David Clifford

Thane flies into a small private airport where I hanger my plane near my house to pick me up In Cozy MKIV N 656TE every once in a while so he can shoot instrument approaches while I act as safety pilot. 45G is 3120' X 24' paved asphalt in mediocre condition with trees at both ends. A Long EZ is based there. Last week at take-off we were loaded with 34 gallons of fuel and baggage pods attached. Left the nose ballast in the hanger, front seats loaded with 385#, temps were 38*F, 5knt. headwind, field elevation 973'. I will estimate we had only about 500-600' of runway left before the mains left the ground and we used every foot of the take-off end of the runway. An older Mooney had taken off before us and used about 1000' before the wheels left the ground and he was climbing out like a home sick angel at the half way mark already 100' agl! Thane has gotten really good on his landings, (thanks Marc!), and nails the threshold lines just about everytime. This landing hit the numbers right on and using medium braking and full rudder deflection barely made the last taxi turn off which is about 400' from the end of the runway. I don't know how that compares to other MKIV's and his plane is a bit heavy. Keep you planes light people!

Glad to hear that they still do the "practical" for this training. It gives the students something to look forward to after what is otherwise a boring week of classroom instruction. Back when I did that in '82, we had the old "breathalyzer" machines where you ran the sample through the glass ampules. I was one of two operators on the whole midnight shift and got burned out real quick dealing with the obnoxious drunks and let my certification run out by "failing" the recert class twice in a row after about 6 years of doing it. The bosses finally got the message that I was not going to do it any longer and sent some less senior Officer's through the class for their turn. Good luck and enjoy it while you still have the desire to serve!

Dave Clifford

Retired after 28 years

 

As luck would have it, I have "Intoxilizer" training starting tomorrow through Friday. I understand it is a very boring class except fo the day they get you drunk to test ya <g>. HOWEVER, as a result, I will have next Saturday, the 28th, off, thus allowing me to fully partake in the CozyGirrrl activities. I look forward to meeting everyone and sharing information and a few yuks.....and I promise to leave the Intoxilizer in class.

 

All the best,

 

Chris Barber

(Richard Session's hangar mate)

 

Velocity SE with a turbo rotary 13b

Ellington Airport GA hangar Alpha Papa

Houston, Texas

 

832-818-CELL (2355)

Her is a link to the Sonicrafter. This is a much better quality unit than the HF model for sure and the specs are similiar to the Fein at half the price! I have found that with HF power tools, you get what you pay for. FWIW, Fein's patent recently expired, that is why we are seeing some knock-offs now. https://www.sonicrafter.com/index.asp

I would like to buy a nose gear leg from a RV 6A or similar. I need it to replace the bd 5 nose gear i have on my dfly now.

You can get the part you need directly from Vans: www.vansaircraft.com

After 9 years of building, mostly one full day per week, Cozy MKIV plans #656 took to the sky for the first time. The maiden flight was made by owner Thane Ostroth on 6/21/08 from Pontiac Oakland Airport here in Michigan. It was an uneventfull flight according to Thane. Cylinder #2 temps dropped slowly and pretty much stopped firing after climb out and the pitch trim decided to stop working also. The problem with cylinder #2 turned out to be a clogged fuel injector (Superior IO-360) and the pitch trim (Strong) is binding up. 2.5 hours so far into Phase 1 flight testing and we work on the problems as they come up.

Where are they at and do they have logs? How many hours,,,ect. Thanks

Thanks for the replies everyone. We found a local EAA Chaapter willing to loan us theirs free of charge!

Does anyone have or know of anyone who has a set of scales to loan or rent??? We need them in about a month to do our weight and balance. Thanks!

Whew! Dave said it best. Well done.

 

By the way, Nat enjoys a good phone conversation about airplanes if you can catch him sitting down for a moment.

On a lighter note... you can use your "Rutan approved" scrap pieces as specified in the plans. Especially all those triangle ends. Keep em' all. I've used thousands. Overlap them for BID and butting them together with parallel threads for UNI. With multiple plies put the scraps in between the plies to keep them in place.

We kept any scrap pieces larger than 6" triangular and ended up using most of it throughout the bid. VERY little ended up in the trash can. It is surprising how many times I found myself reaching into the scrap box for that "just the right size" piece needed,,,,,and found it!! By the way Edge 513,,,,,that is some REALLY nice looking work in your photo!!

