Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 07:00 AM - Back in the Air (Lowell Fitt)
2. 07:16 AM - Re: Back in the Air (Guy Buchanan)
3. 07:23 AM - Re: Back in the Air (JC Propeller Design)
4. 09:20 AM - Re: Back in the Air (Lynn Matteson)
5. 11:46 AM - Re: Back in the Air (Guy Buchanan)
6. 02:10 PM - Re: Back in the Air (Lynn Matteson)
7. 05:28 PM - Re: Back in the Air (mark donahue)
8. 05:59 PM - Re: Back in the Air (Tommy Walker)
9. 07:41 PM - Re: Back in the Air (Roberto Waltman)
10. 08:16 PM - Re: Back in the Air (Patrick Reilly)
11. 10:34 PM - Re: Back in the Air (Lowell Fitt)
Message 1
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I've been flying my new Model IV for the past couple of weeks and thought it
timely to post some thoughts.
It seems to fly pretty much exactly like the old one. After about four
hours tweaking the engine and pitching the prop, the Hobbs now shows just
shy of 14 hours. Tests show that the ASI reads about 9% low so that will
give give bragging rights with stall speed, but cruise will need an
explanation. I get not quite 1200 ft. per minute on intitial climb. Temps
are all in the green and my home brew rudder trim system seems to take out
the need for right rudder in cruise. I still don't know for sure if I have
a heavy left wing - it likes to make a very slow bank to the left, but
really slow. I will probably put a half turn on the right wing aft lift
strut rod end and see. the first flight was heavy stress on me as I had
made a few mods - home brew engine mount with the engine a couple of inches
forward to provide some room for a lower mounted oil tank. Aluminum Leading
edges on the wings vs. the upper false ribs, the rib warping rudder trim and
a few other mostly cosmetic things. The empty weight came in at 667 lbs.
Unfortunately, I have an hour commute both ways to the flight test area, the
best part of that, though, is that Lincoln Regional is a hotbed of
experimental activity. I have met some great guys - mostl rag and tube, but
up to a Thunder Mustang - and was offered a hangar on a monthly basis, so
the pressure to get back home is gone.
The flight test area is flat as flat farm area in the Central Valley and
gorgeous and the winds tend to be very light to non existent this time of
year.
Lowell
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Beautiful Lowell. Can't wait to get back up to your place to see it. I
see you did a standard radiator install, do you have any pictures of
your oil cooler install? Is it below the prop spinner as before? Did you
do the vanes on the radiators? How about thermostats on the oil and/or
water. Your tailwheel looks different too. Did you custom the spring?
Guy Buchanan
Ramona, CA
Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded
Now a glider pilot, too.
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Good job Lowell,
Was is you that lost your previous plane in a fire? or my memory stick that
is faulty! :-)
Jan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lowell Fitt" <lcfitt@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 12:46 AM
Subject: Kitfox-List: Back in the Air
> I've been flying my new Model IV for the past couple of weeks and thought
> it
> timely to post some thoughts.
>
> It seems to fly pretty much exactly like the old one. After about four
> hours tweaking the engine and pitching the prop, the Hobbs now shows just
> shy of 14 hours. Tests show that the ASI reads about 9% low so that will
> give give bragging rights with stall speed, but cruise will need an
> explanation. I get not quite 1200 ft. per minute on intitial climb.
> Temps
> are all in the green and my home brew rudder trim system seems to take out
> the need for right rudder in cruise. I still don't know for sure if I
> have
> a heavy left wing - it likes to make a very slow bank to the left, but
> really slow. I will probably put a half turn on the right wing aft lift
> strut rod end and see. the first flight was heavy stress on me as I had
> made a few mods - home brew engine mount with the engine a couple of
> inches
> forward to provide some room for a lower mounted oil tank. Aluminum
> Leading
> edges on the wings vs. the upper false ribs, the rib warping rudder trim
> and
> a few other mostly cosmetic things. The empty weight came in at 667 lbs.
>
> Unfortunately, I have an hour commute both ways to the flight test area,
> the
> best part of that, though, is that Lincoln Regional is a hotbed of
> experimental activity. I have met some great guys - mostl rag and tube,
> but
> up to a Thunder Mustang - and was offered a hangar on a monthly basis, so
> the pressure to get back home is gone.
