Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Tree top pilot added a post in a topic Wing rib modifications   

    I am really liking that set of spars. There's a lot of nice things with that design. I bet the die for that was slightly high priced.... Nice looking wings ! Still wanting to form a set of ribs out of aluminum.....I know they can be made lighter. Lots of ideas and not enough time... I should have started earlier in life with all the airplane stuff....
     
    I had spoken with another engineer in my area about making the ribs from 6061 T-0 and then having them heat treated. After we looked at some CAD models and there would be a need for compression struts...but allowed the use of cables for sail/anti sail bracing and tube trailing edge. Could CNC the rib die and form ribs with rubber block in press ready to phosphate and rivet in place.... We estimated that would come out to a completed wing near 25 lds ready for fabric. The flaperon hinges would also be T-6....flaperons made up of aly ribs and .018" 2024 sheeting. Round tube wingtip of T-6. Basic profile and lighter weight....unless parts were all carbon composite.....
     
    Ed... that water that looked milky was the abrasive that is suspended in the water to aid in the cutting action. I know a guy out west that has one in his shop...said he needed that machine 20 years ago for the time it saves his shop. No slag to clean up or hardened edge to grind beyond....and doesn't warp the metals from heat of CNC torch - laser - plasma cutting. Says it takes just enough pressure to keep the parts from wiggling around to hold them in place when cutting.
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  2. FoxDB added a post in a topic Aluminium wing tanks   

    TJay,
    I have (1) 6 gal aluminum tank in each wing and have not had any leaks. They are set with RTV to prevent flexing the tank.
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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic Germany fly from bavaria to the see   

    cool pictures, thanks for sharing them with us!
     

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  4. marksires added a post in a topic Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.   

    May have been a lot of time and effort, but at least you don't have to worry about corrosion on it now.  On a seaplane, that's worth something.
    Mark
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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic Aluminium wing tanks   

    I have only heard that the aluminum tanks were prone to leaks because the wings flex so much.   Jim may have a good idea about wrapping them in fiberglass before installing - If you decide to try that, be sure and use a Vinylester (I cant spell it) or similar epoxy that is supposed to be alcohol resistant, and build up about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick bosses where you want to drill and tap for fittings.
    I don't care for any of the sloshing compounds - heard bad reports on the Cream (sp? again) pealing off inside the tanks.  CASWEL is the name of the epoxy sloshing used for motorcycle tanks, and I thought that it might be good, but my flying buddy said he had bad luck with it too in aluminum tanks - maybe he mixed it wrong?
    I have an old 12 gal fg wing tank, and a nose tank,  but planned to sell them with my Kitfox 1 clone and parts, if anyone ever buys it.
    EDMO
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Aluminium wing tanks   

    I never did anything with the tanks myself.  I wonder if wrapping aluminum tanks in fiberglass (and sealing them also) might be the way to go with them.  Don't really know for sure though.  Every once in a while I see Kitfox  fiberglass tanks for sale on barnstormers,  maybe even run a wanted add for some there and on these Avid/Kitfox sites.  Some guys want the latest ethonal resistant tanks, and might part with the older ones at a reasonable price.  Jim Chuk
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  7. TJay added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Aluminium wing tanks
    With all the bad posts about these not sure I should use them. Hey Jim did you ever slosh these tanks or not. if not are they ok to use if I put a sealer in them before installing. what you guys think is anyone still flying with aluminum tanks
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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.   

    Well its looking good and one step closer to getting back in the air!  What do you have in it for power?
     

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  9. cowlove added a post in a topic Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.   

    ...also visible: wing skin patches from surgery to reinforce the rib tail flaperon attach points.  
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  10. cowlove added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Finished and installed fiberglass flaperons. Nice, but I wouldn't do it again.
    Finished installing fiberglass flaperons for the Catalina.  Clark-Y foam cores cut by Eureka CNC, 2 layers 6oz cloth, flox hardpoints for hinge bracket bolts.   Exceeds the strength of the original design in several arbitrary destructive tests. 

    Would not recommend.  Cost, labor and time was ridiculous compared to the weight savings.  
     
    Also, in hindsight, I think it's a little too fine a shape to easily work in fiberglass.   As ugly and unsatisfying as reworking the original sloppily-built aluminum would have been, that was probably the better choice.  

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  11. Goldendale-flyer added a post in a topic Jabiru engine mount and cowl info needed   

    Hi Log Trucker. Do you still have the Jabiru 2200 engine mount that fits an Avid MK IV?
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  12. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas line antifreeze?   

    The turbine engines use a product called PRIST in their jet fuel to prevent ice from forming - Just guessing, that it may be alcohol-based, and sure wouldn't put any into fiberglas tanks.
    EDMO
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  13. SuberAvid added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    I bought a set of the Airdale wide bungee gear for my Avid MKIV and built a taller wide bungee gear for my Avid+.  In my opinion it is well worth it, one of these days it will make the difference between a messed up plane or just a less than stellar landing.
     