Wasn't this whole thread started by the question of substituting similar weaves by possibly different manufacturers, or unknown manufacturers and the suitability of that substitution. Unfortunately it seems to have degenerated into a battle, of sorts, with little to substantiate either side. I suppose we have to go through these things occasionally to cleanse the palate, as it were.

 

I do have a question, however and that is What was 3M doing with fabric that was designed, etc by Burt Rutan, or was it a similar weave by another manufacturer? There is a lot we don't know.

 

It is probably better to use the material specified until independent testers prove alternate materials better or worse, and better or worse for the structures that we are building. As it stands, the specified material works and has, as far as we know, never let a -Z down.

My understanding is that the glass we use for the Rutan composites were/are manufactured by Hexel according to Rutan specifications. I don't want to sound like a broken record but it's worth bringing out again because it is factual based on my own experiance. We had to trash TWO(2) nearly completed canards because dust insisted on using an unapproved source for the glass order . It supposedly was manufactured by Hexel and was the Rutan weave called for in the plans. I have to admit,,,it looked like the real deal. But it would not conform to the curve on the leading edges,,,no matter what we tried to do to hold it in place!! The canards cured in a state of distress that we ended up chopping them up and starting over. Weight wise the fabrics were the same and you could not see any difference by looking close with the naked eye. It was only upon magnification and picking and counting threads could the difference's be found. Even after that fiasco he can't admit that it was a bad idea and continues to preach that you can use ANY glass and as many plies as needed so long as the weight comes out the same, piecing together scraps from the garbage as if we are building paper machai airplane piniottas! Using non-approved materials and following hearsay advice can be a deadly combination.

It certainly is possible that 3M scraps were used. Nobody said how big the scraps were, and I suppose stuff they threw out might have been small to them, but large enough to use building parts of a small plane. 100% though? Probably not.

 

I mean, how large are the pieces you cut out?

I believe that he (Nat) was alluding to the possibility that he did not "buy" the materials he used to build the Cozy 111,,,,,,,that the materials were "salvaged" from the scrap bin at the place he worked, 3M. Most companies refere to it as "shrinkage",,,,and I am not talking about size here! Anyone who has EVER worked at any kind of a shop or factory knows exactly what I am talking about. Dust interperated that to mean you can use any glass available so long as the weave and weights add up. That is pure nonsence.

Heh, Heh Heh - a buddy told me of this comment - figured it was worth a reply - one reply is that I am very glad Marc does not visit my forum - it is a nice and informative place without him.

 

As far as BS - obviously you NEVER called Nat to verify my statement. He will Verify it as it is true.

 

He built his entire cozy 3 from the scrap bin (his words) from 3M when he worked there.

 

Yes - consider the source, a reliable one - me, just the facts, wether I like them or knot.

 

Adios

The village idiot continues his montra,,,,even over here. Don't let the door hit you in the a-- on your way out!

We are very near completion of Cozy MKIV #656 and should have it out to the hanger in March for taxi testing. Thane, the owner, is looking for someone to volunteer some right or left seat stick time in their flying Cozy to help him get a feel for flying a canard before that first flight. He does not belong to any of the forums and has asked me to check the groups for him. Anywhere in the U.S.A. will do and he does not need a host or anything like that. Just a couple hours to get the feel of the controls and some basic informal instruction. Any costs or expenses will of course be reimbursed. Thanks for any help. Dave Clifford

I have heard from a reliable source that it is official; The inmate is in charge of the insaneisylum.

Guy, No need to lash out at Marc for his response. After you have been around a while, you will see that that is his style of writing. It is not meant to be condesending, just to the point and factual based on experiance and real data. Now,,,had he or anyone else failed to respond to your questions,,,,,THAT would be a tragedy. Read and learn Grasshopper,,,,,read and learn.

I couldn't care less about whatever imagined controversy or slights occured.

 

What I do know is that I posted a lot of info on that site, others posted a lot info, and poof -- someone gets their panties in a bunch and all that just dissappears.

 

I want access to those old postings, but I don't think I'll participate there again.

I believe that all the old posts will be on the new server when its up and running,,,at least thats the impression I got. At this point,,,why bother. I see a lot of names I recognize from the Canard Aviation Forum from years past that left a long time ago and are here.

