Luked

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Everything posted by Luked



  1. Luked added a post in a topic Simonini Victor 2   

    Hi Fred,
    I like your blog. I've read it in the past. It's nice to see what you're doing when I can't work on my own Avid project. Thanks for sharing.
    Luke D.
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  2. Luked added a post in a topic HARLEY V-TWIN ENGINES?   



  3. Luked added a post in a topic I had some fun!...   

    Cool pictures. Funny you should post this. I just got a ride in a friend's T-6 last month. He used to fly F-18s in the marines. We did barrel rolls, 4 point rolls, and some half cubans. Wish we could have flown longer, but it was a lot of fun. I didn't have a camera in the plane though. Another friend took some pictures from the ground. When we got back to the airport, we had to check the windsock closely, and then of course climb back to pattern altitude at a nice steep angle to reduce speed for gear extension
     


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  4. Luked added a post in a topic $27,000 MK4   

    Don't know anything about it, but looks like WIB gear. He doesn't mention it though, so could be wrong. Nice plane, but I agree from the Avids I've seen listed, that's closer to a 912 price.
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  5. Luked added a post in a topic Adhesive Usage in Plastic Fabrication   

    Hey Doug, some of the RV guys use a product called Sika Flex to glue their bubble canopies on to their aluminum frames. There is a lot of info over on the Vans Airforce forum.
     
    https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=sika+site:www.vansairforce.com
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  6. Luked added a post in a topic Is it just me or are JUST's getting more....   

     
    I tend to agree with Larry here. It does seem like the Rotax is overpriced at first glance, but when you consider what it takes to produce an engine with their reliability and support, it actually makes sense. I think this video has been posted here before, but it's a good one on the subject:
     

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  7. Luked added a post in a topic End number?   

    Hey Ed,
     
    I think this is a Champion:
     
    http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_1055114_Avid+Flyer.html
     
    It doesn't say it is, but that's what I remember them looking like in years ago when I saw one in a magazine. I think it was similar to the Kitfox Lite.
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  8. Luked added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 gear box adaptor   

    No argument. The Subaru is a good engine. Many have had success with them. This is just another option. I think it's a little more comparable to the Rotax in the power to weight category. I have to admit it sounds a little too good to be true though. Read this thread for some more info:
     
    http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16100
     
    Sounds like most guys just buy a used snowmobile (sorry, that's what we call them in Oregon), and take out the motor. Early in that thread they say they can be had for about $3000, but that was in 2008. Not sure what they cost now. Maybe $3000 + $1500 + $2500 = $7000 ?? That's just using your number on the gearbox. I don't really know what they cost.
     
    Also, if I bought a used Subaru for $2500, I know I'd be putting quite a bit more money into it before I was comfortable flying behind it. Like I said, nothing against the Subaru. Just another option.
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  9. Luked added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 gear box adaptor   

    Ed, the Yamaha engine Jim shows in the first post on this thread is a good example of a mass produced engine that could be a good fit for small homebuilts.
     
    I've been interested in this engine ever since I saw a post about it a year ago. There is a Kitfox not too far from me that has one, and it's reported to have amazing takeoff performance. I haven't gotten a chance to go see it, but I plan to. Now that this adaptor is being offered for the Rotax gearbox, I wonder if more people will try it. Here is a link to the barnstormers ad (I have no connection).
     
    http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_963253_Yamaha+RX-1+adapters.html
     
    Anyone know of any drawbacks with this engine? As Leni said, Gyro guys have been using them for a while. There is a really long thread on one of the rotorywing forums about various user experiences. I'm surprised it hasn't been more popular based on the weight and power.
     
    Luke D.
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  10. Luked added a post in a topic Spar Inserts   

    Hey TJay, thanks for taking a picture of your I beams. From your picture they look just like the ones KF supplies. Here is a page I saw that shows the KF parts:
     
    http://tropicaltuba.com/Kitfox%20Project/Kitfox.htm
     
    I'll have to give "Just" a call for some more parts. Thanks again!
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  11. Luked added a post in a topic Hunting With Your Avid 2015   

    Great pictures. I wanted to see how you got the antlers in the plane, or were they tied to the struts?
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  12. Luked added a post in a topic Parachute installation   

    Ed, you are correct. About larger aircraft with higher wing loadings being able to handle more turbulence than smaller lighter aircraft. What I was talking about would be where you compare two identical aircraft with the same structure, but one is loaded heavier than the other one.
     
    Jim, you bring up a good point about maneuvering speed. Maneuvering speed increases as wing loading increases because maneuvering speed is calculated based on stall speed, and stall speed also increases with wing loading. The reason Maneuvering speed is based on stall speed is the stall acts kind of like a pressure relief valve for the structure. When the wing stalls, load decreases dramatically avoiding damage.
     
    I hadn't considered that fact. I was only considering the basic physics described in the quote I included above. So, I think I may have been correct for certain situations where damage may occur directly from the motion caused by the turbulence. I think you guys were more correct in how turbulence usually causes damage the the airframe (sudden increase in angle of attach that overstresses things). This is one case where stalling is actually a good thing for the structure at least. I guess you learn something every day 
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  13. Luked added a post in a topic Parachute installation   

    Not to be argumentative, but a lightly loaded plane will experience less stress on the airframe in the same turbulent conditions as a more heavily loaded plane. It's counter intuitive because a heavily loaded plane rides more smoothly in turbulence.
     
