That's pretty cool! All the ribs are visible.
That's pretty cool! All the ribs are visible.
SS7 O-200 Whirlwind
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 Ott
Portland, OR
Kitfox SS7 flying
Rotax 912ULS
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.
John Evens
Arvada, CO
Kitfox SS7 N27JE
EAA Lifetime
Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime
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.
Phil Nelson
A&P-IA, Maintenance Instructor
KF 5 Outback, Cont. IO-240
Flying since 2016
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.
Dorsal ~~^~~
Series 7 - Tri-Gear
912 ULS Warp Drive
Thanks, Finn!
John Evens
Arvada, CO
Kitfox SS7 N27JE
EAA Lifetime
Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime
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.
John Evens
Arvada, CO
Kitfox SS7 N27JE
EAA Lifetime
Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime
LOL I was just recently wondering what has been going on with your phase 1.
Glad to hear your doing well. Enjoy the flying.
Eddie Forward
Flying
SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X
OK - it looks like maybe I can upload a tiny file.
John Evens
Arvada, CO
Kitfox SS7 N27JE
EAA Lifetime
Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime