EDMO

My brother had a piano hinge on his turttle deck. We never could figure out a way to seal that damn thing up so it would not leak every time it rained...

I want a lexan turttle deck BAD for the visibility and more green house effect in the winter, I am just worried about it cracking when I need to pull it off and it is -30 outside. Several of my trip to the lodge have been at those temps, and when its time to pack up and go home, I dont have much choice but to pull the deck off to stuff all my crap in the baggage area.

I have a rod tube in mine and find it alot more of a pain in the ass than a helpful item. Next time I have it in the garage it is getting pulled out. 90% of the time I just strap my poles to the wing struts anyway, same thing for my rifle or shotgun.

Been out of AMT school at UAA too long, and getting too old. I used to know the temps for both plexi and Lexan - seems like lexan would crack at about 60 degrees lower than plexi. We cut vent holes in windows and used dremels on ramp when it was below zero outside in Anchorage. Normally, you won't crack Lexan easily at all.

Ed in MO

If one was to try bending with this technique would i need to first heat it with a heat gun and to what temperature are we looking for?

I have read either in AC43-13 or one of Tony Binglas (spelling?) homebuilders books, the temperatures for bending lexan and the temps for bending plexiglas. I think the Lexan is 275 F, but don't know for sure. Heat guns, heat tapes, Heat lamps or wife's oven will let you form it to make parts, if you can get away with the oven (it may not be big enough either). I believe that EAA mag or Kitplanes had a good article about forming bubble doors in wife's oven by making a plywood form, and a plywood extension for the oven to use while the wife is away. BTW: The guy got caught!

Ed in MO

Got the new boots today. They couldn't be more identical to the originals. 2 of them delivered for $15.29

Great - Now what is Gizmo I saw in your photo next to the Remove before Flight streamer - I am so nozy!

Ed in MO

SHOOT - i'm told that KF was getting $250 each for turtledecks, and they are no longer available.

FOR THAT PRICE, I will take your measurements, and custom-make them, smoke, bronze, green, pink, blue, red or whatever you want!

BTW, I put the light bronze in my Ercoupe for windows, and The Very Dark Bronze (there are two shades of the dark) for the skylight. The original skylight was dark green. I would suggest that anyone, (like me), who will have heat problems, put the dark in some color for the KF/Avid skylight, and the tinted for doors and TD.

Ed in MO

Here are pictures of the turtle deck

NICE CUSTOM FEATURE. I saw an Airdale with door on left side - modified my KF with door on right and battery door farther back. Mine hinge in the front, just in case they should unlatch in flight. NOW, WHAT IS THAT GIZMO WHERE THE "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" STREAMER IS SHOWN? (Just had to ask.)

Ed in MO

Birddog, I shipped your parts today. Hope they help. You are supposed to get them Tuesday UPS. Shipping cost is on label.

I mistakenly sent an email to Highcountry thinking he was you, but got that straightened out, I hope. Shipping cost is on Label.

Ed in MO

Hey, those photos are like nothing I have seen before on Kitfoxes. Have seen several sets and the MC-1 tab is down almost to the pivot shaft. On 3 sets of mine, the pedal is pointing the other way. So the tab is down from the curved part of the pedal. Some of mine have half-pedals like these and others have full pedals (tubes coming from top and bottom of pivot tube) and one set is short and the other is long.

My friends Airdale has aluminum plates where these tube pedals are.

what MC are these for? I am guessing the MC-1, as that is where we started. Ed in MO

I had more issues with A&Ps than my DAR. They were worried about me not having a compass card. I can tell which general direction I am going on mine and that's about it. GPS compass is spot on though.

Do the FARs require a compass CARD? I forgot to read that far, and I'm an A&P. I always say I'm IFR, (I FLY ROADS) and only need to read the Interstate signs to see which direction I am going, provided there is no sun to guide me!

Ed in MO

I worked for a shop in Anchorage. One day we got a call from "Charley" a guide and pilot. He needed a new tire and tube to be flown out to the bush where he was stranded. We took care of him only to get the same call a week later. It turned out to be the same tire on the right side of his Piper. Again we answered the distress call. Two weeks later, Charlie called for 2 tires and tubes as he was stranded again. This time my boss went out with the tires and demanded an explanation.

