terciops

terciops's Activity

1. 
   
   

   terciops added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar    1 May 2009

   Avid MkIV Doors

   Hi All,
           I have seen a number of Avids sporting one piece clear lexan doors.  Can anyone here share on fitting these and where they come from ?
   
   Thanks
   
   Ken
   

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   terciops added a post in a topic first un-intentional engine out    26 Apr 2009

   Well done on the FanStop and the subsequent figuring out.  I guess the moral about Ebay engine parts is obvious....
   
   Ken
   

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   terciops added a post in a topic Elevator trim    12 Apr 2009

   Further on the Trim install.  I have been playing with the elevator sealing and there is no doubt that the tape in a "S" pattern on the elevator hinge is a huge plus for performance - on my machine anyway.  I am doing the rudder hinge tomorrow and see if I can squeeze a few more FPM out of her to make the magic 1000fpm climb at solo weights (820 lbs or so).  A bloody good target for 65 hp and a drag master
   
   The removal of the big bias on the fixed elevator tab is also a factor - albeit not such a big one.  Trim drag from a fixed or movable aerodynamic trimmer is a source of drag.  We used to avoid using them many years ago when I used to fly competition gliders for that reason.  However there are so many other sources of parasite drag on the Avid that I don't think this is that significant.  However as the old woman who peed in the pond said - "every little helps".
   
   Now to get those dead flies off the leading edge too and a coat of polish .....
   
   Ken
   

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   terciops added a post in a topic Elevator trim    12 Apr 2009

   Hi Akflyer - certainly - only a pleasure.
   
   The link to the photos is here : http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Ken.B.Smith/TheWattleWitchAvidSpeedwingIV#
   
   Check out the last 2 that show the underseat and panel units.
   
   My comments on the installation on the Avid User Group were :
   
   I have now fitted and flight tested the Aeroconversions trim unit to my
   Speedwing IV - ZK-RWT. As promised - here are some thoughts :
   
   http://www.aeroconversions.com/products/trim/index.html
   
   The item arrived promptly considering the distance it had to travel to NZ.
   Nicely overpacked in a rigid box and all parts for the standard conversion were
   neatly bagged. Instructions are not for the AVID of course, but easily
   understandable.
   
   I had to make an aluminum T piece to mount the cable end under the seat and
   drill 3 holes in the throttle mount bracket to hold the trim wheel unit. Plenty
   of cable for a long looping run - indeed I cut about a foot off. Two springs
   are supplied - one down and one up. My Avid does not need down trim so I put
   both springs on the Up side after finding by ground testing (I have all my stick
   force numbers from my initial flight tests) that 1 was not quite enough.
   
   I adjusted the cable so that with full DOWN trim selected the springs were free
   of the elevator rod and the trim was essentially how it is normally - very nose
   heavy at all but high speed. Total installation time including hoovering up the
   mess - 1.5 hours.
   
   I also took this opportunity to seal the elevator gap in the tailplane using
   tape in the reverse "S" method and remove the elevator fixed tab bias to neutral
   - it was previously quite significantly nose up.
   
   A flight test this morning gave me an aircraft that was 'night and day' from
   what I had before.
   
   It trimmed out at all speeds and flap settings, finals with half flap and 55kts
   could be flown hands off and the flare was a delight without that residual back
   pressure. The elevator sealing was obvious in the progressive control into the
   flare and no sense of elevator stalling at higher pitch rates that was apparent
   previously.
   
   Rolling at that trim setting leaving half flap down produced a small requirement
   for forward stick pressure (2lbs) when airborne, but a half turn on the trim
   knob took that away. Raising flaps gave me another 2 lbs of forward and another
   half turn was needed to climb out at 60kts. Very easy and positive to use. The
   trim knob is a little close to the throttle and only finger tips can be used to
   turn it. But the force required is very small and this is not a problem.
   Another half inch to the right would be ideal, but this will require another
   bracket and it is not worth the bother.
   
   Cruise and Descent were delightful and I could set any speed I wanted regardless
   of power and flaperon and it would fly stick free and stable.
   
   I had previously taken out the fixed trim tab biase to 'nose up' when I put on
   the elevator sealing tape. These two mods together have improved my solo + 65
   litres of gas (830 lbs AUW) climb from 750 fpm to 950+ fpm and put about 5 kts
   on my cruise. The whole pitch control now feels much more positive and with the
   ability to trim properly has made the 'Witch' a little joy to land rather than
   the rather difficult and twitchy thing she was prior.
   
   A subjective note is that the rudder now seems more sensitive and she wanted to
   yaw about more. This could be a result of less turbulence in the tailplane area
   as a result of the elevator gap sealing. Or it could just be me I will fly
   her some more and figure that one out.
   
   So - $95 for the trim, $2 for some tape and a couple of hours work have been the
   best value for money mod I have done on any aircraft in the past 45 years of
   flying
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   Ken
   

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