RDavidson

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Everything posted by RDavidson



  1. RDavidson added a post in a topic biannual flight review   

    Ha! That is great!
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  2. RDavidson added a post in a topic Newbee, Wanabee, ...   

    JL,

    If the FAA said that you can't sell a plane without the AW cert or data plate, does that mean that if it is sold to you it is still considered AW?
    If so, the FAA has everything on file about the aircraft. You should be able to get a copy of the AW cert from them and some background files from them. I found that they often do not keep phase one paperwork on file.
    As for the data plate...you make a new one.
    The only forms to fill out would be a transfer of ownership and registration. Maybe that is the hang up...maybe without the previous owners signature you can't transfer the registration.
    I'm sure there is a way to do it, it is just a matter of finding THE way.
    I noticed that different FSDOs will tell you different things, so hopefully you have a big picture FSDO.

    You are finding out why some "good deals" might be "bad deals"! Nothing like buying an expensive lawn ornament!
    You should only pay what you could get out of selling the aircraft in parts as a maximum.


    Good luck,
    Ron
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  3. RDavidson added a post in a topic Fish Chasing   

    Wow! I'm jealous! Awesome pictures!

    Thanks!
    Ron
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  4. RDavidson added a post in a topic Best way to remove powder coating   

    Well, I used just about everyone's ideas.
    I used some aircraft paint stripper from a local automotive store. I brushed it in the area, and then wrapped with tin foil. Then came back with a wire brush. Worked like a champ!

    Thanks,
    Ron
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  5. RDavidson added a post in a topic Best way to remove powder coating   

    Thanks guys...I'll report what works.

    Thanks,
    Ron
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  6. RDavidson added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Best way to remove powder coating
    Fellas,

    I need to do a little welding on my fuselage. What do you use to get powder coating off the tubes?
    I'm just removing about 6" on a tube or two.


    Thanks,
    Ron
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  7. RDavidson added a post in a topic Gear swap... Number 3...Bush Gear part deux   

    Jim,

    I just searched the Internet and couldn't find any pics that showed urathane bushings. My info is second hand, but it is from a guy that builds Cub and Supercub landing gear for a living. I'll ask him again so I'm sure I'm not giving you bad info...

    If you look at a Cub/SCub gear their cabane V attaches to a bracket inboard of the front gear mount...the Airdale bush gear attaches around the front mount with the same bolt the gear leg uses...Right? This could be another cause of the bending. I base this on a service bulletin from Cub Crafters, where they call for the use of thicker brackets to be used. Evidently, they were having problems with hard, one wheeled landings bending the brackets and sending the force of the landing through the airframe and bending other tubes in the frame.

    I'm not dogging the Airdale Bush Gear...I'm just pointing out some things I'm running into while trying to build a new gear for my Magnum. The Airdale Bush Gear won't fit my Magnum or I would have put it on already and you would have never seen all of the BS above. I believe all Avids (except the Magnum) have a low enough gross weight that you could use a shopping cart for a landing gear and it will work on a real landing strip. However, if you take your Avid and use it like a bush plane, you should probably make that shopping cart look like a bush plane's gear...right? I think the Airdale gear is a good, quick to install, inexpensive, taller and wider gear. Hell, it makes our planes look like they should. However, I think calling it a Bush Gear almost sets us up for failure...

    I'm sure the AK fellas on here know more about this than I do. SuperAvid designed his own bungee gear with a third attach point for some of these reasons.

    Just my opinions, and they can change,
    Ron
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  8. RDavidson added a post in a topic Whirlwind prop service letter   

    FYI...Whirlwind sent everyone, with the 78" prop, new, improved hubs to solve the problem...they suggest checking for cracks in the new hub every 25 hours.

    The original cracked hub is still an isolated incident with a cub, O-340, 78" prop.

    I'm super pleased with Whirlwind! Great customer service and company responsibility!

