akflyer
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Everything posted by akflyer
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
I spend lots of time there too... the only issue I have with the list, is that there seems to be alot of clueless ones there, that like to pass on info they have read about or thought about or heard about, but have never experienced it themselves. Over there when they say or do something boneheaded ya just have to bite your tongue (unless you find a way to hand out a darwin award.. I am getting good at that). Here, we can call each other out (good naturedly) if we are pretty ceratin that someone is full of shit without fear of being banned or bitch slapped by a moderator..
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akflyer added a post in a topic Don't ever get any pro flowers!
Hell yeah she will... bout the only thing she has going for her right now... getting ready to send her off to CA to go see a specialist with the abdominal problems... she has had 2 $50,000 surgerys in the last 3 months.. time for that shit to end.
Krystal pulled through for me.. She calls me just as I am heading into a meeting yesterday and asks what I have planned for Shannon for V day.. I said the usually, not a damn thing LOL. WEll she heads off to the store and picks up some shit for shannon, has the florist fill out the card yada yada... she takes it to shannon and said that I had called her to go pick up some stuff I had ordered... Thats twice my little girl has covered my ass this year I am gonna owe her bigtime when I get home next week !
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akflyer added a post in a topic Ultralight Flying
On the bold... I do that every day I fly..
I would rather die trying to live than live trying not to die!
gotta take the ron white approach... if yer gonna crash drive this bitch straight in... I dont wanna limp away from this pile of shit <or was something to that effect
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akflyer added a post in a topic Ultralight Flying
Sweet!
One of my best buds has a PPC sitting in his garage.. in the same damn spot for the last 6 or 7 years. Still in the box, tubes still wrapped in plastic. Pisses me of. I have ofered a hundred time to go over and help him knock it out. Basic assembly takes around 20 hours then a bit more time for rigging. Engine (503), EIS etc still in the crate. One of these days I will get him of his ass and get the thing together as it looks like it would be a total kick in the ass! He is the type that would rather get online and research the ever loving shit out of a project than just get his ass in the garage and knock it out. A VERY book smart inteligent guy... but dumber than a box of rocks.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Gas strut upgrade
Just go down to the local car parts house and look over the selection they have on the rack. You want one with 45 pounds of lift. Something in the area of 9" eye to eye and a 3" stroke. Then you will place your brackets accordingly on the door frame and door post.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Don't ever get any pro flowers!
the bastards... I didnt want to take a chance on something like that so I just didnt do a damn thing for her hell after 19 yrs she should be used to it by now. She is lucky if I remember her Bday, let alone some damn day I am 800 miles away from her lol.. not like I was gonna get any tonight anyway
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akflyer added a post in a topic Gas strut upgrade
what are the measurements on your now? It seems that most are around 9" eye to eye and 45# lift. I think that is what I got for mine, but I never installed them yet.
I went through the rack at car quest till I found the one I wanted. The has a pretty dang good selection of them there.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Making the feds happy with Logbooks???
I am gonna guess that the temp was when they were testing the subie on it. You can show the rotax 582 and prop is a proven combo so they may not put a 40 hr phase one on it. maybe 10 hrs at most unless he wants to be a prick about it.
Should not take you long to get the hang of landing it. It will bleed speed VERY fast in the flare. Come in withthe power to arrest the sink rate till you ge the flare down perfect and you wont have any issues. Bleed the speed and drag it in with power starting about 5' up. ease off thepower and she will settle right in. You do it right and she wont have any flying speed left at touch down so there is no issues with bounce.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Making the feds happy with Logbooks???
OK that is just sick.... I keep a log for oil and lube etc, for the cars, but not any other replacement parts.
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
Kevin, not bugging at all. That is what this is here for! There ae alot of guys that surf the site but have yet to post.. Maybe a question you ask will get some of the lurkers to post up so keep them coming.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Making the feds happy with Logbooks???
oh hell no yer not pissing anyone off. I knew that I was not required to keep the log books, however, when the man comes looking and asks questions and you stand there with your thumb in yer ass and sound stupid, he generaly looks harder and digs deaper. If they see you have taken great care in keeping log books and recording all the little details, it seems to show them that you are a nitpicky meticulous sum bitch and they dont look to hard. I was pretty happy when the airframe inspetion only took the FAA inspector about 5 minutes after he looked over my books.
