herman pahls

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  1. herman pahls added a post in a topic Visability over and around the cowl   

    I appreciate this forum taking on my motormount/visability over the cowl issue.
    My model 1-2 Kitfox has been updated to a model 4 engine mount so I am sure model 1-4 have the same attachment points to the fire wall.
    I have a spare mount so if someone has an Avid 582 spark plugs down mount I would like to compare the distances between the 5 attach points on the firewall.
    There is an Experimental Super Cub manufacturer in Wyoming that lowers the Lycoming 4 inches with a modified engine mount, most likely to improve visability.
    I want to do the same and would like this forums advice.
    Modifying or copying the Avid concept would be the easiest to implement since cowls and exhaust may be available.
    I have heard that the Avid 582 installation utilizes a exhaust system that gets full power out of the 582 whereas the Kitfox exhaust has to be modified to fit with a power loss.
    Is this true?
    If I built my own motormount to lower the 582 with the spark plugs up, where would the already problamatic exhaust go besides out in the breeze which would be the simplest but not conventional?
    Would lowering the thrust line of the prop compromise how the airplane flys?
    Does anyone have photos of an Avid 582 installation showing the exhaust, motormount,cowl....?
    Thanks Herman
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  2. herman pahls added a post in a topic 10 inch wheels from Matco   

    I realize this topic is over a year old but I recently purchased Matcos 12 inch wheels to use 27 inch tall ATV tires.
    This was a $500. experiment to see how my Kitfox would handle the taller and heavier tires over my current 22 inch ATV tires.
    These wheels and tires would be similar to what Greg Swindle from Ohio Bushplanes was using till he went to Alaskan Bushwheels.
    I went from 13#'s to 19#'s per side for each wheel and tire for a total of 12 pounds weight increase.
    On pavement landings I can definitely feel the increased resistance to spining up heavier and taller tires but not an issue.
    On gravel bars they roll over rocks so much easier and give me confidence to land where I would not before.
    The added tire diameter also gives desireable increased wing incidence.
    Because of the 12 inch wheels they will not have the shock absorption that a 6 inch wheeled ABW would have.
    Also, the 12 inch wheels just do not look right compared to the 6" wheels on my sons 31" ABW.
    Since I want to land on rocks, this experiment was a success for the ABW company.
    All I have to decide now is how much extra weight I want to add and spend for either 26 or 29 Airstreaks not to mention drag to an already slow airplane.
    Herman
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  3. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Visability over and around the cowl
    Recently I removed the Jabiru 2200 and Skyfox cowl and went back to the 582 and and Kitfox round cowl.
    For the backcountry flying I do I prefer the 582 but I miss the visability I had with the Jabiru Skyfox Cowl which resembles the Avid cowl.
    I was considering trying the Skyfox cowl with the 582 but the spark plugs will not allow lowering the cowl much.
    This must be the reason Avid 582's are spark plugs down.
    Would it work to use a Avid motor mount and cowl on a Model 1 Kitfox and do you Avid owners feel you have good visability for landing between rocks?
    Does anyone know if the prop thrust line is lower on an Avid with a 582?
    Thanks Herman
    • 8 replies
    • 1,272 views


  4. herman pahls added a post in a topic Airdale wide bush gear installation   

    Joey
    I am interested in doing the same gear conversion for my Kitfox.
    How much weight gain if any?
    How easy is it to connect with Airdale to discuss the possibility of moving the gear forward to move more weight to the tail.
    You mentioned that someone you know has moved the gear forward.
    Do you know how that worked out and the contact info.
    Thanks Herman
    • 0


  5. herman pahls added a post in a topic Plug wires   

    Leni
    Regarding the bulk 7mm spark plug wire from the auto parts store.
    Would you give more detail about the bulk wire.
    Seems like there are different core materials that prevent radio interference.
    Thanks Herman
    • 0


  6. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Whale watching
    This morning was a incredible rare day for the Southern Oregon coast.
    Open the doors with the heat off and it was actually warm.
    This time of year light airplanes get flown early before the winds turn nuclear.
    I was headed north looking for "alternate" landing sites and spotted whales traveling north.
    I know that whales are a dime a dozen for the Alaska fliers but I enjoy them a lot.
    Years ago because of our daughters love of whales we went to Baja Mexico where you can reach out of the boat and touch them.
    I followed A Calfornia Gray and her calf for 20 minutes enjoying the incredible view that my Kitfox offered.
    Now that I have my IVO IFA and HACman dialed in, I am enjoying the 582 much more than I expected and would not like to be without those options.
    Herman
    • 3 replies
    • 800 views


