tuneups

Abstract:    He is having an issue with tuning the dual carbs (I thought they went away with the Austin Healey!). Any tips?

Subject: tuneups
From: "sahansdal" sahansdal@yahoo.com
Date: 8/30/08 1:38 PM
To: Taifun17E@yahoogroups.com

My name is Bob Wahler. If all goes as planned, I will soon acquire Matt Bradshaw's Houston based 122SS (unless I hear something truly awful about it!). He is having an issue with tuning the dual carbs (I thought they went away with the Austin Healey!). Any tips? Any other tips? Where can I get covers? Hangers aren't cheap in N. California (San Jose). Can insurance be month by month (I only have partial year availability)?

Subject: Re: [Taifun17E] tuneups
From: Finbar Sheehy finbarsheehy@yahoo.com
Date: 8/30/08 10:20 PM
To: Taifun17E@yahoogroups.com

Bob,

Jaxida, in Europe, makes covers specifically for the Taifun. With the current exchange rate they're now about $3,000. The company says they'll last 5 years; there are two wear spots on mine that probably won't go that long, but they're not critical, the rest is holding up well and with care 5 years probably is realistic. The entire aircraft is covered in 5 pieces: (1) horizontal stabilizer; (2) aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer; (3) left wing; (4) right wing; (5) center fuselage and nose. If you're traveling, you can leave all but section (5) at your home base. That section can be put on without the others and it will stay securely in place, giving you a canopy cover you can take with you. The covers have a waterproof outer layer, a soft material on the inside to wick moisture away (it also does a decent job of polishing the gelcoat), and air vents under the wing. In my experience, the covers will trap condensation underneath to some extent, but if there is any breeze the vents help to get air in there and dry things out. The main thing, of course, is to keep the sun off the gelcoat, which the covers do very well.

As for insurance, on my policy (through the SSA scheme offered by Costello insurance) there are two rates, one for flying and one for inactive (stored but not operated). You can notify the company that the aircraft will not be flown/operated for several months at a time, and they'll put you on a lower rate for the period.