    High Country, It sounds like you have proven set up so would think you should be able to sell them if you make them.  It looks like you are mounting them on a subframe.  Does that then pin into the regular gear leg mounts?   Just wondering how easy that would be for Jeff to adapt to his Merlin or if you could build it to fit his fusalage given the mount dimensions?
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  14. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Gas line antifreeze?   

    I've noticed it in mine in the winter too but it has never accumulatd enough to be a problem.  I always fill my tanks through a Mr. Funnel to strain out as much water and ice crystals as possible, and then stick the tanks before every flight.  I have never had it become a problem but have made it a practice of switching back and forth on the tanks as I fly so I don't run one completely dry and then switch and find out I have a problem.  I am not about to put any kind of alcohol in them.
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  15. IFMT added a post in a topic Gas line antifreeze?   

    I can't move south...they're paying me way to much up here! I am dreaming about the hanger I admit. What about isopropyl in fuel. I think snowmobilers use it lots.
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  16. EDMO added a post in a topic LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY! - WELL, ALMOST....   

    Flu got so bad in my County that they had to shut down one of the schools after about 500 students got it last week. Thankfully, I am about over mine - don't want it again this winter. Haven't worked on plane for about 2 months now.
    EdMO
    The local news last night announced more schools in MO and IL closing because so many students have the flu - apparently, one of the bugs mutated after the vaccine was made for this year, and that is what is getting so many infected.
    EDMO
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  17. akflyer added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    Sweet! It's only been 2 years getting her this close to back in the air.. keep at it mr!


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  18. Guest added a post in a topic Just joined the Fat Avid Club   

    Just ordered the spinner for the prop I plan to run on the Flat Avid. Going to run the same three blade 70 inch Whirlwind that Kitfox is running on their 912's. Whirlwind has bith 9 and 9 3/4 inch diameter spinners. The 9 inch won't work on the three blade unfortunately, so the spinner will be the tiniest amount too large, but I think it will not be too noticable. I am as far on fitting the cowl as I can go without the spinner. Hope it gets here soon! Will post a pic or two of the cowl fit when the spinner gets here.
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  19. wolves200 added a post in a topic Germany fly from bavaria to the see   

    sooooo.... you´ve been in Lübeck?; --- (heard a couple of stories about that airfield). you practically been as far north in Germany, that is 200Km South west of my location, next time you plan a long trip like that don´t be shy to fly further north, always nice to meet  Avid owners.
     
    fantastic pictures, I wish you could labelled them!
     
    regards
    Dimi3
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  20. EDMO added a post in a topic kitfox 1 update   

    Joey, C5Engineer, was going to measure both the stabilizer and elevator since he changed his elevator to MKIV with electric trim tab and says it really flies great on his short fuselage. Some of the guys were talking about adding 4 inches to the elevator, but that is just guessing and not giving flying reports. The tails of the longer fuselages have more authority than the earlier short birds.
    EDMO
    I would need someone to verify this better than I can, but I believe that the early Avid / Kitfox was made for the lighter, 477 Rotax engine - I think that I saw one of these at Soldotna, Alaska - there was supposed to be a light radial made for the Kitfox and with that came the round cowl with bumps, but something happened, and the engine never got made - then they went to the heavier 532 Rotax, causing it to be more nose-heavy, without enough elevator for power-off flare at slow speeds, and this was replaced by the 582.
          I believe a better choice of engine for the Kitfox 1 and 2 would be the lighter Rotax 503, like Avid Bandit and Kitfox used in some planes including some of the Kitfox 4 with the lighter GW.  I have heard that this engine is a good one.
          Just another 2c worth to think about.
    EDMO
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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Germany fly from bavaria to the see   

    I had seen the one picture showing the engine, and at a quick glance I didn't recognize it as a Jabiru. No fiberglass cooling shrouds on the engine. I know cooling has been an issue with Jabs, I put over 400 hours on my 2200 serial # 903, and cooling wasn't much of a problem for me, but I know others have had lots of problems with theirs, especially on the 3300 engine. If you had some close up pictures of your engine baffles I would like to see them. Thanks, Jim Chuk
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  22. TJay added a post in a topic kitfox 1 update   

    so how far out do you guys go mine measures 9.5 inches at the out side after the bend and 11.5 inches at the widest part.
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  23. Flugtaxi added a post in a topic Germany fly from bavaria to the see   

    We have a Jabiru 2200 first model in our avid. The propeller is a helix. It is comfortable in maintenance and service. The sound is good. Max. 2850 upm. The Jab can male 3100 upm. In germany we must fly with quiet systems, lower than 60db in the air.
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  24. EDMO added a post in a topic kitfox 1 update   

    Your bird needs more elevator to give you more tolerance of CG location, and authority to override nose-down force of using flaperons as flaps.
    Lets say you have an engine out and have to land in a short distance, and you don't have enough elevator to flare without power, and your decent angle is too steep....Now, do you need more elevator....
    EDMO
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  25. EDMO added a post in a topic Gas line antifreeze?   

    1.  Get a heated hanger.
    2.  Move South.
    3.  Only fly the one month a year it gets warm there! 
    Just Kidding - I wish I had a cure for that problem!
    EDMO
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