1avidflyer

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  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    I just went and took another look at the Avid with the 912. That is actually a speedwing, the add says he has the wing extentions, and when I read that, I looked a bit closer on the pictures. Wings have a flat bottom. Not that good for STOL operations with the short wingspan. Wing extentions help though. Not sure if they will equal a standard STOL or Heavy Hauler wing for STOL performance though. If the washout isn't to much with the extentions on, that would help cruise speeds though compared to the undercambered wing. If you really want to get somewhere, the short wings would be the ticket. Just my 2 cents worth. YMMV Take care, Jim Chuk


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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    RMendler (?) Helps to have a first name at least to refer to you by, just went and did a search on Barnstormers for Kitfoxes, and did see someone had an E81 engine from a kitfox for $2000. Didn't read the add to get the specifics, but that might help to answer your question about what you could sell one for. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Iditarod Chase   

    Nice pics, thanks for posting them. Quite the country! Jim Chuk


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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    I just looked at that Avid with the 912, and that is a sharp looking airplane. I have no doubt, that it would fly rings around the one with the Suberu engine. I would bet that he would have to throttel back to "just" cruise at 90 with the 912. STOL performance would have to be far better as well. Far lighter = better usefull load also. If it was me, I'd be focusing most of my attention on the Avid with the 912. $1000 more, but who knows, that might go away in a deal..... Take care, Jim Chuk

    Hope the guy with the Sub isn't reading this, but it's just how I feel and you asked....


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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 kit   

    Hi Ed, thanks for the info. If you don't mind, I would like to talk rather than type, If you PM me your # I could give you a call. Mine is 218-254-2404 Thanks, Jim


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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 kit   

    Hi Doug, If it would be possible to give me the dimentions of the tube, I might have somthing here I can use. Looks like aluminum in the picture?? Also, if you don't mind, a closeup picture of each end. Thanks, Jim


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  7. 1avidflyer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Kitfox 1 kit
    Hi all, A while back, I ran accross a Kitfox 1 kit that had very little done on it. I ended up bringing it home today, I don't intend to build it at this time, more likly going to roll it over and hopefully come out just a bit ahead on the deal. Not sure what will be best, part it out or keep it togeather. So far, it seems I'm missing the doors, and the elevator push-pull tube. The guy is going to look for them, so maybe they will still turn up. Anyway, that's the story for today. Here are a few pics. Got quite a few boxes of small parts, didn't put them on the floor with the big stuff for the pics, but it seems like most if not all of that stuff is there. Take care, Jim Chuk

    PS last 2 pics of the wheel hubs and brakes. Never saw brakes like this before, anyone familar with them?







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  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic KF 4-1200 W&B Comparison   

    Doug, Maybe some day I'll finish my Kitfox 4 and will be able to give you a real answer, but what I've read and been told is that if you get the plane built and it weighs only 600 lbs, with a 912, you did pretty good. Not impossible by any means, but you have to be careful what you put in the plane. I'm trying to end up as light as I can, time will tell I guess. Maybe if I didn't keep having to rebuild bent up planes, I'd have more time to work on the Fox. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Weren't we just talking about wing folding issues with a plane that had a dorsal fin added on it? Wonder if that is an issue at all here? If I remember right, the flaperon counterweights ran into the added fin area. Just something to think about. Did you by any chance see that Kitfox 4 in Kansas about a month ago? It had a 912, low time, guy was asking $22,000 for it. He had bought it to learn how to fly, and it was to much for him. He bought an Ercoupe, and had one plane to many. That one had the wheels turning in my mind. I had talked to the guy's flight instructor, and he told me about the plane. He was really impressed with it. It probably sold quick, but if it didn't, it would be worth looking into. Closer too! Another topic: Ed, you said you saw an early Avid being built in Alaska. Did that plane by any chance belong to a guy named Jim Haney? Poor guy, brought it back to Mn, about half done, but got cancer and passed away before he could finish it. A flying buddy of mine ended up buying it, and finished it. I never met Jim Haney, he must have been quite a guy, he was on at least one of the expeditions that dug out the Glacier Gal P 38 in Greenland, and he also had something to do with the Global Explorer Dean Wilson designed. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Going Ivo IFA   

    Joey, glad it's working out for you! Just wondering what your EGTs are doing, and how you are manageing them. When you were getting the 1500 FPM climb rate, what RPM were you turning? Thanks, Jim Chuk


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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic PARK BRAKE INSTALLATION?   

