marbleturtle

I haven't seen a pc based radio / nav unit. That would be nice... anyone have any links to examples? If all of the systems could be tied into a laptop, the large display could be easily designed to present the information in a user friendly manner. (I really like the way that the Blue Mountain EFIS system displays everything.) I just like the idea of removing the expensive looking pieces out of the plane when I leave. It would be like the old system of removing the faceplate from the radio in your car to keep theives from stealing it.

I have my own pet project... I am developing a moving map, GPS based application for navigation that I can run on a removeable laptop computer. I'm concerned about expensive electronics being left behind in the plane at the remote home airport (or those I will fly to), and if I can create them myself without buying expensive pieces, even better. If I carry a laptop and just plug it in, it will leave with me when I park the plane, and the internal battery will give me instant battery backup in case of a power failure. The size requirement was a concern, but the new tablet PC's can fold themselves up behind the display, so no more room will be required in the plane other than the size of the display itself. Bonus! My GPS antenna just arrived by mail. Its a 12 channel and only the size of a Match Box. It only has one cable that plugs into the USB port. Once I get my nav charts scanned in and scaled for Lat/Long, my application should be able to do what I want. I know what I'll be working on while the bosses are out for the Holidays!

>>but what about connecting the two tanks with a fuel line like a water level? >Not a bad idea, but if both vents are blocked you still have a problem, and I'd rather not complicate the system with any more plumbing. I was talking about the issue of fuel balance between the tanks in case the return line didn't equal out for the selection of both tanks. If you get both vents blocked, you're on your own.

... I may have just fallen off the turnip truck, but what about connecting the two tanks with a fuel line like a water level? Make it just large enough for fuel to tranfer but not so large that one tank "dumps" into the other in a slow turn. One side fails, the other still draws fuel by gravity. You loose redundant fuel supply in case of water fouling... but how much fowling effects one tank and not the other? Just a thought.

... I threw out all my father's old rusty, UN-grounded, lead painted tools I inherited from his last relocation. Will my grandchildren want to fix their flying car with anything but the latest plasma powered electron balancer? I like good tools but I don't have any expectations that they will be usefull beyond my lifetime.

Don't forget about flying commercially when a rental is down for maintenance... but only after getting to the airport 2 hours early so the security personnel can spend the extra time groping your wife while the ugly foreign guy with the turban and long beard who bought a one way ticket with cash breezes through the "random" security check because no-one wants to be accused of racial profiling. *whew* How fast can I build one of these things?

... that's why he's turning the back seat into a fuel pod.

>I am inclined to go with John Slade and Greg Richter and ignore takeoff and climb performance, setting up the prop exclusively for high end cruise... I met with Greg yesterday. Did you know he is swapping out his rotary for a turbine? He doesn't even have wheel pants on his Cozy III. He invited me back to fly the new setup in March, so I guess we'll see about that "reduce drag" vs. "increase HP" argument.

It doesn't matter that you only have a swiss army knife and a hair brush... Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

If the Vne is correct, then retracts, variable p prop, etc won't help if you have the power to push up to 220 indicated anyway. I do like the idea of a constant speed prop for extra slow down help but at only (?) $7000 I may just get by with an air-brake.

I've seen claims of 250 cruise with retracts, spinners, and 220 hp engines. Are these claims true?

Along the same lines... does anyone know what the Vne is for the Cozy?

Sounds like there are as many ways to build as there are builders. I like the idea of reading ahead and seeing what I might need clarification on before warming up the ol' hot wire cutter. 8)

With 1100 plans sold but only 80+ flying (according to Kitplanes magazine), I supposed procrastination is something you see on a regular basis. Without getting into too much (boring) detail, my decision to hold off until the spring is a practical one. One is financial... as part owner of a horse farm I have expenses that will be paid down by then. Another is time... right now I commute 82 miles one way to work, but will change to 3 miles in a few months. Another is location... right now we are renting but we will be purchasing a home next year. Warming weather is a bonus. I try to plan most projects completely. Taking a few months to read through and get comfortable with a set of plans is only prudent.

... a man with his priorities straight!

>>I read it again. I had missed the part about ..... >Good practice for building. No doubt! The agreement was so long I just scanned through it the first time. I plan on buying plans this winter and reading through them until it is warm enough to start building a few months later.

I read it again. I had missed the part about the plans... strange.

hmmm... stealth Cozy... kids with enough digits to count to twenty... decisions decisions.

