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Re: X-Air Ultralight Aircraft Fabric protection
Xair Ontario
Over here there is a product called Aerothane 100 by Polyfiber
(www.polyfiber.com) which is a UV clearcoat. A lot of manufacturers in the US now offer this as an option, mostly for cenonite coverings but it works just as well on Dacron. Aparently Dupont makes something similar but I don't have the exact name of it. Guy De France at Speedwing uses it (Dupont stuff) and has very good results. Aerothane works very well but if you regularly play with the fabric (ie: open the fastback) it cracks and you run the chance of the cracks acting like a knife on the rest of the fabric. I was going to cover mine but since I keep it in an excellent hangar there is no need for the UV. Keeping stains off on the other hand is another topic altogether. My leading edge is grey and while is has some stains from fuel and such its not too obvious so I'm not very worried. Hope this helps -- Trevor Page X-Air Ontario Dealer tpage@... From: xairirl@... ____________________________ Free Email/SMTP/POP, , Hosting yourname@... |
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Welcome
Welcome to X-Air Central
In this eGroup we can freely exchange ideas, building comments and tips between builders, owners and others interested in the X-Air Ultralight Aircraft. The group will rely on your input to make it successful, we need your ideas, pictures and comments. The group is unmoderated and there is no membership criteria, just enjoy the information we can exchange. Please take the time to check out all the options available, add a link send a picture to the files section. Any questions please let me know. Thanks Michael |
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Up and running
Thanks Joe for your kind words, i have added a link to your X-Air web
site in the 'links' section. Others can veiw your web page by following the link, i have also uploaded some of your pictures to the 'files' section on the main menu, when submitting photographs please send them to me to run through Photoshop and freshen them up and compress them for faster download, this way we can access the pictures without waiting for several minutes for the download, it will also allow us to keep more photographs on the web site. thanks Michael |
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Amphibian Photos
Gday again,
I have just posted some rare photographs of both the Amphibian and the Hydro versions of the X-Air, both are available ex France. To check them out, go to the 'files' section, select the folder 'Amphibian X-Air's and then click on each image to view. I have attached a sample to this Email to wet your appetite (pardon the pun) Thanks Michael |
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flyabout
G'day everyone,
Just to let everyone know what we're going to be doing: On July 17, 2000, the Musarra Family will embark on a 6 month journey around Australia. Our goal: to circumnavigate the continent of Australia in an ultralight aircraft. Larry and Aren Musarra will fly the ultralight, while the rest of the family, Lenne', Sungie, and Tim, take the low road, following the route in a motor home. There's a link to our web page on the egroups link area, or you can link to it at |
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Rudder Pedal Extensions
Australian's seem to be a fairly big lot of people, a lot of our
customers, my-self included are well over 180cm (6 feet) tall. The legroom in the X-Air is ample for most people but some need the extra room and we have been sucessfully 'stretching' the X-Air for several people. Firstly, using the standard floor as a template we make the floor 100mm longer towards the front of the aircraft, all the holes etc are drilled as normal and the wood (12mm marine ply) is sealed and painted. I make another two holes directly in line with the existing bolt holes for the pedals exactly 75mm forward of their excisting positions. You cannot go any further forward without the rudder pedals contacting the pod at full lock. The bolts which would go through the normal pedal position are now too long, so disgard them and purchase the correct length and grade, you will also need two more new bolts to hold the pedals in the new position. The adjustable arms which attach from the normal rudder pedal position to the front steering yoke for the front wheel will also need to be shortened by exactly 75mm and the rudder cables will need to be lengthened 75mm, i have attached a picture of the extensions which we use for the rudder cables, they are stainless steel and are rated at over 2.5 tonnes (so they are strong enough). If your adding carpet to your floor use a good quality marine carpet as they wont rot, they are close weave and therefore resist dirt etc, they are easy to vacumn and designed to be washed down with water when it gets dirty. Attach the carpet with contact adhesive to the floor and use a soldering iron to burn the bolt holes through the carpet, this seals each hole and will make it much easier to pass all the bolts through, mount all the controls etc over the top of the carpet and this will help the glue hold everything in place as the different parts are bolted to the floor. Hope this helps Best Wishes, Michael Coates Sydney, Australia. Home of the 2000 Olympics Email mcoates@... X-Air Web Site: "Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you long to return." |
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Tips and tricks - How to stop the fuel vents from crimping
Some owners have mentioned the fuel vent tubes are able to bend over and
crimp, possibly stopping the fuel supply because it can cause a vacumn in the tanks. We have 'discovered' another idea which works really well and it involves putting a piece of heavy duty fuel tube inside the existing clear tubing, this way the tube will make the bend without crimping, we also have tried a couple of plastic 90 degree bends from water irrigation systems but they are a lot more mucking around. The Brit's have just started using a coiled wire, wrap some stiff wire around a small tube several times, remove the breather and insert the wire on the bend, so far it works but i worry about the chances of rust etc... a couple of years down the track. Best Wishes, Michael CoatesX-Air Web Site: "Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you long to return." |
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Link page Up and Running
The link section of this group now has links to 17 X-Air sites
including the factory in France and the manufacturer of the aircraft in India. It will take a few hours to make your way through this bounty of information. To access; click on the 'Links' button on the left and choose the web sites from there. Enjoy Michael Coates X-Air Australia |
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X-Air with Floats
I have just been forwarded a business card from an X-Air Customer?
