Luked

Contributing Member
 View profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    356

  • Joined

  • Last visited


Everything posted by Luked



  1. Luked added a post in a topic Enough already AOPA!!   

     
    Well, I got my license in 92, but started it in 91. I never got many hours though. It wasn't too long before I got married, and eventually started a family. I just recently got back to flying again. They also had a 172 that rented for $58/hr wet.
     
    Rental rates actually seem to be in line with inflation. I found this website: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ , and calculated what the 172 would be in today's dollars. It came out to $101.31. I'm currently paying $100/hr wet to rent a 172. It's even a 180 horse with constant speed.
     
    The thing that's disappointing to me is that we haven't figured out how to make homebuilts more affordable to build. I do think Avids are probably one of the best bang for the buck homebuilts out there though. That's why I'm building one.
    • 0


  2. Luked added a post in a topic Enough already AOPA!!   

     
    I agree wholeheartedly about the cost of flying. When I got my license, I rented a 152 for $37/hr with fuel (I know some paid $5 or some crazy cheap amount). As you say though, there should be a way to build an airplane for less money.
     
    I believe the reason homebuilts are expensive to build is the cost of engines. We can build a reasonably priced airframe in our garage from raw materials and plans, but it's hard to build an engine ourselves. I started getting all of the homebuilt mags back in the late 80s, and the promise of new better engine options for homebuilts seems like it's always been there, yet most homebuilts today are still using certified style aircraft engines.
     
    Auto conversions are the closest thing to building our own economical engine, but they have a mixed record. Some have great success, and some have nothing but trouble. I think it really depends on the technical ability of the individual. Another factor is that just about every auto conversion out there has a slightly different configuration. There are multiple types of fuel delivery, and multiple ignition system variations. PSRUs come in many different flavors. And those are only a few of the differences in installations. All of these differences mean that it's hard to gain knowledge from previous installations because no two are quite the same. It's like every builder has to be their own R & D department. Aircraft engines have so much operational history, they are pretty much a bolt on and go situation.
     
    If someone could crack the code on a less costly engine, I believe it would be the single biggest factor in reducing the cost to build your own plane. I know this isn't really any new information, just thinking out loud I guess.
    • 2


  3. Luked added a post in a topic Saving a Barnyard Mummy   

    I remember seeing the Merlin GT in Kitplanes back in the 90s. Don't remember much of the details, but I found this with a google search:
     
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Yonder_Merlin
    • 1


  4. Luked added a post in a topic Looking for info on landing gear options   

    Well, I'm still working out the details on my bungee truss and extended landing gear. To do it, I need some information about the gear geometry and movement. I made a simple diagram to figure this out. It looks like the prop could dig into the dirt by a little over an inch if the bungees are fully extended, and the tires deflect a fair amount (this isn't even a flat tire situation).
     
    I may be using some bad numbers though. I can't find my construction manual (must have left it at the shop), and I can't download the one posted here because I get an error when I open it. So, I don't know the measurement for the safety cables. I tested some old aircraft quality bungee cord I have, and got about 57% stretch. That's what I'm using to determine full gear travel (I assume the safety should allow pretty close to full stretch). Anyone have the safety cable dimensions off the top of their head? I'd really appreciate it.
     
    Thanks
    Luke D.
     
    Edit: I just realized my dumb mistake. I forgot to factor the amount the bungee is already stretched when installed. This will reduce the travel quite a bit. So, I guess a better question would be what is a normal or acceptable amount of bungee sag (the plane just sitting) at gross weight?
     
     
    Other assumptions:
     
    - 72" prop
    - crank centered 7" below top motor mount bolts
    - tires are my stock tires that came with my kit
    • 0


  5. Luked added a post in a topic Rise of the Phoenix (Pursang rebuild of sorts)   

    You must be using a different style Ed. The blades that go in my Sawzall would be pretty tough to break cutting on this thin walled tube. Sometimes the best tool depends on the situation though. There were a few places I would have had a hard time fitting a cutoff wheel. One thing I like about the sawzall is that I can reach back into tight spots with just the end of the blade and make a nice clean cut. I guess whatever does the job is the best 
    • 0


  6. Luked added a post in a topic Rise of the Phoenix (Pursang rebuild of sorts)   

    Hi Kenneth,
     
    I was sorry to hear about your accident, and I'm also sorry to hear about the way this project has affected things with your wife. I hope things will work out for the best eventually.
     
    As far as cutting fuselage members goes, I have done a fair amount of this when removing my front tricycle structure, and also on my seat truss. The biggest job though was removing about 100 tabs that the PO added, but I will not be using and didn't want the weight (about 1 lb). I started out removing the tabs with a cutoff wheel, but I was looking for a better method pretty soon. My Sawzall with metal blade cut through them like butter. After all that cutting, I'm still on the same blade going strong. Not sure why your blade didn't last. Was the blade a good brand (Milwaukee, Dewalt, etc.)?
     
    Luke D.
    • 0


  7. Luked added a post in a topic Johnson Creek   

    Here's another request for pictures to motivate the rest of us Hope you have fun. Maybe I'll make it someday. It's only about 400 miles.
    • 0


  8. Luked added a post in a topic Magnum Motor Mount   

    Hi Doug,
     
    My friend called that guy, and was trying to work out a deal, but lost contact, and can't reach him now.
     
    Luke D.
    • 0


  9. Luked added a post in a topic Magnum Motor Mount   

    Hey, Thanks Ron. That would be very helpful. He found a picture of a conical mount (I think), but pictures of your mount would be more helpful. I'll PM you.
     
    Thanks again,
    Luke D.
    • 0


  10. Luked added a post in a topic Magnum Motor Mount   

    Thanks Larry. That's good to know. We had kind of ruled him out anyway just because I haven't heard much about anyone getting anything from him recently.
     
