SxS Elite Part3

[CLS447]

OK, Here's where I'm at..... I got an exhaust from a great guy that I finally met at Mentone, Art Close. He's also building a SxS AC with an EA-81 with SUB 4 heads, intake,Redrive & fuel injection. I'll keep you posted on what I know about his machine. Of course I'm watching it with great interest!

I also purchased a VW rabbit radiator from AutoZone. $119 with lifetime warranty! The VW dealer wanted $300 up front with a no return policy.

I'm tired of messing around with my exhaust/ radiator issues. This rad should do the trick! I'm trying to mount it now,it's a little tight but I'm determined. This install will make my hoses shorter & reduce temps , hopefully.

It's very light, bigger,& no filler cap that I don't need.

[CLS447]

Here is the simple exhaust I got. I can't wait to try them. I'll be losing my carb heat cuff but if I like the way they sound/ perform , I'll get two more Supertrapp ends, chop my other exhaust & weld the new ones on. Then I'll use this set on my 81 powered KB-2 with stock carb heated intake.

Art got the exhaust from Ed Alderfer, who made them. Art ran these for 6 years on his original AC SxS with EA-81. Now he is redoing the machine to Elite config with those expensive SUB-4 parts. His heads have 2 exhaust ports each, so he couldn't use these anymore :( , so I took them off his hands at a good price :D .

I can't wait to hear what his engine cranks out!

[CLS447]

I think I'm really falling in love with this machine!

[CLS447]

Here's another shot. Hmm.... maybe an In-flight adjustable IVO !?!

The question is... will it fly 2 people? I get alot of negativity on the power & frontal drag. Others say I will be fine. Doug at Air Command is sending a loaner Thrustbuster scale so I can tell him what my thrust is.

I just tell everyone the same thing..... 68" 3 blade Warp, 13 degress of pitch, Souza redrive(2.18-1 ?), Static full throttle RPM- 5120-5220 depending on the exhaust. Is a scale really necessary?

Remember, I'm using 28' x8.5" Sport Copter blades...... if that means anything.

[Mike Hook]

Chris

You have that machine lookin good, hope you get in the air soon and your billfold holds up :) :) :) :)

Mike

[StanFoster]

Chris: Nice lookin machine. I hope you enter it at Mentone next year....looks like a winner to me. You have such an enthusiasm for the sport..and that just benefits us all.

Mike: Nice meeting you at Mentone......next year I wont have such an abbreviated stay. :)

Stan

[CLS447]

Mike & Stan, Thanks very much!

I would love to bring it but it wouldn't be for a trophy(OK.... I'll take it Ha Ha), it would be to talk gyros & fly, something I ain't doing alot of right now (flying).

The weather & my time are not falling in line right now, so I've got to get this machine ready for when they do. Believe me when I say I'd rather be flying than building, But I am already looking forward to building this KB-2!(this winter)

I am happy for those who are enjoying their time in the air now. My poor little 447 is getting lonely. I may go pay my hanger rent($29) and visit her today, but it doesn't look good for flying her today(of course!)

[rfonseca]

Chris,

I have been following your SxS construction. It's almost there. Congratulations. The felling will be like flying a Quicksilver ultralight. When are you going to start testing it in the runway?

[barnstorm2]

Great work Chris!

We will have to geat all the sxs people together and do a low formation flyby over the corn field next year!

My guess is that you will be fine with the power. I am looking forward to finding out how much static thrust you get from her. I'll bet you ship will come in much lighter and with almost if not as much thrust.

[ToddP]

Boy it really looks good Chris. I can't wait to hear the first flight reports. Its gonna be a good one!

[CLS447]

Thanks everyone! You should have seen me today, I was having freak-out fits! I don't know how Shar tollerates me. She says I take it out on her......Nahhh!

First, I didn't have the right size bolts so after trashing my desktop we decided to take the Harley for a ride to the airport so I could relax & pay my rent. In the office they have a rack of AN hardware, I got just what I needed! Talked with one of our BFI's there who had just re-covered the sails on one of his Drifters & towed him to the main hanger with his golf kart. That was fun, but I don't know why he didn't just taxi it, I didn't get to ask.

Then we stopped at the seafood place on the way back & got some Krab salad & crab stuffed chicken breasts for dinner. We then went to the local Harley store to browse. Then, back to the dungeon (garage).

Well I was having trouble fitting the radiator in place, it's a tight fit, but I think I can make it work. I am pressuring myself to get it finished. So after a couple more fits we decided to call it quits for the day. I dinged some of the fins so I finally wised up & taped cardboard on the surfaces. I thought it was gonna be an easy job. I should know by now that nothing is easy.

Well the chicken is done so we are going to eat & watch a movie. I'll try again tommorrow. I have some other mounting ideas I'm gonna try on paper first. I just paid off the machine shop so I hate to start running another tab. Good night to all & I'll let you know how I make out.


PS Shar wants to let you guys that think I'm always happy & smiling that this is not always the case. But what does she know?

[CLS447]

Well, the rad is done! Temps are great. I'm not crazy about the way the Trapps sound but max static RPM was 5160. A little higher than the quiet oval can, & less than the short open pipes. They will do for now!

I did the thrust test. First I tested the accuracy of the scale by weighing myself. It was right on. It had to be at least 80 degrees out with very high humidity. I warmed her up & slowly took her to max....460 lbs @ 5160 RPM . I am very pleased considering that this was higher than the RAF we tested a week earlier. My machine is much lighter & CLT. I think my payload should be as good as an RAF.

Here are some pics.

[GyroRon]

Chris, are you bring it to ROC? Have you flown it yet? When will it ever be done?:)

As for thrust a general rule of thumb for performance is you want at least half of much thrust as your all up weight. Example is a gyro that weights 600 pounds all up ready to fly should have at least 300 pounds of thrust. Less thrust than that for that gyro and it may still fly, but just barely, and may not get off the ground on a very hot humid day.

You got 460 pounds of thrust.... so take two average persons = 400 pounds and take 8 gallons of fuel = 48 pounds. Add together and you got 448 pounds in payload, so that will use up 224 pounds of your thrust. That leaves you with 236 pounds of thrust and that means to get decent performance your gyro will need to weight no more than 472 pounds. Have you weighted it yet?

[CLS447]

Ron, run those figures on an RAF. 850 empty weight.

Larry's stock carbed EJ-22 pulled 445lbs. Hot day, high humidity.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Looks great Chris, Are you bringing it to ROC?

Screw-OUt

[CLS447]

I think I did take it to ROC !