Firesteve

Hi Paul,

I'm now in the process of applying for change of engine in BSGG (Mk2) from a Jab 2200 to a 912. It has been agreed in principle and I now have to prove it will work in my air frame, weight and balance, engine mount etc. Skelly is right in mentioning the weight, it won't make it an SSDR but it will not leave much for fuel, I fly mainly alone so not too much of an issue for me!

Kind regards, Steve

What size pipe did you replace the original with?

Hi TJ, love your work! have you any photographs of your mod? I would love to give this a go!!

Not a microlight anymore, group A but I think that is down to the wing modifications not the weight. Interestingly even as a group A it still has the weight limitations the same as ours, that is 950lb MAUW. I need to have a chat with the owner and see how he has achieved this.

How are you guts getting on with your 912's, I'm going to need some information on the installations if that's ok?

Superb job Tommy,

If you decide to make any more you could sell them on and recover some of your costs  (I'm based n the UK)

Hi Skelly,

Don't forget your MAUW for the Kitfox 2 is 950lb or 430.913kg, this weight cannot be increased without a serious amount of testing or paperwork. You may be able to get the factory to back you up on a weight increase but I wouldn't hold my breath!

I figure if the weight and balance requires weight to be added to the tail I will extend the vertical stab along with the horizontal and increase the cord. I figure larger surfaces have to be preferable to dead weight doing nothing! The cowlings on BSGG with the Jab had to be extended by four inches, you can see it on the photograph above. When I removed the cowlings to see how the mod had been done I was taken back by the weight, 6.3kg (13.88lb)!!!! a mass of bodged on glass fiber was used to achieve the extension of the nose. The carbon fiber alternatives I made come in at 2.6kg (5.73lb) all saved weight at the pointy end!

Hi Dusty, the 'Optima mod' as it is so called here in the UK (who knows why) but basically involved removing the under camber but inserting foam packers or the addition of plywood spar extensions to flatten the underside. Remove one bay from the end of each wing to shorten the wingspan.

Only done here if you want a group A aircraft as it takes the stall speed threshold above the required standard here in the UK to registered as a microlight.

There is one other in the UK with a 912 fitted, it is registered as a group A but I think it is down to the 'Optima' wing mod it has on it.

I have always liked the 912 and have a friend with lots and lots of spares so it seems the obvious option to me. My '2' had a Jabiru 2200 fitted along with a 6lb lead weight in the tail! It seems to have been a bit of a 'stick it on' and fly it installation, nothing wrong with that but I think with a little time and careful calculation as to where to fix items to the airframe I should be able to make it work.

BSGG weighed 525lb with the Jab fitted, with two people at 86kg it only left enough room for 28ltrs of fuel to remain under MAUW, if I can achieve that with a 912 I would be more than happy!!

100mph is more than enough for me, it would be nice to be able to have a set of non-under camber wings to put on if a bit of touring was on the cards. To be honest I would register it as SSDR if I thought I could get away with it but its just too heavy!!

G-FOXZ is the UK based Mk2 with a 912 fitted.

Hi Skelly,

I'm looking into the possibility of installing a 912 and still keeping it within the microlight category. I think it can be done with careful positioning of certain components and removal of any unnecessary items. I'm looking into the removal of the under-camber on the wings as with the 'optima' mod but keeping the wing length the same, hopefully keep the stall under the required limit. Eurofox seem to manage it and after all there is not a great deal of difference in the airframe. I'm investigating wider undercarriage also along with a few other mods including increasing the vertical stab and rudder. New cowlings made to fit the Jabiru but these will now have to be modified if the 912 goes in!

Hi Skelly,

I'm looking at doing exactly the same mods on my mk2 also, I'm not far from you on the Norfolk/Lincolnshire border. If we get our heads together we may be able to share the hassle of the 'mod' process with the LAA, not to mention the costs!!

PM me your details, I'm having trouble with the site not allowing me to send you a message or contact me at stevelyden1974@gmail.com

Kind regards, Steve

Thanks Randy, nice work!

Would be nice if Randy could post some pics!! 

For you guys that have stretched a C Avid or MK2 Kitfox which is the best way to approach, what tubes etc?

Cheers guys

Thank's Jim, the aluminium beam looks as if it is going to clean up very well, everything is brand new, wheels, brakes etc. The only issue is surface corrosion on the bearing races but I figure new ones will be the order of the day!

Most of the kit I think?

Two sets of wings, standard and speed wings including a fuel tank for each of the different types. I can't find a serial number on the fuselage, should there be one? If so where would it be.

It is in much better condition than I had dared hope, very slight rusting in a few patches the worst being the control arms and fittings as these look as if they were originally chromed and have not survived very well. Apart from that I'm a happy man, just need to find out what model it is! bare in mind this is a UK aircraft and may be slightly different as our microlight regulations a quite strict!

Cheers Chaps!!!

I think I may have got a bargain! Take a look and tell me what you think (I still don't know what model it is!)

I think it is a virgin dash, not seen it yet but I'm picking it up later this week. I'm in the process of making a list of parts that would have come with the kit. The issue I have is the guy selling it is clearing his late brothers estate, there are several aircraft all partly built and a stack of spares all belonging to one aircraft or another all mixed up! He hasn't a clue what he is selling with regards to what goes with what!! 

I'll post more photographs one I have collected it. Cheers for the comments thus far.

I have just spoken to the owner and he knows nothing about it. His brother purchased the kit thirteen years ago, made a start but then sadly died. The aircraft is one of three left abandoned in a barn from then until now. Hopefully all or most of the parts are there but I figure even if it is what is shown it was still a good deal. 

The weight limit for microlight aircraft in the UK is set to be raised to 600kg later this year, this would mean the Avid would qualify to be registered as such making it a much more desirable aircraft here.

Thank's for the comments and information, is there a definitive list anywhere detailing model differences? 

Thank's guys, not seen it in the 'flesh' yet as I have purchased it blind! It was the landing gear that made me purchase it though, 'Hen's teeth' here in the UK!!

Can anyone tell me what model Avid this is? I have just purchased it for £500 as I thought at that price it was worth a punt!

There can't be that many unfinished/not started kits around still?