Av8r3400

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Posts posted by Av8r3400


  1. IMO, both the Kitfox and Mark 4 Avid mounts (which are basically the same) are terrible.  They are awkward to work on and expensive to acquire for what they are.  I would highly doubt that Kitfox Aircraft will sell you a mount without having a serial number for a Kitfox to put it on at least, even if then.  They are very backed up with building kits and LSAs.  Supporting the old (even the model 4) is not on their priority list any more.

    The Rotax "ring" style mount is far superior in form and function.  Building the interface from the ring to your avid firewall will not be a major fabrication issue and in the end you will have a better system.

     

     


  2. When I rebuilt the Mangy, I considered this option.  The potential pitfalls are great if the FSDO or DAR don't  cooperate.    

    I chose to keep the original airworthiness and forgo the repairman's certificate.   I'm not so conceited that having a second set of eyes look at my plane every year isn't a good thing.

    Even with all of the extensive modifications I made to the plane, the only thing the FAA cared about was changing the prop.  I had a 5 hour phase 1 and done.  It went much easier with far less risk of spending a ton of money on a rebuild only to have a paperweight at the end.      

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  3. I've been told that there is going to be a 40th Anniversary for Avid Flyer this year at Airventure.

    Start panning your trip now!

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  4. I don't have experience in flying my model 2 and have only flown the model 7 once.  Could someone explain the major and miner differences in flight controls. How much better is the 4 and later mixer and is it just when flaps are extended that it makes the difference.  Wondering if it's worth the trouble re enginearing in the 2 since I'm upgrading things.  My main objective is slow flight and STOL for this project.  Thanks, Craig

    There's nothing really "wrong" with how the early 'Foxes fly.  They just require proper and liberal use of the rudder.

    On the early wing flap usage really isn't a thing.  The under camber wing has plenty of drag to slow you down and flap deployment doesn't really ad much lift.  "Flaps" are more used for pitch trim.


  5. X2 on the Kitfox Ribs.  Definitely the best design of the segment for overall performance.  You may need to get them from another builder or make them yourself, unless you buy a complete wing kit.

    Investigate the .083" tubes more.  There is a local metal supplier near me that can get both .065" and .083", but only in 20' lengths (lots of waste and therefore expense).  With the thick wall tube, the Just Aircraft extruded inserts become an option.  Getting the Kitfox inserts (for the .065") may be problematic.  I've heard they will not sell to anyone without a serial number due to supply limitations.

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  6. My truck finally mad the trip home from Oshkosh, Airventure 2022.

    For those that don't know, it was struck by lightning on July 23, 2022 and has been at the Volvo dealer in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin since July 25th.

    GIuTSEt.jpg  lj2Aso5.jpg

     

     

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  7. My truck finally mad the trip home from Oshkosh, Airventure 2022.

    For those that don't know, it was struck by lightning on July 23, 2022 and has been at the Volvo dealer in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin since July 25th.

    GIuTSEt.jpg  lj2Aso5.jpg

     

     


  8. I have a friend with a Ridge Runner and currently a Sky Raider project in process.

    He's seriously considering the Yamaha Phazer engine.  These look like a real good alternative to the unsupported and/or unreliable two-strokes.  Similar weight and more power.


  9. I'm not sure. I have a Fat Avid. Is that an Avid Plus? I don't know as the later Avid versions are confusing to me. I can tell you that the Fat Avid is wider in the cockpit, but not taller so it uses standard Avid wings and Struts. It is longer (stretched) to accommodate a bit heavier engine, but I find that mine still needs about 10lb of weight in the tail to fly best with the 912when lightly loaded. I has more rake to the windscreen and has a different shape vertical stab. it also uses push pull cables to run from the mixer, which is mounted under the pilot seat, up to the flapperons. The area behind the seats is open and cavernous compared to a MKIV. Mine is set up tricycle gear. Here is a picture: 

    IMG_0024.jpg

    IMG_0031.jpg

    I always associated that tail with the Persang-Airdale line of aircraft...


  10. The concern for flutter comes from the engineering of that cable is such that it's designed to pull, not push.  

    So that being a given, putting a spring around the cable to assist in pushing  on the trim tab rather than relying solely on the cable would be very advisable.

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  11. Not meaning to be argumentative.  Just sharing some of the information that I know on the subject.

    The original Avid company was so fractured in it's demise and so many copies of their equipment and products have lead to several people saying they have something they really don't have.  I believe most of the true "original" Avid tooling was scrapped and destroyed.

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  12. No Brad, Avid will not be relocating to Chisholm any time soon.  This whole deal is kind of funny.  I don't think Mendick and company ever got the jigs and such from the last guy to own Avid.  (Brett Mckinny).   Not sure if this is a scam or what.  I don't know who really has the rights to Avid if there actually are any at this point.  I was tempted to call just to see what was the deal.  Best to keep my nose out of it though.  JImChuk

    Brett McKinney does not own Avid.  He owns Airdale.  The jigs he has are NOT the original Avid jigs, they are copies and reverse engineered jigs for the Avid product line.  The Airdale (Pursang) jigs are original.

    The original Avid Jigs were "Lost" or scrapped according to all the "experts".

    I don't know what Mark Mendick has.  Maybe his are the "lost" Avid tooling.  Maybe not.  According to people in the know, the original jigs were uniquely hinged to open and allow the completed fuselages to be removed.

    There was talk of other sets of jigs and "original Avid" equipment out there in Montana, somewhere...

     

    Who really knows at this point.



  13. You would have to do it like a highlander tank is. could be done.

    Which means you'd have to build them like a Piper with  tubes through them for anti-drag cables to pass through.  In the Kitfox (and Avid) the tanks are structural to the wing.


  14. Change out the Left-Right-Both-Start switch to a separate starter and two toggles for the ignitions.  You need to be able to crank the engine without ignition for maintenance and proper starting technique.  These LRBS switches will cause kickback and damage to the spray clutch and ignition modules.

    When the contacts start to go bad, this can cause slow cranking, too.

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