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Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:41 pm
by valuator1956
Fred, I have been looking through the photo albums and just wanted to say how impressed I am with your various mods!! Really beautiful and functional. I don't even have a Thundergull yet and I am already envious!!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Bob

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:06 pm
by fgayford
Thanks Bob

You are about to buy one of the best ultralight aircraft ever designed, but most of us already know that.

Best to you.
Fred

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:31 pm
by valuator1956
Well, I get to go look it over tomorrow. I don't expect to find anything too problematic. I will check out the cables, connecting points, rivets, and welds, but it with it being a factory build and apparently well maintained, I am hoping there will be no issues. With the inverted engine, I anticipate some starting difficulty as it has been in the trailer for a number of months, but I believe that those can be minimized in the future by running the engine for a couple of minutes after shutting the fuel off at the line. If I end up getting it, I will be posting pics to the list and asking for advice on modding. I think I probably would like to install a trim wheel and tab, but those things and others will come after I get familiar with the craft.

Bob

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 10:36 am
by blaswichk
If I were looking at, I would want to be in touch with Mark to see if anything specific should be looked at, and maybe send him some pictures. As far as inverted engines, they seem to carbon up the rings faster than upright, although when regularly flown in planes like the Challengers they seem to be fine.

kb

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:02 am
by valuator1956
I spoke with Mark a while a few days ago and he had already looked at the pics on barnstormer. He pretty much remembered the plane and thought it looked pretty good from the pics. In looking it over yesterday, it is in good shape. All rivets are solid and unworn, no dents, stits covering in good shape, cables good, no cracks in any welds, engine clean, mounts in good shape, no play in the cables or hinge/connecting surfaces. Going out tomorrow morning to hear the engine and see it fly. Only deficiencies I see at this point is the tailboom wheel needs to be replaced due to wear and the tail boom under the wheel is a bit deformed. I imagine that is pretty common if you hit the tail wheel during landing. The lexan windshield shows some crazing around the rivets on the left side, but it doesn't appear to be structural.

The owner says that the plane is a bit hard starting if it has been sitting a while...again, pretty typical for the inverted engine. And I agree with you on the "carbon issue", but I hear that there are some additives like motor medic or seafoam that can really help.

So at this point, I am hopeful that I will become the proud owner of a Thunder Gull!! (and, of course, become part of the distinguished community of Earthstar owners!)

Bob

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:06 am
by valuator1956
Kind of interesting...when I was out looking at the Thunder Gull, the flight instructor that I am going to be taking lessons from tried to interest me in his "hanger mate's" Flightstar. Not a bad plane, but I don't think it is the same class as the Thunder Gull...

Bob

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:20 pm
by earthstaraircraft
Hi Bob
Check the control cable tightness by having some one hold the stick to the
aft stop or tieing it and push down on the trailing edge of the elevator,
with 5 lb of pressure it should not move more than 1 in on that model, 1/2
in on the models with the Horizontal Stabilizer. Use Champion lawn and
garden equipment oil at 50 to 1 and you will not have problems with starting
the engine or carbon build up on rings. if you use other oils you will not
be happy, Amsoil is also good but it is 100 percent synthetic and does not
protect the engine from moisture like the 50% synthetic Champion oil we use.
Happy Flying
Mark

In a message dated 6/12/2013 9:31:50 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
valuator1956@yahoo.com writes:






Well, I get to go look it over tomorrow. I don't expect to find anything
too problematic. I will check out the cables, connecting points, rivets, and
welds, but it with it being a factory build and apparently well
maintained, I am hoping there will be no issues. With the inverted engine, I
anticipate some starting difficulty as it has been in the trailer for a number of
months, but I believe that those can be minimized in the future by running
the engine for a couple of minutes after shutting the fuel off at the line.
If I end up getting it, I will be posting pics to the list and asking for
advice on modding. I think I probably would like to install a trim wheel and
tab, but those things and others will come after I get familiar with the
craft.

Bob

--- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , "Fred" <fgayford@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Bob
>
> You are about to buy one of the best ultralight aircraft ever designed,
but most of us already know that.
>
> Best to you.
> Fred
>
> --- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , "valuator1956" <valuator1956@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , "Fred" <fgayford@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I just created a photo folder called "Folding Wing Thundergull"
> > > Have a look its pretty neat.
> > > Fred
> > >
> > Fred, I have been looking through the photo albums and just wanted to
say how impressed I am with your various mods!! Really beautiful and
functional. I don't even have a Thundergull yet and I am already envious!!
> >
> > Thanks for the inspiration!
> >
> > Bob
> >
>

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:50 pm
by valuator1956
Thanks for the info, Mark. I will definitely do the test. Previous owner (I AM THE NEW OWNER!!! HURRAY!!!) has used AV2 consistently. Think Champion will make a notable difference? I will start a new topic with the details of my purchase and will post an album of the pics I have. I do have a question for you though. The previous owner never really did dial in a consistent starting procedure. In fact, when I asked him if the carb had a choke, he wasn't sure. Doesn't the Bing have a choke lever? And shouldn't it be used on a cold start? It does have a primer pump...