    Not the best picture or installation perhaps, but here is what I did on my Kitfox 4. (got to get back working on that one of these days!) Take care, Jim Chuk
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Wing Structural Integrity   

    Three or four years ago, I flipped my Avid MK IV over while landing too fast in deep snow. I recovered the plane then, and have to say, the guy who built the plane did a lousy job on the epoxy glueing of ribs to spars. I don't think he used any or for sure not enough cotton flox to stiffen up the epoxy and it was very runny and didn't stay in place very well. None the less, none of the joints were broke loose! I did clean and sand that epoxy and add more so there were decent fillets on all the joints just so I felt better about it, but apparently it wasn't necessary. I did hear that Kitfox or Avid did make a wing with no epoxy used just to show it could be done and the fabric held things in place. Can't show proof of that, so take that with a grain of salt. Anyway, I wouldn't worry to much about the epoxy in your wings. I do know that Kitfox had an issue with some of their quickbuild wings on the Kitfox 4. Some of the epoxy was not holding and they supplied a type of crazy glue to pour into the tiny joint to keep things in place. I think it was mentioned that the wings were moved to soon and the epoxy wasn't completly cured. I still have the paperwork from Kitfox for the repair that came with my Kitfox 4 project. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Big Orange is now a little Bird   

    Not saying I'm right, but I though that the 25 hr fly off time was if you were using a certified engine like a Lyc. or Cont. Didn't think that was the case with a 2 stroke. But I guess if the DAR lets it go,.... why argue with it. Congrats on getting the cert.! Now it's time to start putting time on that plane. Take care, Jim Chuk

    PS Just was digging through some paperwork I had about Certification of Amateur built aircraft. The Advisory Circular #20-27D is what I was looking at. It is dated 6/22/1990, so it may have been changed, but here is what it says on page 12. Section 13, Flight Test Areas (paragraph) a. Amateur-built airplanes and rotorcraft will initially be limited to operation within an assigned flight test area for at least 25 hours when a type certificated (FAA-approved) engine/propeller combination is installed, or 40 hours when a noncertificated (i.e., modified type certificated or automobile) engine/propeller combination is installed. It goes on from there to talk about gliders, balloons ect, ect. I'm going to see if I can dig up an updated one.

    PSPS Just dug some more on the FAA website, and AC 20-27G is the current AC for this. On page 27, Table 7 it gives the same info as the earlier AC 20-27D regarding phase 1 flight times depending on engine and propeller.
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Rotax 583   

    The FAA mandated passenger warning on the instrument panel that is required on experimental aircraft tells a lot. It says, This aircraft is amature built and does not comply with the Fedral Safty Regulations for standard aircraft. Interesting note, you are supposted to point this out and read it to any passenger before flight. Jim Chuk


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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Rotax 583   

    I should have mentioned, none of my Avids had/have a blanket either. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Rotax 583   

    I've owned and flown 4 different Avids that I didn't build. All of them had galvanized steel firewalls. They also had all been inspected and passed as airworthy, one DAR at least was an FAA employed inspector. Twice I had FAA inspectors inspect my Avids, once when I changed an engine, (major change, earlier experimental rules required an FAA inspection,) and one Avid that I bought had never had the Phase 1 hours completely flown off and the location of the Phase 1 area had to be changed, and that also required an FAA inspection. Nothing was said about the firewalls durring those inspections either. Actually the FAA guys didn't spend more than 5 minutes looking at the planes each time. That has been my experience, your's may be different. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Nose wheel/Grove gear   

    No, I'll stick with the tailwheel, I fly from my grass strip in the summer, and put the plane on straight skis in the winter, so I'll probably pass on the change to tri-gear. I also would have to get a different endorsement for my sport pilot license to fly the tri-gear. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid+ Convertible   

    Hi Doug, don't think this really applies to your situation, but I believe the Avid main gear legs are different for tailwheel verses tricycle gear. With the tailwheel gear, the axel is ahead of the front gear attachment point, and in the tricycle gear, the axel is about in the center between the two attachment points. I think the tailwheel gear is also taller. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Nose wheel/Grove gear   