- Stéphane in Saint Martin , which is a French Caribbean Island,
the aircraft has been fitted with hard floats and is being used in a tourist
environment for joy flights etc.
Stéphane can be contacted on Email???? theostef@... ?
Email mcoates@... X-Air Web Site:?
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Engine comparisons.
Anyone got true performance figures to compare the 618, 912 and the Jabiru 2.2?
We had a Thruster T500 at our airfield that had a 912 mounted. It seemed to work OK (I flew in it), however I couldn\'t help think the advantages of the bigger motor/prop may have been negated somewhat by the drag/weight increase. Ofcourse, no one can dispute the 912 reliability though, which is a big bonus. |
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Re: Another new member
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Hi Darrel, I spoke to you shortly after you wrote the article re your Xair you had just finised building in the Pacific Ultralight Mag. You mentioned to me on the phone how much you loved the Rotax 618 with its power. Especially on take off. Have you flown to Cradle Mountain or down to Hobart or the east coast as yet. I guess you would be rugged up this time of the year for flying...even on the Gold Coast its been pretty cold at night lately. Have you got doors fitted to yours...if not I bet you will be getting them. Cheers ...a few ports would not go astray, another cold night. Peter In X-Air_Ultralight_Aircraft@..., dnpeaty@b... wrote: Hi I am Darrel Peatey the Xair dealer for Tasmania I would like to |
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Re: Engine comparisons.
--- In X-Air_Ultralight_Aircraft@..., Gordon Bailey
<gordon.bailey@j...> wrote: Anyone got true performance figures to compare the 618, 912 and theJabiru 2.2? We had a Thruster T500 at our airfield that had a 912 mounted. Itseemed to work OK (I flew in it), however I couldn\'t help think the advantages ofthe bigger motor/prop may have been negated somewhat by the drag/weightincrease. big bonus. My experience shows that the 618 and Jabiru are very similar in performance - although the benifits of near silence in cruise is appreciated over sensitive areas. Our Jabiru performes very well except for climb and this directly relates to the engine mount which makes the thrust line to high (the propeller sits too high) if the standard engine mount was replaced with a new one to specificcaly suit the Jabiru engine then i am sure it would perform better in climb. The 912 i expect would perform very well but no-one has done that instalation in Australia, both the 912 and the Jabiru are heavier than the 618. Fuel consumption is nearly identical between the Jabiru and my 618 although some of our customers are using up to 18 liters per hour on there 618's ?? - (they probably need to be set up a bit better). I am sure if someone could come up with some sort of engine fairing for these engines that better consumption figures could be acheived. If you look at the size of say the Jabiru hanging out the front and imagine the wind resistance..... it must have a big effect |
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Hello all
Hi,
I'm Bill Magrini -- Xair Dealer in the US fort Virginia and Maryland. I just completed my Xair F and have flown it twice. I Didn't set the prop thrust line up properly, so it wouldn't climb so hot with two people. I'm still tweaking the bird. I hope to have it all correct this weekend. Regards, Bill |
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Re: X-AIR CENTRAL Re: Engine comparisons.
开云体育?
