1avidflyer

Contributing Member
 View profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    4,223

  • Joined

  • Last visited


Everything posted by 1avidflyer



  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic OLD MERLIN GT 95%   

    I fly airplanes that I work on.  Nothing scares me!  ;-)  Hey Mark, to bad you're half way across Florida, I would give you a hand if you were close.   (then we would see how brave you are;-)   TJay,  I would be tempted to drag it along if I had someplace to keep it down there.  JImChuk
    • 0


  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic OLD MERLIN GT 95%   

    I'm not buying nothing!  Well not for that price anyway;-)  Actually I have to get rid of some of the stuff that I have now before I think about bringing something else home.  Or build another hangar/machine shed.  I did fly the Kitfox 1 this evening, It's about ready to go on the market.  To bad it's so late in the year.  Probably have to wait till spring.  JImChuk 
    • 1


  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic OLD MERLIN GT 95%   

    The 6th and 7th pictures show the engine.  Looks like a Subaru to me.  JImChuk

    • 0


  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Engine alignment   

    The 2 x 4s would probably work, but something else to consider is the weight difference between the engines.  You may want the Yamaha further forward for CG purposes.  Or maybe there is weight in the tail counterbalancing the heavy Subaru which can be removed, and then the prop hubs could perhaps end up in the same place.   JImChuk
    • 0


  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mk4 seat in a C model   

    Maybe you did already, but if not, try tightening up the ropes on the back bottom of the seat with more slack on the front ones..  That will move the seat back some.  I'm 5'9" on a good day, so headroom's not that big of a problem for me, but the fiberglass seat was not comfortable for me without the lumbar support.  JImChuk
    • 0


  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mk4 seat in a C model   

    Can you loosen up the ties on the cloth seat to get it lower?  I've had both cloth and fiberglass seats, and found the fiberglass one to be not near as comfortable.  In an hour my back would be killing me.  It did help when I started putting a foam pillow behind the small of my back.    JImChuk
    • 0


  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Ya, I think they will have lots of fun with it.  And if the engine disappears, and the aircraft wheels go away and are replaced by wheel barrow tires, I think they will like it just as much.  And then I will like it more as well. ;-)  JImChuk
    • 0


  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Well the grand kids came over with their dad today, and we "flew" the new plane.  The boys had a bunch of fun! (all of them) I think it was worth it bringing this thing home.   Pulled it with the 4 wheeler.  They liked that to.   JImChuk
     



    • 2


  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic HOW IS NEW ZEALAND - DUSTY?   

    Matthew 24:7......JImChuk
    • 1


  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Weight and balance   

    At 4 lbs, it wont make much difference, and not running lots of cable makes sense.   I just punched in numbers, and if you have 450 lbs at 16" back (which is about where people and fuel end up being) your CG ends up at 14.3".  An Avid baggage compartment is at 57"  and so I used that moment, not knowing where yours is at.  If you had 50 lbs there plus the 450 at the 16" moment, your CG is then 16.32"   JImChuk
    • 0


  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Weight and balance   

    I'm showing 10.2" forward, and 14.28 aft.  I think that aft location is extremely conservative.  Avid went to 16"  and it's been tested way further back.  My ECG is 11.32"  EW is 502 with 4 qts oil, and GW is 950.  JImChuk
    • 0


  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Weight and balance   

    Just dug up my Kitfox 1 WB sheet, and I show 1/2" in front of datum for mains, and tailwheel at 151 3/4" behind the datum.  My main landing gear is supposed to be from a Kitfox 4 according to an entry in the log book.   I think I would keep the battery back as far as I could, these planes are supposed to fly better with a rearward CG.  Also, if your mains are 2" behind, it may want to tip on it's nose that much easier with hard braking.  Just remembered, you have the bush gear, that could account for the difference from mine.  For some reason my brakes are super good, I can hold a full throttle run up real easy, and I notice the tail wanting to come up on braking.  Just something to keep in mind.  (one more thing to worry about! ;-)  Jim Chuk
    • 0


  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Spar Stiffener reinforcement   

    You could maybe buy just two of the inserts from Just and cut them in half.  If the speedwing only used 18" ones, you would be way longer than that.   They would probably chop them in half for you and you would save some on the shipping.  JImChuk
    • 1


  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid flyer project free in Oregon   

    I know one thing, if he was at all close to me, I would have been calling and hooking up the trailer before he said hellow..   ;-)  JImChuk
    • 0


  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Spar Stiffener reinforcement   

    You can buy the aluminum stiffeners from Just Aircraft.  I think they were $35 each when I talked to them a year ago.  4' long if my memory is correct.  JImChuk
    • 0


  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid/Kitfox or project wanted!   

    Actually I have the Kitfox 1 almost ready to go.  I sent the prop to Warp Drive to balance it and make sure all was good.  It came back looking like new.  Put it on this afternoon.  It's still not as smooth as the IVO, but performs way better.  JImChuk
    • 1


  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    I changed that bolt on my Kitfox 1 that had about 360 hrs on it, and couldn't see any wear on the bolt.  Don't know if the bolt was ever changed since the original built or not.  It didn't really look like it, but I don't know for sure one way or the other.  Lubed it up and put it back together.  Certainly worth having a look at it though for peace of mind.  JImChuk
    • 0


  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Forced landing   

    Glad it worked  out good for you.  Nice having lots of fields around.  (wish I had more)  JImChuk
    • 0


  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Hopefully when all is said and done, she will be an organ doner to other dreams of flight!  Perhaps her loss will not be in vain! JImChuk
    • 0


  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Ok, so it's a bit past 11:00, but here is the film.  I think I have a leak on the intake manifold to the left side cylinders.  I'll work on that tomorrow.  Anyway, it runs!  And it will only get better!  ;-)  The fuel tank wasn't hooked up, so I put that small tank up in the air to get fuel into the engine.  JImChuk
    • 1


  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Working on your eab plane - signoff requirements   

    The operating limitations are supposed to be carried in the plane when it's flown.  Maybe yours are in there.  As far as the change in the operating limitations and changes to them, the big difference on how a major change was addressed by the FAA came about in 1990 or 91 if my memory is correct.  Before that time, a major change had to be inspected by the FAA, after that time, it became a  notice to the FAA and phase 1 flight testing.  Jim Chuk
    • 1


  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    It runs!  film at 11:00  :-)   :-)  40 lbs oil pressure at 1500 rpm even.  JImChuk
    • 1


  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 build   

    It will be harder to leave if it's still warm, but the condo is booked for 12-1  JImChuk
    • 0


  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Well because everyone (except my wife) needs a reason for a laugh, I'm posting these pictures.  I did crank it over a bit after I got it home, it does make spark.   Also, the hiss from the one exhaust while under compression went away after it was cranked a few times.  Guess it doesn't have a burnt exhaust valve after all.  :-)  It's to far gone to think about flying it, although maybe someone could strip off the fiberglass down to the wood and redo it.  Looks like it was built with sitka spruce.  It has hydrolic  heel brakes, and aircraft wheels.  Anyway, it'll be fun, and maybe I'll make a big wind sock out of the stripped down body.  ;-)  JImChuk



    • 0


  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Well I think it makes sense to try to keep it within the light sport weight if possible even if you are a private pilot and aren't really worried about having to fly light sport.  At 680 lbs,  if you stay with the 1320 lbs for gross weight, you have 640 lbs left for usable load.  With 26 gals. of fuel, you still have 484 lbs left for passengers and baggage.  How often will you ever be that heavy?  To each his own, but if I could keep it sport pilot eligible, I would.  JImChuk
    • 1