Allen Sutphin
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Everything posted by Allen Sutphin
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 2 project on barnstormers
Mine will be homemade from now on. Now that I have a pattern for each type of rib. Plus we have a good cabinet shop over the hill that does excellent work with thin plywood. I have considered making a mold for pressing alum ribs but unless I was going to sell them, its not worth the time and trouble. And its not worth the hassle trying to sell something.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 2 project on barnstormers
It could be a great deal or a monster, depending on who's looking. I've seen several "good buys" end up costing more than a nice flying model. One has to look with an experienced eye. Its probably worth that much in parts. As we all know parts are getting expensive if you have to buy many and harder to find lately. I just bought 2 ribs from Kitfox and with shipping was about $200. I plan to use them as future patterns. Good thing about an Avid or Kitfox is one can make about anything given a little time and patience. Most of the "Ole Timers" (age not withstanding) know this and already have. Being a homebuilder is an education in itself. One can develop skills they never though possible.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
I haven't decided if I am going to use the fuel injection system or not just yet. It is automatic adjusting for altitude and temp. But it does have a couple of electronic componets that can go bad and is electrical dependent. And it is very fuel efficient. The fuel injection is about a 2K option so I hate to just trash can it and go with carbs, which also came with it. It has a belt redrive now since it came off a challenger which I don't think has ever been used on a Kitfox. A gearbox is probably in the works. But hey, for $2K I could not pass on it. Well, actually a tad less!
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
A little off topic but, I just bought an engine for the model 2. A Hirth 3202 fuel injected 55 hp that can be upgraded to a 65 hp engine. Only has 30 hours or so on it. Engine is complete with exhaust, engine gages, all componets for the fuel injection system within 30 miles of me. Uses same mount as a 503 on a Kitfox. Which was the original engine it was licensed with. Weight is around 110 lbs with everything. Got it for 1/4 the price of a new one. Now to look for or build a mount.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
That tank is very similar to Schrader's tank or wingtanks.com(same). I was going to have an alum tank made with baffles inside for strength and sloshing but with a 6 gal tank it really isn't necessary. The poly tank was cheaper than having one made. I ended up getting a circle track fuel cell (3.5 gal) to use as a header tank to give me a total of 14-15 gal. Don't ever plan to run it that low since 1-1 1/2 hrs is about my personal limit in flight time. From experience with my intended engine, I am expecting a 2.5-3 GPH fuel burn at cruise so 20-26 gal isn't so important as weight I don't need. I am a little old school in flying so a map, my eyes, a watch, fuel planning and basic navigation keeps me on track. Plus, with these, the batteries never go dead or lose a signal. And its fun!
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
I personally don't think that the poly tanks provide any strength to the wing structure even if they are solid mounted. The poly tanks from Schrader don't fit tight between the spars like the fiberglass ones, even my 6 gal metal tank has a slight gap between the spars. Plus, the wing tank being so close to the fuselage mounting points very little strength would lost in the space of the width of the tank. Double tanks, maybe. I am not an aero"nut" ical engineer, but sometimes common sense applies. But then, I have been wrong on occasion!
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
Mine still has the drag braces installed. No question the poly tanks are better, every kit provider is pretty much using them if it is not an integral tank built with the wing. I've been in this game long enough to stack the deck in my favor.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions
My 6 gal alum tank has been in the wing 28 years and hasn't leaked yet. It has been sloshed, though. But what maybe is different is that it is not solid between the wing spars. It kinda floats sandwiched between the plywood skins and the ribs. Its captured pretty good, but still can move a smidgen when the wing would flex. I installed the poly tank in the other wing using the same method. A solid mounted tank, I can see it bending and twisting enough to cause a leak or crack and even the 13 gal tank would be more likely to twist due to the size. Maybe a run of bad tanks, bad welds, etc. Of course it could start leaking tomorrow, but as of now all is good. As I have read they do tend to spring a leak so I got an extra poly tank just in case. Even in my old Stinson 108-1, it finally started leaking due to flexing (it was solid mounted) and it was a steel tank. I have noticed that the poly tanks expand and contract due to temps so I don't think they should be completely rigid mounted in the wing. Even the fittings will loosen up on occasion due to temps. Just a habit of anything made of poly.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic MK IV Aerobat speedwing spar gouge/repair
My rule of thumb is "if you have to question it, then you have your answer." In other words, if you have to question a part or repair, fix it right or replace it. But its not my aircraft or my tail in it. In my work, my name goes in the logbook so its done properly. Of course, someone else is most likely paying the bill. But I use the same guidelines on my aircraft.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic New Dash
Those MGL gages are nice! I didn't care for them till I installed one and now I really like them. A pita to wire up though.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic You Said It Can’t Be Done, But Here It Is!