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Re: X-Air F not climbing
Michael Coates
I'm Bill Magrini -- Xair Dealer in the US fort Virginia and
Maryland. I just completed my Xair F and have flown it twice. I Didn't set the prop thrust line up properly, so it wouldn't climb so hot with two people. I'm still tweaking the bird. I hope to have it all correct this weekend. Regards, Bill What do you mean by not set the thrust line up properly ??, did you have the gearbox upside down, what engine ?? I have about 25 hours in "F" models and they should climb a little bit better than the standard plane on the first stage of flap, i have found full flap on takeoff is just like throwing out an anchor, but having said that if you commence ground roll with no flap and then at about 35 knots pull full flap she leaps off the ground real quick. Someone wiser and more sensible than me told me it increases your chance of stalling dramaticaly, so he did not recommend it as part of normal flight practices. Overall we find the "F" model a little bit faster (about 5-8 knots) the roll rate is also about double, other than that they are very similar. Please let us know what your playing with and make sure to post a picture of your aircraft in the Files section in the folder "Aircraft Colours".... i am trying to build a library of different colour schemes for customers who are always asking what does a pink and purple look like etc... Thanks Michael |
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Re: Engine comparisons.
Michael Coates
"Peter Stuy" <pstuy@x>
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wrote: ----- Original Message -----
From: xair@m... To: X-Air_Ultralight_Aircraft@... Fuel consumption is nearly identical between the Jabiru and my 618 although some of our customers are using up to 18 liters per hour on there 618's ?? - (they probably need to be set up a bit better). Better in which way? I get about 16.5 L/h at 60Kts, 18 at 65Kts and over 20 at 70Kts, but that should be normal?? I can also stay aloft on 8.5L/Hr too! I am sure if someone could come up with some sort of engine fairing for these engines that better consumption figures could be acheived. If you look at the size of say the Jabiru hanging out the front and imagine the wind resistance..... it must have a big effect Fairing for the 618 would be lovely too! Reply; The X-Air has a definate 'step' in it's performance... for about the first month i floated around at about 50 to 55knots on the 618 at 5200 to 5300 rpm, i found when desending at this rpm the aircraft picked up speed to about 60 to 65 knots and the altimeter stayed the same... i was not loosing height. With a bit of practice it's easy to get the plane on the 'step' sometimes without even thinking about it. You can 'drag' the plane around the sky with high rpm which means high fuel burn or you can learn to use the step as part of normal flight operations. The easy way to pick the step is to line up the wing tips with the horizon. If the leading edge is higher than the trailing edge then your just poking around having fun.... push the stick forward slowly or give it a touch of trim and she will pick up speed; the increased speed creates extra lift which keeps you flying fast without loosing height. Look to the wing tip on the step and the leading edge is lower than the trailing edge when lined up with the horizon. This technique will take about an hour to master - learn it in still weather otherwise the thermals etc will make it hard to learn. The other reason my economy is down is my aircraft is geared to only run to 6200 rpm instead of the max 6750 rpm, this gives me higher gearing which equates to faster cruise speed for a lower rpm. If your prop allows for advustment give it a go. Thanks Michael |
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Re: X-AIR CENTRAL Re: Engine comparisons.
Tony Stiller
Hi Gordon
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I have a 2.2 Jabiru on my Xair and suffers on climb due to the thrust line, however Bert Flood has manufactured a replacement bracket for the Xiar to take the 912 and I am trying to get hold of one of these brackets to fit to my Xair so I can lower the thrust line and improve the climb rate. The engine bracket made by Jabiru for the 2.2 bolts directly into the provided holes on the plate for the rotax engine, so I see no need for Jabiru to make up another bracket if one has already been constructed by Bert Flood. My Xair with the 2.2 Jabiru cruises at 65 knots on 2800 rpm making the 4 stroke engine very quiet, safe and reliable to fly. cheers Tony At 12:14 AM 6/17/00 +0000, you wrote:
--- In X-Air_Ultralight_Aircraft@..., Gordon Bailey |
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Re: X-AIR CENTRAL Re: Engine comparisons.
开云体育Hello Tony,
?
Saw your message re 912
bracket. Do yo know how much Flood wants for it?
Appreciate your
advice.
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Cheers,
?
Peter
Stuy |
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