Allen Sutphin

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Everything posted by Allen Sutphin



  1. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sealer used for fuel fittings ect.   

    It really never gets hard, always sticky.
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  2. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sealer used for fuel fittings ect.   

    I've been using that aviation grade Permatex form-a-gasket for over 25 years. It always works on fittings.
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  3. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    You got the right attitude! Just have fun and fly safe!
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  4. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Wind   

    My rule is try to keep it below the "this is gonna hurt" moment. And I don't like much pain anymore. Old age has that covered.
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  5. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Hirth   

    That was a sweet deal! The Hirth 55 hp is a good solid engine. I have 1K in mine but have to buy a gear box and prop so it works out to a tad more than yours. Its got 37 hrs TT on it but I always have one gone thru before I stick it on an airframe, even though I know this engine from day one of its life. The 65 hp is the same engine just 800 more RPM to get 65 hp. 1000 TBO but recommended teardown and reseal at 500 hrs. And contrary to hangar talk, several have gone beyond 1000 hrs without failure. Unless they were murdered. But we need to take hangar talk with a grain of salt. Just like I unintentionally insulted someone, my brother's girlfriend's uncle had a Hirth and it wasn't worth a darn. We all know the stories. In place of Hirth, add oil, props, airframes, or about anything else related to flying. Most who have been involved with Avid/Foxes know what does work and what does not by now. Unless something new comes along.
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  6. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Two Strokes   

    Hirth
    Hopefully making a road trip tomorrow to take my engine to the Hirth dealer in Ohio to have it gone thru and a gearbox installed. Done away with the fuel injection system and going back to carbs. Also going with the carbon fiber air shroud which is a lot lighter and not prone to cracking. Biggest problem is going to be reversing the fan so it pulls air from the front to the rear instead of pushing it forward. Engine was 71 lbs without exhaust and gearbox. Should come in at around 100-105 flyable. Was running 2.5-3.0 gph at cruise so expecting 3-3.5 gph with carbs. Should perform somewhere between a 503 and a 582 with 55 hp and 53+ pounds of torque.  Has a pretty flat power curve down to 4000 rpm from max 5500 rpm. Should work good in a light model 2.
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  7. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Wind   

    That's exactly what happens here. I have a treeline that I climb above on take off. As soon as I clear them, yeehaw!  Works better than Exlax!
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  8. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Wind   

    Around here I've never seen a steady wind over 7-8 mph. Always gusts. There isn't much training for flying in gusting, swirling, washing machine type winds, outside of just trying to maintain control the best one can. And a lot of times, you are just a passenger with a stick in your hand. Not for me!
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  9. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Wind   

    I just watched a 20 mph wind (according to my weather station) take down my flagpole. Around here, flying a 450-500lb airplane would be suicide in this. I'll leave this flying to you good pilots. Not for me!  I might have been born in the dark, but it dang sure wasn't last night. At my age, nothing I need to prove anymore. I'll stay in the chicken house.
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  10. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Confused?   

    Generally in the building/ rebuilding process, one would do a pre W&B before final installation of the battery. It is one of the easy things to move to adjust the CG where one needs it. I have had some aircraft that was so CG sensitive that you had 2 battery locations, one for single place and a rear one for two people.  That comes into play a lot in some tandem seating aircraft where CG is limited. Side by side are a little more forgiving in certain aspects but still important.  Same applies to us skinny #&% pilots as well as some slightly heavier pilots, you know the ones who wear the new designer jeans, Lardache.
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  11. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    Sounds like you have a plan! Good Luck and we'll wait to hear the results. Just remember, the wheels stay on the bottom !
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  12. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Friendly thrust competition   

    The way he done his test gives a good baseline for static thrust. That is useful in comparing prop length, pitch, ratio, etc. You want an exact test, you'll need more than rolling friction. A controlled climate such as wind, humidity, temps, etc. 90% of all people are going to do it the same way. Good Grief! This isn't NASA.
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  13. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    There is also semi-synthetics that are part dino oil and part synthetic and cover both bases. I wouldn't blend it myself due to proper formulas. You can't go wrong with TC-W3, its proven itself time and time again. Who knows, you might be on to something. We arrived at where we are today by people experimenting with non-standard ideas. Mistake or success, you will learn something new. Mine usually cost me just to learn what won't work. Been there, got the coffee mug, bumper sticker and T shirt, and a lot less money.
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  14. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    I think it is easier on the engine but only as far as bearing wear, cylinder wear, fuel usage, etc. But carbon buildup is the biggest issue with low RPM, low heat operation. My Hirth is a high torque, low RPM engine designed to operate between 4000 and 5500 RPM. But it was designed for that and using the recommended oil, runs at 100/1 mix so a lot less carbon to start with. Don't advise anybody with a Rotax  to do it, but they weren't designed for a low RPM. If I was going to run at that RPM, then I think I'd use a pure syn oil so carbon isn't an issue. I don't have any issues with syn oil in my situation since the new syn oils are good for engine protection a lot better than years ago. Mine is stored in a dry barn when not flying, started weekly, and borescoped several times a year. One important thing, from an old A&P, if you are going to start it weekly or bi-weekly, make sure you reach operating temp or better yet, do a couple of high speed taxi's to get the temps up. Just starting it and idling for 10 minutes or so doesn't burn off any moisture and just gets it warm enough to create moisture inside the engine and exhaust. This will do damage! But this is based on my experience only and not from some engine company.
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  15. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic AVID C ready for registration, need drawings   

