Allen Sutphin

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Everything posted by Allen Sutphin



  1. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Fuel Tank Suppliers   

    TJ, go to rocky mountain wings  at realflying.com and send him an E-mail or call him. his number is listed there. $195 for a single tank (5 1/2 gal). Since you are an ole ultralight guy, I am going to use the challenger 5 gallon ultralight tank as my header tank. Its 10"X11"X15" tall. Switch the cap to a non-vented one,  cut off the internal pick-up tube and use it for the vent, install the in and out fittings and make your cradle out of alumn strap. That will give me an extra 5 gal.
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  2. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sabaru vs Rotax 912 UL   

    Matt Dandar is a nice guy until you get on his bad side and will help anyway he can. Andy at heavenbound aviation, one of his dealers is a super guy and knows his Hirth engines, he also has one on his challenger, and believes in them.  They have fuel injection as an option but if you learn to tune carbs, they are better, I think. My flying buddy has one on his challenger with fuel injection. It is altitude compensating but requires battery power to run the computer, with carbs the engine is self-powering and doesn't rely on external power(battery) to keep chugging along so I like carbs. If you take off low and fly high then fuel injection is a good thing.  Me, I drag the tires thru the trees most of the time and that is what my mission is, so for me carbs are better. And a little off topic, but I found a neat 5 gal header tank which would give me 16 gal. I don't like the two plastic tanks in one wing due to the cross feed method so one in each wing and a 5 gal header tank will work fine for my flying.
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  3. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sabaru vs Rotax 912 UL   

    Hirth motors have changed since Matt Dandar took over the US distributor. Of course they all say that about any engine.  Hirth is getting its act together since they are going to be the major player in the two stroke game.  The Rotax 582 will eventually go away( its slated to be discontinued in the future) so that leaves Hirth and a few others.  Andy at Heavenbound Aviation.com offers a good extended warranty since he is a dealer  for the east coast. The big advantage of Rotax was there was gobs of information out there about how to set them up and how to operate them properly. Hirth hasn't had that public awareness yet. Several kit suppliers are now switching to Hirth as the go to engine for their kits since Rotax is getting out of the two stroke market and investing in the 912 series. A lot of Rotaxes were murdered because the owners didn't know how to operate or maintain them. Since they were the popular engine and everybody was using them, Hirth got a bad rap in the beginning and as we know, a bad reputation is very hard to live down. Most all 2 strokes fail not due to the engine, but set-up and operation wasn't done properly.Spend a little time learning about your engine (whatever engine that is) will go a long way towards a happy flying career.
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  4. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic A little kitfox flying   

    I liked it!
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  5. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sabaru vs Rotax 912 UL   

    Either a Hirth 3202 55 HP two-stroke or depending on the weight of the airframe, a 3002 Hirth 80 HP two-stroke (probably used low time). The 3202 is around 98 lbs RTF and the 3002 is 138 lbs RTF.  But due to the power/torque curve of the 3002, it'll leave a 912 eating dust. (The advantage of a two-stroke, instant power when you throw the juice to it.)  The 3002 runs a little smoother due to 4 opposed cylinders.  Of course, unless a 150 HP engine that burns 2.5 GPH and weighs 100LBS comes along, but I am not holding my breath.
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  6. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sabaru vs Rotax 912 UL   

    Engine weights are like most things, they are up for debate. I really don't care what a 912 weighs. I don't care for them and probably will never own one.  A good engine from what everybody says, a bit pricey, but I can't put a 20K+ engine on a 8K airframe to fly 50 or so hours a year. If you fly 100-200 hrs a year, it makes a little more sense.  I don't work on 912's and it has cost me a little business which I no longer want anyhow.  I will on occasion, tinker on a Taylorcraft or Champ, or EXP just to keep refreshed and the A&P license oiled. But hey, its America, your free to use whatever engine you choose.
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  7. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Sabaru vs Rotax 912 UL   

    My NSI/Subaru weighted 235 lbs when I removed it for the new owner. That's flying weight with all fluids. The 912 actually comes in at about 215 flying weight and that's the 912ULS. Everybody kinda underestimates the flying weight or don't add the extras that are required. As far as performance, depends on what phase you are talking about. Take-off roll, climb ability, top speed, etc. Reliability relies more on proper maint and operation than the engine.  I don't care what the book says, you hoist a 0-200 Cont off a C-150 and it will bump about 260 lbs. A long way from the 198 lbs per the book. Horsepower is another misquoted figure that's thrown around a lot. An 0-200 for example is only pushing about 85-90 hp since they dropped the timing from 28 deg back to 24 deg to save cracking the heads.  Most horsepower ratings are for a new engine, at max power with a min pitch prop or club prop. We have had the wool pulled over our eyes about horsepower ratings for many, many years.  Horsepower numbers is what sells engines.
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  8. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox/NSI   