Charley sheepishly admitted to being the cause of the mangled tires. But it was not while the plane was moving. He admitted that when he would return to the plane with a fish, he would place the fish on the right tire before putting it in the plane. Bears Love Salmon!

That was only the first two tires. When questioned about both tires being chewed up, he said, "Well, I thought if I used Pepper spray on the tires the bear would leave them alone. That damned bear likes pepper on his fish!"

Ed in MO

166N Dave - I saw lots of tires in AK with screws in them. That's why Lowes moved to Anchorage.

Check out my "Bears, Tires, and Pepper spray" chuckle I am posting.

Ed in MO

got any matco wheels?

Buyer called me tonight. I SOLD MINE TODAY.

Ed in MO

I got a call tonight from George who is wanting to buy Matco wheels. DHOLLY, you have any?

I JUST SOLD MINE TODAY.

Ed in MO

Well, I guess Highcountry and I have made a deal on the Landing gear, Matco wheels & brakes. So, these are SOLD.

Ed in MO

Any one ever get an auto compass past airworthiness inspection?

FAR does not actually say you have to have a certified compass, but some inspectors do.

Comments anyone? I have one that is good enough for a boat, and compensated. I like it

better than the antique certified that I have.

Ed in Missouri

Anyone got info on the KF nose gear? I'm working on my own design which is different.

Just wondered what that skinny tube is made of and size and wall if tubing.

Ed in MO

<double-take>

Hello Ed,

I never heard of fiberglass butt ribs offered by Avid. Were these from the early Light Aero or from Avid Aircraft, and what year? I assume they are the same familiar Avid STOL/HH profile but would love some more info and pics if you got 'em. Thanks.

-Doug

Think I have a pair still boxed up. Pretty sure they came from Avid. My magnum manual has them in it. Maybe for magnum? Maybe not?

I will check on this and let you know. Mine are not for sale.

Ed in MO

LOL, sounds like you got a few inquires. Sorry but I'm still confused... is this is a homemade(?) clear Lexan turtledeck, that does (or does not?) fit an "early" (Model I, II, III, maybe IV?) Kitfox?

Guess So - sort of? I got it years ago, about the time the KF5 was new. Still got paper on it, not cut or drilled, although someone marked on the paper supposedly for the cut for the flaperon tube. Looks a little flimsy to me, but may be correct. Have not measured thickness. Bends are very square. Think I would use thicker glass.

Dunno what for sure right now. Not too worried about it. Won't fit my highly modified bird because my roof is 6 inches higher.

Ed in MO

I don't know much about Cleveland wheels - just happen to own a set with brakes, master cylinders and park brake cylinder off of a Piper.

Why don't you contact Cleveland and see if the 40-90 will interchange with the 40-97?

Ed in MO

Here are photos of my heater and controls. Ed in MO

Here's my apologies to everyone while I take my alzheimer pill with my Geritol:

I need to learn to check facts before I write or speak.

I DO NOT HAVE A KF TURTLEDECK!

Mine is not bronze, or smoke, it is clear, and evidently made by someone other than Kitfox.

I guess I will keep it as a reminder unless someone really wants it.

Sorry for the mistake. Ed in MO

I bought one of the dremel vibrator type tools that is supposed to cut everything from wood to metal to grout. $100 - but you can now het them from several companies. Harbor Freight has several cheap ones that work just as good. $19 to $39. Best tool I have found for cutting LE, glue, wood, tubes, and anything you can think of with the right cutter. There is no other saw that I know of that will do a blind cut or make a blind square hole, or whatever you cant do with the other type saws. It sands and scrapes too. I have the 110 volt model. They make cordlessd now, but don't know about them. Ed in Mo

I bought the KF5 leading edge and put them on KF2 wings. No problem with that. Should increase cruise some, maybe increase lift tiny bit. You need to make at least 4 to 6 templates out of 1/4" plywood or mdf, and make sure you get the LE on right side up. A little trim at strut attach may be needed. They come in two pieces for each wing and you will have two 6" pieces left when you trim them for the regular size wing, or leave them long to blend with tips. Foam and 9460 will close each end. I may have a copy of the wing/LE section in my KF5 manual that I could send you if you need it for making templates. Just copy it several times and glue it to the board and cut out section so you have the outside profile to fit over your wing and tape them to wing along with lots of tape on LE. If you locate the LE and put tape lengthwise along the bottom of the LE, then you can CAREFULLY take the top of the LE and open it and apply your 9460 and then tape the top back to wing. BTW I also bought the Fiberglass Butt ribs from Avid to use on my KF2.

