marksires

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Everything posted by marksires



  1. marksires added a post in a topic Bmw r100 engine in an avid   

    Two more from Richard.
     


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  2. marksires added a post in a topic Bmw r100 engine in an avid   

    Here is Richards picture.  Richard - I think it was too big - 11 megabytes.  I used Microsoft Paint to shrink it down to 400kb.
    Mark
     

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  3. marksires added a post in a topic Odd radio behavior   

    Depending on where it is on the fuselage, and the angle of attack, The front part of his fuse, his radio wave sucking meat bag, and even the engine could have been blocking the signals.  That close, line of sight really is line of sight, anything that blocks radio waves will block the signal.
    Mark
     
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  4. marksires added a post in a topic Bmw r100 engine in an avid   

    Richard,
    If you want to email it to me at sires dot mark at gmail dot com I'll see if I can upload it for you.
    Mark
     
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  5. marksires added a post in a topic Odd radio behavior   

    Where was his antenna?  If his antenna was lower than you, then your fuselage would be blanking out radio transmissions.  Metal tube frames are solid as far as radio waves are concerned.
    Mark
     
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  6. marksires added a post in a topic Living my dream   

    Thanks for all the pictures and the travellog!  Of course I'm jealous, but looks like a fantastic trip, and great memories as well!
    Mark
     
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  7. marksires added a post in a topic Another way to get in the air   

    My son did that for a while with what looked like a giant skateboard with 2 small bicycle wheels instead of a sit down 3 wheeler.  Now THAT was really a good way to lose skin.  He got hooked on kite surfing while we were in Hawaii on vacation, but it is hard to find an ocean in Illinois......
    Mark
     
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  8. marksires added a post in a topic Living my dream   

    My one European trip was to France 20 years ago.  Despite the stereotypes, the French people were gracious, polite, and very nice to visitors.  I did see some folks get the 'Ugly American' treatment.  But they were Ugly Americans and deserved it.  The biggest thing I found was that since I spoke a little French (amazingly that some of that 4 years in High School and 1 year of college actually stuck), and always tried to ask questions in French first, they appreciated the effort and took me off the 'Ugly American' list.  They also immediately informed me they spoke English.  I'm sure they didn't want to have to listen to me butcher their language any more than necessary!
    We spent most of the time in Paris, with one trip to Bordeaux on the TGV - very nice!  The sites and history were amazing.  I remember standing at the cornerstone of one church, with the date on it 1245 or so, and thinking about the fact that it was built 200 year before anyone in Europe even new America existed.
    That trip I got to add to my resume that I performed on stage at the Lido in Paris.  But that is another story 
     
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  9. marksires added a post in a topic Tailskid repair   

    If it broke that much S Glass (assuming it is S Glass), either the metal spring would be bent seriously, or the tail would have bent.  Moving the failure somewhere else might be more expensive in the long run.
    Mark
     
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  10. marksires added a post in a topic Tailskid repair   

    Feather Lite makes fiberglass landing gear for Rutan aircraft (Long EZ, Cozy, etc).  You might try them.  No web site, but other contact information is:
     
    1327 South State St., Airport,
    Ukiah, CA 95482
    Phone 707-462- 2939 Fx 462-3424 e-mail:
    fthrlite@pacific.net
    Larry Lombard Michael Dilley
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  11. marksires added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    As long as it doesn't have an electronic ignition it should, and even then as long as the alternator doesn't die (and is wired to provide its own field circuit when running).
    The more I read about LiFePO4 batteries, the more I think the incident here was just a manufacturing defect, it is pretty tough to make an undamaged LiFePO4 battery behave badly.
     
    Mark
     
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  12. marksires added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    LiFePO4 batteries can't be 'charged with a regular charger' as far as I'm aware.  All are sold with chemistry specific chargers, just like any other Lithium battery.  What makes LiFePO4 batteries safer is the chemistry is more stable than the more common Lithium battery (the kind in your cellphone/tablet/laptop) that like to catch fire and burn.  If a cell gets compromised, they are supposed to just melt without catching fire, which is what happened in this thread.
    You might get away with charging them with a 'regular' charger a few times, but the cells still need to be balanced, and the heat generated during charging needs to be monitored, etc.  In a confined space, a regular charger with no electronics can overheat them (but that can happen with a lead acid battery too).  EarthX advertises that all the required circuitry is built in to the battery itself, not an external charger, so it can be connected to a 'regular charger', but all the smart charging still happens, it just doesn't happen in an external device.  
    See the wikipedia page, and go to the advantage/disadvantages and safety sections.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
     
    Mark
     
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  13. marksires added a post in a topic Earth X Battery Warning!!!   

