for 2 years. After alot of work and alot of research my dream has come true. I would like to thank everyone on the forum for taking the time to give your input with your own perspective regarding these airplanes.

    While everyone may fly them a little different, one can mold his own techniques from all the information shared.

    They are incredible machines that are very challenging and will greatly develop ones flying skills. The CC Sport Cub I just got my BFR done in seems so tame now.

    The wealth of information available here is invaluable. Thanks to all who have uploaded  documents, because buying an airplane and getting zero supporting documentation makes maintenance a challenge...

    The plane flew great. I trimmed with the flapperon setting. Hands off! For a couple seconds anyway...haha

    Tried a wheel landing first. With the extra speed and power that was interesting. It took some time to get it slowed down.

    Tried a full stall next and that worked better because of the slower speeds. I'm still crossing the threshold at 60mph and it wants to float for quite a while. I may come in a little slower next time.

    15 TOs and landings so far...

    It was a great day at a classic grass strip airport...Stanton, Mn.

    I love grass!

    Brooks

    20180915_111300.jpg

    20180915_085742.jpg

    1 person likes this

  4. Posted

    I prefer to use a basic compression tester on a 2 stroke because the is only two places for the air to escape, past the rings or head gasket.

    On a 4 stroke a leak down test is better because it has four places for the air to leak by. Intake valve, exhaust valve, head gasket and rings.

    You can open the throttle to listen for air leaking past the intake valves. Exhaust pipe for exhaust valve issue. Oil cap for a ring problem. Bubbles in the coolant for a head gasket failure.

    Brooks

     

  5. Posted · Edited by MnAvidFlyer

    The pic link doesn't work. My bad...

    Do you have a picture of the damaged gear and fuselage?

    Thanks, Brooks

  7. Posted

    I now have several hours on this gear on my Mark IV, Lowell had to modify the cabane 7/8" wider for my Avid. It is fantastic, the aircraft is so stable on landing it is a whole different experience. For those who want, I have an analysis of the landing strength which says this gear is good for about 12 feet per second, and about 4 g's on landing before those yellow springs bottom. This makes the gear stronger than any Cessna.

    Lowell was a pleasure to work with, and the gear was half the price of a Grove gear.

    Fred, here is a detail of the cabane forward attach point, which runs to the outside of the fuselage ears.

     

    That's a nice setup! Those springs look stiff...what is the rate? Have you calculated your total wheel travel? spring travel?

    Brooks

  9. Posted

    I have removed the strut breaking safety cable and installed a 2 wrap horizontal rather stiff bungee between the legs.  It only comes into play at any greater deflection and hardly at all at normal landings. I have had at least one landing that could compare to when I (the safety cable) broke the seat strut and had no issues, no prop strike or other damage.

    I really like the secondary bungee setup. I was thinking of doing something similar to lessen the load on the seat truss in a hard landing.

    The off road race trucks use a hydraulic damper on their bump stops to gradually slow the suspension travel rate when bottoming out. It reduces broken parts. Unlike our limit cables which try to immediately stop suspension travel at full travel.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Brooks

    1 person likes this

  11. Posted · Edited by MnAvidFlyer
    sp.

    My neighbor/friend/pilot/older gentleman was building a Just AC Highlander when his health deteriorated..  He sold the partial completed kit a few years ago and still has the engine in his hangar.

    He has most of the fwf parts for a Highlander, so it would be best if was sold for a Hylander project. I told him I would help him sell the engine because his health has been his primary challenge.

    I just wanted to know if anyone has some personal experience flying behind one of these engines or knows of anothers experience. I had never heard of the honda based engine before.

    Thanks for the help...Brooks

     

  15. Posted

    Jim, you amaze me with all you do. The planes look great. I like the new yellow best. Keep us posted...

    Brooks

    1 person likes this

  16. Posted

    Hi guys,

    Anyone have any experience with the Bendix King Skymap 3?  It's  a moving map gps. A pilot friend has one he wants to sell. He says make him an offer. I think it is manufactured around 2001.

    It needs the internal battery replaced/soldered in. Needs a factory update too.

    Is it too old to be any good? Is it worth putting money into it?

    Thanks Brooks

     

  17. Posted

    Looks like fun! Glad all went well.

    I'm getting close to my first flight in the Avid too...can't wait. Wish I had some cool strips to land at like you guys.

    Happy flying!

    Brooks

     

    1 person likes this

  18. Posted

    My Avid flyer model A had around 10 lbs of extra wire in it. I ended up cutting it all out and started over. I turned a complicated mess into a simple harness.

    Insted of running a wire for every load, I ran a power and a ground to a terminal block under the panel. The panel wires are around 6" long now insted of 6'.

    Brooks

  19. Posted

    Congratulations on your first airplane! It is an exciting time. Check it over good and Fly safe!

    Brooks

  20. Posted

    Great job Jim!

    If you run out of projects you could market your fuselage widening kit. It turned out nice.

    Thanks for the updates, keep them coming! You inspire us all!

    Brooks

  25. Posted

    It's looking great Jim. I really like that color blue.

    Is it a Classic 4 with the bigger tail?