wypaul

I have the 21" tires and there are several points for me.  I can now keep up with my buddy's  Kitfox Four when we are traveling to the Backcountry in Idaho, while flying in the Backcountry by pulling the throttle back a bit I won't have to head out to get fuel as often and it's fun when non-believers tell you an Avid won't go that fast!

That thought has crossed my mind Jim.I read somewhere about a pilot adding a belly pod to a Super Cub and picking up several miles per hour.  It would be a fun project to build out of carbon fiber,  if I were Mike Patey it would have been done by now.  Have you watched his latest video on building the CF fuselage covering for his latest project?  I'll see if I can post a link and do an edit.

Also the pod sure would be nice when I head into the Backcountry camping again next summer.

Casper was just chosen for one of the three sites next year by the AOPA for their fly-in's. Maybe some of this group will make it up here for that.  I'm going to get a hold of the flying Cowboys and see if they are interested in doing a STOL Drag for that.

Tell Kent Paser about physics, I'm having a hard time staying civil here.  I'll make a video for all to see. Yep I'm talking IAS, no I didn't make a CAS chart and yes my IAS is fairly accurate.

Fuel cap fairings showed an increase of 1-2 mph.  I'm now at call it 117 mph IAS, 3 to go.  Looking at working on the cabane next which maybe enough to get it over the hump.  I would say the fuel cap fairings from Williams are worth while but just as easy to fashion your own from foam and glass.

Finally had a chance to fly with the Williams Aviation strut cuff fairing, the front two at least.  The results were disappointing, no noticeable gain in speed.  These fairing are thin and flimsy at best and a pain to try to install.  I cannot recommend them.  The fairing behind the gas caps were installed today so report will follow tomorrow's flight.  Like the cuff fairings these are also thin vacuum formed plastic but due to the smaller size and shape they are more acceptable.  Now if there is gain l will be Ok with them.

Anybody remember Innodyn lots of big claims, money collected and then they just disappeared.  Backcountry Super Cubs actually had one that they tried to make work in a cub. I talked to the test pilot, he said that he had a flameout in flight and he would not fly it again.  Also they (Innodyn) claimed that the fuel burn would be the same as a piston engine which of course was not even close to true but typical of a turbine.

I had the same issues with the primer twice, just gave up on them and went back to just using the enricher. I haven't looked back. I think I still have a new one of those sitting in my spare parts Jim.

Jim I did finally remember  And I'm installing the Williams Aviation strut cuffs.  His fairings are thin, vacuum formed, and light weight.

The KF mount is slightly different and the Avid contains one additional piece that is clear in the MK IV photo above.  They are also mounted a little more outboard on the Avid.

They are bent but very easy to fab up.  If you buy the Raven plans online they have the drawings with dimensions for the parts.  The down side of trying to use the existing part is that you will not be able to get the proper weld onto the tube.  I would just go ahead and make the new parts.  Plans are under $15 if I re call correctly 

Does that vent work ok for you Jim?  I tried one like that and fuel was sucked out but it was not tapered into the wind, didn't think of that.

I've ordered some fairings from Williams Aviation for the fuel caps and the lift struts.

http://sonoragraphics.com/williamsaviation/gascap.html

i will make a report in a few weeks.

912ULS

It's a MK IV with the heavy hauler wing. Located in Casper.

Thanks Buck, sure is good info.

I know you are right about that Leni And it is on my mind.  Looking back I wish that I would have installed recessed caps while building, would have been much easier then. Maybe just a simple ramp or stingray style.  Guess I wil have to make a couple of foam models and try them out.  Someone in NASA has probably came up with an answer that was tested in the wind tunnel if I just knew how to find it.  I will dig out my copy of "Speed With Economy" and see if there is anything in there.

No I don't Jim but I will try to remember to take one next trip to the airport  

Made a couple of more fairings.  Built some gas cap fairings which I would really classify as vortex generators, which are similar to KF fairings.  The other fairings were for the gap of the HS.  I should add that the gas cap fairing from KF are cheap and I would have bought them but I was making the other fairings so it wasn't much more work to go ahead and just build them.  

Binding bolts or sex bolts were used to mount the fairings on the HS VS location.  The fairings were attached after painting and when I jumped into the plane the fairings limited the up elevator travel so a little more carving was required to make it function.  I flew the plane with just the HS fairings and did not see any speed change that was noticeable but the response of both the rudder and elevator was better well seemed better.

The gas cap fairings on the other hand picked me up 2-3 mph and may have lowered the stall by 1-2 mph.  I will need to get a little more time on the install to be positive.

i am looking at the junction of the struts and the wing next.  It is obvious by looking at the fabric on the underside of the wing that area can use some work.  I know John did some work in that area with good results but I don't remember what he said he gained.  Haven't figured out how to make a fairing that looks good and still works as of yet.

So a couple of steps closer to my 120 mph cruise at 5500 rpm, it is within easy reach now.

Hey Allen have fun with it.  10-15 is nothing for these nice little planes even if it a direct cross wind.  If it is down the runway it's just going to make your landings slower.  

Nice, nice and nice I think you will be very happy that you spent the extra time and money.  Looks like you have a lot of travel And you will be happy with the wide spread at the fuselage much stronger mounting point.

Trike main gear is different than TD  main gear.

1+ what Jim said.  Also I would have all of those holes in the upper tube tig weld closed after you get it blasted.  I hate to see holes drilled into tubes, great place for rust to get into the tube. .035 tubing is paper thin to start with and the seat truss is a weak point.

Thank Leni, he is the one that started this site and also went to all of the work to publish it (the manual) here.

In fact I will take this opportunity to say thanks Leni for all you do we all owe you a debt of gratitude! And also to all of the others that regularly post so much information.

There is a MK IV manual on this site.