>
> The flight test area is flat as flat farm area in the Central Valley and
> gorgeous and the winds tend to be very light to non existent this time of
> year.
> Lowell
>
Message 4
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Good show, Lowell....
Remember to look for "missing parts" on the oil bottle when tending
to that task. : )
Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger
Jabiru 2200, #2062
Prince prop 64 x 30, P-tip
Electroair direct-fire ignition system
Rotec TBI-40 injection (sleeved to 36mm)
Status: flying with 1360 hrs... (since 3-27-2006)
do not archive
On Sep 19, 2012, at 6:46 PM, Lowell Fitt wrote:
> I've been flying my new Model IV for the past couple of weeks and
> thought it timely to post some thoughts.
>
> It seems to fly pretty much exactly like the old one. After about
> four hours tweaking the engine and pitching the prop, the Hobbs now
> shows just shy of 14 hours. Tests show that the ASI reads about 9%
> low so that will give give bragging rights with stall speed, but
> cruise will need an explanation. I get not quite 1200 ft. per
> minute on intitial climb. Temps are all in the green and my home
> brew rudder trim system seems to take out the need for right rudder
> in cruise. I still don't know for sure if I have a heavy left wing
> - it likes to make a very slow bank to the left, but really slow.
> I will probably put a half turn on the right wing aft lift strut
> rod end and see. the first flight was heavy stress on me as I had
> made a few mods - home brew engine mount with the engine a couple
> of inches forward to provide some room for a lower mounted oil
> tank. Aluminum Leading edges on the wings vs. the upper false
> ribs, the rib warping rudder trim and a few other mostly cosmetic
> things. The empty weight came in at 667 lbs.
>
> Unfortunately, I have an hour commute both ways to the flight test
> area, the best part of that, though, is that Lincoln Regional is a
> hotbed of experimental activity. I have met some great guys -
> mostl rag and tube, but up to a Thunder Mustang - and was offered a
> hangar on a monthly basis, so the pressure to get back home is gone.
>
> The flight test area is flat as flat farm area in the Central
> Valley and gorgeous and the winds tend to be very light to non
> existent this time of year.
> Lowell
Message 5
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
On 9/20/2012 9:20 AM, Lynn Matteson wrote:
> Good show, Lowell....
>
> Remember to look for "missing parts" on the oil bottle when tending to
> that task. : )
You're so mean. . . ;-)
Guy Buchanan
Ramona, CA
Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded
Now a glider pilot, too.
Message 6
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
And here I thought I was being really subtle. : ) (We'll let the
uninformed puzzle over what this is all about, eh?)
Lynn Matteson
Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger
Jabiru 2200, #2062
Prince prop 64 x 30, P-tip
Electroair direct-fire ignition system
Rotec TBI-40 injection (sleeved to 36mm)
Status: flying with 1361 hrs... (since 3-27-2006)
do not archive
On Sep 20, 2012, at 2:46 PM, Guy Buchanan wrote:
> On 9/20/2012 9:20 AM, Lynn Matteson wrote:
>> Good show, Lowell....
>>
>> Remember to look for "missing parts" on the oil bottle when
>> tending to that task. : )
>
> You're so mean. . . ;-)
>
> Guy Buchanan
> Ramona, CA
> Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded
> Now a glider pilot, too.
>
>
> ============================================================ _-
> ============================================================ _-
> contribution_-
> ===========================================================
Message 7
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Way to go Lowell! She looks great.
I cant remember, did you put the 80 hp 912 on or the 100?
Look forward to flying with you.
Mark Donahue
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Lowell Fitt
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 3:47 PM
Subject: Kitfox-List: Back in the Air
I've been flying my new Model IV for the past couple of weeks and thought it
timely to post some thoughts.
