Avid Flyer MK IV ZU-BJE

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi Stephen

Thanks for the name and number.

I'll check the build plate, but I'm sure it said " Bill ".

Will call him tomorrow for a chat.

Regards.

Nico

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi Stefan.
Many thanks had a great chat with him yesterday.

The Avid's lines were artistically drawn, rather than plotted with a straight edge and little imigination.

Her lines need to be complimented and I have used Boets scheme as a strting point and allowed my pencil to wander, and have come up with this as a starting point.
The yellow is just as someone has expressed an interest, but wont commit himself. I like blue but my first choice might be a deep burgandy red.

Any thoughts?

[Dusty Eagle]

Avid Flyer Mk IV Ser. # 1540/E ZU-BJE

Avid flyer # 1540/E was imported by Fox Aviation in 1994 and was built by JH Anderson.
Her test flight was on the 1st June 1999 and has done a total of 294h35min. including 4h50 with the new motor and prop.

Although her Rotax 582 with a B box and 3 blade warp drive being driven through a 3:1 ratio was performing flawlessly, I had a bee in my bonnet and decided to replace the engine with a brand new Blue top and new 72” 3 blade Warp Drive.
[ The old engine is going into a trike project]

I flew into Tedderfield on the 28th March 2005 and Gideon replaced the engine.
At the same time I fitted a new stainless steel firewall, powder coated the engine mount, aluminium sprayed the exhaust, redid some wiring, fitted the new prop and flew her home on the 19th April 2005.

I had just purchased Maule ZS-LLV and had my first PPL lesson on the 8th April 2005 and Sluggy, my instructor wisely suggested I concentrate on the beast as I was quite intimidated by its size and performance. BJE sulked in the back of my hangar for most of the next 8 months.

By December 2005 I had only flown another 4H50 onto her time.
A taxi in longish grass at Boris on 16th December 2005 resulted in bending her right hand undercarriage when it hit a hidden rock.
She was taken to Monty Geffries works in Edenvale, repaired there, and taken home.
I inhibited the engine and started with slow a refurbishment as the Maule was taking most of my time.

I have done the following, and added:

Replaced the floor boards.
Built a new instrument panel and glare shield.
New Filser 600 radio with intercom.
New Garmin 296 panel doc.
New switches, fuse holders and complete rewiring.
Refitted the elevator electric trim tab
Refitted the MGL fuel flow management system.
Fitted dual twin jack head set points.
Fitted an auxillary power point.
Fitted a two point strobe/nav light system for the wing tips.
Fitted a new fuel primer
Fitted a new fuel pump
Fitted new fuel lines [ fitted steel piping from the fuel collector to the front ]
Replacing all Perspex.
Built a new and much lighter trim tab
Recovered the tail feathers
Recovered the undercarriage
Manufactured a new turtle deck panel.

I am busy with a complete respray and would love to finish her off to a new owners choice.

I believe 225 000.00 is less than her worth as I paid 167 000.00 in April 2002 when I bought her.
The above shows the improvements and additions made and she will be pretty much like new when I’m done. A fair value would be around 250 000.00, much like a Bushbaby of similar condition.

Although I am talking to someone, he is not prepared to commit himself until he has seen it and flown in a similar type [ Bushbaby, Kitfox etc. ] so I am open to discuss it further if someone is interested,
I live just south of Panarama Flight Park and you can drive or fly in [ my strip is 500m long ] and have a look at what’s going on.

[Dusty Eagle]

The wings were factory built and are high lift, yet her crusise was as good as any Bushbaby with the old engine.
The new blue top and Warp Drive added a few MPH onto that.
The pics show the new inst. panel, high clearance on the many bush trips and the new perspex ready to go in.

[Jean Crous]

Nice looking aerie

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi Jean and thanks, I have always enjoyed her lines.

Anyway, we fitted her onto her undercarraige today, the first time since 2005 and she looks good.

The tailwheel was worn so I fitted a new Matco, just have to adjust the spring angle now.

The wings are next and I expect to have an inspection within the next two weeks for its authority to fly.

Its amazing how much work there is to do it nicely. Always finding something I'm not happy with and needs fixing or replacing.

A couple of pics.

[Dusty Eagle]

The runway in the background, hankering to get her in the air now.

[Boet]

Nico, building aeroplanes is like eating an Elephant......bit by bit. This type should be white and red. Bright red and white. Burgundy is too sombre for this aerie? And YES, I like your colour scheme! Would you mind if I use it for some inpiration later?

[Dusty Eagle]

Howzit Boet.

yes, it's a big elephant. You are right about colours. I like a deep red as I have on the Maule, blue would look good, the yellow ???, not sure.
I havent heard from the gent who was intersted in buying her regards my proposal so I'm not sure of the way forward right now.
Perhaps finish it in white, get the AtF and market it on the understanding I paint it to the customers choice of colour.
Would be a lot less work just to finish her off now of course.

And yes, I would be honoured if you use the scheme, it softens the lines a little.

[Jean Crous]

Hi Dusty Eagle , i still own shares in a Mohawk (white with red) which is a copy of the Avid. The rudder is different, more like the Kitfox rudder, but the wings are the same as your Avid and the Kitfox 2. The Mohawk flies similar to the Bushbaby, but more like the Kitfox 2.........ask me i have flown them and compared them to the Bushbaby. The Mohawk is 150mm shorter than the Bushbaby and Kitfox and is therefore more rudder sensitive.
Regards
Jean.

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi Jean.

Thats very interesting, I would love to know more about the flying differences. It's too long since I flew the Avid to compare it to the Explorer.
Can you post some pics of your Mohawk and chat about the diffences. What is it's all up weight as I can see this being the first item making a difference, the next being wing length, then fuselage length and last the rib profile which will effect take off, climb and landing, ...or do you find things differently. [ assumimg it has a 582 and not a 912. ]

[Dusty Eagle]

At last the fuselage has been painted.

What started out a white with some colour trim has ended up as colour trim with some white. The wings are next.

[Goose]

[Jean Crous]

Red and White .........just ssssssoooooo difficult to beat

[JvTonder]

Baie mooi!