Also, when I post in a new topic, I will post the specs that I got from an old ad for this specific plane. Perhaps you can confirm/deny those specs. (Can you remember back that far? LOL ) I also have an old price list from the original purchase. I will go ahead and post that info as well. Looks like you could pick between a variety of options..

So, more info coming, guys and gals...

Bob

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:14 pm
by earthstaraircraft
Hi, Way back in the last century, when we usto to use engines that mixed a
hydrocarbon liquid with air and induced a chemical reaction via an
electrically timed electro chronal discharge, or spark plug, inside of a cylinder
to push a piston and connecting rod, to turn a crank that spun a propeller
for thrust. We would use a primer to get the fuel to the carburetor for
starting, the choke was seldom used and some even removed it all together.
Prime it twice than hit the starter with the primer pulled out, if it starts
and than slows down prime it again and repeat till it is worm enough to
atomize the fuel and run with out the addition of prime. if it does not start
right away ad another pump of prime. be carefull not to over prime, since a
flooded engine is hard to start. if you have a rope starter than use the
same procedure but be especially careful not to over prime.
Using Champion oil will probably clean out the carbon build up that the AV
2 installed in your engine.
It is also important to install good gages like the Grand Rapids
Technologies EIS to monitor the EGT's and CHT's since the secrete to long life in
these engines is to keep the EGT between 1100 and 1200 F, They don't build
carbon at these temps, at least with Champion oil, and there more powerfully
and much more efficient and will last several times there TBO. Set it up for
5700 to 5900 rpm's static run up on the ground and cruse at 6000 for
optimum life, you can cruse slower if you want but the engine was designed for
6000 rpm's.
This is how it was done before Electric power was adopted for ultralight
planes. Now the starting procedure is buckle your seat belt and turn the key
and advance the throttle and pull back on the stick when you get flying
speed, and pull the throttle leaver back some time before you reach 18,000
feet so you don't penetrate the continental control zone.
Happy Flying
Mark


In a message dated 6/18/2013 4:50:21 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
valuator1956@yahoo.com writes:




Thanks for the info, Mark. I will definitely do the test. Previous owner (I
AM THE NEW OWNER!!! HURRAY!!!) has used AV2 consistently. Think Champion
will make a notable difference? I will start a new topic with the details of
my purchase and will post an album of the pics I have. I do have a
question for you though. The previous owner never really did dial in a consistent
starting procedure. In fact, when I asked him if the carb had a choke, he
wasn't sure. Doesn't the Bing have a choke lever? And shouldn't it be used
on a cold start? It does have a primer pump...

Also, when I post in a new topic, I will post the specs that I got from an
old ad for this specific plane. Perhaps you can confirm/deny those specs.
(Can you remember back that far? LOL ) I also have an old price list from
the original purchase. I will go ahead and post that info as well. Looks
like you could pick between a variety of options..

So, more info coming, guys and gals...

Bob

--- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , thundergul@... wrote:
>
> Hi Bob
> Check the control cable tightness by having some one hold the stick to
the
> aft stop or tieing it and push down on the trailing edge of the
elevator,
> with 5 lb of pressure it should not move more than 1 in on that model,
1/2
> in on the models with the Horizontal Stabilizer. Use Champion lawn and
> garden equipment oil at 50 to 1 and you will not have problems with
starting
> the engine or carbon build up on rings. if you use other oils you will
not
> be happy, Amsoil is also good but it is 100 percent synthetic and does
not
> protect the engine from moisture like the 50% synthetic Champion oil we
use.
> Happy Flying
> Mark
>
> In a message dated 6/12/2013 9:31:50 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> valuator1956@... writes:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Well, I get to go look it over tomorrow. I don't expect to find anything
> too problematic. I will check out the cables, connecting points, rivets,
and
> welds, but it with it being a factory build and apparently well
> maintained, I am hoping there will be no issues. With the inverted
engine, I
> anticipate some starting difficulty as it has been in the trailer for a
number of
> months, but I believe that those can be minimized in the future by
running
> the engine for a couple of minutes after shutting the fuel off at the
line.
> If I end up getting it, I will be posting pics to the list and asking
for
> advice on modding. I think I probably would like to install a trim wheel
and
> tab, but those things and others will come after I get familiar with the
> craft.
>
> Bob
>
> --- In __Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) _
> (mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) ) , "Fred" <fgayford@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks Bob
> >
> > You are about to buy one of the best ultralight aircraft ever
designed,
> but most of us already know that.
> >
> > Best to you.
> > Fred
> >
> > --- In __Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) _
> (mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) ) , "valuator1956" <valuator1956@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In __Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) _
> (mailto:_Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) ) , "Fred" <fgayford@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I just created a photo folder called "Folding Wing Thundergull"
> > > > Have a look its pretty neat.
> > > > Fred
> > > >
> > > Fred, I have been looking through the photo albums and just wanted
to
> say how impressed I am with your various mods!! Really beautiful and
> functional. I don't even have a Thundergull yet and I am already
envious!!
> > >
> > > Thanks for the inspiration!
> > >
> > > Bob
> > >
> >
>

Re: Folding Wing Thundergull/your cool mods

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:31 pm
by cossitt.alan
Hehe, Go Thundergull "Zero!"