Mar 17, 2024     Close to inspection - (3 hours)       Category: Finish work

Plane is finally outside today to do some finish work I have not got to because of weather around here. Self tested the ELT today and passed . Painted a couple of parts and worked on the transport covers a bit today. Took some pictures outside and am starting to get motivated again after a long winter. Paid the rest of my use tax for Washington state. All that is left to do now is the inspection with a DAR. Just get some more of this nice weather and hopefully it happens. Checked off the condition inspection form going over all the build parts.

  Feb 22, 2024     Sight gauge and fuel flow tests - (4 hours)       Category: Fuel System

Two days of good weather came my way and used the first for sight gauge calibration. Filled tanks one gallon each at a time. Marked sight gauges. Did this with tail on the ground. (Take off attitude). And fuselage level. (Flight level). Have two rows of marks which I labeled with amount of gallons at each mark.
Today I did a fuel flow test. Disconnected the fuel line to the engine and ran the dual fuel pumps 4 times. Two tail high and two tail low tests. Filled two 5 gallon fuel containers in 14 minutes. 374 percent of 13 gallons at full power flow. 150% is the requirement for the test to pass.

  Feb 16, 2024     Weight and balance, Check lists. - (2 hours)       Category: Finish work

Added an extra computation box on the weight and balance program on the advanced panel. All information is now entered now. Program easily calculates CG as weights are added. Example here has me, 180lbs, full fuel, 13 gallons each tank. 100lbs baggage, camping gear. 17lbs in back tool box. CG is great at 14.9. Went through all digital check lists and upgraded them to fit the Rotax engine requirement.

  Feb 13, 2024     Weight and balance - (4 hours)       Category: Inspection

Borrowed the scales from my local EAA 326 chapter. Had one day of not quite everything working out. Scales had a few issues and the weather wasn't cooperating like it has been the last two months. Finally today got everything working set up the plane and got a good weigh and measurements for the datum and wheel locations. I also have a lockable box I fabricated halfway down the fuselage which needed to be measured too. 986 total lbs was the empty weight. With 460 and 461 on the mains. Tail wheel weight ended up being 65 lbs. Called Kitfox aircraft to confirm my weights and John McBean seemed to like what my findings were with this larger engine and propeller combination. Will be able to proceed now with the paper work now for inspection. One last thing to do is a fuel flow test and put the graduated marks on the fuel tank scales for fuel levels on the ground and in flight.

  Feb 13, 2024     Trent Palmer rudder brake lock - (1 hour)       Category: Tools

Received a printed part from a friend of a friend who just likes to make parts. It was free to me. Thank you as this may come in handy. I painted it with plastic red paint and put some of my spare aircraft bolts and nuts to good use.

  Jan 08, 2024     5800 RPM run - (.5 hour) Category: Engine

Ran the 915is at several dffent settings to watch the temperature fluctuation. All systems are a go. https://youtu.be/GKbbb7ZuWmU?si=KQXvRnlhm8a1I-M4

  Jan 08, 2024     4th Run and verification. - (1 hour)       Category: Finish work

Assembled the plane back together after still having some electrical issues. Should be complete now. Time seems to have slowed down with the winter weather and not having some of the steps done I was hoping to have. Holidays were a factor too. One window on the 7th of January for a test run and some setup with the wings open. Added some extra material around the radiators for more seal. Started working on the covers for the turtle deck opening and wing roots when trailering. Would be farther along with a covered area large enough but we all work with what we got. Just glad I have wings that fold to give me options. Originally planning for an Inspection end of January but just not feeling it with the cold rainy weather. Still need to weigh and balance, Transponder test and ADSB setup in an open area.
https://youtu.be/qd7D4V4o34w?si=kEZyYP90TQ1IhGXm

