1avidflyer

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Everything posted by 1avidflyer



  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Bringing a Kitfox 1 back to life   

    The reason for not going with a fixed prop is being able to adjust the prop to where you need it.  The wood prop is great if it's right.  Not so good otherwise.  Did you ever figure out how many of the false ribs you need?  I know I have some of them.  I recently sold a couple of props that would have worked for you but they're gone now.  JImChuk
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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox S/N 1000 Restoration! N73BH   

    Definatly don't run the blades you have.  You can't imagine how much that engine will shake if the prop is out of balance.  I hit some slush on a frozen lake one time, and it flew up into the  wood prop. A piece of the trailing edge that was maybe at the most 1/2" wide by a foot or so long and pretty thin broke off.  At a medium idle, it felt like the engine was going to shake off the front of the plane.   It's tempting to want to hear the engine run, but remember, it was running fine before the crash, and should run fine now if it wasn't damaged.  Worry about the rest of the plane for now is my advice.  Here are a couple of pictures of two different  ways to do your rib tail repair that I couldn't post on the Team Kitfox site.  If you do this repair, use the right kind of plywood.  This was for an Avid Flyer, but the Kitfox is very similar. JImChuk


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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Flying off paved runways   

    Most would say toed out.  If it's toed in, the wheel on the outside of the turn where there is more weight is pointed into the swerve which can make it get worse.  If it's towed out, the wheel is trying to drive out of the swerve.  At least that's how I've heard it and it makes sense to me.  JImChuk
    PS  on the big pipe, if you have to bend the axel toward the back, tie a cable come along to the tail wheel spring and pull on the pipe with that.  Lots easier than trying to pull on the pipe by hand.  It does take quite a bit of force to bend the axel.  I've had the pipe in my belly, and holding a rope tied to the tail spring, and it took all I could do to get it to bend at all.  Trouble is with the cable come along, it's easy to go to far.  And put the nut back on the axel before you slide the pipe over it so you don't mess up the threads
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Flying off paved runways   

    With an 8' long pipe.  Need I say more? JImChuk
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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Flying off paved runways   

    It probably was mentioned, but especially on pavement, your toe in is real critical.  If one wheel is way off, it could make for and interesting ride.  0 to 1/8" toe out is considered to be about right.  I forgot to check my new High Wing gear for this when I installed it, so did that today.  Turned out it was right at 1/8" toed out.  Flew for a while this evening, and both landings were on my strip, so no pavement there.  
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mangy Fox Video?   

    Naw Larry, that was just a bit of a bounce.  You didn't come close to dragging a wing like he did on the one takeoff.  JImChuk
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  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Bringing a Kitfox 1 back to life   

    Glad you joined us over here as well Matt.  We always want to have tons of fuel available to us, but really, how often do we fly for that long.  If you stick with the panel tank, and just one wing tank, that's still about 22 gallons.  The 503 will probably burn 3.5 gph in a medium cruise.  That's 6 hrs of fuel.  It's also 132 lbs.  With only 850 gross weight to work with, it all starts to become a factor.  I think this could be a good starter plane for you, go through it, learn as much as you can about these planes while doing so, fly it for a while, and eventually up grade to something like a Kitfox 3 or 4, or perhaps an Avid MK IV which all have higher gross weights, and more fuel capacity to go with it.  Glad you joined us though, and will try to help any way I can.  JImChuk
    PS, just to clear up another point, my Kitfox 1 spars were extruded with the center stiffener as part of the outer pipe part.  All 1 piece.  
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  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Magnum project with floats on barnstormers   

    Do you have to tell her?  JImChuk
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mangy Fox Video?   

    Wonder if the guy in the red and white biplane was Bill from the Red Green show?  Some of my takeoffs and  landings might look like his, but it's only when I'm saying "don't do it like this"  (or at least thought that afterwards)   Guess he was enjoying him self though, and I don't think anything got bent.  Close though.....  JImChuk
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  10. 1avidflyer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Avid Magnum project with floats on barnstormers
    Just saw this on barnstormers.  If you read the add, you will know as much as I do about it.  JImChuk

    AVID MAGNUM KIT W/ AQUA FLOATS • $15,000 • OR BEST OFFER! • Avid magnum kit including aqua floats. This is a complete kit unmolested. The wings are quick built by the factory. Includes polished, gundrilled grove landing gear, scott tail wheel, disk brakes, wheels, complete interior, all assembly parts. Have photos of all parts. Photos only shows some of the parts This is a complete kit that has not been started. Please call for all details. • Contact James Krimmel, Owner - located Oshkosh, WI USA • Telephone: 9202032885 . 920 203 2885 • Posted September 16, 2018 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures

     
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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Flying off paved runways   

    I had been flying a single seater Himax and then a Champ before I got my first Avid Flyer.  I also was used to looking through the prop and tried to do the same thing with the Avid.  Made for some interesting landings before I put a mark on the wind screen to aim with.  Another thing was to glance at the ball just before touchdown.  That would tell me I was crooked/crabbed.  A friend of mine also trained in a Champ, and then bought a Chief.  First flight, ground loop.  Next flight ground loop.  He had a devil of a time landing the plane, and I kept telling him what he was doing wrong.  It did get better eventually, but he spent a bunch of money of different tailwheels and stuff trying to fix a problem that he was causing.  
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic First Flight Avid Flyer A   

    Wonderful news Brooks.  Good to have another Avid back in the air.  Glad you are having fun with the plane.  Now it's starting to be worth all the effort you put into it up till this point.  Next thing is some videos....  JImChuk
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Just picked up this Model 1 kitfox   

    None of my Avids had the fiberglass fabric like Kitfoxes used.  Hadn't planed on putting it on the Kitfox I'm rebuilding.  I do plan on going with a SS firewall though.  The early Kitfoxes used a thin aluminum firewall, so maybe that started some of the thinking going for the fabric.  JImChuk
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 912 ignition module and coil mounting   

    Thanks Doug.  It's amazing how easy and uncomplicated the Jabiru is compared to this thing.  And if the coils go belly up, I can buy them on ebay or a honda small engine dealer.  No question Rotax has advantages as well, but don't think they are the ignition system.  Maybe for Rotax, but not for the owner.   JImChuk
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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Just picked up this Model 1 kitfox   

    Need to be more specific in your question.  What exactly are you asking about.  I know the topic had been electrical, but.  JImChuk
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Plastic prop hub replacement?   

    Must have been part of someone else's paint job.  Wouldn't have come from the factory like that I'm guessing.   Your paperwork should have the serial # on it.  Would think it was lower than 257 though, but maybe not.  JImChuk
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  17. 1avidflyer added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Kitfox 912 ignition module and coil mounting
    Hi guys,  I'm working on this 912 engine I got for my Kitfox 4 rebuild.  The ignition was partly disassembled, and now I"m trying to figure out how to bolt it back together.  Can't really go by the book, cause Kitfox reverses the manifolds and carbs.  I also have the 912 installation section from the Kitfox 4 manual, but the drawing on the page that shows what I need is blanked out.  It's page 69, figure L-3  ignition module mounting.  If anyone has that page and could send it to me, that might answer my questions.  Thanks guys,  JImChuk
    PS  if any one has mounted their modules on the firewall or were ever, pictures would be great.  
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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Plastic prop hub replacement?   

    Looks like you have a GSC prop from the one picture.  Didn't know they had a plastic spinner.  Easy to solve that one.  Get rid of the spinner.  And if it's the original prop, the prop blades will have go according to GSC as well.  Their blades have a 5 year lifespan I think.  Check their website.  JImChuk
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Plastic prop hub replacement?   

    If you posted the SB, it would be easier.  Now we have to go looking for it or not answer. JImChuk
    PS  it seems there was a problem with the spinner.  If you don't have a plastic spinner, you probably don't need to worry about it.  
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 582 engine in a kitfox 4   

    Wonder if it wouldn't be easier to cut out 2" of the yellow part where it meets the gray part of the cowling.  Either that or find another cowl.  I have a never used one from my 3 that I may not use.  Probably some closer to you though.  Shipping would be a bit of a killer.  JImChuk
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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 582 engine in a kitfox 4   

    Mark,  what if you measure from the front bottom of the door on the cowl to the front of the cowl and I'll try to do the same tomorrow with my Kitfox 3 cowl.  I'm not finding the pics where I measured from the fire wall to the front of the prop shaft on the Kitfox 1 with a 582.  JImChuk
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 582 engine in a kitfox 4   

    Mark,  what is the length of the yellow part of your cowling?   JImChuk
    PS, just looked at your email to me again, and you say the cowl is just two pieces....  Top and bottom.  So forget the question.  That is different from what my Kitfox 3 and 4 cowls are.  They were both 4 pieces.  
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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Ribs and spar material   

    Back when I was flying a Himax, I was talking to Wayne Ison who was the designer of the Mini Max, Himax, Airbike, and a couple of the Fisher aircraft.  He was telling me about how Hummul Aviation copied the mini max but did it out of aluminum, (at least the wings for sure) and it came in heavier than the wood built Mini max wing.  The wood was also easier to work with, and cheaper to build.  Hard to beat the design that Dean Wilson came up with, with the aluminum spars and wood ribs, probably for either cost, weight, or ease of building.  And as far as strength goes, Kitfox has run the same design with a better stiffener up to 1550 gross weight with no problems.  
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic News about Ed (EDMO)   

    Wow!  great getting a post from you Ed, glad you were up to it.  Keep fighting, and check in on us as often as you can.  We do miss you.  JImChuk
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  25. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    News about Ed (EDMO)
    Hi all, just got off the phone with Ed, he has been going through a rather tough time with cancer.  He has been on radiation treatments and he told me today that 3 of the 4 spots had gone away, and now they were doing more radiation on the last spot.  Seems that it has left him very weak though, and he said he had lost 40 lbs of muscle.  He was happy that we were concerned about him, and asked that I let you all know this.  He said he hasn't been on the computer for a couple of weeks, and his brain is pretty foggy.  He did sound real good, and coherent, so that was very nice.  Hopefully he can rejoin our group soon.  It would be nice if we could somehow make a get well card for him with everyone signing it that wanted to.  I know it would brighten his day.  Not sure how that can be done with a computer though.  I could print it and snail mail it to him if someone could figure out how to do it.  Maybe just a message thread that everyone quotes the previous poster, and then I print the last one after a week or so.  Then everyone go back and delete their original post?  Suggestions welcome!  JImChuk
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