Bandit

Lots of ice houses out now, but not many fish being caught.

Wanted to try my Bandit again to see how it started. It fired on the first pull after 3 pumps of the primer. Dispite the 20-25 mph gusts I decided to fly Anyway. While taxing across the road to the field I remembered that I wanted to repitch my prop to get more than 5900-6000 rpms during takeoff. Shut it down and took some pitch out. Started it back up and started my takeoff into a 20 mph wind.  The Tiny Tach read about 6400 rpms. Holy shit I didnt ever think I was going to get off the snow. I hit the go no go spot and finally broke loose of the snow. Good thing the trees were coming up. Hit the turbulance coming off the trees and really rocked me. My Bandit felt like it was spinning its wheels. It would not climb worth a crap. Flew away from the treelines and got over the fields where it was a little smother. I was getting 6500 rpms flat out, but I was only indicating about 70 mph. I was flying around like a dog dragging his ass across the lawn. I need at least 76 mph indicated to feel like my airplane is up on step. The hell with high rpm takeoffs. My Bandit gets off the best at around 5900-6000 rpms on takeoff. This setting also gives me the best cruise. It is a pretty fine line between the best takeoff rpm and cruise. 
 

I have always wondered what if the springs or bungees let go on the front of my skis. Well last week when I took off with my SkyRaider I found out. I had to rig my skis to my taller landing gear before I could fly. The temp wasn't to bad so I figured it would be a good day to get them installed. I made all new riggings but used the same old bungees. With everything done I jacked the airplane up and checked to make sure the bungees pulled the front of the ski up and held it. Everything was a go. Taxied out to the grass and tried them out, looked good so away I went. In flight I had to retrim the airplane. After that it flew hands off. Great night of flying. A week or so later I went back over to the hanger to fly. This time the temp was much colder. Preflight looked good. Away I went. As soon as I broke ground I new something wasn't right. The airplane wanted to nose dive into the ground. I had it trimed after my last flight so I new exactly what was wrong. I looked down at my skis and both where pointing down. Hmmmm this should be interesting. I could rock the wings and the left one would come up but not the right one. After thinking about it for a couple of minutes I thought I might as well fly until dark to burn all the fuel off I could, beside it was a beautiful night. On the way back to the airport I had figured a plan out. If I slowed the airplane down enough the left ski would come up, that left me with only one problem,my right ski. I figured pavement would be better than snow and grass to land on because if the ski tip hit it would slide on pavement. I was light coming in, so I came in as slow as I could with no flaps to keep my nose up as much as I could. With a little power in a nose high attitude I put it down on the left ski first then settled it down on my right ski. My AOA was enough for the rear wheel on my right ski to contact the pavement first. Everything was cool. I am thinking the much colder weather affected the old bungee cords. Could have been a costly mistake to save $3. 
 
 
 

I just received a pbone call from the son of a close friend and super long time Avid, Airdale builder and flyer that his dad passed away. He was my go to person if I had any questions about my Avid or my engine. As a matter of fact I tried calling him last night to ask him about my hard starting 503, with no answer, now I know why. He has helped rebuild many bent Avids over the years. I met him over twenty years ago when I was building my Bandit. We became good friends after that. Ron was a super person as is his wife. He will be missed by the whole homebuilt community. 
God Speed Ron we will miss you,
Bandit
 

Well after 20 years and 1100hrs. My 503 will not fire. At first it kept flooding, took the carb bowls off. Rear float in the front carb was sunk. Replaced both floats. Yesturday I tried starting
it but it would not fire. Pulled the plugs, both rear plugs full of fuel. Tried starting it again, would not fire, pulled plugs, rear plugs full of fuel. Opened carb bowls, fuel level looked good, turned fuel on, pushed up on needle valve fuel shut off. I'm thinking ignition problems. How do you test the ignition system? I think I might be flooding it from pulling the rope so much trying to start it. That's what makes me think it is a ignition problem. In 20 years of flying my Avid I have only had to pull the plugs 2 or 3 times because of flooding.