    No problem Doug, I did call Grove today, and learned this. Gear is called Avid Tri Custom. Explanation is this, Tri= Tri gear, Custom= gear was built 66" wide rather than 62" standard for this application. Here is the killer for you, gross weight is for 950 lbs. I asked them for today's price, and it is $1195 for the gear, add $200 for gun drilling for hydrolic brakes, I think I remember the axels were $75 each on their website, and I think my gear mounts might be homemade. Not sure what a fair price would be for this stuff, it's all in excellent condition. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Nose wheel/Grove gear   

    Hey Doug, thanks a lot! You answered both of my questions. On page 5 and page 9 of the sheets you posted, I see how the Grove gear mounts on to the plane. Looks just like what I saw Saturday on that Kitfox 5. Also, the nose wheel set up looks just like the one I have as well. Wonder what Kitfox gets for one of them?? $$$$$ I'm sure! Thanks again, Jim Chuk


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  21. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Nose wheel/Grove gear
    Hi all, I got this gear with my last Avid MK IV purchase. The gear was on the plane at one time, but it was back in taildragger configuration when I bought it. Not sure what I'll do with the gear, might sell it????/> Thought about using the Grove gear as a conventional setup, but it's kind of short, and I'm not sure if it is heavy enough. Anyway, here are the dimentions. overall width = 66", 34" wide at the top, 18" from top of gear to floor, probably would be 16" from top to center of axels. Gear is 3/4" thick, 5" wide on top, and is 2" wide at the very bottom of the legs. Drilled for hydrolic brakes. The nose gear mounted on two tabs that were welded to the bottom tube of the seat truss, and the suspention went up to a round bracket that was welded to the bottom of the cluster of tubes that includes the tube your right foot rubs against when you are flying the plane. Hope that last sentence is understandable. Anyway, I'll post some pics as well. Anyone able to tell me anything about this gear. Is the nosewheel a copy of anything you recognize. I think it's different that the factory Avid setup. Thanks, Jim Chuk






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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Hi Ed, Not sure if you understood my post, I was wondering what the grove gear bolted to. The clamps didn't hook onto the original gear mounts. The clamps were mounted ahead of the original gear mounts. All I could see from the side was the clamps going around the grove gear, and the two bolts going up into the fusaloge. The clamps were touching the fabric which was flat on the belly of the plane where the clamps mounted. It could very well have been a home made design, I don't know. He does have an O-200 in the plane. Maybe that's why the gear is mounted further ahead than the standard gear attachment points? I'll start a new thread where I will post pics of my nosewheel/grove gear. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    I saw a Kitfox 5 at a ski flyin this weekend that had Grove gear on it. Didn't get to look inside to see what it attached to, but the mount and gear were ahead of the regular attachment point for the standard gear. There was a two piece clamp that went around the aluminum gear with a 5/16" (I think) bolt in the front and back of the clamp. I'm guessing it bolted to plates that were welded onto the longerons, but couldn't see that. I have a Grove gear that was set up for nosewheel and wondering about putting it to use. It is shorter in height than a tailwheel gear though. I have the nose gear also, maybe I should just sell it all to someone that wants to go that way. Anyway, if someone has pics of the grove mount I was describing, please post them. Thanks, Jim Chuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Going Ivo IFA   


    The IVO blades I had were the low pitch ultralight blades. 70" or71" three blade IVO. I don't think it was cranked very far from nuetral to turn 6250 static. Right now, I have a three blade 72" taper tip Warp Drive on my 582 MK IV, and I think it ight be to much prop for the engine. Tempted to switch to 2.62 and 2 blade to see if it will do better. Take care, Jim Chuk
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  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Going Ivo IFA   

    With the 2.62 gearing if you go with 3 blade 72", my guess is you might have to much prop. If you have to flatten out the blades to much, the prop won't perform as well as it could. A blade that's running flat still makes some drag, and not much pull. I remember when a flying buddy of mine bought a Kolb with a 377 on it. They had a 3 blade 62" IVO on it. Performance wasn't very good. I told him I thought it was overpropped and we took off one blade. What a difference! Then that plane performed just great. I guess time will tell, but don't be afraid to try it both ways. I had a 3 to 1 gearbox with a 70" or 71" IVO three blade prop on my first Avid with a 582, and it performed great. Take care, Jim Chuk


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