That's pretty cool! All the ribs are visible.
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That's pretty cool! All the ribs are visible.
By the way John, what did your empty weight come out to be (maybe you already posted it somewhere)? That Oratex must have saved a bunch of weight.
Jim,
I think I made up for any weight savings with my instrument panel, and some of the "extras" I added in other places, but the empty weight (with all fluids & 1 gal. fuel) was 821#. The Goodyear tires I have (8.00-6, 6-ply) weigh 11# each. I've been wondering how that compares to the Desser smoothies for instance.
I believe the tires are advertised at 10# each. Mine came to 19.5 lbs. for the Desser 850x6 tire, tube, Cleveland wheel & brake disc assembly. The nice thing was that they weigh exactly the same as the my wheels with the 600x6 tires on the same wheel hub assembly.
BTW John I like your photo showing the Oratex. I am considering using Oratex on a Wag-Aero Sport Trainer (Cub replica) I am rebuilding.
I'm with them, seeing through Oratex from that perspective is pretty neat.
I had my silver fabric in the sun once and I didn't notice any transparency. I have yellow elevators and rudder and I definitely noticed light coming through on those.
Eddie
John,
Wow! what a beautiful ship, congratulations on getting her flying.
Thanks, Finn!
After flying my Kitfox for 5 hrs., I haven't been able to fly it again for a couple of reasons, for almost 3 long months. I finally flew it again yesterday, and it feels so good to be back in the saddle again. During that time I mounted a couple of Aero Classic 8.50-6 22" Tundra tires in place of the original heavy/stiff 6-ply Goodyear 8.00-6's. The new, bigger tires are actually each 1.5# lighter than the originals, giving a weight reduction of 3#. Then I got a T3 tail spring, and it is almost exactly 1# heavier than the original 3-leaf steel assembly. That gives me an empty tail weight of 59#, and a 2# reduction in total empty weight - now 819#. I'll now try to fly off the rest of the Phase 1 time as quickly as possible.
I feel like I'm back in "Kitfox World" again, so I'll try to post reports once in awhile. Like others, I wish I could post a picture. :(
LOL I was just recently wondering what has been going on with your phase 1.
Glad to hear your doing well. Enjoy the flying.
OK - it looks like maybe I can upload a tiny file. :confused: