Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Guest added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane   

    My opinion and $5.00 might get you a simple coffee at Starbucks, but I am a believer in the 912 all the way for the kitfox 4-7's.
     
    The additional weight of the big direct drive 4 strokes will kill performance way beyond what you can imagine. Most of these planes whether Avid or Kitfox that have Continental or Lycoming conversions require additional weight in the tail to reach an acceptable weight and balance. I have seen first hand the difference. Flown in a 100 HP 0-200 powered KF 5 and a 80 HP rotax KF 5 and would choose the 80 HP Rotax powered hands down for short field performance and useful load. The ONLY place the 0-200 powered KF 5 outperformed the the 80 HP rotax was solo flight cruise speed.
     
    Chris
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  2. herman pahls added a post in a topic Let's talk gear geometry   

    Great topic since I have been researching gear design for the last week.
    John Roberts said the front gear leg takes the greatest load and is in compression so that is why it needs to be beefier and braced like your new version is to prevent it from collapsing.
    Extending and widening the gear also requires bigger diameters and wall thickness to prevent tube failure on compression.
    Roberts also said the gear and cabane attach points need to be designed so the forces are applied inline with the longerons instead of twisting the longerons.
    That explains why most cub style cabanes use separate attach points from the gear leg.
    I was surprized to see at the High Sierra fly in that Pops Dory was not using bungees on his new Cub.
    As long as the springs have enough travel to prevent metal on metal for reasonable hard hits, they sure look like the way to go.
    My off road car has 2 springs per shock.
    When lighter spring bottoms out the stiffer second spring takes over for progressive action.
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  3. Guest added a post in a topic Fat Avid weight and balance   

    Hi Willis!
    It should be the same as model A-D, and Magnum.
    Chris Bolkan
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  4. lasnewbe added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane   

    I'm back looking for opinions.  I have web-found a KitFox 4 with a Subaru E-81 NSI engine.  I have heard mixed reviews on this engine.  Anyone with experience or heard credible reviews? Mark in Sun City West, AZ
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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic Fat Avid weight and balance   

    Willis,
    How does the Fat Avid compare to the Magnum? I have the W&B specs for the Magnum.
    EDMO
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  6. C5Engineer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Let's talk gear geometry
    This has been somewhat of a hot topic lately so i thought I would post some various gear designs to hopefully spark some discussion from someone much smarter than me on it. The discussion is on the strength of the cabane strutted spring gear.
     
    Airdale gear
     

     
    Version two contains lighter springs a thicker wall tubing the addition of a cross brace between the front and rear leg where another set had failed.
     

     
    New brace the first set didn't have
     

     
    HighWingLLC gear
     

     
     

    Super Cub Geometry on Pops Dory latest cub using springs instead of bungees
     

     
     
    Murphy Bush Gear
     

     
    Rans Brand New "Monster" Gear
     

     
    Roberts Bush Gear
     

     
     
     
     
     
    So it's obvious there are subtle differences between every set, but generally speaking they are all similar. So what makes one set work and another one not???
     

    • 40 replies
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  7. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Landing gear safety cables   

    There's nothing high tech about the reinforcement.

    You just cut triangles from plywood and hysol them onto the openings in the truss. Make note of where the bungees pass through and don't fill in those openings.
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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic My new ride   

    Bandit, my avid isn't going anywhere.. The $450 fuel for 4.3 hrs flying is going to put a dampner on my 180 just for fun time! Holy cripes!
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  9. sioux201 added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case   

    239 572 0021
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  10. sioux201 added a post in a topic machining a prov 8 case   

    Yes, there's more things to do, call Rotax ric
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  11. herman pahls added a post in a topic Avid visability   

