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  1. J

    Aircraft finish quality effect on aerodynamics

    Background: There are Formula 1 race cars using matte finishes these days (Red Bull for one). On a racing forum, much discussion as to whether there is an aerodynamic advantage to such while some hypothesize that the matte finish makes the various vinyl graphics “pop” and that any difference in...
  2. J

    Establishing fwd and aft cg limits?

    My Bd-4 is headed to the airport for weighing soon. If the empty weight CG is roughly 25% MAC, what is a reasonable place to put the fwd and aft limits in terms of MAC? Would the original limits determined by Jim Bede still apply even though mine is substantially heavier on the nose and the...
  3. J

    Airflow through lower cowl nose gear slot?

    I'm wondering about what the air will do around the nose gear slot on my BD-4 flat bottomed cowl. The cowl bottom has two openings for the exhaust pipes similar to those on a Cirrus and with the pipes inside I'm wondering if there is adequate area for the heated air from the engine to exit...
  4. J

    Flexible landing gear fairings?

    Getting ready to fair the main gear on my BD-4, I have Cessna flat gear legs and need some info on just how flexible epoxy/ glass would be if I used that to flair the legs. Seems like the flat surfaces would be flexible enough if only a couple of layers of maybe 7 oz bidirectional cloth but I'm...
  5. J

    Homebuilt paperwork to the FAA!!!

    Working on the paperwork for N157JS, called local FSDO, called OKC, among other things they referenced a FIFTY TWO page AC that explains (poorly) how to fill out a two page form. Sigh. BUT no answer to the next question: what do I do about the required Bill of Sale when I have a plans-built...
  6. J

    Initial CG for new BD-4

    I'm trying to wrap my head around where to put my initial CG on my soon to be inspected BD-4. The battery will be aft of the cockpit due to engine weight (O-470 Continental) so the CG should be "adjustable" by battery placement. A bonafide Navy test pilot named Ken Kopp years ago put his BD-4...
  7. J

    Ethanol revisited: Performance IMPROVED?

    Ethanol laced fuel invites more debate than which welding rod used to gas weld 4130 (please let's not go there). I know the issues as a boat, motorcycle and motorhome operator (with a gasoline generator). No doubt there are problems from the fuels out there now as compared to years ago. But...
  8. J

    Cheaper ADS-B? Pirep

    At the AOPA Town Hall meeting 3-11-2015 (in Bentonville, Ar) AOPA president Mark Baker was asked about the latest on ADS-B to which he answered that within a few weeks some much lower cost options would be announced. Didn't specify any more than that. Baker also said there was "no way" that...
  9. J

    SOS ignition and retard points wiring

    I'm using toggles instead of keyed switch and trying to wrap my head around how this works without risking kickback on my newly overhauled engine. if I understand correctly, the sos vibrator gets positive from battery (starter activation) and ground from the retard points AND main points being...
  10. J

    FAA Inspection questions--xpdr etc

    The time is finally approaching as N157JS approaches completion this spring or summer. Now the nitty gritty details that were once not too important have become relevant to me! I bought a used Becker transponder with an 8130 signed off by Becker but for the original purchaser in March 2014 and...
  11. J

    ?? on Shower of Sparks test

    Tried to test 2 different SOS vibrators (12v) and neither worked, perhaps I'm not testing correctly. I grounded the metal part of the vibrator case to negative terminal of a known good battery and applied positive to the "in" terminal on the top of unit, no buzz....also put hot (+) to "Bo"...
  12. J

    Need a fl-760 comm wiring harness made, ideas?

    I have a Fl-760 com for my BD-4 panel, I need a harness that includes wiring the d-sub connector that goes on the back for power, ground, PTT, and 2 headphone/mic jacks. It needs shielded wire as specified by the manufacturer in the install instructions. It seems my options are to find a local...
  13. J

    Castering nose wheel shimmy, my experiment

    There is lots of info and opinion on nose wheel shimmy; the more one reads the more confused the issue gets. More air in the tire, less air, positive rake, negative rake, balance the wheel, tighten the pivot for more friction, grease the pivot, un grease the pivot, put in a damper....all of...
  14. J

    Power ground versus audio ground

    In reading the excellent responses to my post concerning shielding of various wires in the install of my FL760 and some information on the PS Engineering website concerning intercom install, I have a question concerning grounding of power (12-14v negative), the grounding of the wire shield...
  15. J

    Shielded wire where for Comm FL760

    The FL 760 instruction manual calls out shielded wire for the PTT even though many people who know say that it is not necessary. One guy over at VAF summed up his thoughts by saying "when in doubt follow the manufacturers directions" which makes sense to me. There is a built in intercom in the...
  16. J

    New issue in wiring the FL760 com

    I soldered the connector fittings for the back of my new FL760 com, a bit tedious a magnifying glass helped a lot. As I began soldering mic and headphone jacks I ran into an odd situation, at least to me. Perhaps there is no issue, but it is worrisome. The PTT pin on this radio (or most coms...
  17. J

    Reading a pinout basic question

    Getting ready to solder pinouts for FL760, before I do it backwards I need to know if the printed diagram assumes you are looking at PiNS or the front of the connector. I assume the diagram shows the pins on back of radio thus the name pin-out but the last time I assumed something basic it...
  18. J

    Prop balancing with steel balls

    Video How Centramatic Balancers Work - Centramatic The above video beginning at the 2:00 mark shows the use of ball bearings to balance an out of balance wheel. This type of balancing is commonly done on many types of rotating masses fro disk drives to washing machines, big-rig tires to Harley...
  19. J

    Propeller math!

    Would someone check my math here before I build this prop? It will be my third one in the last couple of years. The prop diameter is 76". If the blade angle measured at 75 percent of the radius (28.5") is 20 degrees, I calculate 65.1 inches of pitch. Right or not? I know there are folks on...
  20. J

    Motorcycle engines revisited

    Before I launch into this, let me state I am finishing up a BD-4 with a Continental 0-470 that I eventually chose over auto conversions because of all the issues in coming up with a reliable install. Having said that (and having read old threads here about this) I think that the Japanese...
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