Emory Bored

All kidding around aside.  It's tough to work through this stuff. I've been married to number 3 for 23 years now and there's not much chance of a breakup at this point.  But when you add in all the ones I didn't marry the total number of ladies I've set up housekeeping with grows pretty large.  I'm glad I finally got it right.  

That is a project Joshua.  An entire new fuel system including tanks.  Some sort of panel that will work with all the restricted airspace around here,  and would you like the more modern spring gear?  A few thousand here and a few thousand there....pretty soon you're talking about real money. 

Lock your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car for six hours and see which one is happier to see your when you let them out.....

When I lived and worked Alaska I always heard that you never really lose your wife there.  You just lose your turn.....

Av8r3400.  I'm pleased to see that your castings have the same dirt brown color as mine.  I was worried about the color because I've only seen shiny new Rotax engines in shiny new airplanes I guess.  I thought they were supposed to be silvery new looking aluminum color.  

I was getting anxious about delivery on mine so I called Wayne (Hal's partner in the Zipper project) on Friday.  The engine is still at his hangar in Temecula.  They've run it and are now putting together a dynamometer so they can actually measure power output with the engine mounted on the airplane.  I'm thinking Kool prop at the moment but may eventually talk to Prince about a fixed pitch. 

Carry on

Dan

Is that a Northstar Loran?  Or the GPS?  Actually a primitive but very powerful/useful radio.  

Ha! The seller has changed the ad to KF-1.  Ain't life grand when you can make a difference in this ol' world, however small.  

I agree to some degree, but, if you finish it and it's a popular airplane you'll come out ok.  I think.  I'm certainly not prepared to argue the point because all we see are asking prices on Barnstormers.  It just seems that if an airplane is in good shape, has it's phase one flown off, comes with a current condition inspection and current time on the clock it's just less of a gamble for the buyer.  Even so, this airplane is not being marketed very well.  i could do purple probably.  

Jim: you have a PM on this quote.  I was going to go public with it but I figured nobody but us would care eh?

I was looking at that one this morning too.  It's sad really, the seller had hopes and dreams and the son probably doesn't know anything about the airplane.  When they sit around for long periods like that you have to start by tearing them apart.  For the right buyer $12K-$15K might work.  I want something the guy flew yesterday. 

I did inform the seller that it was not an Avid.  I copied him on the FAA registration.  All this well before I posted the listing here.  When they don't know what they are selling, even if they own it, my alarms go off.  Still, at half that price and lots of energy it could fly again......maybe. 

Here's an ad for an Avid Flyer model 1   errrrr....whatever.  I think fearless leader Akflyer has one of these doesn't he?

http://spokane.craigslist.org/for/5300573737.html

Yer not going to buy that one too are you Joey?  Three?  I kind of like it if It will fly without much hassle.  

Dan in Sparks......

I've been reading this with some interest Fred.  I know this is off topic but I'm very interested in your longer term experience with the Simonini Victor 2.  Have you written a follow up on your blog?

Thanks for the help fellers.  Greg squared me away on the New York KF4.  I actually had been interested in that one several years ago when it was configured differently.  Neither one of these is for me. 

That's good to know.  I brought it up here hoping that you would be around to comment.  The problem with the IV is that it's in New York....with 9 gallons of fuel.  I've got two in-op airplanes already but I want something to FLY NOW!  I've been on the ground for two years and many years before that.  So I've decided that debt is my friend maybe.  

The last two airplanes I've picked up across country I've driven like a madman for 16 or 12 hours a day. Not real bright really.  I would rather fly it home but not this time of year and certainly not with a 9 gallon fuel tank.

Just a little rambling here. 

 What sort of effort would it take to install a couple of wing tanks before bringing it West?  I've worked a little firewall forward on a 912 IV 1050 but beyond that I don't know much about them.  As I recall the throttle linkage was far from ideal.  It was very difficult to get a good carb sync on it.  I think I synced it at about 2600 to be close at idle and full speed.  It ran pretty rough wide open when set up for 1400.  I was really impressed with the airplane on all counts beyond that.  The way the cowl fit together, the radiator set up, the control feel on the ground.  I didn't fly it, but it just felt right you know?  I have flown the Zenith and it's a bit of a wild thing; neutral yaw stability for instance.  It's more than happy to fly along like an old hound dog with it's tail end kinda trying to pass the front end.  I'll call the New York one tomorrow and try to get some sense of it's condition and history. 

Here's an offering on Barnstormers.  I talked to the guy for about 1/2 hour and he sounded like a pretty knowledgeable guy and I began to re-arrange priorities in my mind to maybe take a ride to go look.  Then I checked the FAA registration on line.  It's not a 4 it's a three; at least according to the feds.  I've run a weight and balance on a 1050 gross Kitfox with the 912UL and it wouldn't even hold half an hour of fuel with two guys on board.  Take a look at this and see what you all think. 

http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_1079862_1993+KITFOX+4.html

This one needs wing tanks and stuff but at least it's a iV-----but is it a IV 1200.  No free lunch.  http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_1055289_Kitfox+4-1200.html

Check this site out.

http://flyeasyaircraft.com/our-aircraft-2/

That is really cool.  I'm so glad he's still at it.  The last build I knew about was a boat.

I doubt the builder(s) really knew what he/they wanted.  Most of these airplanes went to folks with little or no aviation experience.  Just the desire to fly.  I would think that this one will make somebody a really nice ride with some changes.  It's got good bones I think.  To tell the truth I have been battling with my brain trying to justify owning an Avid while I build a Zenith.  It don't pencil out you know?  A new minimalist panel, gear, wheels and tires, a decent tailwheel, and there you go.  But after all that it's still a C model with insufficient gross weight for my mission.  

Maybe it's the observer doors?  I don't know.  It just doesn't look smooth?  It's probably just fine.  

http://www.barnstormers.com/ad_manager/listing_images.php?id=857890&ZOOM=b1f1165ad71e43d4e7446fe97da023a7

 Hey EB, my flyin buddy is the zenair dealer out this way and flys one so I'll try and pass on any questions to him if needed but this bunch will probably be able to answer them im sure

That's good to know Willis.  I'll need all the help I can get.

Great!  I'll be starting my thread in here soon.  It's complicated but I'm still recovering from a series of 5 moves since I left Fairbanks in aut five.  We've been living in and out of boxes for years now and it's tough getting all that junk sorted then thrown away.  

Anyway,  I can see the garage floor now and I've got my indoor electronics/music studio to do yet before I can get the Zenith CH701 out of the trailer and into a recognizable airplane form.  Not long now. 

EB

I wondered what happened to that project.  I figured you'd been busy with the 180 and gave your Avid short shrift in the back of the hangar.  

Oh, and by the way.  The 701 kinda grows on you.....like a wart.