  7. herman pahls added a post in a topic Traveling to Alaska   

    Thanks for the replies and the info that only 20 miles is not paved.
    When towing the interstates in the lower 48 I average 55 miles each hour by driving 60.
    Does the Alaska highway allow those speeds for the most part?
    Thanks Herman
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  8. herman pahls added a post in a topic Traveling to Alaska   

    It will cost ~$5000.00 and 4 days to trailer a Kitfox on the Ferry to Anchorage from Bellingham, WA..
    How many days does it take to drive and tow from Bellingham to Anchorage?
    Thanks Herman
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  9. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Model 7 Kitfox
    There is a Model 7 Kitfox advertized on barnstormers that has a modified for more HPower 0-200 Continental.
    It is nicely done and equiped, weighs 850 pounds and they are asking $75,000.
    How well will this Kitfox perform since it basically has the same wing area as my old model I?
    I am sure the stall speed increases with weight.
    A model 5 owner told me his 780 pound Model 5 with a 912S lands shorter than his early 582 powered Kitfox.
    How does a heavier airplane land shorter?
    What speed do the newer Kitfox's powered by the 912S cruise at and at what fuel burn.
    At what point does a heavy Kitfox with a 0-200 become a Cessna 150?
    The owner says his 0-200 equipped model 7 burns 4.5 gallon per hour at 110 mph.
    Thanks Herman 541 404 6464 Oregon
    • 8 replies
    • 2,364 views


  10. herman pahls added a post in a topic C-box ratios   

    ChrisB
    I have enjoyed flying with the IFA IVO and the poly switches so much that I have not taken the time to figure out how to get the indicator lights to work
    I chose to use the limit washers and like that feature.
    We all know that prop pitch has a big influence on EGT's and that is very noticeable with IFA on a 582.
    My current jetting at full throttle climb at 6600 RPM gives 1100 EGT's.
    Reducing the RPM to 6000 raises the EGT slightly above 1200 and adding pitch lowers the EGT back down again.
    I am very pleased with the lower cruising RPM and reduced fuel burn that IFA offers especially with the HACman.
    I will appreciate any jetting suggestions.
    Thanks Herman
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  11. herman pahls added a post in a topic Traveling to Alaska   

    Leni
    Your desription of things to see in Alaska is appealing.
    Your warning regarding the fisherman set lines is appropriate.
    A classmate of mine who is from Dillingham and fishes off the beaches there flipped his 185 a few years ago hitting one of those lines.
    It is time to figure out how to make flying Alaska a reality.
    Thanks Herman
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  12. herman pahls added a post in a topic Traveling to Alaska   

    Again I appreciate the flying in Alaska comments.
    My sons Pacer will have his family with him.
    I am starting to see that camping out in Alaska requires more preparation and has greater risks than most places in the lower 48.
    It sounds like no matter where you land backcountry you should be armed even if it is only 10 miles from Anchorage.
    Maybe it would be best for our first flying trip in Alaska to find a small town with a motel and fuel and do nearby day trips.
    We are more interested in how many scenic take-off and landings we can do on beaches and gravel bars than flying long distances.
    Legal to land gravel bars and beaches are limited here in Oregon.
    Wasilla and Soldotna would probably have motels and Dillingham seems to be far off the beaten path plus the weather issue.
    Any other towns that you would suggest for the day trip idea?
    Thanks Herman
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  13. herman pahls added a post in a topic Traveling to Alaska   

    You guys are talking me out of Alaska.
    I have never owned a gun but looks like I better if I come up North.
    My son flys a modified Pacer on 31 inch bushwheels his sklls and plane are more capable than me and my Kitfox.
    Alaska is on the BUCKET list and hope to cross it off the list soon.
    We already use the Alaskan Bushwheel fuel bladders.
    Leni: the wind and rain you mentioned are not encouraging.
    I can stay here in Oregon for that.
    I appreciate the time you 2 have taken responding to my questions.
    My son suggested that we hire a guide to show us around in his/her plane versus going out on our own.
    Leni: I will give you a call.
    I have no interest in testing testicals.
    Thanks Herman
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  14. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Traveling to Alaska
    My son is planning to fly his plane to Anchorage this summer and leave it for a few months and commute up for long weekends to experience Alaskan backcountry flying.
    I am considering towing my Kitfox to Anchorage to join him.
    I have towed my Kitfox on an open trailer for thousands of miles on paved highways with no damage.
    What can I expect towing to Alaska?
    How much of the Highway is gravel from Vancouver BC?
    How many miles from Vancouver BC and how many hours drive?
    How about traveling by ferry?
    It would be expensive but take less time and less wear and tear.
    Any idea the cost involved to travel with a car and trailer/ airplane on the ferry?
    What months are the best to fly in Alaska?
    We want to experience Alaska and want land on as many gravel bars and remote strips and camp out a reasonable distance from civilization and fuel.
    Would you suggest flying the area near Anchorage or say Dillingham where apparently Loni the cub driver shot some of his footage?
    We are not looking for high risk flying but like challenging short strips.
    Lots of queations and I will appreciate your advice.
    Thanks Herman Pahls Oregon 541 404 6464
    • 29 replies
    • 5,086 views


