flywise

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Everything posted by flywise



  1. flywise added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    "beefing up / modifying" structures a BAD idea???
    Hi guys,
    I have always wondered how some very talented builders are able to modify primary structures in our light aircrafts....are you all high end aircraft structure designers/engineers??? Have you inputs from Dean Wilson?I have read a good article about this very subject and I would like to have your appreciated comments...
    Everyone who is considering a "beefing up" should read this I believe...
    Cheeers, Laurent
    P.s I would like to ad that this post has absolutely no intention criticizing anyone doing modifications on their birds. I am only trying to figure out if there is / are good ways & tricks to stay safe doing it. 
     



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  2. flywise added a post in a topic Float install   

    Hi, have  a look here, this has been already discussed on this forum...
    My experience is that the landing gear is a little fragile, especially if you're landing on grass...
    Cheeers
     

     
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  3. flywise added a post in a topic GRAPHITE/NYLON BUSHINGS ON ALUMINUM?   

    I am wondering if instead of nylon we could use teflon (PTFE) instead? Anyone have experience with this?
     
    https://dir.indiamart.com/hyderabad/ptfe-bushes.html
     
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  4. flywise added a post in a topic New Play Toys   

    wow, you really got this figured out well...enjoy it
     
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  5. flywise added a post in a topic WINGS ON EBAY (???)   

    Hey EDMO, I did notice the tanks in both rh/lh wings. The only trouble is that they're probably fibreglass (not ethanol safe).
    These wings really interest me because I need, at some point, to do my flaperon hangers and also ad a second fuel tank...(I only have one in my Rh wing  )
    Last but not least, as an amphibian floatplane it is very easy to damage the wing or flaperon (docking, heavy sea, trailering etc) at some point....having a spare sounds sweet to me. Only downside is they are very far away...
    From your experience, what would be a fair price for these wings including the flaperons??? 4000 $ us seems a bit steep to me.
    Thank you for your knowledgeable input EDMO
    Cheers, Laurent
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  6. flywise added a post in a topic WINGS ON EBAY (???)   

    Looking at these wings they could very well be avid catalina wings.....same ribs number/spacing, same flaperon hanger number and same wing tip shape......
    Anyone to confirm?
     
    Cheeers
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  7. flywise added a post in a topic My new Avid Magnum Tricycle   

    Hey Brian, ....at first I was going to buy a Avid magnum too because of the "3rd seat" option. I found one on full lotus floats in ontario, had a look and a flight and decided for the Catalina instead. It is quite funny, our choices are the same..just opposite.
    My (Casey's) Catalina is actually 147AB and not 174....so yours was one s/n later. Do you know what has happened to your kit? Is it finished now?
    If you wish to discuss in detail the CAT vs Magnum on floats let me know.
     
    cheeeeers, Laurent
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  8. flywise added a post in a topic My new Avid Magnum Tricycle   

    Hey Brian, that Magnum looks very nice, congratulation. I also have imported an Avid Catalina from the US, went through all the MD-RA procedure. If you need any input don't hesitate to contact me. 
     
    Also on another note, make sure you install the wing braces (leading edge/spar to lower strut fitting) when you tow your Avid as you could twist/damage the wings otherwise....Look at my braces when I tow mine..
     
    Call me if you're around Vancouver:)
    Cheeeers, Laurent
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  9. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina 90MPH or bust   

    Hey Jim, here I found an interesting article about drag reduction on an avid flyer. I find crazy that the fuel cap could rob 7% lift.....
    http://avidflyer.wikia.com/wiki/Drag_Reduction
     
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  10. flywise added a post in a topic Radio's and transponder forsale   

    I am interested in your SL40...please let me know how much you'd like. I guess the rack and plug comes with it?
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  11. flywise added a post in a topic Can I get some Catalina and amphibian pics pls?   

    Here we have only 2 Avid Cats.......where are the others?????
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  12. flywise added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Turboprop Avid flyer/Kitfox
    Besides the missing spinner that really looks exciting.......
     
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  13. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina 90MPH or bust   

    Hey Cowlove/Jim, 
    I am cruising 75% at 85-90Mph.....when I feed everything I have (100% / 95Hp) I am hitting a wall just below 100Mph and I believe this is due to the high camber wing profile. It doesn't matter what else you do aerodynamically, the wing is the culprit. This I am convinced of after trying hard myself to clean up all the details.
    So if you get rid of the big offensif stuff like the radiator and the canopy I think you'll get between 80-90Mph. But then after doing these mods, I believe you will waste a lot of time and increase weight doing the small improvements (gear doors/tail feather strut fairing etc...)...= no more speed.
    My 2 cents
    P.s really looking forward flying in formation....
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  14. flywise added a post in a topic Thoughts on mounting full lotus sponsons inboard on a Catalina?   

    Well said Jack and I will add my procedure to this vital item....besides having the bilge pump on, when I am ready to take off, I throttle up (about 75%) and rapidly chop the power, then look under the floorboard/seat space if there is any water (cutting the power makes the water rush back forward under your feet if there is any). This simple test is a confirmation there is no water when taking off and also is a safeguard if I were to forget the pump. There has also been a crash of a Seamax M-22 because it had taken on water when beached, on take off pilot forgot to switch on bilge pump, the weight of water in the tail did not allow the pilot to recover. This is deadly..
     