  Nov 22, 2023     Starfox is done - (3 hours) Category: Finish work

Added all the parts today that make up my plane. I can say that it is done and ready for weight and balance. Then I will have it inspected by a DAR. Have not set that up yet as it seemed as if this build was going to go on for ever. Still a few other things to do like a transponder test and setting up the ADHARS. https://youtu.be/LM0Gmzc9EdI?si=PTdXkF4aVU44GmdE

  Nov 18, 2023     Out side today - (2 hours)       Category: Finish work

Cuffs, strakes and test run. https://gopro.com/v/MWQmMDKkbBLOZ

  Nov 17, 2023     Site glass enclosure. - (1 hour)       Category: Wings

Added a thin layer of clear plastic over the opening to each fuel site gauge on the wing roots. All my tolerances are close to stop extra heat from leaving the cockpit. Hope it pays off.

  Nov 17, 2023     Fire extinguisher - (.5 hour)       Category: Tools

Researched fire extinguishers and halon is banned these days. Went with this alternative from Italy. Good for close quarters as in cockpits. Not outside so much in open areas where the oxygen can be replenished to the fire in a breeze.

  Nov 16, 2023     Emergency tool kit - (2 hours)       Category: Tools

I have been slowly adding tools to go in my back locker. Now have a pair of knipex, needle nose pliers, funnels, razor knife, wrenches for hose fittings and nuts, pick set, nylon hammer, multi screw driver and an earthx jump box for dead battery starting and a electric fuel hose for fuel transfer. All these will stay with the plane and be part of the weight and balance. The Kitfox is noted for being nose heavy and this should help. May have room for extra oil and decalin runup too.

  Nov 16, 2023     Wing root cuffs and turtle deck cuffs - (3 hours)       Category: Finish work

Finally restarted on the plane again after takeoff a few days off to recover from reading about 500 pages of advanced flight systems manuals and working on the house and yard getting it ready for winter. Turtle deck is now complete. Riveted on the strakes. Wing root cuffs now have the rubber edge to seal against the windshield.

  Nov 09, 2023     Issues with setup - (20 hours)       Category: Avionics

Worked on setting up panel with all the correct parameters and noticed the gps was not actually working. Went through all the installation guide, pilot manual and the advanced electronic circuit breaker box. Actually needed to do this due to the fact it has been a while since I wired all the systems together. Didn't find what I was looking for so I called tech support. We analyzed the system with some of the advanced features of the panel and realized that when they did the quick panel build, it was set up for dual panels which I don't have. The gps was running on a fictional panel and basically not connected to the system. They apologized and what was needed next was to remove the electronic circuit breaker box. Had to unplug all the devices to it, flip it over and reset the dip switches for single panel. Succeed in doing so and realized I needed to reorganize some of the wires to make it easier to access when it is all less accessible. Advanced now tags all their panels for single or dual screens.

  Oct 30, 2023     Electric, engine and misc parts - (3 hours) Category: Finish work

Wiring issues solved. 2 network ends were wired incorrectly. Redone and restarted the EFIS. Scanned and updating was a success. Now all satellite pieces of equipment are now functional. No red Xs on the panel. Did an autopilot test and passed. Started engine for quite a long run. All systems checked as good. Here is a run of the engine all warmed up. Still have to set the fuel pressure gauge parameters and also the oil pressure limits. Good day today.

  Oct 08, 2023     Wiring, engine run. - (3 hours) Category: Finish work

Extended engine run today. All systems are functional and in the green.

https://gopro.com/v/46n75QqqRNX3p

  Oct 08, 2023     First start - (1 hour)       Category: Engine

Fueled tanks with two gallons each. Opened fuel lines and checked for leaks. No leaks so started fuel pumps. Main line after fuel filter was leaking. Tightened the two fittings and no leaks appeared after that. Went through the start procedure and first start came on quickly. Watched panel readings and seems to have some issues with some of the readouts. Need to update panel software and go over each circuit to make sure it is set up properly. Good day with first start though.

  Oct 07, 2023     Doors - (3 hours)       Category: Finish work

Added door pistons to the doors, first try was a little short and had to drop the holes down about a quarter of an inch for the mounts on the door frame. Mount on the door was correct and riveted and HySoled the bracket to the door. Clearance is about an inch away from the wings on both doors.

