Cloud Dancer

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Everything posted by Cloud Dancer



  1. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Replacing a Whelen strobe unit   

    If the FAA is OK with led lights as strobes I see no reason to continue with Xenon flash tube technology. Led lighting lasts longer, is lighter, less fragile, cheaper, and easier to design driver electronics for.
    Remember those cheap cardboard cameras that hit their heyday just before pocket sized cell phones got popular? They used to be a cheap source for flash capacitors for those of us experimenting with high voltage. Probably hard to find them today.
    A website with some good information on Xenon flash tubes is here: http://www.bristolwatch.com/ele/index.htm Within that page is a link to a YouTube video on the subject. I have not watched the video but I am a subscriber to his channel. He's got some great videos for electronics.
    Here's a great place to find parts for Xenon style lighting: https://www.xenonflashtubes.com/
     
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  2. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Replacing a Whelen strobe unit   

    Many years ago there was a magazine called Glider Rider. They had plans to build a power supply for the Whelen style coiled strobe lights. My lights were built into baby food jars. We used them even before part 103 existed just to make our ultralights more visible. We built them to save on costs and the power supply box is about as big as the old Whelen units anyway.
    If I was going to make one these days I'd probably start with a prefab module such as this: https://www.xenonflashtubes.com/flash-driver-modules/12v-nano-strobe-compact-xenon-flash-warning-light_130.html
    Just take the bulb off the board and mount a socket to plug your lights into. The unit in the link mentions the capacitor can be adjusted to fire different sized strobe lights and that will be needed if you have the cork screw style bulbs.
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  3. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Avid C side mt radiator complete NEW   

    That's a much better site than their regular bus line site I was hunting on. The closest to me is Cedar Rapids, Iowa with the Dubuque, Iowa location being just a couple of miles farther.
    Here's the information from their site on package size and weight limit:
    What are your package weight and size restrictions?
    The maximum weight per package is 100 pounds. The maximum dimensions that we can accommodate are 29" H x 47" W x 82" L.
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  4. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Avid C side mt radiator complete NEW   

    My next question is where is the nearest Greyhound bus station? I'm guessing you have to pick it up at a near station? I have not been inside a Greyhound bus station since the early 70's. The greyhound site has a terrible search engine for their bus stations. I'm sure there's one within an hour or so drive but they must hide them as I've never casually seen one in decades.
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  5. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Avid C side mt radiator complete NEW   

    Is there any performance reasons everyone switched to the center mounted radiator and cowling systems? The problem with most cowls being sold is location. They don't ship cheap and gas to drive and pick them up ends up costing as much if not more than the asking price of the cowl. You think being in Iowa I'd be close to one.
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  6. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic convert fr 582 to 670   

    If you didn't change the prop out it would act exactly the same.
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  7. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Wing covering   

    The guy giving the seminar is the manufacturer of not only the Polyfiber chemicals but also makes the chemicals for several other name brand covering processes. He had several of his Vietnam war buddies in the crowd the day I was there. His buddy sitting next to me is a retired Colonel. They were telling war stories before the seminar started.
    I too have my doubts on Mek fumes. Reminds me of all the tobacco companies telling us smoking is not dangerous back in the day. It makes sense that he makes several of the other company's chemicals. Kind of like the tobacco companies all selling several brands of cigarettes made by the same producer.
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  8. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic convert fr 582 to 670   

    Anyone remember the name of the company that was developing those dual plugs built into a single plug body? I seen him at Oshkosh a couple of decades or so ago. They had two electrodes and the top was split so you could attach two separate plug wires. The idea was to give you dual ignition capability with a single plug hole for all the snowmobile engine conversions being done back then. It was about the same time Rotax and others came out with their dual plug hole heads.  I don't know if he ever got his idea off the ground or not.
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  9. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Wing covering   

    I have not sat through a Polyfiber covering seminar in a couple of decades so while at Oshkosh a few weeks ago for the airshow I did exactly that. Somethings have indeed changed. They now stress rib stitching on all airplanes even if previously the airplane manufacturer stated gluing to the ribs with Poly Tack would be good enough.
    They now say breathing the fumes cannot harm you but skin absorption should be avoided at all costs. They used to preach the fumes were bad for you but if you were only covering one airplane in your life and did it in a well ventilated location you would probably be okay.  Gone were the pinking shears they used to use for everything too.
    There advertisements used to brag a 30 year life but they have since down graded that to a more realistic 10 to 20 years depending on exposure.
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  10. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Kidnapped by a bear (sortof)   

    That looks like an Alaskan recycle center to me. Those bears prefer edibles over the more traditional method of smoking their Stoners. I wonder which brand of Stoner gets them the highest? There's so many kinds to pick from these days. California Stoners, Alaskan Stoners, Colorado Stoners etc. They used to eat a lot of Mexican Stoners but they are kind of hot on the rear end the next day.
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  11. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic One blade....   

    I ran across one of those for sale on Craigslist somewhere within the last 6 months. A lot of thought went into that design.
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  12. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Double Ender Honda Style   

    The engineers will be fleeing in droves rather than try and make this work. Holding the entire tail on the airplane by such a narrow band below the arc of the prop is one nightmare. The leverage stresses the tail will put on that joint both up and down and in twist from the control surfaces make this arm chair engineer say no way. From a mechanics perspective can you imagine  how hard it would be to work on either of those engines? They mention great visibility. Where? An engine directly above blots out upward visibility. The main purpose of a twin is the ability to carry additional passengers or baggage and this design offers neither advantage. Putting the engine up high in the front may give you prop clearance but I think a ground loop would total this thing in a heartbeat. The inline twin engine Cessna built for years was more practical from an engineering standpoint. They mention LSA? That's an awful complicated airplane for most of the LSA crowd. Two engines side by side are going to get you off the ground faster than a twin with one engine running in dirty air so your not gaining anything there. A larger single engine is more efficient in an LSA application. The only advantage I see is engine redundancy for flying over large expanses where engine out landings are impossible. The vertical stabilizer is compromised by being reduced in size at the bottom where it attaches to the tail.
    I do think those that like to wash windows in tight spaces will love this design and I'm sure if they built it somebody out there would think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread but, it's not my cup of tea.
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  13. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Pulling a hydraulic cylinder apart????   