    The Avid Model C that I measured to find out how the gear placement compared to a Kitfox had an upside down 582 with cheek radiators.
    I now understand why the upside down 582 in an Avid allows the cowl to be lower than a Kitfox for better visability.
    It appears that the  top 4 of the 6 Avid 582 engine mount bolts would come  close to fitting the Kitfox.
    Otherwise the Avid and Kitfox engine mount attachment to the fuselage firewall are not even close to interchanging.
    Without a custom engine mount I will not be lowering my Kitfox cowl for the better Avid visability. 
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  12. herman pahls added a post in a topic Landing gear safety cables   

    I measured an Avid Mark 4 and an Avid Model C today and you are correct, the gear attach points on the longerons are almost Identical to within a 1/16" of my Model 2 Kitfox or less and could be adjusted with a file.
    All 3 aircraft are within a 1/2" of axle placement in relation to the leading edge of the wing when the fuselage lower longerons are level as when doing C. of G. calculations.
    Av8r3400 said his friend recently ordered a swept forward gear for his Model C Avid, which according to Trackwelder and my measurements should fit the early Kitfox's that do not have the forward float attach points.
    According to Grove's website, their Avid Mark 4 TD gear costs $300. more and weighs 8 pounds more than a Model 3-4 gear.
    The reason for the increased weight is the extra material needed for the forward swept feature of the gear and that it is 5" instead of 4" wide where it clamps to the attachment brackets.
    Av8r3400 said the Grove gear on his Model 4 increase  his empty weight 12 pounds over the stock bungee gear which I could live with.
    Since my Kitfox would require the swept forward gear, the weight increase would approach 20 pounds which I do not think I can live with.
    Thanks for all the comments to help me come to a conclusion.
     
    Where do I find Steve Winder's posts on how to reinforce the seat-bungee truss?
     
    Thanks  Herman
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  13. marshawk added a topic in Fat Avids, Avid Plus and Airdale   

    Fat Avid weight and balance
     Hi guys, well things are getting closer with my fat avid and i.m just wondering if the datum line and formulas  on it, is like the avid c . I have the manual walking you threw it and have a friend thats did them before but want to make sure the extra 18" in length dont affect  using the avid c method of doing the W & B. Randy if you happen to have any of your numbers handy and get a chance to post them ,that would be appreciated, Thanks Willis

    • 94 replies
    • 12,887 views


  14. tbucket added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    machining a prov 8 case
    I know that someone has done this so I won't ask if someone has done this so I will ask this question
    about what is involved in this. The case is a prov 8 case the holes is already drilled but not taped are there any more to do to the case other than drill the holes for the correct size and tap them to fit a rotax c box to it? do you have to do anything to the crank [a standard 582 crank]
     
    thanks Bob
    • 11 replies
    • 4,004 views


  15. BryceKat added a post in a topic Rudder peddle pressure and nose gear from the right seat   

    When mine was a tricycle, I had the same problem. I switched to a taildragger to fix it. However, someone makes a swivel type nose wheel ala an rv-6 for the avid and it works very well. Chris B had one on his mkiv and really liked it. Pm him, he'll help you out. Bryce
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  16. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Landing gear safety cables   

    The Kitfox and the Avid gear are not the same, but 5 minutes with a file will make that change, up until model % I believe they are almost identical fuselages, There are several ways to strengthen the seat truss that Steve Winder had described, the easiest is to use an Epoxy ( he used Hysol 4130 I believe as hat is what Kitfox sells) and glue little triangles into the seat truss. If I was doing a complete teardown I might think about welding in 4130 plate, nothing any bigger than .062.
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  17. Boat added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Rudder peddle pressure and nose gear from the right seat
    Flying right seat brings out a couple of problems with the rudder forces, left peddle to nose gear linkage, and nose gear centering springs.  The rudder pressure through the peddles seems excessive and seems to center around the springs for centering the nose gear – which are “very stiffâ€.   Any thoughts or cures to this problem?  Left seat has the problem also, but it’s not as noticeable since the nose gear linkage doesn’t encroach on the rudder peddles – giving more space on the peddles for your feet.
    • 9 replies
    • 1,963 views