There were a few HM-3 ends in the Cozy MKIV plans, however one of the news letters had a mandatory replacement to HM-4's, as some were found bent on an inspection such as yours on someones plane. That was early in our build so we put in the HM-4's when we got to that point.

I understand acetone will allow epoxy to be absorbed through the skin as well, but is less toxic than MEK. I use it, but will have to try your 50/50 mix of denatured alcohol/laquer thinner.

 

I also use vinegar as much as possible -- cleaning skin, squeegees, etc., but it's not good enough for knocking uncured epoxy off a brush.

I have aso used the Replaceatone sold by AS&S. It works about as well as vinegar so save your $$. Vinegar is a good pre cleaner,,,then finish up with the mix.

Ahem! That's a 1.35 (short)car garage.

 

Mike S.' hanger is not heated. I do believe if I move there my plane will take an extra several years or worse. If I need the space Mike LaFleur has a real big garage with a high ceiling he's not doing anything with. I'll just sneak my stuff over there and work on it while he's in MX.

Ok,,,just keep an area open for his irrigation well. He will never know your there!

17 x 17 garage. Nose tip is at the door, strakes are from bench to garage door. Broke a hole in the ceiling when I flipped it. No more room. Hope the weather stays a bit longer to mount the wings in the yard to get that foam tip just right. Going to have to engineer a lift of sorts to get the plane out. One stake up at 45 deg., nose to floor. Hmmm...

Don't you have a hanger with skorija you can move into?? I know its not as convienant as having the plane at your house but you will have a lot more room. I have seen Neverquit's work shop. It is absolutly amazing what he has accomplished in a one car garage!

Dave's right about allergies. Do all you can to minimize exposure and be careful about solvents that can carry epoxy through your skin.

There is a another reason to stay away from MEK. Not only are the fumes extreemely hazardous to your health to breath in, solvents are obsorbed through the skin! Ever read the warning label on a can of MEK? BAD STUFF!! I used a 50/50 mix of denatured alcohol/laquer thinner. Still hazardous but not as bad as the MEK and it cuts the epoxy really good.

I won't be going back there EVER!!!!! I'm hoping John S. starts up a new forum,,,,if not,,,i'll stay here. Its my understanding that there is no post editing nor sensorship here so thats cool with me.

This year Rough River was a blast! Remi had his usual sadistic humor. I just make myself wide open every year for his crosshairs. He kept us all hydrated with plenty of beer and water all weekend. -Thanks Remi

 

John's PA/DJ system was perfect. Cool background music. All 16 minutes of Inagoddadavida. Not too loud. Everyone's stuff was laid out at the picnic tables for sale. This year there was more food than anyone could eat except Nathan's great chili. That went fast.

 

Planes were going non-stop carring passengers. It was great. The sun really brings out the best in people. After 4 years I finally got my ride in Steve Wright's famed Stagger-EZ. He let me fly it most of the time while he put on a demo for the new Blue Mountain box. You can fly 0-0 with that thing right to runway.

 

The coolest plane I saw this year was an 18hp lawn mower/generator 2 cylinder driven Quickie.

Glad everyone had a good time. I wanted to go but would have lost two days building and the goal now is to get flying!!!

I remember seeing the Quicky back in my youth in Popular Mechanix I think it was. I believe they called for an Onan back then...I'd do a Honda now for sure!!

One other consideration to take into account is allergic reaction to the epoxy. Early on at the start of the build 8 years ago, I read somewhere that its not a matter of IF you become allergic to epoxy,,,,it's WHEN. Well for the last year or so I have noticed I was having allergic reactions on days I was using epoxy, skin blotches of red, itching, sneezing, small bleeding sores from itching. Yesterday was really bad for me. I had to do a good size layup on my back modifying the cowling to fit the airfilter box. I got epoxy on my arms, head, hands,,,,,,it was ugly and I made a mess trying to do it alone. I'm still feeling the effects this morning. I suffer from allergies in general so I am thankful I made it this far with only minor reactions at the end. Some people suffer really bad side effects and actually have to give up their project. Note that I am not the best to use as an example as even though I used the nitrile gloves, I still managed to get epoxy on my skin and clothes no matter how carefull I was.

Looks like the Canard Aviation Forum is down. Anyone know if today is the day of its demise?