EDMO

I dont fly open-cockpit anymore - dont even drive with windows down - hate wind in my ears.
Cant hear that little black box you turn on when there is an F-16 on your wingtip!
I tried wearing a helmet with earmuffs once, but my cigarets burn up too quickly, and the face sheild kept falling down and got full of smoke! Cant fly IFR if you cant see the roads!
I was talking about the magnets that hold the door in open position. They attach to spar somehow.
ED in MO

I saw a photo of one with a magnet in the door - Looked like the KISS method to me - no moving parts, and works good. I have the openers now.
Thanks,
ED in MO

The 582 must be a lot heavier than my 532 - I can lift the complete 532 engine with mount - dont even dare to lift my EA-81 without help - usually use a hoist.
ED in MO

Rib lacing is lots of fun - but not necessary - staples are much easier, and recommended, as an option.
I will do neither, as I am using Stewart glue, and dont feel it is needed.
ED in MO

Which pitot are you talking about - Spruce has lots of them.
Post a photo if you can - what was cost? Why is it better?
ED in MO

I will bet if all the members here would put their 2 cents in we would have enough to write a book on door latches!
I have the books from KF1 to KF5, and the Avid Magnum manual - none of them are the same.
Which works best? I like to have locking latches in case my bird stays at an airport overnight.
I also have books from Tony Bengalis (sp?) which describe door latches.
And, a couple of latches that Spruce sells for humongous big bucks, that you can make cheaply.
Come on guys - time for some super-feedback - the door is open.
I still dont have an answer as to how to attach the magnets to the forward spar to hold the door open.
ED in MO

I dont know who wrote the answer about the Jab, or the Rans, about two posts above - it wasnt me - and they didnt sign it.
I have heard of valve problems with the Jab - dont know much about them, except the prop is too small for getting you off the ground quickly.
I think you need to do more research, which is what you are doing here, and sooner or later you will make up your mind on what plane will suit your needs - NOTE: TIME doesnt last forever!
Another thing you have to consider when you go swapping engine types from the original, is that it will probably change the flying characterists and also the ground-handling balances.
That is another reason I have extended my wing leading edges and changed to nosewheel, as the heavy Subaru would be too nose heavy, and tail-light, and it would be necessary to move the main gear to keep from nosing over with braking or hitting a bump. I cant stand the thought of designing so poorly that you have to add ballast to the tail.
I am trying to take a vacation from here now that the pain of my torn rotary cuff has lessened, and get back to building - I am another year behind because of that injury.
I think you need to get back into the joy of flying, and quit worrying about going between two trees - I just try to keep mine between telephone poles! The flyer who landed my KF1 in a tree said the one fiberglass wing tank just disintergrated and the gas quickly went away in a cloud of vapor!
Check out the Rans site, and a used one with a 912-80 or 100, I think they are about same price as Kitfox, unless you find an older model KF or Avid.
Best wishes,
ED in MO
P.S. I have been studying aircraft design for nearly 20 years, and still learning - Thanks, AvidFoxFlyers for all the help.
I Will be looking, but not doing the profuse writing that I did during my recovery. GOOD FLYING.
ED in MO

Check out Chugiak Randy - not sure if Mrs. Jacober is still running shop there, but someone should know.
Shoot - I meant Birchwood - been away too long!
Trying to get off here and keep big mouth shut for a while - but watching paint dry tonight -
Please dont get the idea that I like writing to you guys. It just helps take my mind off of my shoulder pains!
ED in MO

Looks good - Happy my suggestion worked for you. Glad the light mounts worked too. Get flying.
I am back to building after a year of recovery - still hurt, but not that bad.
Trying to shutup and build, but watching paint dry tonight.
ED in MO

Robert,
Glad the cowl suggestion worked. There was a printable download on one of the Kitfox sites long ago for the scale for the wingtanks - maybe someone can send it, or you can find it. UPS or someone can print this on a transparency or you can just glue it and cover it with plastic.
ED in MO
P.S. Thanks for the 9AR. Thought I could get off and shut up for a while, but letting paint dry on tanks tonite.

2nds, 3rds & 4ths on that. GOOD FLYING LENI !
ED in MO

Depends on climate you are in - most epoxies like to work at 70F and above - had good and bad results with JB -
Usually with repair kits - you have everything except what you need - you just have to make do.
100 mph Duct tape, pliers, wire, etc are all good. My belt always has a Gerber all-purpose tool on it - best I have used.
Just keep it light, simple, and tied down good. We also had the aluminum (300 mph) tape for planes.
ED in MO

Sorry, this was meant for Brian - both of you talking about the Avids, and I got mixed up.
ED in MO

Not too much experience with open trailers - except can tell that you will have to cover the hole where the turtledeck was removed so that it is waterproof. But, if weather is bad, you wont be flying.
Closed trailers - well, partly enclosed, maybe on the front - your wings are just about 8 feet wide folded - so your trailer would have to be wider to fully enclose it - Missour only allows 8 1/2 feet wide, and that dont leave room for error!
I pulled closed trailers to Alaska several times, but not with a full folded-wing plane in them.