    Interested in how the 65 HP Hirth does. I am using the 55 HP 3202 on my model 2 with a 2 bld 70" WD.
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  16. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    As of now I only see two choices, either the standard gear or the wide gear of some variety since there are several versions available. I would guess each has to make their own choice and take into consideration where they fly and the conditions of that strip. Maybe add their ability into the mix. Highly experienced pro pilots still have ground loops so we can really never eliminate them. Some of these new(expensive) tailwheels say no ground loops, bullpucky, the chance will always be there, that's what keeps us on our toes, so to speak.
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  17. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    All my light does is flicker anymore. I burnt it out in the early 70's figuring out that a Cobra gunship could haul 19 cases of stroh's beer. Especially with 4 19 tube rocket pods. Of course that was back when men were men and women were glad of it.
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  18. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    I try to think of the gear as trying to upset a wagon sideways. A narrow wagon isn't so tough to upset. A wide wagon is a little tougher. Don't know if this really applies, but it sure sounds good! You could probably dig out the old trig tables and prove or disprove this. Either way I can see a wider gear being more stable, but a higher gear, would seem to make it unstable. Either that or I don't know beans about high CG's. I know it will upset the apple cart, as mom used to say.
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  19. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    I've heard stories of big bush tires taking so much force to get them rolling on landing that it dang near put them over on their nose. I guess it would be close to landing with the brakes on.
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  20. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    Turbo, learn to fly it well, go airport hopping, make a lot of new friends, and enjoy the plane as it was meant to be. Then in a couple years you might want to step up a bit, maybe not. You will get everything dialed in within a few hours, until then fly safe and have fun.
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  21. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Paint   

    The latex went into creepy crawly mode.  Used my test panels for testing as I always do. Recommend anybody who is covering make a couple test panels on frames made out of wood, scrap tubing, etc. and finish them up thru final paint. They can always be used for patches, gap seals, etc. Might even make one for trim colors also.  Buying used paint is like buying used underwear. Unless you know the person selling the paint. Stewarts System will freeze in shipping this time of year. One advantage of the Stewarts paint is that it goes a long way. All one really needs is to cover the filler so it doesn't show thru.  Multiple coats aren't really necessary unless you are building a show plane. Two or three coats at the most is generally good.Or at least in my experience.
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  22. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Close Call's and dumb stunts   

    Paint
    Dumb stunt! Had my tail covered up thru the ekofill and tried to shortcut on paint and use latex. Big mistake, latex and ekofill does not seem to play well together. Another learning experience, should have known better. After this many years I know not to shortcut a process, guess I had a hillbilly moment. Back to buying expensive paint from Stewarts Systems.
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    • 2,120 views


  23. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Controls   

    You could very well be correct. Not knowing has ended a lot of pilots.
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  24. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Issues flying behind a 2-stroke   

    Generally an IFA prop does its best on aircraft faster than 100mph. It can improve performance on slower aircraft, but not enough to justify the cost and trouble. Unless you have excess money. My old flying buddy had one on his model 4/NSI powered and it was a two position switch, takeoff or cruise.  He wasn't impressed with it. A properly matched prop on a Avid/Kitfox is about the best one can get. A ground adjustable one, that is. Doesn't sport pilot regs limit a prop to ground adjustable only, if that applies to you. As for RPM, AK is correct, low RPM will murder a 2 stroke unless an engine is designed for that range, which Rotax isn't. When I first started flying a 2 stroke, it was nerve-racking to listen to the engine screaming but you get used to the sound and get comfortable with it. After a hundred hours or so, you can tell pretty closely what the RPM is by sound only. And tell when something isn't quite right. My wife can tell by the sound of me that I ain't right!
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  25. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Controls   

    Interesting, this group might be a little smarter than the average bear, hey, Boo Boo.  Its all about angle of attack. BTW, anybody in favor of AOA indicators?
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