    Those were called disposable cylinders. I machined most of the parts inside of those and rarely worked the assembly side of the plant. I do know it's a ring of wire that's put in the hole and then welded over. The wire slides in a notch between the cap and the cylinder wall to lock it in place. I also know you can get them apart by removing the wire but I'm not the guy to ask. One of the guys that worked the assembly side for decades may be of assistance.
    His contact information:
    Don Kurth
    email      d_kurth62@yahoo.com
    phone     (319)465-4391
    mobile phone     (319)481-7526
     
    The company we worked for make cylinders for hundreds of companies.
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  14. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Avid STOL airfoil -some calculations   

    Ian's attempt at a modified airfoil is a little more permanent.
     
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  15. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Jab 2200 Gen 4 installation   

    No matter what brand of engine your flying behind; great support will set them apart from the rest of the pack. It sounds like a great support team.
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  16. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Jab 2200 Gen 4 installation   

    Well that changes the problem. Is this a carburetor or fuel injection system? If the air dams are setup correctly your next possible cause may be the front cylinder running lean either from a carburetor adjustment or a possible air leak around the intake manifold or carburetor for that cylinder. Another Harley manual suggestion was to squirt gas around the carburetor manifold joints at idle and listen for an increase in RPM. Probably not in the modern manuals for fire hazard reasons but it's printed in mine. If you get an increase you found your leak. I'd check the plugs first for an indicator if the front is running hotter from fuel/air mixture issues.
    If you can't let more air into the front cylinder; can you baffle off some of the air going to the rear? You may be able to force more air to the front by restricting it more to the back. Just guessing here as I have no idea how your baffles are setup.
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  17. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Jab 2200 Gen 4 installation   

    That's the main reason VW and others finally got out of the air cooled engine market and went water cooled. It was too hard to balance out heat issues
    I've got an old 63 Harley that I have owned for many decades and the back cylinders always run hotter on them. The bandage fix on the Harley has always been to run a cooler plug in the back and then monitor plug color to match them up. It's even listed in the old manuals to do so. I'm not suggesting that's a fix to your problem, just pointing out how one brand of air cooled engines dealt with the problem.
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  18. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Flap Lever   

    https://www.shapeways.com/?utm_campaign=search_branded&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=shapeways&utm_term=%2Bshapeways&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0of0m9OD4wIVjuNkCh3TXwl1EAAYASAAEgLj-_D_BwE
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  19. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Hello from PA   

    I found you one closer to your home.  https://plattsburgh.craigslist.org/avo/d/malone-kitfox-model-1/6914419133.html
     
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  20. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Hello from PA   

    There's a wrecked Eurofox on Barnstormers for $6000 without an engine. They tried to sell it several times on E-Bay but it never hit the reserve. At one time it was being offered with the engine but I think they found a buyer for the engine. I asked the seller when it was on E-Bay if it had the folding wings and it does. It's got the landing gear ripped off but with the wings folded it should ride nice on a trailer. I think the seller should have figured out by now nobody wants it at that price but it keeps showing up for sale in various places.
    Here's the same airplane listed for more money with photos:http://sky4buy.com/2005-Eurofox-LSA-Aircraft-Project-Rotax-912-ULS-w-2hrs-SMOH-BRS-Parachute382593224492/015332
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  21. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic 2019; It's a new hunting year!   

    I'm still waiting for the photo of the bear in the passenger seat with your sunglasses on and a cigarette in it's mouth. Even better, I want to see the look on some spectators face at the airport when you land and he spots the bear riding shotgun with aviator sunglasses on and a Dave Clark headset.
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  22. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic An interesting display of dynamic soaring.   

    They are mostly carbon fiber. They sometimes use Kevlar for hinge material.
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  23. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic An interesting display of dynamic soaring.   

    They are getting crazy close to going supersonic. The next build will include swept back wings to help it punch through the sonic barrier. I wonder what a sonic boom would sound like when generated by such a small craft? And since it's going back and forth in such a small area will the sonic boom perceived by the guy flying it be constant or repeat with each pass? There are student built rockets that go supersonic but they do it in one direction and at extreme height. I see why they have college professors studying this.
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  24. Cloud Dancer added a post in a topic Battery   

    Those chemical changes from electricity going into a battery or coming out of a battery are further bottle necked by extreme cold or heat. Here's another link to the type of battery in the video with a proper way to charge it, prevent it from being over charged and monitor it.  https://youtu.be/bj7abaCrwvI  One important factor about this type of battery is they do not like cold weather at all!
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  25. Cloud Dancer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    An interesting display of dynamic soaring.
    I was watching a very fast nitro powered RC airplane and had seen some very fast electrics and asked which is the fastest, nitro or electric powered? The answer I got was neither. Wind power beat them both and then I watched the clip he included. For others that have never heard of dynamic soaring there are some links in the description in the video and more in the comments for the video. https://youtu.be/MoaWlKC3wIM
     
     
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