Karmy Flying Adventures

This last weekend I installed the Soft Start module for my Rotax 912S. Thought I would give a quick report and a couple of pictures. The main module install was fairly easy as it’s a plug and play setup with matching connectors for your ignition module and a single wire you hookup to the starter solenoid. The only hard part of the install is that you need to disable one ignition while the other is starting the engine with the soft start module. In my case I have a key switch with start so it does not have the option on it’s own to shut off one ignition for start. I simply installed a Y into one of my ignition kill leads and put a second switch that would ground out the second module for start. So the procedure is flip the switch to the start position, hit the key switch, once it starts, flip the switch to the run position which enables the second ignition module.

The Soft Start module really does smooth out the initial start. Before I was getting periodic kickback or at least what seemed like kickback that the starter would power through. I have a new battery and good cables and grounds. So it does seem to work.

It’s that time again, part of every summer for the last 15 years… The Arlington Airshow has become part of our family’s summer tradition. We go for the entire 5 days, camp with our friends and talk airplanes 24hrs a day!

This was the first year I flew the Kitfox up to the show and when I got there I was invited by John and Debra to park my plane in the factory vendor booth. That was nice of them, and make it nice and convenient to have the plane closer to the campgrounds. I talked with many potential customers and was able to show off the plane as a “builder” completed version.

Ranger Creek is a nice airstrip run by the State of Washington aviation department. It’s located in the Cascade Mountains near Mt Rainier. The approach is interesting as you overfly the field headed east into a box canyon, turn around and drop down low over the river which goes right by the airstrip. It’s important to watch your speed as there are downdrafts and winds in the canyon if the weather is anything but calm. Best to arrive early in the morning for the smoothest visit!

There’s just something fun about landing on the beach and playing in the sand when you’re a kid! Coaplis WA is a unique place where the runway is on the beach and you can simply land and jump out of your plane onto the sand.

Who would have thought that Washington has an official state run airport located on a stretch of the washington beach? The place is called Copalis Airport and is located about 10 miles north of Ocean Shores. You simply overfly the beach, look for people and animals, then swing around and land on the beach. Pretty neat way to get to the coast and walk the beach.