For LAKERTREETOPFLYER
BRIAN,
I will think about the boat trailer. Long way to come for it - but if you are driving to St. Louis sometime, and want to bring it, OK? My wife was so happy when I got rid of my 2 big trailers.........
ED in MO

Sorry, but neither of mine are Avids - Just Avid clones, aka Kitfox. They were both tailwheelers, but I sold the one and am modifying the other to nosewheel since I have moved from "Flying Heaven" Alaska, back to "Mizry" where there arent many rocks in the pastures and not enough snow for skis. I havent found a gravel runway down here yet. You can suck up a rock with either, but the nose gear is a little more prone to it until you get the tail down, which happens as soon as you give it full throttle with elevator up, just like a soft field takeoff. With practice, you can taxi that way too, but sure limits your visability. I have been known to wear out tail skids, A LOT!! I'm thinking about putting a swivel roller on the next one, or just leave the tailwheel on it!
My wings were built the "old style" with undercamber and too much twist - good for short takeoffs, but not speed.
I am also using the Grove aluminum main gear which dont stand as tall as the modified Avid gear, but about same height as standard gear unless you put on the big tires. I only use the 600-6 tires here.
Flying in Idaho and Alaska is a whole different ballgame than in the midwest or south.
ED in MO

Twister,
Although you have been given some good airspeed info, I hope you get the manual info from somewhere.
Look at your airspeed indicator - It has to be marked to be legal, and those marks will give you some indication of speeds. I know you were given 60,55,and 50 for approach, and those are fine - Kitfox recommends 65 in pattern until you get used to the plane.
Good Flying,
ED in MO

Steve,
Thanks for the info. I had wondered about that for a long time, but never got the chance to ask.
Didn't even think about the tires not being street legal. Towbar looks handy tho. Good job.
ED in MO

Couple of questions about towing:
1. What diameter tires on Avid, and what speeds do you tow?
2. How do you make it legal? Our laws require that a "trailer" (Anything being towed) have brake lights in daytime, and taillights/marker lights on at night.
3. Then there is that old bugaboo, "Licanse": Can it be state-licensed as a trailer? Maybe the towbar?
I know it is "Federally licensed", as an airplane - but not for being towed on a state road?
Bet I could get a ticket before getting to airport!
ED in MO
P.S. Nice Job.

SKIS? You mean those things that crunch on gravel and smoke on concrete? SNOW? You greedy Alaskans keep most of it - we are lucky to see the grass covered on Christmas!
ROCKS? I have heard of those - hard to find in our pastures, but keeping tailskid on ground until stopped keeps the prop out of most of them.
Jesting, of course - flown both types - just got a very stiff neck from old injuries and would rather look over the nose instead of out the side. Both types have their nich - yes, tail ski is better. Floats dont know which wheel is there.
I am just not a "bi-engine" pilot, but could be someday!
ED in MO

If you find another trailer deal like that = PLEASE, let me know.
ED in MO

Well, the old flyer just took his memory pill, which he forgot to take this morning!
I do have the remains of a Kitfox that landed in a tree on a departure scenario, which happened many years ago:
The builder put a "too-small" wire on his fuel pump and it burned out on takeoff - Could have happened with any engine.
He is still flying.
ED in MO

Brian,
I dont know if there is an Avid book on flying it, but it should be in some of the manuals.
I am a Kitfox builder (which is an Avid Mod) and there is a book on flying the Kitfox which might help some.
The FAA puts out a circular on "Test flying amateur-built airplanes", and I can get the number for you - think I
also have some Kitfox info on that subject too.
Sounds like your wide gear is a lot better than the standard gear.
The Avid flyers on here have lots of experience with these machines, and I hope it helps you.
ED in STL

Sport Aviation and Kitplanes magazines sometimes have the Federal Government reports or summaries - problem is, the government treats all "non-certified" aircraft as the same, gyrocopters, amateur built airplanes, etc., and does not divide reports by type of engine either.
The only report I have put on here, or have seen, was about a rough landing with a factory certified Luscomb.
I think there have been a couple of other mishaps, but not departure accidents.

ED in MO (now enjoying over 60 years of flying)
P.S. When you look at statistics; "The most dangerous part of flying is driving to and from the airport."

I know I missed out on some good float flying in AK, but not qualified, and hate cold water. We only have a couple of lakes here to fly into, and they are big. Too many trees bordering the little creeks too.
Skis? You mean those flat things that replace the wheels? I have only seen enough snow here once in the last 30 years to use them - they make funny noises on gravel and concrete - not too bad on grass tho.
Guess I will just have to spend last days flying roads and looking for cow patties to roll my tires on.
Good Luck on getting the bird with water wings out of the pond.
ED in MO

Oh yes, floats - those things you put on with your life preserver.......never use them.
Thought maybe you were walking on water with the big Alaskan bush tires?
Duh - forgot to take my memory pill this morning!
Ed in MO