alan von Stark

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Everything posted by alan von Stark

  1. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Vortex Generators   

    Thank Ken,
    It's just the Speed wing with and extra rib bay.
    I looked at the VG videos that you linked me too and I think that it maybe possible to improve our wings around the stall.
    I know that the Sky Ranger and the Kit fox (unless it's a speed wing type) will only have a very slight improvement.
    The Stol wing tend to eek out the best slow speed performance and there is not much room for improvement. But our speed wings may have a wider margin for the VG's work with.
    Alan
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  2. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Vortex Generators   


    Thank you Ken for the input and yeah I would love to pop over to your strip when the weather improves, could you email me your phone number to airbornetroubadour@protonmail.com
    Troy has trouble keeping up with me, he likes to cruise at 60 mph @ 5000 and I'm doing about 75 mph at that so I have to slow down for him. We flew a loose formation with a phantom and it was hard work for me. On the way back from out day out at Rougham I lost them owing to a later take off slot. But I arrived over 10 mins ahead of them both at my eco cruise!
    I know what you mean with the LAA it's sad how the organisation set up to promote light aircraft flying is sometimes a major obsticle to flying as well.
    I would like to do the mod that you have done to the tail feathers on your Avid as I have a covered round rudder in the Hangar. The extra weight i could carry would be handy for another crew member.
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  3. alan von Stark added a topic in Technical tasks   

    Vortex Generators
    Has anyone here used Vortex generators on a Speed wing? As I'm thinking about fitting some in the hope of reducing the stall speed and tightening up everything. She flies great but now but I've seen some claims of improved performance on some types but not much on others and was wondering what experience people have had with them here. 
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  4. alan von Stark added a post in a topic When your landing goes wrong.   

    Thank you for posting and yeah that would upset me as well big time, and it has I've had three mishaps but you've got to pick yourself up dust yourself off and start all over again. good to see you get out OK and I wish you all the best with fixing that lovely aircraft up and getting her airborne again.
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  5. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Avid for sale in France   

    I was very interested in this topic as I have a speed wing, it has an extra rib bay so the wings are about 17" wider that the standard. Does anyone else know about this modification? it's claimed that this aircraft has a 40kph stall that about 24 mph my indicated stall is 46 mph. O course I'm looking for the best of both worlds, the cruse on the speed wing is good even with the 582  I'm getting 75 to 80 mph @ 5000 rpm indicated. At the moment I'm over the hedge at around 60 mph if this is a practical mod then I should be over the hedge at 40 mph maybe a risky 35 mph
    I've a few hours in the Durine turbulent and they have slats and know that when they let's go you best have some height or you'll lightly be tucked away in the corner pocket known as coffin corner. This is why we had stall warning lights fitted that gave ample warning it being a club aircraft.
    Any info would be very much appreciated
     
     
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  6. alan von Stark added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Avid C type Speed Wing 40 hours on type
    I've just completed 40 hours on my C type Avid Speed wing (200 hours total) I was told it would take me this long to feel at home in her and I have to agree with that.
    Compared to a nose wheel C42, Sky Ranger or similar aircraft the Avid especially the speed wing might be a bit of a challenge to some. However the bottom line is that Flying the Avid  will, if you are not already make you a better Pilot. This really is seat of your pants flying and you have to learn to feel the aircraft.
    If you like a challenge and enjoy the grin factor involved with getting a greaser then the Avid/fox must still be the most bang for your buck aircraft around.
    Those of you who know what I'm talking about might enjoy this video.
    https://youtu.be/3vozBXyH3Js
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  7. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Behind the power curve   

    The first two attempts looked ok but the sink rate on that last one was too high and with nothing to absorb the shock somethings gotta give. I think if the water is clear and still it  must be hard to to know when it's going to touch. The pilot put the power in too late what a shame
     
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  8. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Landing at my home strip in Blighty   

    Yes Jeromef, The hangars are a bit of a pain.
    But I find it's the dip in the runway that a bit more tricky especially for a tail wheel aircraft.
    As Fred pointed out the Avid is easier that my last aircraft the Flitzer Z-21B
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  9. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Landing at my home strip in Blighty   

    Yes Fred the Flitzer was a challenge to say the least and it's nice to be able to see where I'm going now.
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  10. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    Landing at my home strip in Blighty
    Landing at my home strip in Blighty (UK) I still need more practice but I like the way the shadow appears on the tail cam.
     