It seems to fly pretty much exactly like the old one. After about four
hours tweaking the engine and pitching the prop, the Hobbs now shows just
shy of 14 hours. Tests show that the ASI reads about 9% low so that will
give give bragging rights with stall speed, but cruise will need an
explanation. I get not quite 1200 ft. per minute on intitial climb. Temps
are all in the green and my home brew rudder trim system seems to take out
the need for right rudder in cruise. I still don't know for sure if I have
a heavy left wing - it likes to make a very slow bank to the left, but
really slow. I will probably put a half turn on the right wing aft lift
strut rod end and see. the first flight was heavy stress on me as I had
made a few mods - home brew engine mount with the engine a couple of inches
forward to provide some room for a lower mounted oil tank. Aluminum Leading
edges on the wings vs. the upper false ribs, the rib warping rudder trim and
a few other mostly cosmetic things. The empty weight came in at 667 lbs.
Unfortunately, I have an hour commute both ways to the flight test area, the
best part of that, though, is that Lincoln Regional is a hotbed of
experimental activity. I have met some great guys - mostl rag and tube, but
up to a Thunder Mustang - and was offered a hangar on a monthly basis, so
the pressure to get back home is gone.
The flight test area is flat as flat farm area in the Central Valley and
gorgeous and the winds tend to be very light to non existent this time of
year.
Lowell
Message 8
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Congrats Lowell!
On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 7:25 PM, mark donahue <markdonahue@earthlink.net>wrote:
> markdonahue@earthlink.net>
>
> Way to go Lowell! She looks great.
> I cant remember, did you put the 80 hp 912 on or the 100?
> Look forward to flying with you.
> Mark Donahue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com
> [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Lowell Fitt
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 3:47 PM
> To: kitfox-list@matronics.com
> Subject: Kitfox-List: Back in the Air
>
> I've been flying my new Model IV for the past couple of weeks and thought
> it
> timely to post some thoughts.
>
> It seems to fly pretty much exactly like the old one. After about four
> hours tweaking the engine and pitching the prop, the Hobbs now shows just
> shy of 14 hours. Tests show that the ASI reads about 9% low so that will
> give give bragging rights with stall speed, but cruise will need an
> explanation. I get not quite 1200 ft. per minute on intitial climb. Temps
> are all in the green and my home brew rudder trim system seems to take out
> the need for right rudder in cruise. I still don't know for sure if I have
> a heavy left wing - it likes to make a very slow bank to the left, but
> really slow. I will probably put a half turn on the right wing aft lift
> strut rod end and see. the first flight was heavy stress on me as I had
> made a few mods - home brew engine mount with the engine a couple of inches
> forward to provide some room for a lower mounted oil tank. Aluminum
> Leading
> edges on the wings vs. the upper false ribs, the rib warping rudder trim
> and
> a few other mostly cosmetic things. The empty weight came in at 667 lbs.
>
> Unfortunately, I have an hour commute both ways to the flight test area,
> the
> best part of that, though, is that Lincoln Regional is a hotbed of
> experimental activity. I have met some great guys - mostl rag and tube,
> but
> up to a Thunder Mustang - and was offered a hangar on a monthly basis, so
> the pressure to get back home is gone.
>
> The flight test area is flat as flat farm area in the Central Valley and
> gorgeous and the winds tend to be very light to non existent this time of
> year.
> Lowell
>
>
Message 9
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Lowell,
The plane looks beautiful, congratulations!
Care to share details on the rudder trim?
Roberto.
Message 10
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Lowell, Glad to hear your airborne again. It's also good to see all the
replies. I thought Team Kitfox, or whatever that other site is, took all
the Kitfoxers. I haven't seen much activiy on Matronix. I like the Matronix
format 10 times better. The few times I went to the Team Kitfox site I had
to memorize pin #'s and go to this file or that file. KISS is
the principle when it comes to websites as far as I'm concerned. Matronix
is as simple as it gets. The more #'s I have to remember and damn buttons I
have to push is inversely propotional to how much I use a site.
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 9:39 PM, Roberto Waltman <aero@rwaltman.com> wrote:
>
> Lowell,
>
> The plane looks beautiful, congratulations!
> Care to share details on the rudder trim?
>
> Roberto.
>
>
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
Message 11
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| Subject: | Re: Back in the Air |
Thanks for all the replies. Today was a busy day. I got there early an
put a couple of hours on the Hobbs. Then spent some time with the guys.