    Ron
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  9. RDavidson added a post in a topic Gear swap... Number 3...Bush Gear part deux   

    I hate to jump in here, because I barely know what I'm talking about. However, I've been working with a guy to build a cabane style gear for my Magnum. The biggest issue we ran into was the fact that the axle is so far forward of the first gear mount. On the Magnum it is about 6" forward of the center of the front mount. This means the cabane V and suspension legs have to be angled about 10 degrees. Normal cabanes, cub style, are perpendicular to the bottom longerons, with the axle being directly below the front mount. The cubs have a new STC that allows them to add a new gear that moves the axle 3" forward of the front mount. When they did this they used urethane bushings at the cabane V/suspension leg attach point to allow the extra movement that happens when the geometry is not normal (axle and front mount perpendicular to bottom longeron).

    I'm sure that is clear as mud...but here is my question...does the Airdale bush gear have urethane bushings at the cabane V lower attach points? I believe most of the Avids axles are 3"-4" forward of the front mount...Right?

    Evidently, when the axle is moved forward, during landings and especially if side loads are involved, the suspension leg has rotational forces applied to it, that is why the urethane bushings are there...to give the joint the freedom to move.

    So, if the urethane bushings aren't there, the connection at the V would be too rigid causing tubing to bend at the weakest point.

    This is secondhand knowledge, with my limited comprehension, from an engineer. So take it with a grain of salt...

    I wonder if this is causing some of the issues?


    Ron
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  10. RDavidson added a post in a topic Battery placement   

    I too like the 680...I have it on my Starduster, turning a Lycoming O-320. I have had it for 4 years and it is still cranking strong! I actually flew it about 10 times with a bad alternator and didn't realize it until I finally saw the volts hanging around 11 during flight. I'm telling you it is one great battery, and another cool thing is that you can mount it upside down if you want to because it is a dry cell.

    There is my two cents...

    Ron
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  11. RDavidson added a post in a topic Do we really need to be cheap? Whats your life or those of a loved one worth?   

    Thanks for posting that...convinced me of spending the extra money for the 406! I too was going to fly with what I had until they outlawed it. Stupid to think that way after reading that story!

    Best wishes on the baby! I think that is a great name...

    Ron
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  12. RDavidson added a post in a topic Making new Conform Foam seats   

    Doug,

    Do your seats slide forward and back in the Avid Plus?

    Thanks,
    Ron
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  13. RDavidson added a post in a topic Making new Conform Foam seats   

    Doug,

    Thanks for the detailed post! I'm about to tackle this myself, so I'm glad to follow your lead.
    I broke my back in the military, and I have a lot of nerve issues that make my tailbone hyper sensitive. Because of that I have tried about every cushion shape and thickness to help long drives or flights. The design that helps me the most has the back center cut out so that your tailbone and spine are not holding you up, your gluts are.
    So, I was wondering if you made the main cushion out of the Confor foam for heavier pilots, and then cut out the back center, then filled it with Confor foam for lighter pilots, if it would work in the same way?
    My spine has been injured so long that I can't remember what body part hurts, on normal people, when sitting for long periods. However, I think it is pressure on the tailbone.

    I'm with you on the sewing! I bought a special sewing machine so I could cover some seats on a different plane and after a lot of wasted time and horrible looking covers, I took them to a local professional! It is definitely an art, that takes a lot of practice!

    Your seats are looking great!


    Thanks again,
    Ron
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  14. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   


    Agreed Randy...that would have been some advanced math on my caveman brain
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  15. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    I was skeptical myself, but they do!

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  16. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Thanks Ed...I knew my measurements were off a little, I had the bottom fiberglass in place. I appreciate the numbers, that will reassure the answers about my measurements when I get them exact.

    Well, I did some more looking at it and I'm thinking about making a 3 mount gear leg using the mount under the wing strut (Float leg attach mount).
    It has truss support and I think it would really make a strong gear leg with the extra support.
    It will look much like the Airdale Bush Gear in height and width, but it will have the third mount leg.
    I drew up a plan with rough numbers, and I stole Randy's cool step idea. I drew it to scale with 26" tires. Also planning on using 1.5" tubing.
    Let me know what y'all think...
    Ron

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  17. RDavidson added a post in a topic Should I paint the wing before covering?   