This will also go a long ways if you decide to sell. ANY prospective buyer is going to want records with the aircraft. If you show them meticulous records, they get a warm fuzzy, and wont haggle you down as much on the price.
Course, this is only my very own brand of snake oil, while Steve has posted the FACTS as laid out by the FAA.
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
Speed wings have a more conventional airfoil as well as being shorter. Stall speed goes up almost as much as cruise gain. If you really want to be comfortable on a 2 stroke you really HAVE to understand what makes it tick, and what keeps it alive. To look at the jetting chart and see what size jet it is recommended you run is one thing. To know why is another. KNowing how to read plugs is the best way to keep a 2 stroke alive and performing well. You would be doing yourself a big favor to take a 2 stroke course from CPS or one of the other outfits. It is 500 bucks and 2 days and takes you through teardown and rebuild. You get a nice little cert saying you are certified to rebuild / maintain rotax 2 strokes.
I have no issues flying behind a 2 stroke. I fly them in remote mountains, across open water (that is damn cold) and low level. While I am allways on the lookout for a place to land (just like a do when flying a "real" plane) I am never worried that it will quit.
Mine is trailered every flight. There was a pretty lively discussion about trailering on the kitfox list... A few facts and shit load of opinions. I built a trailer out of a single axle boat trailer. I am certain that this is better than using an equiptment trailer if you are going over rough roads. The plane is so light you dont even use the suspension on a car hauler, all shock loads go straight to the plane. You should also use the brace for the front spar. You can build them for about 20 bucks or get fancy and spend 50 or 60 bucks lol. My brother trailered his from OK to AK a few years ago and made it in one piece in 5 days so he was not lolly gagging around, but not pushing to hard either.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Making the feds happy with Logbooks???
You A&P can show you some typical log books. I made the entrys pretty much as you said, in short story form. They were basically as follows.
Engine log book
Original log book destroyed in house fire.
Engine rebuilt at 221 hrs on hobs. Rebuild included new crank, pistons and rings, bearings, gaskets, water pump, RV shaft and all seals. Work was performed in accordance with the Rotax engine rebuild manual. Engine installed and broken in per Rotax installation manual.
Airframe.
Original log book Destroyed in fire. Aircraft was purched with 221 hrs on airframe as a basket case. Then I listed out work I did on it (pretty much as I have it brokeout on the attached repair summary) and signed the book. The A&I signed it again after he inspected the work. I will attach the summary I put in the front of my "book" that included all the pics from how I bought it to the completed repair. The FAA inspector flipped through it, commented that it was GREAT documentation and handed me the replacement airworthiness.
Avid repair summary.doc
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
Not quite. The stol and hauler wing is undercambered and 29' 10.5" The speed wing is more conventional airfiol and 23' 11.5".
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akflyer added a post in a topic inclineometer gauge installed....
HOLY SHIT, nice spread... I gotta find me a sugar momma
Funny, I am arguing with a bipolar bunch of MI guys on a sled site right now Never so such a bunch that could turn on ya in a heartbeat lol.. Good fun to poke at the beehive though. I think you know a little something about that
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
http://www.barnstormers.com/cat.php?PHPSESSID=df71d700821a1855e446efd8a404f562
towards the bottom of the first page is a 92 HH for 13,000. not too bad if she is airworthy.
The folding wings is a real bonus for me also. No hangars that I can get into close, and the T hangars that were for sale were in the 150,000.00 range. Was not into those price tags. I keep it in the garage, and it takes about 20 minutes to unload from the trailer and have ready to fly.
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akflyer added a post in a topic inclineometer gauge installed....
hey stranger, so now you saying you got more time for toys? nice bike... and I wanna be in that damn stearman!
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akflyer added a post in a topic inclineometer gauge installed....
take a look right under the turn coordinator.. the nose up nose down on the right side gives it away
I think steve went into the witless protection program... he has not been around for awhile
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akflyer added a post in a topic New member intro
welcome to the dark side. I think the CD from airdale is more on the MkIV. but I could be wrong.
