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I am restoring a J3 kitten, needs a whole new wing built. I have a Rotax 337, set up with dual bing 54's. fuselage is done. I'm alittle bit worried about making U/L weight. Any help and/or advice I can get from Kitten flyers past or present would be greatly appreciated. (anybody got plans?) Thanks,patrick.
Having built and currently owning a J-3 Kitten, I can tell you that it is extremely difficult to meet Part 103. Your best bet is to do as I did and register it .
Jim, just out of curiosity, how much does your airplane weigh now in current form?Quote:
Originally Posted by jimtho
My J-3 Kitten (fast back version) with Rotax 447, starter, battery, and wheel pants has a net weight of 410 lb. and a gross weight of
625 lb. It cruises at 65-70 mph at 5500 rpm and stalls at 40 mph.
I have two tanks holding a total of 10 gal of fuel.
Difficult to make U/L weight? Darn tootin' Barely sqweeked by as built with a 227, no flight inst' or brakes. Your Kitten sounds like quite a machine! Did you do any airframe mods,(besides the fastback), to keep the strength/weight relationships as designed? When I put the new tubing in I kept the notchback for anumber of reasons. My thinking is that making weight with a "real" airplane wasthe Kittens' original purpose so I'll try. Composite wing? We'll see.
I bent the axles during early landings and made them solid by welding in a 4130 rod that just fit inside the axle tubing. I also replace the bunge cords with springs from Aircraft Spruce
Hey Jim, you have any pics of you J-3 Kitten? I don't think I've ever seen the fast back version. If not, do you know of any pics on the internet? I'll look later but if you know any links I'd appreciate it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimtho
I have pictures but do not know to attach to this reply.
Thanks Jim. I googled pictures for "J-3 Kitten fastback" and variations thereof. I'm guessing there's not many fastback versions or the ones that have them don't own cameras.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimtho
youtubej3kittensoundsawesomefast anybody ever see balanced tailfeathers like this on a kitten before?.......good low speed maneuverability,I think.
hey patrick, that link goes nowhere.
Hello Jim, Just got to thinking, seeing that you have increased your weight by 35% and bent your axles upon landing have you done anything about your wing spar?
Hi Marty, I just googled you tube and typed in j3kitten when it came up. good luck
Got it. I did see the youtube video the other day when I was searching for a pic of a J-3 Kitten 'fastback' version.
No, but knowing what I know now, I would have made the main spar 1 in. higher since there is room. According to Tom Rhodes in "Stress without Tears" the main spar carries 2/3 of the load. My calculations show that my wing will take +6 -4 G at 500 lb gross, and at 625 lb, it will take + 4.8 G. That said, I do not fly in windy or rough weather, and slow down when it is bumpy.
Hello Jim, Tom Rhodes's stuff is way cool,and your numbers are rock solid. I use Strojnik and we agree exactly. I wish more people realized just what wounderful little aircraft our kittens really are. Don't know your location but I live on the Olympic peninsula in Washington state. Bad weather waits in ambush, if it ain't a rock face or a canyon its 40deg, saltwater and some sob planted telephone poles 20 ft. apart over the rest of it. Its either dust off the calculus books or move to Manitoba. Got ahold of Jim Marske over composites for my new wing,looks pretty good.......fly happy!
Hi Guys, Sorry about the rant. Decided to go composite for the new wing. Has anyone out there done this with a similar aircraft? Also, any thoughts on lightweight latex covering systems?
Hi everyone,
I have been fascinated with the J3 kitten and have interest in building one. I search the web for Hipps Superbirds and it appears they are out of business. How would I go about acquiring plans for this critter? Is anyone in the process of building this bird currently?
Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
Hello flyrcboy Been away for 2 months. I share your fascination. My kitten is going back together slow but steady. And I am still intent on keeping it 103 weight and notchback. There are no plans available, unless you know someone willing to violate their licence agreement, or has a complete one in pieces that could be measured up and photographed. It would take a pretty good builder to reverse engineer it, but..............
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickbrockhaus
Plans for the J3 kitten are available at CFAIR (Copyright Free AIRcraft plans) yahoo groups.
Specifically the Kitten is at http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cfair4/
If you want to see what else is available check out the Hub page at hubpages.com/hub/Copyright-free-aircraft-plans
CFAIR.....Got wings?
Hello FlyRC,Quote:
Originally Posted by flyrcboy
I know this is a little late, but I thought would respond anyway. Mr. Hipp passed away back around 2008 or 2009. I don't think they ever had much of a website, if any. His wife Sharon and his son may still be producing the planes and/or supplying plans but I'm not sure. Their phone number is 828 - 749 -3986, or you can look up "Hipps Garage" in Saluda North Carolina.
Hope this helps!
Tate
Hello from dairingdave in arkansas,you should try generac 990 4 stroke lawnmore eng way cool and rel.
I have a set of wings never skinned in barn,, a nose cone mold and a Grover Aircraft Corporation J-3 Kitten construction manual great shape!!! Dad bilt 4 J-3 Kittens .. dad gone 1 set of wings left unskinned. MAY also have orignal set of blueprints Instrested in learning value,,, they are all for sale
do you still have the wings and things for the j3 kitten.:confused:denny d. 330206 9961 leave a message and i will call you back . please help. building akitten for a history club.thank you denny d.Quote:
Originally Posted by ed kropf