     
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  15. flywise added a post in a topic Shop Updates   

    Hey Mark,
    nice progress you have made. There is a little detail on your website I am puzzled about: I am not sure a 100% but I believe the avid picture under the avid MK4 tab is in fact an Avid model "c"....
    Let me know if I am wrong....
     
    Keep it up, cheers Laurent
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  16. flywise added a post in a topic Can I get some Catalina and amphibian pics pls?   

    You can have a look at my Catalina pictures here.....    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLmURmKBSU8uAlC3IR
     
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  17. flywise added a post in a topic Thoughts on mounting full lotus sponsons inboard on a Catalina?   

    One last thought I have is that moving the sponsons inboard you should actually increase their buoyancy as you reduce the leverage force. I find the sponsons when fitted outboard just enough to keep not submerged when in a heavier sea. With the sponsons more inboard you might have trouble not dipping the wing tip when slow taxiing in a swell making it harder to keep your track....Hope that makes sense.
    I find this interesting brainfood when trying to do do things different, there are always some things to loose and other things to gain.
    Cheeers and long life to all the Cats and other flying devices
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  18. flywise added a post in a topic Thoughts on mounting full lotus sponsons inboard on a Catalina?   

    I believe you might be able to make sharper turns when going full blast on the step during water maneuvering using ailerons into the turn ....and on a hard surface you might be able to land with more crosswind before striking the upwind side sponson ....that's the good side of having them inboard.
    The downside:
    I would be concerned about digging in your wing tip (maximum leverage) when doing sharp turns using aileron on the step,  there is a real danger to make the Cat swing around wildly, maybe even turn over...
    Last but not least, ...You will be pretty slanted on one side when floating around.....for slow taxiing in water it needs more rudder when trying to go straight.
    I have mine outboard at the "normal" location and I find I can slide on the water doing tight enough turns with wings pretty level. I also prefer having the Cat floating more level/horizontal when having the sponsons more outboard. 
    My 2 cents
     
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  19. flywise added a post in a topic Step 2, Build Magnum!!   

    I am looking for an ethanol safe wing tank....unfortunately, the fibreglass tanks dissolve with the ethanol......rotomolded plastic tanks are ethanol safe but there seems to be none out there for the Avid wing....
    Cheers
    If I were you I would think about ethanol before closing your wing, even if you install a lycoming....there is a push to get rid of Avgas in the near future and if you have a mogas converted lycoming , then if necessary you can also fuel up at the car gas station...ethanol problem...
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  20. flywise added a post in a topic Step 2, Build Magnum!!   

    Hey Barry, is this a fibreglass tank? Ethanol safe?....I am operating on a fibreglass tank and it's getting hard to find the "good" ethanol free stuff. Wish I had an other tank.
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  21. flywise added a post in a topic Approximate Inlet/scoop size for an internal 582 radiator?   

    You do have a point there......
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  22. flywise added a post in a topic Another Wing Spar Question   

    Hey akflyer,
     I don't see the adhesif (hysol) bearing any load like the wing spart does.........now imagine a crack in the spar tube under the strut fitting, I am pretty sure the hysol will not keep you in the air at that point. The Hysol filling the cracks will not replace that load bearing aluminum material and/or remove the stress riser. Please don't hesitate to correct me if I am seeing this wrong, I am eager to learn..........because even Einstein once said "Once you stop learning, you start dying......."
    Cheeeeers
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  23. flywise added a post in a topic Approximate Inlet/scoop size for an internal 582 radiator?   

    Hey Jim, another cat owner took a different approach installing the radiator onto the rear fuselage.....unfortunately it seems it was destroyed in an accident

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  24. flywise added a post in a topic Another Wing Spar Question   

    I second to what dholly says....If it were my aircraft only for my use or to be sold later I wouldn't feel good about flying it or even selling it down the road. I am sure you can buff / sand out the nasty scratches until they're not catching your fingernail anymore....
    My 2 cents...cheeeers
     
     
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  25. flywise added a post in a topic How to keep the Catalina alive   

    Flying the CAT I can confirm the usability of the bigger cabin of the catalina (3 seats/or cargo) is fantastic (I can even sleep in it, my head on the copilot's seat and my feet on the rear pax seat:) 
    Also I find the folding wings a must. I have already saved 10'000 $ hangar fees in 3 years.........on top it's a safety feature if you have to park it outside overnight (like an oceanfront beach) in stormy weather.....just fold it and you're safe...
    Performance wise (with a 912) it's much better than a searay because it's much lighter (250-300Lbs lighter) and has same kind of wing area.....rate of climb for example on the searay is anemic (650 Fpm)
    I also hate the wires strung from the wing trailing edge to the rear fuse.....
    Landing gear outside also ugly
    Toooooo expensive
    Etc....
    I am probably biased....but that's my point of view anyhow..cheeeers, Laurent
     
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