One of them - the guy I sub hangar space from is working on some sort
of Parasol. I need to check. But it seems his hangar doubles as a
hangout. It makes me wonder how he gets anything done as there are
always a couple of guys kibitzing. Then again his slow progress is what
gives me his hangar as he is only taking a little space. After that I
took the Kitfox to the avionics shop to get the transponder squared
away. My area is between Beal AFB and SMF and I guess a transponder
would be a good idea. This put me in the evening commute. Tomorrow is
a no fly day as there is a TFR because the 747 mounted shuttle is
planning a fly by over Sacramento and they don't want tons of airplanes
trying to get a better look.
Guy, - The radiator is standard. I had the speedster cowl like housing
last time. I think eventually that will be done again. No shutters on
the radiator - opted for a thermostat. It works great - contact Mark.
The oil cooler is in the same place with shutters. The first picture is
the mount style, but this is a V that I helped a guy finish. The
shutters have half inch vanes instead of the one inch on the last one.
The spring you saw on the picture was an attempt to put on a stinger
type spring, but despite protecting the spring on the trailer ride to
Lincoln, the stinger was damaged as we rolled the airplane onto and off
of the trailer - lots of weight back there with the wings folded and the
angle up the ramp so I put the two leaf back on.
Jan - No fire, but Lynn's suggestion relates to my oil tank swallowing
an oil bottle cap and trying to pass the melted plastic through the
engine. One thing related to that. It took a year for the FAA to
finally determine what the issue was. During that time, there was the
gnawing question of whether I destroyed my airplane because of a faulty
gauge. This time, I teed an idiot light into the system, so I have
redundancy there now. It seems to work fine so far - flashing red on
master on, switching to steady green as pressure rises.
Lynn - It is on my checklist. This is the plan and I didn't make this
up. Spread white towel on table. Put four bottles of oil on the towel.
Take one cap off and put it on the towel in front of the bottle. Clip
the security ring off and put it in front of the cap. Repeat three more
times. Before closing anything up, count four times three. If all
checks out, button up. One of the guys today said it is the second time
he heard of this particular issue. And a guy that opens oil filters for
a living said on a mag article that plastic is not uncommon in the oil
filter.
Mark, it is a 80 hp. KISS.
Roberto - The rudder trim was something I had been thinking about for
about five years before the crash. (emergency landing) With the
opportunity, I though I would try it. It consists of the lower two ribs
in the rudder being made of carbon fiber arrow blanks - one on each
side. (I have the speedster type gap seal in the hinge area so the
vertical is an airfoil) There is a cam between each controlled by a
servo and by energizing the servo I can warp the ribs. With the rudder
in cruise trim, there is an airfoil on the left side and the right side
is virtually flat. Picture attached of the mechanism.
Patrick - I couldn't agree more. I am on the site, but with all the
screen names or whatever they call them, I don't sense the camaraderie
that I feel here. The names that responded here all have meaning to me
with real people behind them and I feel like I am among friends. I
struggle a bit with the idea that a hobby like ours that really thrives
in the social setting would have us essentially hiding behind a made up
name. I guess I could understand it better if we were hiding from
something. Then again, my error, as Lynn reminds me, might be a good
reason to re-subscribe to this list with a made up name.
thanks again
Lowell
From: Patrick Reilly
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Back in the Air
Lowell, Glad to hear your airborne again. It's also good to see all the
replies. I thought Team Kitfox, or whatever that other site is, took all
the Kitfoxers. I haven't seen much activiy on Matronix. I like the
Matronix format 10 times better. The few times I went to the Team Kitfox
site I had to memorize pin #'s and go to this file or that file. KISS is
the principle when it comes to websites as far as I'm concerned.
Matronix is as simple as it gets. The more #'s I have to remember and
damn buttons I have to push is inversely propotional to how much I use a
site.
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuilt
Rockford, IL
On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 9:39 PM, Roberto Waltman <aero@rwaltman.com>
wrote:
Lowell,
The plane looks beautiful, congratulations!
Care to share details on the rudder trim?
Roberto.
target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List
http://forums.matronics.com
le, List Admin.
="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution
--
Pat Reilly
Mod 3 582 Rebuild
Rockford,IL
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