Consider most empty weights in the same category as published horsepower ratings, at least empty weights of for sale aircraft. My experience is that most of the weights are listed as they were when first completed and most likely correct. But we all know things change with the years. Very few are re-weighed after that unless major changes require it.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Howdy all
Another classic being rescued! Hats off to you!
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 Rebuild
Nice looking plane! Gives me inspiration !
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Cutting off the motor mount
I can pretty much promise you that hanging a 230 lb Subaru on the nose of an A model, you will not be happy. But who knows, you might work it out and it will be just fine. My model 2 came with a Subaru and was a single place with heavy ballast in the tail. Needless to say it went to trash can and will be replaced with a normal weight two stroke or comparable 4 stroke.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Cutting off the motor mount
What engine are you thinking about for your A model?
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
I'll check them out. Hard to beat 2 or less.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
2.5 GPH is nice! My 503 on my challenger never ran over 3 GPH and I ran it pretty hard at times.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
HKS is an option, used not new, of course. The Hirth 4 cyl 2 stroke will fit if one uses the dual exhaust. It is a pricy engine, though.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
I suppose I might have to wait till I finish the airframe and weigh it complete with cowling minus engine and prop and see what I have to play with, weight wise. According to the paperwork, it originally had a 503 mounted and flew a hundred hours or so with it. For whatever reason the builder decided to install a 250 lb Subaru in the nose, which made a 725 lb aircraft with a gross wt. of 950 lbs. Doesn't seem logical.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
From all I am reading and what info is out there (quite a bit) mainly from across the pond, it is a little heavy for a model 2 Kitfox. Most come in around 165-175 lbs flying weight. A model 2 needs to stay in the 130-140 lb range at the max. Which leaves few choices for a four stroke. Even if the weight was acceptable, by the time you add ballast to keep the CG in range, you are pushing 180-190 lbs. Which leaves the 2 stroke as about the only option except maybe the Jab 2200. We are not overflowing with lightweight aircraft engines.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
I would prefer an engine that is available and popular here in the US. Mainly due to parts and service being available without going across the pond. It appears to be leaning to 3 options as of now. The 582, which will go away someday in the near future, the Hirth with its less than stellar reputation, but currently in production, and the Jab 2200 with its shady past that it might have fixed with the newer ones. As it stands now, the 582 is probably the most popular due to gobs of them out there flying and most problems have been dealt with by experience. The Hirth is coming up as a solid replacement but not a lot of owner info out there to go by. But parts and service are available within 4-5 hours from my location. This isn't just my issue, we are all in the same situation sooner or later. The older Avids, Kitfoxes, and many others which can't handle a 912 type engine are going to end up with no available engine choices eventually. Every new airframe kit is based around the 912 or bigger engine which leaves us lighter guys out. Very little work is being done on new lightweight engines for ultralight type aircraft. Maybe I am off the mark, but we all have some skin in this. Unless you are the Trent Palmer type with money or somebody to pay for it .
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Getting close for an engine choice
I looked at the BMW and its available in stock form about everywhere. It does require a bit of work to make it aircraft suitable. Dick of RV fame said there wasn't enough time in one's life to design an airframe and an engine, too. I already have the airframe, but I am old and probably not enough time to design an engine or highly modify one. This Kitfox will be a local flyer and not a cross country machine. 1 to 2 hrs max flight time.
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Allen Sutphin added a topic in Two Strokes
Getting close for an engine choiceGuys, getting close to having to make a choice on an engine for my light kitfox model 2. Have been considering most available 2 strokes and some 4 strokes, but no clear choices popped up. As it stands right now, the Hirth 55HP 3202 is showing promise but nothing definite. Before I'd go with a 582, I'd consider the Jab 2200 for basically the same weight. I know a 582 is reliable in most aspects but I'd prefer air cooled if at all possible. Anybody have any solid prospects that comes to mind? There are some untested good ones out there and some junk as well. Maybe this group has some in mind that I haven't thought of.
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic On 2-stroke oil...
Think I'll disappear into the shadows. Fly Safe!
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Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic On 2-stroke oil...
No insult was intended at all! The oil debate has been around since there was oil. And I doubt if there will ever be a final decision. All one has to do is go on any 2 stroke group and you will find an oil debate going on. Ask 10 different people what oil is best and you will probably get 6 or 7 different oil types.
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