    EarthX is a LiFePO4 battery Ed...
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  14. marksires added a post in a topic Fun morning with my little Co-pilot   

    Apparently we got it all here in North Florida, except for that bit that just hit Louisiana.  We were a little dry in July, but August has made up for it big time!
     
    Mark
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  15. marksires added a post in a topic 2014 Avid MK IV   

    Glad to see you back!
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  16. marksires added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2016 Pictures   

    No argument from me.  I hated driving in Chicago.  Finally figured out the only way that worked was to just start changing lanes.  They could get out of the way, or not.  Sometimes I'd have been ok with not.  I was from Illinois, not Chicago.  Nobody hates Chicago more than the rest of Illinois!
    Mark
     
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  17. marksires added a post in a topic Oshkosh 2016 Pictures   

    Doug, I told you the extra distance to go over to I-39 would be worth it.  That intersection in your picture is just about the worst place to be in the world, except maybe where 90 and 94 split again on the north side....
    Mark
     
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  18. marksires added a post in a topic New Member!   

    Or just mix up some micro using the epoxy you used on the fiberglass.  Easy, cheap and light.  You mix this in with the epoxy until it is about the consistency of peanut butter:
    http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/bubbles.php?clickkey=21419
    Just don't mix too much at once - an exotherm will get your attention!
    Mark
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  19. marksires added a post in a topic Running AVGAS   

    This:
    http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/alcortcp.php?clickkey=9421
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  20. marksires added a post in a topic Running AVGAS   

    I use Avgas almost exclusively, but I use TCP to keep most of the lead from 'sticking'.  Seems to work ok, but is an extra expense.
    Mark
     
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  21. marksires added a post in a topic Interesting Kitfox sales brochure   

    Nice landing!
    Mark
     
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  22. marksires added a post in a topic Avid MK4 Wing Strut Inspection   

    Any info on the beefed up struts?  I need to rebuild mine - they looked pretty much like the pictured ones after a runway light jumped out in front of one and knocked the fairing off.  The other one looked as bad after i had the heads up to look at them.  Neither showed any outward signs during preflight or annual condition inspection.  I'd like to rebuild them with the heavier struts so I don't nee the fairing for structural integrity, just a fairing for aerodynamics.
     
    Mark
     
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  23. marksires added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 Engines   

    Won't play in the Chrome browser, you have to download it, and then if your machine has an mp4 codec it will play directly.
    Mark
     
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  24. marksires added a post in a topic Recovering another set of wings   

    I need to make sure mine are ready to be covered if you go back to Gulf Shores this winter.  Just in case you get bored or something..... :-)
     
    Mark
     
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  25. marksires added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Wicks 4130 Sale
    If anyone is looking for 4130, got an email from Wicks with sale going on:
     
    http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yCZen13P8FsNEuO0sSTnIRknn0ejTsJ98_FHiohTxfFsRHIs86pATb4D3Je4h0MD92yEUhvvM1bWlzB3YAveTzKXTjLD8XsMNWSmDa108j006CScuQw85NRCiOvpO1iR6eFR7OoQu5fSoId6qP0TDh3Gtp14WpLBloD8ryqOwMCxVwTO_tUNEYo9XzX30Ae_6HhCxflVURLD_1qAQdVjqUm5VsDejH43W3fbM-OOiYRtaPOItNuF92i8Hw_dWTdXZfs39WHpUrure1aMxLK9F1n8QLQ0JiCmjFL-Mz_Hk7l41lu1IMJTnLcOHm9xInH4Pts1X8jmK4meSQMhcNN3HsaKC09aPFySwIKDV19uxUlxyMTyMvVeCDU-7TsO5-EuaBHolZDq-MWV8IQ7Pfbumg==&c=GcqUOIw7EQSJQQ40dAc_QMWZnT-2up3nnMRBGksWpc3W8JsJEiVLGw==&ch=l4GIkS-SwswOc3CZ0QZXqaRAvKJT8YtV2oAmWYjKiiH8fHlZb1hZ2Q==
     
    Mark
     
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