    I guess I'm not very good at explaining the concept, so I looked up a reference to a good explanation. Take a look at this page:
     
    http://www.mountainflying.com/pages/mountain-flying/turb_va.html
     
    Here is a quote from the section that talks about this:
     
     
    Last time we discussed this, I think I got overruled, so I'll put on the flame suit now 
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  14. Luked added a post in a topic Spar Inserts   

     
    That's very interesting. Are they the same I beam as the KF inserts? I'd be interested to see some pictures when you get them. If they're the same, I'll be buying mine from Just.
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  15. Luked added a post in a topic Spar Inserts   

    I had sticker shock when I priced the KF stiffeners too, but being a small business, I understand it. They probably have these made in small runs (compared to what the aluminum extrusion companies usually run). Their setup cost for each run probably account for a big part of the the cost on each part.
     
    When it comes time to do my wings, I plan to buy the KF inserts. If I were doing Avid length wings, I'd just use the plywood inserts like many Avids have done. Since I am doing the longer KF wings, I'm going to go with what is proven. I don't really want to screw around when it comes to my wing spars.
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  16. Luked added a post in a topic new viking 110 -- honda fit core conversion   

    I saw on the Zenith forum that someone said that the factory suggests a 65" prop, but someone else said they actually test run them with 68". Here is the torque/HP plot for the 350:
     
    http://www.ulpower.com/engines/ul350i/performance
     
    Looks like it's got the torque to spin a bigger prop. Some engines are more sensitive the torsional resonance though, so prop selection is more critical. I just wondered what the official company recommendations are.
     
    I'm not a huge fan of FADEC on engines with relatively small production numbers and limited R & D budgets, but it looks like they've at least got some history with this system in the auto world.
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  17. Luked added a post in a topic new viking 110 -- honda fit core conversion   

    Flyhigh,
     
    Nice looking engines. What is the cost on their UL350i?
     
    It looks like it only weighs about 10-15 lb more than the 260, but has a stroke of 3.9" instead of 2.9". For comparison, a C-85 has a stroke of 3.6", and an o-200 has a stroke of 3.9". All have about a 4" bore. On our slow draggy airplanes, swinging a bigger prop is more important than it would be on those slick composite LSAs that are popular in Europe.
     
    How big a prop can these engines swing?
     
    Luke D.
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  18. Luked added a post in a topic Rod End Bearings   

    Just a followup to this thread. I ordered the Aurora GMM-3M-470 General Aviation - Precision bearing. Here is a picture:
     

     
    I took the picture on a printed protractor. The specs say it can go to 17 degress, but I would say it looks like it can actually go to about 20 degrees. That's about where the small "shoulder" on the ball hits the outer race. Definitely safe if all you need is 17 degrees.
     
    I tried ordering the CM-3, but neither Spruce or Wick's had it. It looks like you can get it on Amazon of all places (seller looks like Aurora), but I didn't really think I needed to order one since I'll probably be using the style in the picture. It does look like the CM-3 has quite a bit less material surrounding the ball. It seems to allow more freedom of movement though.
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  19. Luked added a post in a topic TAILWIND - bargain of the year   

    I guess I can't see it from their pictures. Your probably right. Can't imagine a tailwind with no flaps. I think their tube inside a tube system is pretty cool by the way. reminds me of the Grummans.
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  20. Luked added a post in a topic TAILWIND - bargain of the year   

    Yeah, I've been a fan of the tailwind since the first time I saw one back in the early 90s. The one on ebay looks like the wing is solid where the flaps go though.
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  21. Luked added a post in a topic TAILWIND - bargain of the year   

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Whitman-Tailwind-Aircraft-Ready-to-Cover-Project-with-engine-/151757662888?hash=item2355762aa8&vxp=mtr
     
     
    Ed, would that thing be tricky to slow down with no flaps?
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  22. Luked added a topic in Files and Forms   

    Fat Avid, Mark-IV, and Magnum Dimensions
    I found this info on the www.avidflyeraircraft.com site. Here is the original link http://www.avidflyeraircraft.com/avidblog/?page_id=23. I'm not sure if the site is maintained anymore, and I thought it might be worth keeping around. Also, not sure who to credit. Here is the info I copied and pasted  for future reference: 
     

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  23. Luked added a post in a topic Rod End Bearings   

    tcj, thanks for taking the time to do the measurements. After a little bit of looking, I think I have found a very close Aurora bearing. The male would be the CM-3, and the female would be the CW-3. The "mis-alignment angle" on these is 20 degrees. Thanks again.
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  24. Luked added a post in a topic Rod End Bearings   

    Hi tcj, your pictures are exactly what I remember seeing somewhere. A lot of what I've seen look more like the picture IFMT posted with a swivel or rotator at the bellcrank. If you have that, it doesn't make as much difference what rod ends you have. I'm curious what kind of rod ends are in your picture, and where you get them (manufacturer and part number).
     
    On most of the spec sheets for rod ends that I was looking at, they have an angle specified that they refer to as the misalignment angle. It's basically the angle that the ball can rotate inside the housing. That was the best I could think of the describe what I was meaning, but it's exactly what you described. The bearings I'm thinking of have a narrowing housing so the ball can rotate farther.
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  25. Luked added a post in a topic Airventure 2015   

    Wish I was there even if there are lots of mosquitoes. Had a great time meeting everyone last year. I'll be there next time. Have fun guys!
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