  18. EDMO added a post in a topic 21/4 airspeed   

    Chase,Sounds like your ASI was very accurate at that speed - Airspeed almost never matches GPS groundspeed anyway. Good cruise.
    EDMO
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  19. Bandit added a post in a topic My new ride   

    Hell Leni, when you learn to fly that 180 real good you won't talk to us 2 strokers any more.
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  20. Chewie added a post in a topic 21/4 airspeed   

    I guess you found what you're looking for?  I checked with everyone, no one has that size.
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  21. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane   

    Nice plane and nice panel. Its worth whatever someone will pay for it. It's a buyers market right now.
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  22. lasnewbe added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane   

    Folks, thanks for the introductory advice.  I have my Beech Sundowner up for sale and am looking for the KitFox 4 or 5.  One, KitFox 5,  just popped up today on Barnstormers with a Lycoming O-235 engine @$39K.  200 hundred hours, with all white exterior paint in Denver.  Based on your experiences, does that sound like a good combination and a reasonable asking price?  Mark
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  23. C5Engineer added a post in a topic My new ride   

    I always feel that way when doing power on stalls for a checkout in a Cessna. Keep pulling...Keep pulling...more...more...more....more.... BREAK!
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  24. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Hi, I'm new to Avid Fox Flyers, looking for info and a plane   

    Welcome to Avid Fox Flyers!
     
    The first question you have to ask yourself is what is your mission? Are you wanting to just unload a plane on the side of the road and go check something out while traveling or will you also be using is as your primary plane at home as well?
     
    A 912 powered Model IV cruises at 115 ish and is a bit bigger and more refined than the earlier models. They also fetch an almost double the price tag to an early, simple, two stroke powered one.
     
    I would say steer clear from a Kitfox I or Avid A model. They were very basic machines. A lightweight 2-stroke powered Kitfox or Avid would be perfect for hauling in a trailer and unloading on the side of the road to go and do some airborne sightseeing. Performance and visibility is amazing. The downside is if you are planning on doing crossing country stuff they have a realistic cruising speed of 80 mph.
     
    Here's some basic info to consider while looking for a bird.
     
    Avid models: B, C, Mark IV
    Kitfox models  2, 3, 4 The Kitfox 2 and 3 were similiar to an Avid B and C but the Kitox 4 is a totally different machine than an Avid 4. The major difference is the Kitfox 4 used the Riblett Airfoil and a different control system.
     
    Avid wings are either STOL (undercambered airfoil) or Speed (flat bottom) The speedwing is unpopular unless it's been extended by 2 rib bays.
    On Avids a 582 is about your best match to the airframe for STOL ops. They fly great with Subaru motors too but unless the fuse has been extended they tend to be very nose heavy and they won't get off the ground nearly as quick as a two stroke powered one. If you are ready to drop 30K one one a 912 powered Kitfox 4 like Larry mentioned is the nicest of the bunch. They are in high demand and good ones sell very quickly off Barnstormers. A 582 powered earlier model is running in the mid teens right now.
     
    If I were towing one around the country I would go for as light and simple as possible but that's just me. I have a friend who does this. He has an Avid to tow behind his motorhome. A Zenith CH601 is his everyday flying machine and a Tripacer for when he goes camping with his wife and dogs. And he lives at an airpark 100 yards from the runway. Living the dream.
     
    Stick around on here and don't be afraid to ask questions. The goal of this site is to be a one stop shop for all things Avid and Kitfox.
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  25. Emory Bored added a post in a topic Vemer Engines   

    Almost twice the displacement without much weight gain, good thinking on the shared aircleaner, wet sump lubrication with PSRU lubricated by engine oil.  Overhead cam rather than pushrod.  I'm guessing that it actually makes it's horsepower while HKS usually mostly disappoints in that regard.  I wonder how much?  If you look at the power/torque curves it's really peaky.  Like a 2 stroke. 
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