Bob McDonald's Comments

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At 11:57am on November 19, 2010, Elmer Webster said…
Thanks for the calendar comment. It was just about the most perfect flying day you can imagine. Cool, silky smooth air all day and no clouds visable in any direction for as far as you could see from 1,000 feet. I ended up flying about 4 hours that day and made 8 off-airport landings, and spent the whole day just messing around, looking at animal tracks and beach combing. One of several memorable flying days this year. The little 701 on the fat tires has really opened up the back country for me. I'm looking for ways to protect the new Grove gear. Powder coating is out because of the possibility of weaking the temper. Paint can damage too easily so I'm thinking about Rhino bed liner. That stuff is tough and sticks well. Tesing it on some scrap aluminum now.
At 11:42am on November 19, 2010, Elmer Webster said…
I got a copy of Rob nelson drawings and drew them up in Autocad, but haven't re-measured everything to confirm a perfect fit on my 701. For sure I must go back to the stock wheels and tires during ski season. At 60 inches long, these work to be a much better weight to surface area ratio than standard cub skis can obtain. They look good, but seem a little heavier than need be, so I'm interested in whatever else is available too. Shoot me an email to elmer@adsb.com and I'll email a pdf of the drawings.
At 8:39pm on November 16, 2010, Samuel H Drake said…
Thanks for you comment. I have given some thought to using the Rotax engine. It certainly has some advantages in that it is light weight and was designed for aircraft use. One disadvantage (other than a relatively high price) is that it has a carburetor instead of fuel injection. I currently have a Suzuki DRZ-400 dual sport motorcycle that is liquid cooled and has electronic ignition but has a carburetor. The next motorcycle I buy will definitely have electronic fuel injection. I suppose that I could expend some of my desires for experimental tinkering by adding electronic fuel injection to the Rotax. It is somewhat surprising to me that the factory does not offer this as an option.
At 8:42am on November 15, 2010, Sebastien Heintz said…
Thanks for posting great new photos from Canada!
At 7:47pm on October 17, 2010, Richard Benson said…
Where is your friend's Ten Mile Lodge? We have a fly in/boat in camp on Kipawa.

Rich
At 8:19am on October 11, 2010, Razvan Chiriac said…
thaks for the advise, do u know any site where I can buy used rotax engines, I woold like to find an 100hp rotax engine.

razvan
At 1:05pm on October 3, 2010, Elmer Webster said…
You are correct...I love th off airport stuff. Soon as things slow down this fall I'll be trying to build a set of wheel skis for the 701. I got the basic drawings from a guy in Michigan and have been trying to refine it some in AutoCad. I'm wanting an easy on/easy off configuration and have an aeronautical engineering friend that says he'll look at and check the design for me. I hoping to post it on my plane page if they work out.

Elmer
At 10:25am on September 14, 2010, Stephen R. Smith said…
Hello Bob,

The sun shade is indeed an excellent feature. It can be purchased here:

http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=KS200T

Steve
At 5:09pm on September 9, 2010, Phill Barnes said…
Hi Bob, thanks for that.
I too am very anxious but as long as I get a bit done every day or so, before you know it I will be finished.

Phill
At 4:02pm on August 28, 2010, Paul Poulsen said…
Hi Bob,
It is surprising how loud small conrtacts can be when you are not expecting them. Great news on the nil damage. I think that the roller triker is a mod that will be going onto my 750. I am no light wieght and if I take up pax then the chances are increased of a possible strike. Off to a fly in this morning (Driving in unfortunately) but with luck I maty be able to get up :).
Clear skies
Paul
At 9:19pm on August 24, 2010, Kevin Rudd said…
I like pick ups I have one myself and a friend has a 801 with a franklin 6 cyld I think about 220 hp its a great plane short field and climbs like a monkey he can almost hang it on the prop like a rotary wing thingy and ecconomy cruise at about 100 to 110 knt any faster gets expensive he said I havent seen the 750 in real life yet but will at the next airshow down here, be good enjoy your flying cheers Kevin
At 7:13am on August 17, 2010, Normand Lambert said…
Hi Bob,

You're right, it has to be done from underneath. Jacks will be used OR 3 guys lifting each a wheel at the same
time. For the 701, I think that each wheel should weight around 150lbs so it's still manageable. If heavier, I would try lifting the plane by the fuselage (sling around the fuse ) and then block the wheels while the plane floats in the air.