    I'd be very cautious of a used 912 unless I knew the engine and owner and he was honest. A lot of 912's have had prop strikes, which means a teardown. and the service advisories may have not been done. Especially the early ones. The NSI/Subaru engines are good engines, just a little on the heavy side for light aircraft.  I, myself, go for the lighter side, from experience a lighter airframe means less power needed, less fuel, better performance and handling. I learned in the age of a map, compass and watch to get from A to B. I understand some need more due to airspace reg's and restricted areas.  I plan on a two stroke engine for my model 2 in the 55 to 85 HP range. And if you spend a little time learning the in's and out's of a 2 stroke, you won't have any problems and a lot more money in your pocket. 95% of all 2 strokes don't fail, they are murdered by their owners!
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  9. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox/NSI   

    NSI/Subaru engine went to its new home today. A guy picked it up for his pietenpol project to replace the corvair engine. Now to start rebuilding and reconfiguring the mountain fox to the way I want it.
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  10. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Fuel Tank Suppliers   

    Stace Schrader makes Kitfox model 1,2,3 ribs. Also makes an extended gear for the older 'foxes'.  I just got a couple of wing tanks from him for my II.
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  11. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Wing tank leak   

    I just got 2 tanks from Stace. Haven't got them installed yet.
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  12. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Wing Tanks
    Just got two new plastic wing tanks in the mail today. 5.5 gal each. Now to figure out what outlet fittings to use. Anybody have any practice with the fittings?  I never had much success with threading a 1/8 NPT into a plastic tank. Any advice?
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  13. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 2   

    That's great!
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  14. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 2   

    I've had good luck with the 503 on other aircraft but they were pusher types and had plenty of cooling. In an enclosed cowling an air-cooled two stroke runs a little on the warmer side. That is one place where water cooled has an advantage. An HKS is a good engine when set up properly but final performance is close to a 503. Top end speed is less important than short field performance which is critical around here. Which is why I like the model 1, 2, or 3 kitfox.  I am shooting for a 450 lb empty weight. May be wishful thinking but it is doable. Nothing but 'G' airspace around here so I don't use many fancy gadgets outside of the basics.
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  15. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox 2   

    I am in the middle of WVa. 304-847-5723. It would include everything associated with it. engine, prop, spinner, PRSU, all gages, radiator, engine controls,etc. I ran it up yesterday and all temps and pressures came up normal.  Call me if you would be interested, will give you a heck of a deal.
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  16. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Kitfox 2
    Anybody flying a model 2 with a 503? Considering what engine to hang on the nose when restoration is complete. Can't seem to give the NSI/Subrau away so maybe a heck of an airboat. It runs smooth but heavy.  Thinking that the original model 2 had a 503 or 532, and a 582 seems to be the common replacement but its still a little on the heavy side when you add the radiators and plumbing. Am leaning to a Hirth air cooled 55,65 or 80.  Just wondering what the performance might be with a 50-65 hp engine.
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  17. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Jury Struts   

    Thanks, Jim!
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  18. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Jury Struts   

    Finally figured out how the jury struts attach. Builder had coated everything in sight with bondo and laid it on thick and heavy.  One couldn't even tell there were bolts installed. No wonder it weighed the same as a Sherman tank!
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  19. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Jury Struts
    Can anybody tell me how the bottom of the jury struts attach to the lift struts without me tearing them apart. They are covered with fabric and fortyleven coats of paint. They appear to be held by a clamp similar to the taylorcraft jury struts. Thanks!
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  20. Allen Sutphin added a post in a topic Kitfox/NSI   

    Probably not. Engine still looks new so by the looks of it  probably doesn't have a hundred hours on it. Its just too heavy for a model II. I am going to sell the complete package including the gages and prop. It would work on a model 4 and up but not a I, II, or III. If I can't sell it to someone for a 701 or other kit that can handle it, I'll have a heck of an airboat for when the snow gets deep.
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  21. Allen Sutphin added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Kitfox/NSI
    Just acquired a Kitfox Model II with a Subrau/NSI engine. Aircraft has a fully loaded panel and with the engine package is a tank. Going to strip it and start over building it light. Engine has less than 200 hrs and looks like new. Going to unbolt the engine mount from the firewall, include radiator and engine gages plus prop. If anybody is in need of a complete FWF package.
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