    If anyone has any detailed pictures or information on a Magnum/Lycoming mount, I'm sure my friend would appreciate it since it will just about be a scratch build project for him.
    • 0


  11. Luked added a post in a topic Magnum Motor Mount   

    Thanks Ed, but he's building a tail dragger.
    • 0


  12. Luked added a post in a topic Magnum Motor Mount   

    Yeah, the engine is off a Cherokee, and comes with the Piper Dynafocal mount. If he can't find another solution, he will have the mount modified to bolt to the Magnum. We just thought it couldn't hurt to ask if some one happened to have one.
    • 0


  13. Luked added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Magnum Motor Mount
    I've got a friend that is finishing up a Magnum project. He is at the FWF point, but still has not been able to find a motor mount. Does anyone have a Lycoming motor mount for a Magnum laying around?
     
    Thanks,
    Luke D.
    • 16 replies
    • 1,130 views


  14. Luked added a post in a topic Kitfox w/912 - fuel hoses too short   

    Hi Randy,
     
    I don't know what your best option would be, but you might check with this company:
     
    https://www.tsflightlines.com/
     
    They have an excellent reputation with the RV crowd, and they make lots of lines for the RV-12 which also has the 912. They should be able to fix you up if you decide to do new lines.
     
    Luke D.
    • 0


  15. Luked added a post in a topic McArthur / Beluga Fun Run   

    Hey guys, those are great pictures. My favorites are the rocks along the rivers. Looks like so much fun. Of course if I tried some of that stuff, I'd probably turn the plane into a ball of scrap Keep the pictures like these coming. I for one really like to see them.
     
    Thanks,
    Luke D.
    • 1


  16. Luked added a post in a topic I'm Flying Again!   

    Nice pictures Larry. Looks like fun. Glad to hear you got everything sorted out. From the first picture, it looks like there are a few Kitfoxes at your chapter.
    • 0


  17. Luked added a post in a topic N139AH   

    Hey Robert,
     
    Somehow I missed your build thread. I really like your plane. It's very similar to what I want to do. Keep things simple. The panel looks good. Cool idea adding the little Avid logo. I'll probably go without any rear upper and side windows as well. Build quality and finish look great too.
     
    Luke D.
    • 0


  18. Luked added a post in a topic NOSE GEAR SPRING QUESTION???   

    Hi Ed,
     
    I needed a coil spring for a special project a while back, and I found several websites that sell custom and a wide variety of stock coil springs. I think the one I ended up using was this one:
     
    http://www.centuryspring.com/
     
    You can search through their selection on this page:
     
    http://www.centuryspring.com/Store/search_compression.php?reset=1
     
    The advantage is that you can see the exact specs for the spring before you buy it. In your case, You might start with the inside diameter as your first search criteria (to fit your fork tube). Then maybe suggested max load, or spring rate if you have calculated that. Most of them don't seem too expensive, so you can afford to buy more than one option and experiment. That's what I did.
     
    Luke D.
    • 0


  19. Luked added a post in a topic Norman building an ultralight   

    Ed, no limit on how far you can fly, other than how far your 5 gallons gets you. The one requirement that most ultralights are not technically legal on is the stall speed limit. Just Google part 103 to get all the details.
    • 0


  20. Luked added a post in a topic Looking for info on landing gear options   

    Thanks a lot for the pictures! It's interesting seeing how it compares to the original. If you have a chance to measure the tube diameters, that would be great too.
     
    Thanks again,
    Luke D.
    • 0


  21. Luked added a post in a topic Fuel tube between header tanks aka flux capacitor!   

     
    ^^^ That made me laugh!
     
     
    I wonder if the information in this recent post would help:
     
    http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/1960-hysol-info/?p=19898
     
    Edit: Now I see that Leni already mentioned using heat.
    • 0


  22. Luked added a post in a topic Looking for info on landing gear options   

    Ha, only a wannabe engineer. You're totally right that I am over thinking it. I actually like the process though. I also want to make the new structure as light as possible. I took two years of engineering, and then took some time off from school to  earn some more money so I wouldn't have to go into debt. That was almost 20 years ago. I've always regretted not finishing, and I've tried to continue learning.
     
    The prop clearance isn't really what I was trying to figure out, I was just kind of brain dead there for a minute, and forgot to include the bungee preload. What I'm really trying to find out is the max load on the bungee truss during landing deceleration. Then I can use minimum sizes on the truss members to keep the weight down. That's the theory anyway. I'll run it past my brother when I get done. He's a real engineer. I know the weight savings probably isn't worth the time and effort. We'll see. 
    • 0


  23. Luked added a post in a topic Looking for info on landing gear options   

    Good information. Thanks again. That makes sense now that I remembered to account for the bungee pre-load. I figured something wasn't right because I'm drawing it with the wider and taller gear, and I'm sure plenty of stock Avids have 72" props with no clearance issues.
    • 0


  24. Luked added a post in a topic Alaska flyers beware   

    I agree. I really liked the show. I watched all of the episodes available on Netflix. I wasn't so into the stories about everyone's personal life, but I liked being able to watch a show with some good aviation content, and interesting flying conditions. It also had some fairly funny humor at times. I don't know what the family is like in real life, but they seemed pretty nice on the show.
    • 0


  25. Luked added a post in a topic Luke's MK IV Project   

    Yeah, I like those too. It seems like Kitfox has continued to refine it's design over the years the way Avid probably would have if they had continued on as a full fledged kit manufacturer. I guess that's the nice thing about having another design out there that is almost identical.
     
    I still have some parts to get though before I can put too many things together. Then I can get off my butt and actually get some work done on this 
    • 0