Throw in a quote from ol' Sigmon Froide and a few derogatory comments about my Mamma... ... and you ... would be just about right!

I made a post on the other thread that would probably be more appropriate here... I have heard nothing but positive things about the quality of product and support he gives. I for one just wanted to know how things stand with the Plans-Built Plans he is selling. Nat makes some serious accusations that I haven't seen a response too... I know it is a big can-of-worms and this may not be the best format to discuss it.

The question about black was obviously "tongue-n-cheek"... but I did want to find out if anyone had experience with the reflective paints. The thermal imaging information would be interesting to see... any links?

My concerns are not centered around the products he makes... everyone has very positive things to say about his support and quality of product. But like the original post, I am concerned about the plans-built plans he is selling.

I re-read the original post again along with my response to discern whether or not I over-reacted. There are two ways to interpret this posting: 1. It is a genuine attempt to understand the group dynamics of this forum and how it offers an exchange of information that is more or less benificial than others. 2. It is a patronizing post from someone who has no interest in the answer to the question he presents, but rather an attempt to use growing popularity of this forum to collect more members for his own, so that his own fragile ego may be reinforced by the "correct" answers to the many and continuous ignorant questions from newbies such as myself. Group - I really enjoy the free and open discussion we have here. I don't make a habit of ridiculing others. I have asked several ridiculous questions lately, and God help me, I might even need his help one day for determining the correct curvature of a high speed sweeped edged prop. I believe that there are no bad questions... with one exception... questions that are posed not to gain insight, but simply to ridicule or be patronizing. I hope I didn't offend anyone here. Many of you have been very helpful to me personally and I especially value the ability to count on you when I take on the project in the near future. (And I didn't mean to be crass... the raining thing was extrememly "red-neck" of me.) But I stand by my original response.

In the interest of free and open discussion, I would like to add my thoughts on the subject. Although the responses up to this point have all been given patiently and politely, I have no intention of responding so amicably. >What I'm looking for is feedback regarding the relative appeal of this forum vs. the canard_aviators and COZY mailing lists. TRANSLATION - What in the world do you people find apealing about this site? >What I DO see, though, is a lot of repeat discussions (from a historical standpoint - witness the paint color one) in which incorrect information is disseminated and not corrected. TRANSLATION - You people don't know what you're talking about. >... I've been monitoring this CCF for a few months now... This is my first post.... the depth of knowledge... just doesn't seem to be available on this forum... those who CAN respond knowledgeably don't... TRANSLATION - Intelligent people such as myself do not post, only you people who don't know what your talking about. (Don't worry Nat... I'm sure he wasn't talking about you!) >...it would seem to me that it would better serve the members of this forum, especially the non-builder newbies, to join one or both of the other fora instead. TRANSLATION - psst... hey newbies! Wanna see a better place to get information? FYI - the plural of forum is forae (latin derivative). But I of all people should not correct the spelling of others. Bad spellers of the world untie! >...it would seem to me that it would better serve the members of this forum, especially the non-builder newbies, to join one or both of the other fora instead... maybe the members of the other two fora should be migrated... TRANSLATION - Moo! Poor newbies are fenced in by this forum and are too stupid to get themselves out. They desperately need my help to find another forum before they build a Black, twin turbine, pressurized, exhaust and coolant routed de-icing, BRS equipped, retracting pontooned, diesel powered Cozy MKIV tilt-rotor hovercraft! I must say that, despite the pleasantries, I for one do take offense to the premise of this post. TRANSLATION - Don't piss on me and tell me its raining. I for one, an admitted newbie, welcome the capability to discuss with experienced builders specific items or conceptual ideas that I prefer to resolve before commiting to such a project. As for incorrect information, the prolific quantity of information available on the internet from a wide range of individuals always presents the problem of acuracy regardless of format. TRANSLATION - I for one am thrilled to have these poor ignorant bastards respond to every ridiculous question or idea that pops into my head. *Sigh... I feel better now.

>I was only gviing an opinion as to Jeff's quality of workmanship ... absolutely all contributions welcome from my stand-point. I received a e-mail back from Aerocad saying that they would send me information about builders in my area "sometime in the future." (This was before I spoke with Nat.) I am curious about whether or not I will hear back from them. Sometimes small businesses will try to make themselves apear to be more successful then they are. (I did when I owned a small business... it helped get borderline customers.) That doesn't mean the quality of work is poor. It just raises "red flags" when basic business ethics apear to be violated.