Ed in MO

Matco makes an insert kit for the 5/8 bore MCs. Makes the bore 1/2 inch diameter. Supposed to give (ITHINK) 30% more brake power.

BTW We used Loctite 545 on all of our hydraulic, phneumatic, and fuel fitting and even put it on bolts for a medium threadlocker and thread corosion prerventer. Works GREAT. ED

My best freind had a ratty old PA 12 that I learned to fly in. Before I took lessons in it, he was flying us over to go moose hunting. We were crossing the inlet at about 2000 when suddenly (took about 20 seconds) a massive fog bank formed. I told him to turn around and head back for Kenai. He says I would if I could see... I said hell you got a compass on the dash, use it. Well turns out there was a hole in the side of it and all fluid had leaked out. So I say use your DG.. he had not set it when we lined up on the runway. GREAT. I can barely make out the water below us so I told him to drop down so I could see the waves better, I knew the tide was going out so the wave action should be running more or less east west and the crests should be breaking from the north to the south. We lined up with the waves and continued west (two idiots that thought we were still gonna pull off a moose hunt) I knew that there were wide open flat marshes for several miles before we hit the mountains on the far side so I was not too worried about running into those, however, we did have an island between us and the mainland, and if we hit on the north end, there was only about 30 yards of beach before we would hit a solid rock wall. By this time, we were about 25' off the water and in a bit of a pickle.. About 5 minutes later I see the beach starting to emerge, so I tell him to turn south a bit so we can fly down the beach and land at a little strip I knew. We fly the beachline and as we get close to the strip I am really looking hard through the fog to try and spot it before we splat into the trees. I finally see the strip ( he couldnt) and start vectoring him into it. We had to fly past it and swing around to the north to land. We get lined up on the wind sock and on short short final, we loose all visual refernce as the fog went from bad to worse. He held it steady and we plopped that bugger in with about 375 of the biggest bounces you have ever seen! We taxi up by some cabins and shut it down and I am ready to kiss the ground! The guy that owns the place comes out asking what kind of idiots would be flying in this weather I told him he was looking at two of the dumbest people he would ever meet. He offered us a guest cabin and we ended up staying there 2 days till the fog lifted.

We bagged the hunting trip that weekend and as soon as we got back home I went straight to the airport and bought a new compass and put it in the plane.

He handed me the keys to the plane, his gas card, and the phone number to a good instructor. I flew the plane for about 28 hrs then he put it on its back landing on a remote strip to go duck hunting.

Lesson learned....

1. The second the fog started forming, we should have done a 180 while I still had the Eastern shore insight.

2. As soon as I had figured out our rough heading by the wave action, we could have set the DG and executed something resembling a 180 and headed back east to home. We may not have been heading due east, but we had 100 miles of shoreline we would have hit and would have been able to go VFR once over the land as the fog just holds right over the inlet most of the time.

3. By a GPS < done 3 days after the incident

That brings up a querstion. I know what the FAR says. Anyone ever get approved for a car compass in an experimental?? Ed in Missouri

When man took to the sky, autos were also in their infancy. Rules had to be made. Unfortunately, IMO, The "Fathers of American Aeroplanes" came from the sea, and not the land. Position lights on boats went on planes. Every time I bring this up, someone thinks I am nuts. I hear that you needf red and green to tell which way a plane is moving. Believe me, I have been nearly hit headon by a plane that showed a green light on the right wingtip from my view in the cockpit. This should have ment that he was going away from me! Was he upside down or had his lights wrong on that piece of fast plastic? Boats don't float upside down, unless they are in trouble. Too bad that Henry Ford didn't write the rules. Then we would be able to tell which way a plane was going by the white lights in front and the red ones in back.

Now, I feel better. Someone else can wonder about my pet peave - but it will never change!\

Ed in Missouri