Activity Stream

Activity Stream

  1. TJay added a post in a topic kitfox 1 update   

    Hey guys I got a couple hours tonight after work tonight to play with the kitfox 1 here she is all widened out what you guys think. I think it was well worth the 5 lbs of weight.

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  2. IFMT added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Thanks! For short hops around the patch or a couple of hours I just keep the fuel load down to 10-12 gallons. No need to fill the 28(us) gallon tanks right to the nuts. It's a little porky at 726 lbs empty and it is probably a little heavier since I put on the 21 inch aero classics from desser. Getting to know your flaps is the key to "performance". I do have the wide gear and beefed seat truss. As stated by others: LOCK the tailwheel. I took the cam right off my maule and it is really the only way to go. These things are so short that a castering tailwheel really isn't necessary anyway. Bernard
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  3. Fly-n-Low added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    fusionfab, nice project!!!
     
    IFMT, very nice bird and info. I love a soob!!! That is the wide gear?
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  4. Luked added a post in a topic Issue putting KF wings on Avid   

    From memory I think most of the KF/Avid wings called for 1.5" or 1.75" washout. Most people seem to think that .5" would be sufficient.
     
    I would definitely use the stock early KF ribs that you have. In fact since you have a complete stock kit, I would probably just try not to change anything. This will speed things up a lot. With the changes I've made, I'm still in "backwards mode". It will be nice to get things back to the completion level they would have come in the kit so I can go back to moving forward.
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  5. TJay added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    kitfox 1 update
    Hey guys just posting some of my latest pictures here not much happened this week, as my full time job is getting in the way again, man I love those days off during the holidays. anyway I am having fun building, tonight when I get home from work I should have some 4130 tubing from spruce waiting on my door step for me,
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  6. 6320012s added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    I don't know if you have flown it yet, but I see that your brakes are set up in the stock configuration.. ie. if your toe is on the opposite brake from your rudder input, as the opposing pedal comes into your foot, the brake gets depressed giving oposite braking to your rudder input.   This condition is a Ground Loop intensifier.    I corrected the problem by connecting the fixed end of the brake cylinder to the floor instead of the rudder cross tube.  As a result, the more rudder you give, the easier it is to add brake.  To get it all right requires a bit of fussing, but it reduces your chances of ground loop in the first 100 hrs by at least half and greatly improves control on hard surfaces.  Have fun!
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  7. EZFlap added a post in a topic wanted 3/4" axle   

    Yeah, the doctors can do miracles these days, but this time it looks as though they did the reverse. I couldn't imagine poor Candace waking up one morning and looking like me !
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  8. IFMT added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    The exhaust is 1 3/4 and ties together into one. I think I read that with the bigger pipes back pressure is not a problem. I wouldn't say it's particularly quiet but it does sound good. The 'muffler' is more like a straight pipe. Kind of like a red devil or the old blue bottles. The vw rad makes a nice proven install under the plane. Heres a pic.
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic wanted 3/4" axle   

    Hey Bill, back when you were a blonde (your picture on the back country pilot's site?) you were a lot cuter. LOL Jim Chuk
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  10. TJay added a post in a topic Issue putting KF wings on Avid   

    so you say you would like less washout that is nice to hear, so when I start on my wings what do you think I should set them at. I think I convinced myself to just use the kitfox 1 ribs that I have just the way they are. keep this one simple and light. I do think I am going to stop the wing at 144 inches keep that in mind.
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  11. fusionfab added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Yeah the rad relocation is definite in order for mine because just as you said looks like Mack truck. I was going with Jay Leno.
    Now I just double checked my other rad and it's the vw rabbit rad. But the one I have on now I'd like to figure out. It's quite a bit smaller length and width wise but it's 2" in depth. More than the rabbit.
    How do you like the muffled exhaust? Noticeable quiter? Did you sacrifice power at all?
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  12. EZFlap added a post in a topic wanted 3/4" axle   

    I may have been looking at the wrong part and spoken before I should have.... told you I was once a blonde.
     
    I will re-visit this subject after I take apart the other axle and I'm sure that I can properly ID what I am seeing. Until then, nobody waste their time on helping me figure this out, there's plenty of other questions and advice I need more than the axle configuration.
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  13. Luked added a post in a topic Happy Birthday Lostman   

    Happy birthday Kenneth! Hope you're doing well.
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  14. IFMT added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

     The rad is mounted at a slight angle higher at the front and about 3 inches lower at the back. The aluminum ducting makes all the air go through the rad. Moving the rad back will allow you to put a removable inspection cover in the middle of the floor and you can get heat right off the rad. Doesn't throw much heat below -15 C though. I am going to experiment with blocking the rear off to cut down the cooling and direct all the hot air up into the cabin. Moving the rad back will streamline the look of the plane so it doesn't look like a Mack truck coming in on final.

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  15. fusionfab added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Oh ok I can kind if see it, mounted flat under the belly of the plane? Or is that a duct to it? I'd really be hoping to mount my rad that way.
    Yes you're right a new c of g should probably be done.

    Also I don't think my current rad is the rabbit one. Although I believe I have one that came with the ea81 crate engine I bought

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  16. IFMT added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Take a look at "soob ignition maintenance" post number 19 under Rotax and other engines forum. This shows some close ups with the cowl off my plane. My rad is basically in front of the seat truss to avoid the gear. The rad is vw rabbit. I dont know how to link it so you have to look under the forums. Do your own cg. It's your ass in the sling. 
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 582 Rotary Valve Lubrication   

    Great! I knew it worked for me. And best of all it gets the air out. Jim Chuk
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  18. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Happy Birthday Lostman   

    We haven't heard from Kenneth is a while.  Joey, do you know what he's up to?
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  19. BryceKat added a post in a topic 582 Rotary Valve Lubrication   

    Jim,
    I Filled the rotary valve as you explained. I stuck a funnel in the down tube and filled from there. Might have taken 5 minutes. Thanks, Bryce
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  20. EZFlap added a post in a topic wanted 3/4" axle   

    Will try to do a photo. To the previous poster, thank you for the detailed explanation, now I get it! I think I will also try to bolt the two brake plates together, to have a second load path.
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  21. fusionfab added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    The previous owner gave me a c of g report that was done before he decided to sell and shows that 10lbs was added to the tail, no would it still have to be done again if I'm just replacing parts?. But then again there's a new coat of paint.
    The rad is mounted vertically directly under the firewall but I'd really like to change that. Do you have any pics of your rad?
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  22. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Avid "Bandit" model with trailer for sale   

    Paul is close by to me so I called him up tonight and got a few more details on this plane.
     
    It was finished in 1998 has right around 100 hrs on it. Has a 582 Greyhead. He built it right after retirement and has decided to retire from flying all together.
     
    Stol Wings w/tanks in both wings
     
    Basic Avionics. Includes handheld radio and transponder (sounded dated)
     
    If anyone is seriously looking for a bandit I would be willing to go and look at it for you. He's only a little over an hour away from me by car.
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  23. C5Engineer added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Congrats! Lots of good info here on Soob's and everything Avid. Feel free to ask any questions!
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  24. IFMT added a post in a topic My new and first plane   

    Make sure you weigh her out and get your cg figured right. It looks like the rad is right under the engine? Might help to move the rad back under the seat area. I am running a soob in my mark IV and needed to hang 20 ish lbs of lead at the back to get it in the envelope. Flies great though. Cheers. B
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  25. LSaupe added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Rudder Bushing Alignment Tolerance - Kitfox III
    I am in the process of changing out my Kitfox Mod III rudder with a Mod IV.

    When I fit up the new rudder (still using the original bushings on the vert stab), I find that the lowest of the 4 bushing mounts is 1/4" further forward that the top 3. I.e. you could drop a rod down through the top three bushing guides, but it would then pass behind the bottom guide. Looks like it was built this way from day 1.

    Anyone run across this before? What is odd is that the rudder I took off was actually bent to fit (lower part bent forward 1/4"). It did seem to move o.k.

    Trying to sort out if this is a big deal or not. I can bend the new rudder to fit, however it will still need to accommodate the non-linear movement (to the tune of 0.15" at full 37 degree deflection - side loading). I assume the tubes will all try to bend to allow motion, but with the fabric on I am concerned about increase loading and fatigue.

    One option is to bend the rudder and leave as is (and live with the stresses). The other is to move the lower fuselage bushing out 1/4" and then fill that gap between the rudder leading edge as appropriate.

    Anyone run across a similar situation? Are there any tolerances for hinge mounts on tube-n-fabric birds like these?
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