What Go Fast Mods Has Kess Been Up to?

[fgayford]

So Kess what have you been doing this winter?
Fred

[blaswichk]

I’ve been slow this winter, as I have been recovering from a foot operation of the big toe joint and the weather has been extremely cold this year, and the hangar is unheated. But I did spend some time in the last few weeks and installed a new Val 2000 panel mounted radio. That has taken longer than expected as usual, as I also moved the panel up 5 inches which also brought it 3 inches closer so I can reach the knobs. The builder was a small guy and sat closer to the panel, and with me slid back as far as I need for comfort, I couldn’t reach the panel in flight, and didn’t matter with the old radio as it was a hand-held next to me. My next goal is to add some soundproofing foam to the back under the engine area and the bottom of the wing that is the ceiling in the cockpit. I also want to stiffen the sides so that the windows to move so much at high speeds. More fun, eh?

[rahulchoudhary73]

me too, recovered from a toe, er.. trimtab, in jury; hope it recovers soon. Kess, this mod would earn you another 10+mph easy... no cowling at all, engine goes down a bit, boom comes up and becomes a shaft, propellor goes behind the tail, better sound proofing, space for a quieter exhaust pipe. sounds more like a gull 2020 major feature request for Mark, but you could do it in a jiffy!

can you id this sweet inspiring plane from the 70s?

[rahulchoudhary73]

me too, recovered from a toe, er.. trimtab, in jury; hope it recovers soon. Kess, this mod would earn you another 10+mph easy... no cowling at all, engine goes down a bit, boom comes up and becomes a shaft, propellor goes behind the tail, better sound proofing, space for a quieter exhaust pipe. sounds more like a gull 2020 major feature request for Mark, but you could do it in a jiffy!

can you id this sweet inspiring plane from the 70s?

[wsweidemann]

Molt Taylors Mini Imp

Skot

[rahulchoudhary73]

quite a beauty, is'nt she; wish he'd lived longer and built the 2/4 seaters too as nice kits like Mark's; he would sure have been very pleased to bolt on Mark's wing onto the imp to take off thrice as quick

[blaswichk]

Sure does look like a modified Gull, but I’ve never seen it. what is it??

[mkoxxy]

I recall reading about vibration issues with the long drive shaft - maybe
it wasn't the Imp that had them. But the lower weight of an electric motor
may make it possible to move it all the way back. Molt would have loved to
explore that.

In general, electric motors open up a whole lot of room to revisit where
and how many props to position - a true paradigm shift. Exciting times!

[rahulchoudhary73]

yes, even the Lesher Teal had a drive shaft coupling like that with no issues, made quite a few records too

there'd be more baggage space, lighter rollcage too, and the BRS would be quite happy in place of where the motor is today

[rahulchoudhary73]

mini-imp.com; was revived by an airlines pilot recently who has plans

what happened with the toe? (saw like a half dozen causes that could cause it)