Nice challenge, I guess. Good luck !

Norm
At 4:37pm on August 9, 2010, Wayne Clagg said…
Hi Bob, I answered your comment on my page. I also posted a video on youtube today of
another takeoff if you are interested. Wayne
At 2:36pm on August 3, 2010, John Clarke said…
Hi Bob. Thanks for your suggestion about the fuel cap being the cause of the smell of fuel in my cockpit. A proper examination today with a very bright torch revealed showed up a leak where the pipe fitting comes out the bottom of the tank. With luck I'll have the aircraft back by Friday. The idea about the fuel cap is in my notes for future reference.

John.
At 10:34pm on July 1, 2010, Ron D Leclerc said…
G'Day Bob

I guess the 750 is what you call progress! I purchased my 701 drawings back in 2006... so I've been at it for a while, I'm building as an amature built[scratch building] and I really look forward to making all of the parts... nothing like making a part and it actually works. I was quite skeptical at first... did not think that I could do it, now I would not have it any other way. This is the best part about scratch building!

I did not build the Rudder first as they tell you to do... I built the Firewall first which I had no problem doing! I had never worked with aluminum before so that was a bit of an education to get started... but after a few parts I was on a real roll. Now after building the Firewall first... I find that building the rest of the 701 is a snap. One problem when I'm building now, is I'm always looking at making the 701 better... if you can imagine - how can that be done, to a pretty good palne as it is!

Since the 750 came out I have had a chance to review some of the features and will include them in the 701 build. I like the 750 wing... so I've changed my wing to match the 750, along with the stabilizer/elevator. The wing has some nice features I really like... such as the rear spar channel[4 pieces] which is a hell of a mess on the 701[14 pieces]... lots a bloody work for nothing and the skinning is better. You get a straighter, stronger wing with less work. It also is 50mm deeper at the aft trailing edge... ie longer chord! I also added 2.5' to the overall length and made the stabilizer/elevator a full 8' to keep the same wing-stablizer/elevator ratio in tact. If you do one... you have to do the other also.

One area that I'm trying to get straightened out is the size of the streamlined tubing for my spreader bars and struts on the floats... the numbers seem to be all over the place, but then that seems to be the same with a lot stuff when building.

Well Bob... nuff for tonight, keep in touch,
Ron
At 9:14am on June 29, 2010, Andre Levesque said…
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info. I just got off the phone with a TC representative and he tells me the rules is the same for AULA 1232lbs and amateur built 1350lbs..... the floats have to be calculated as part of the max gross weight and NO allotment on top for either options.
i asked them for a LINK to see it in writing for TC but I'm still waiting for that link.

Man o man... how difficult to get info that is common to all their representatives.

Andre
At 8:23pm on June 16, 2010, Richard Benson said…
Bob,

Thanks for your insight. I think that the use of a 912S is a no-brainer in my application for all of the reasons that you mentioned. I hope that you are able to get IKIM in the air in the air in the near future and start enjoying it. Please keep all of us informed on your flight testing and performance data.
Where is your home in Ontario?

Rich
At 4:48pm on June 15, 2010, Richard Benson said…
Hi Bob,

I'm currently working my way through a 750 kit and I need to make an engine decision. I am trying to decide between the 3300 and the 912. I'm thinking that the Rotax might be easier to cool here on our average 95 degree Florida summer day, but I don't want to sacrifice performance to the Jabaru. My question concerns the difference in performance in the two installations. Have you had a chance to fly either C-CLXT or C-IKIM and compare the performance to the Jabaru birds? I know that many of us are interested in the rate of climb and cruise comparison under similar conditions between these two. We all value your opinion, so please let us know what your impressions and data are.

Thanks,

Rich
Ocala, Florida
At 12:05am on March 24, 2010, Debra and Patrick Nesbitt said…
I can relate, so happens my cowling had to go back to the painter as the colour was off from the fuselage. Anyway got the engine started today, just having problem setting the carbs. Off to Rotec in the moring for a crash course on setting them, then 3 hour drive to the airport and try again. Once that's done we are ready togo. Yes James has quite the eye.

Pat
At 9:17pm on March 22, 2010, Debra and Patrick Nesbitt said…
Okay Bob, keep us in suspence or what. How about some pictures/

Pat

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