  Oct 05, 2023     Flaperon revisit, data plate, touch up paint, wing root fairings, turtle deck - (5 hours)       Category: Finish work

Rechecked flaperons for correct install since one rod is at the witness hole of the end and the other is screwed down more. Came up with the same result. Still safe so moved on. Data plate is now riveted on. Touched up some of the missing or scraped spots on the plane. Turtle deck is almost complete with the metal edges now painted and ready to rivet on when dry. Wing root fairing are now formed and will prime tomorrow.

  Sep 30, 2023     Flaperons - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

Flaperon linkages were assembled today. Marked and torqued. Went through the builder's manual and accomplished setting up the flaperons properly. Got all the correct angles and measurements.

  Sep 26, 2023     Transfer tank - (2 hours)       Category: Fuel System

Added a transfer tank to the trailer today. Wired and plumbed it. Tank is set in a position for quick drainage of the wings for trailering. Also added the proper ground straps and wires to eliminate static build up.

  Sep 24, 2023     Fuel lines - (3 hours)       Category: Fuel System

Added fuel valves to each wing tank. Trailering may have added issues with fuel tank drain at uneven parking spots and I didn't want to not be prepared. Added friction tape to each contact area where the fuel valves were mounted with zip ties. Made sure the area stays free around the hinge with just the right amount of free tube and wire to flex and not get pinched. Still have to add the vent tube to the right tank. Seems I used 1 inch to much of the tygon tube needed for the vent and have some on order now.

  Sep 23, 2023     Lock back braces. - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

Modified 2 of the 4 braces to fit the STI wing profiles. Installation guide said to use longer bolts. Didn't really fit under the flaperons well so I modified the braces themselves. The braces fit much better than the original with the correct length to use the bolt provided.

  Sep 22, 2023     Transfer tank - (1 hour)       Category: Fuel System

Received a transfer tank today to attach to my kitfox trailer. 35 gallon tank for MO gas pickup on the way to the airport and a tank to drain excess fuel from the wings when needed.

  Sep 21, 2023     Flaperons and turtle deck - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

I had to do these two together. Flaperons go through the turtle deck and had to come off to finish the deck. Cut the deck today and installed the hinge. Then reattached the flaperons permanently. Torqued the hinge attached points and marked them. Re- installed the turtle deck and marked the sky bolt holes. Trimmed the center stall fence ends too. Previously trimmed them not actually knowing where the flaperons would be at trailer position. Need to add some more paint to them ends of the stall fence.

  Sep 19, 2023     Registration - (1 hour)       Category: Inspection

Received my completed registration in the mail today. N323SF is now a registered airplane and next will be the final inspection after several more parts added. Also need to set up the parameters of the panel and get a weight and balance calculation.

  Sep 19, 2023     Flaperons and turtle deck       Category: Wings

Added flaperons to the wings for the first time since outside. Previously installed the hinges on the single wing. Made a template for the turtle deck where the flaperon control horn goes through the turtle deck. Also made a template up for the angle needed on the sides of the turtle deck.

  Sep 17, 2023     Folded wings for the first time. - (.5 hour)       Category: Wings

Carefully pulled front pins holding wings to fuselage. Rotated wings back to tail that has a tail cover on. Did not have any interference. Locked back wings with a strap to store for the night. Rolled plane off of trailer to see and test the amount of clearance in doing so and lift the tail wheel to see the amount of weight on the tail wheel with the wings folded back. Doesn't seem it added to much to the tail wheel and is still very mobile.

  Sep 17, 2023     Wing tips - (1 hour)       Category: Wings

Plugged in wires for lights on tips and installed tips on wings.

  Sep 17, 2023     Jury struts - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

These struts took some time to install. Added some silicone tape under the clamps in varying thicknesses to have a good fit. After several tries it came out well. Torqued bolts and moved on.