  15. herman pahls added a post in a topic 3 blade or 2 blade prop   

    My Kitfox airspeed indicator is optimistically off.
    GPS should tell the truth if you fly opposite directions and average the speeds.
    A static port system to your airspeed indicator and calibration would give better airspeed accuracy.
    Herman
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  16. herman pahls added a post in a topic fuel primer for 582   

    I installed the certified aircraft style primer tonight and it worked great immediately.
    I did not have to pump it a number of times to prime it like I did with the Rotax plunger type.
    Attaching the 1/8 inch prime tubing is not as simple as it is with the barbed fittings on the Rotax primer.
    Herman
    • 0


  17. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Weight gain
    Airplanes are like most humans; they gain weight with age.
    I was shocked by how much weight my Model 1 gained in 17 years from the original 532 with single ignition and A-box.
    Just a few pounds here and there.
    582 with dual ignition, C-box, RK clutch, IFA prop,HACman mixture control, cabin heater and ducting, Odyssey battery left over from the Jabiru, bigger battery cables as need for the Jabiru, bigger tailwheel, matco brakes versus the original go kart brakes, radios and antennas, fuel flow meter, EIS, tools and a few spare parts, bigger than original tires and I am going bigger yet, 3/4 to 1 inch lift struts, plastic lift strut fairings, water logging?,
    What started out as a marginal 2 seater due to 950# gross weight and my 200#'s has turned into a single seater unless my wife fly's with me which she doesnt very often.
    I am considering going to a 80 HP 912.
    I have seen posts that say the 912 will only add 35 pounds over a 582.
    Is that realistic?
    Besides getting the battery moved aft for weight and balance it seems like one builder installed larger tail feathers on his shorter fuselage Kitfox with a 912.
    Opinions, facts and ideas would be appreciated .
    Thanks Herman
    • 3 replies
    • 868 views


  18. herman pahls added a post in a topic fuel primer for 582   

    The local A and P had a box of salvaged primers so the price was right.
    This might be the first certified part on my Kitfox.
    I will report how it works out.
    Thanks Herman
    • 0


  19. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    fuel primer for 582
    I just had another fuel primer fail so I could not get the 582 started since I do not have the enricheners hooked up.
    I have always used the type of primer that came with the original 532 engine kit for my Kitfox.
    I have always used the plunger type of primer and am curious if the button type that is mentioned on the Rotax site is better?
    The button type looks like the rubber could fail and you could have a cockpit fuel leak.
    Is there a better option for a primer?
    Seems like the primer I have been using is inconsistant and you never really know how many pumps it will take before it actually squirts in the carbs..
    The primer on our Piper Pacer is always consistant and does not need to be primed before it will pump.
    Thanks Herman
    • 6 replies
    • 2,405 views


  20. herman pahls added a post in a topic Airstreaks versus ATV tires   

    I appreciate the imput on Airstreaks vs ATV tires.
    The ATV tires I am getting from Fullerton Sand Tires in Los Angeles are 2 ply and weigh 11-12 pounds each without wheels and are 27" tall and 8" wide.
    I have the Matco brake system where the rotor attaches to the hub and not to the wheel as I have seen some Kitfox's with so it is a ~$500.00 bolt on experiment.
    I agree that Airstreaks would be ideal but I am looking more for the increase in diameter than the rock absorbing feature of the Bushwheels.
    I just installed the Matco 8" wide tailwheel for $250 to replace a Maule 6" hard rubber tailwheel that dug a trench when landing on soft sand.
    The new Matco hardly leaves a mark in the sand.
    The only negative is that the new Matco raises the tail 3", so I need taller mains ( 27 inch ) to get the same wing incidence I had before.
    So here is the question.
    My Matco brakes work so well that it takes very little braking to get the tail to raise when trying to land short.
    I will loose some of this braking with taller tires.
    I know taller gear is available for Avids and Foxes but how about moving the axles forward to allow harder braking without nosing over.
    What can of worms would this be opening?
    Moving the axles forward would move weight forward which these airplanes do not like for best performance.
    Is there a way to figure out how far to move the axle forward to get the desired results?
    Thanks Herman
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  21. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Airstreaks versus ATV tires
    I am tempted to get some 12 inch Matco wheels and 27" tall and 8 and 1/2 wide ATV tires for my Kitfox so I can land on some of the gravel/big rock bars that my son lands on with his 31" Bushwheels.
    It appears that Greg Swindal from Ohio Bush Planes was using similar tires on his Rans S-7 in some of his U-tube videos.
    Two ATV tires would cost about $200. versus the $2100 to $2600 cost of the 26 or 29 inch Airstreaks.
    Does anyone know how well the tall ATV tires on 12" Matco wheels will handle rocks in comparison to Airstreaks?
    A tire on a 12" wheel would have less side wall than a similar sized tire on a 6" wheel.
    Does anyone have experience with taller 27" ATV tires?
    Of course my son says that Bushwheels are the only way to go.
    Thanks Herman
    • 9 replies
    • 3,468 views


  22. herman pahls added a post in a topic C-box ratios   

    Chris or Randy
    I flew for the first time with limit washers and the poly switches this afternoon and the results were great.
    I tried 2 different types of incandescent bulbs from radio shack and wired them in parallel with the poly switched as the ChrisB diagram shows with no results at all as indicator lights as
    the lights never lit up let alone blinked when the poly switch felt the strain of the limit switches.
    I tested the lights with 12 volts and they lit up so I know they work.
    I then hooked up one side of a light to 12 volts and the other side to a polyswitch and the light would dim momentarily when the poly switches sensed the limit washers.
    I would appreciate help with my errors or misunderstanding of how to do the indicator lights.
    Thanks Herman
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  23. herman pahls added a post in a topic C-box ratios   

    My type A personality requires limits so I installed the limit washers and can see how Leni says the metal washers can damage the lead screw threads. I will look into nylon washers once I figure out the spacing needed.
    With the limit washers in place the poly switches are doing their job and I have yet to re-set the Ivo breaker.
    I have a hard time getting over how cool a 62 cent product can be.
    Chris,I have not yet installed the indicator lights but am curious how they work since they are wired parallel to the poly switches.
    Seems like while the pitch switch is activated the lights would always be lit even when the poly switch opens.
    Or does the light change in intensity due to current change and that is the indicator?
    Also I like your over squared analogy.
    When flying a constant speed prop Lycoming the manifold pressure and tach are used to prevent over squaring.
    Is preventing over squaring with a 582 a total seat of the pants feeling or is there an analytical way to guage that.
    Thanks Herman
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  24. herman pahls added a post in a topic C-box ratios   

    Randy It is great to hear your subaru IFA results.
    Today was an excellent Kitfox day for me also.
    The rains stopped and I had my first flight with the IVO IFA system and with the polyswitches.
    Since it was the first flight with the IFA feature I have yet to install the limit washers for high and low pitch which would set off the polyswitches.
    Leni said the limit washers damaged the jack screw.
    I am looking forward to the polyswitches since I already dislike the IVO breaker since it takes too long to reset when it does go off.
    Some members of this forum do not use limit washers but I found that I have no idea what my pitch is set at unless I do a full throttle run up after each landing.
    I landed on a 400 foot sand bar this afternoon and had to take some pitch out on take off roll to get ideal take off RPM for the 582.
    I did not want to do a full throttle run up on soft sand.
    Thanks again ChrisB for helping us out.
    It was windy today so I have no idea if any speed gain with the IFA but with IFA prop and HACman I have never seen this low of fuel burn at say 5500 rpm.
    The EGT's go down as expected with more pitch and the HACman will bring the EHT's back up.
    I need advice so that I do not damage the 582 with too much pitch even with the EGT's and CHT's at or below where they belong.

    Thanks Herman Oregon 541 404 6464
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  25. herman pahls added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    tail wheels
    I am looking for a bigger diameter and width tailwheel than the hard rubber Maule tailwheel that came on my Kitfox.
    I fly off of soft sand often and my current tailwheel leaves a trench dug in the sand.
    Matco offers several choices of tailwheels from $250 to $650 and 3 and 1/2 inches wide to 5 inches wide.
    Any experience or suggestions regarding these tailwheels for soft sand?
    Thanks Herman
    • 3 replies
    • 1,233 views