     
    Nano_shadow_merge.mp4
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  11. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Overheat on grey top 582 Avid C Type speed wing   

    Well I bought the C type and have had a few adventures in her which I will post later on.
    The main thing is that it has not overheated that bit of copper pipe with fins seems to work fine and I flown it when it's been 23C to 25C outside which is a good summer for Blighty (UK)

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  12. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Nylon seal connection to master cylinder
    I eventually got the master cylinder reconditioning kit from Matco  and I have to say I have found Matco a very helpful company to deal with.
    I think that I should re new the white seal that gets crushed in between the brass fittings to join the brake pipe to the master cylinder.
    My question is where can I get these seals in the UK? getting deliveries from the USA have been difficult after they arrive in the UK mainly because of Border force and Parcel force taking and extra 10 days to process after paying their charges!
     

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  13. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Bleeder valve for Avid C Type   

    Thank you Jeromef
    I was pointed in that direction by Fred Stork and was able to get the correct bleed nipple as we call them here in Blighty
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  14. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Bleeder valve for Avid C Type
    Guys I need one of these and it's difficult to get one in the UK I think the standard part number is F6446 and it's the old style Matco MSCF6446. I am still waiting for some parts from Matco and they have advised to source more locally as their minimum postage makes this an expensive item and one that will take a while to get here. So I would be grateful if any one can show me where I can get one quicker and cheaper than Matco.

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  15. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Tyres for Avid speed wing   

    Thanks guys
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  16. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Tyres for Avid speed wing   

    Thanks Guys I found some here just in case anyone else might be looking for some
    https://www.allterraintyres.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=90455
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  17. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Tyres for Avid speed wing
    Where is the best place to get replacement tyres for Avid speed wing (not bush tyres) they look like golf cart tyres not for high way use.
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  18. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Matco seals   

    Thanks for the info Guys
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  19. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Matco seals
    On my first landing in the Avid C type speed wing I found out the hard way that the previous owners may have used the wrong brake fluid I lost the right brake during the roll out and hit a small bank, also a long bleed nipple was also fitted to the right wheel and as it rolled over the bank it punctured the tyre and wrecked it
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  20. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Matco seals   

    Thanks allonsye a little more info would be useful, I've looked at LAS catalog which is the only place to get what you are recommending and it is sold in rather large containers for my needs. I got the dot 5 info from this EAA video are you saying that this guy is wrong?
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  21. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Need some compassion...   

    Great news that you have managed to get another set of left hand landing gear sorted I really look forward to hearing about how things are progressing
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  22. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Overheat on grey top 582 Avid C Type speed wing   

    Thanks Nlappos that looks much nicer than whats slung behind the Type C speed wing
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  23. alan von Stark added a post in a topic Overheat on grey top 582 Avid C Type speed wing   

    Thanks AKflyer I'm beginning to think along those lines myself.
    I'm wondering if a small additional belly radiator might help and what what would be the problems involved with doing that?
    There is a kind of belly radiator which is a copper tube with some ally fins stuck to it which all looks a bit questionable and the air intake hole looks very small to me especially when the carbs are sucking from the same source. The radiator just looks too small and the space behind it seems to be way to close to the firewall for the hot air that's passed through the radiator to exit efficiently .
    I'm considering cleaning up the radiator air exit space by adding a few curves and maybe cutting an air inlet slit in the side of the cowling to better direct the air into the radiator.
    There must have been a few guys who have been there before done that and got the tee shirt and if they have been able to make it work without changing to the MKIV cowlings and radiators I'd like to try that first.
    It makes me wonder how such a set up was passed in the first place on what to me seems to be and incredibly well designed and aircraft.
    But hey I've made a few boo boos and mistakes as well in my time



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  24. alan von Stark added a topic in Avid Model C   

    Overheat on grey top 582 Avid C Type speed wing
    I'm thinking of buying this avid speed wing I think it's a C type but I'm told that it over heats with someone in the passenger seat it's only got 15 hour on the engine silver/grey top 582. It all looks fairly standard so;
    What are the best ways to cool an engine with this type of installation?
    Cheers
    Alan von Stark

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