    Ask and you shall receive!
    The trailing edge tip has been kicking my ass! I get a new scratch everytime I go around the wing that way!



    Edit...finished side view of tips that Randy was talking about. They are bent up...on purpose.

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  18. RDavidson added a post in a topic Should I paint the wing before covering?   

    Thanks Ed,
    I guess if I was really concerned about weight, I could loose my beer gut...but what fun is that!

    I think I will paint at least the wing tank. I just want to make sure everything looks right. It is hard to tell just looking at the filler.
    I used some stuff called U Pol. It is good stuff and it says it is water proof.

    Thanks for the help.


    Ron
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  19. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Rough measurement at 36".
    Man those original legs are short! I measured, roughly 21" from the center of the axle to the bottom of the plane. The hubs are only 54" apart too!

    Thanks,
    Ron
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  20. RDavidson added a post in a topic Leading Edge   

    Well, I've attached the plastic leading edge to one of the wings, and I really like it!
    I stole an idea from a friend named Ivan that is building a Magnum too, and I feathered the wingtip end of the leading edge plastic and then used filler to smooth it out.
    I used Hysol to glue it. Can't wait to see how it looks covered!






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  21. RDavidson added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Here is an idea for your fly rod...wish I could call it my own idea, but it was the previous owners.
    This is on a magnum with the heavier engine up front.


    It is an 8" construction tube that stretches from the cargo bay to the tail.
    Only down side I see is the weight, and if you drop something in there you might have to wait for the next cover job to get it back!
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  22. RDavidson added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Should I paint the wing before covering?
    I am wondering if I should paint my wing tanks with epoxy primer before covering?
    I want to do this to seal the filler...I have heard that some fillers can hold water if they are not sealed.
    I would also like to do it to fill pin holes in the filler, and make sure the shape is correct.
    The wing has the fiberglass panels and plastic leading edge that I used filler on to smooth some transitions of the different surfaces.
    Should I paint the fiberglass too?
    What would be the cons? Extra weight?

    Thanks,
    Ron

    Here is a pic

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  23. RDavidson added a post in a topic Grove Spring Gear   

    Dholly,
    Holy bent longeron Batman! That is exactly what is worrying me. I am thinking about a custom Grove gear that is slightly taller than the standard, but I know the taller I make it the more the force will be on the aft mounts. I sure wish I had a third mount so I could distribute the weight over a longer area.
    What are you suggesting be done for reinforcement of the longerons?
    Did you almost go through the top plexi on that landing, or did it just come to an abrupt stop? We're you injured? I'm sorry that happened to you, thanks for sharing though!

    Chris,
    You are right, the Magnum is built tougher, to handle the higher gross weight, but the gear geometry is just awkward. I wonder why they designed the mounts so close together?

    Thanks for all the discussion, and for the heartbreaking pics!
    Ron
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  24. RDavidson added a post in a topic Whirlwind prop service letter   

    Thanks Ed you are right...I think it is "Whirlwind Propellers" vs. "Whirl Wind"
    Sorry for any confusion...I was referring to Whirlwind Propellers for My situation, a Lycoming O-320.

    I forgot to mention that adjusting this 78" prop is a PITA!
    You are provided a plywood tool that attaches to the blade close to the tip. You put a digital protractor on the plywood and adjust the pitch. The problem I run into is that when you tighten the hub the blades like to rotate slightly screwing up your adjustment! Frustrating as Hell especially when you are fine tuning it. I'll attach a pic of it.
    My question is why don't they just mark the hub and the prop root so you just pick the marked setting?

    Here are some pics from there website of the 78" prop and one of the prop on my Starduster.



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  25. RDavidson added a post in a topic Short in cockpit video   

    That is a short takeoff roll! Very cool!

    Ron
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