Few things to think about on the A and B model. The fuse is narrower, and the door frame is different. If you are used to crawling into a cub it is not to bad, but is is way easier to get in and out of a C model or Mk IV. Are looking for low and slow, with the STOL wing or the speed wing? The top speed difference is about 8-10 MPH flying side by side with my HH and a buddies Mk IV speed wing. But I can land at 35 he lands at 45-50.
There are some pretty damn good deals on Barnstormers right now.
I can hook you up with the news letters from Avid if you want to read through them. Lots of good info up till about 97. I can break them down and email them if you would like. hell I may as well break them up and post them here. Iwill try and get that done tomorrow if it wont let me post the full file here tonight.
What is the usefull on the champ? 85 or 90 hp, some where in there? Only flew one champ but dont remember the specs.
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akflyer added a post in a topic 'Nother new Member
Log books etc, are not an issue. You are not the original builder so you are not going to get a repairmans certificate for the plane.
Mine did not have a single log book as they were destroyed in a house fire. I just took lots of pics when I rebuilt mine, started a new set of log books and put appropriate entries into it. Made a 3 ring binder with all a summary sheet of all work performed, materials used, methods of repairs, then put the pics in chronological order. I had an A&P / AI buddy come look it over (took him about an hour). He would not sign off the condition inspection as I did not have an "original" airworthiness certificate, just a photo copy. I had sent to FAA for a CD of all records they had for the plane (costs ya 10 buck to get everything they have on file). I went through the local FSDO to get the replacement airworthiness. The FAA inspector wanted to come take a look at the plane before he would issue it. It took a few tries to get him and I to hook up but he showed up at the house, spent about 10 minuted looking over the book I out together, maybe 5 minutes glancing at the plane, and he handed me the replacement airworthiness.
It was not really nessicary for the FAA guy to come down and look at it, but I think he wanted to get out of the office . He was GREAT to deal with and very helpful.
If they are hassling you just tell them the records were destroyed in a fire and go from there....
OK I will note, that when it was the 3rd time the inspector was spose to show and the date was canceled, I ccalled his bnoss, told them this was horse shit, and they were not going to hold my plane hostage. I told them I would continue flying it but I really wanted to be legal and they were trying to make me an outlaw by not doing there part to help out.... Things went very smooth after that <damn true story.
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akflyer added a post in a topic 'Nother new Member
Welcome aboard
While life can get i the way and slow down a build, I would not sell yourself short on "not having what it takes" to build a kit, or rebuild one. If you can follow shitty directions (and not be afraid to ask help form fellow builders/rebuilders) you can fix anything. I have built more model airplanes than you can shake a stick at and I feel the avid or kitfox is easier than most models I have built.
Dont be afraid to ask questions, bust balls, or just have a good time while looking for your new bird!
Leni
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akflyer added a post in a topic S0... why DID Lowell Fitt crash????
Lowell got banged up pretty good, and I think his wife has some broken bones too. The plane was a total loss but he is now building another KF IV. He was not posting for awhile during his recovery, but now he is back pretty darn active again!
<fer his recovery and getting back on the horse
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akflyer added a post in a topic My heat Muff Installation
I am using the "low-e" insulation. It is flame retardant and I may have added 1 pound. It weighs next to nothing yet does wonders for keeping the cabin warm.
https://www.pesstoreonline.com/
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akflyer added a post in a topic My heat Muff Installation
just a larger heat sink area. I figured if I need more heat, I would build a shroud just down stream of the Y pipe and pick up some of that heat. They also have a paint that draws the heat out of the metal. We tried it on snowmachines for the Irondog in 07. We had the cans (muffler part) painted with it and the external tems went from about 450-500 to 750-800 on a wide open run. It ended up putting too much heat in the cowling so we scrapped the idea. I had thoughts of painting a stripe on where the heat muff goes to get some more heat out of it.
I think the biggest thing you can do is seal up the air leaks in the cabin area. These are pretty leaky planes by nature but a little insulation and taping here and there and some good weather stripping and you can seal them up pretty dang good. Takes alot less to heat a sealed up area.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Snaps Super STOL
Brock Sellards does the conversions and is the one that built "snaps" engine. He has Plane Engine Performance. He is getting around 90 HP out of a 583 also.... He does it pretty damn cheap too.
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