Re: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: Logging taxi time?

circicirci wrote:
> The Kitfox has a reputation as a well behaved aircraft.

Which Kitfox? Series 5 and Series 7 fill very solid and stable in the air.

Kitfox I, II and to a lesser degree III have a reputation for being
difficult to handle, neutral yaw stability, etc. (specially with the
original narrow landing gear.)

Kitfox IV, the one I have, while being an improvement on previous models
(better airfoil, larger rudder, higher load carrying capabilities) still
is considered "difficult" as the rest of the family. Not in requiring
exceptional piloting skills, but requiring your full attention to a
larger degree than other similar planes.

> Why not find a Kitfox pilot (or an experienced pilot or CFI with
similar type experience) to go up with you and get some experience of
the feel of the controls in the _air_, and of course on takeoff and
landing approach?

Done - The flying part is covered.
The Aerotrek is an Avid-Flyer/Kitfox clone. The only minus is that the
one I flew has a tricycle gear, while my Kitfox is a taildragger.
I found another instructor with a Kitfox II taildragger, but it is more
than two hours away. Planning to take a few lessons with him when my
Kitfox is ready to fly.

The taxiing experiments (and full power engine runups, which I did not
mention,) are to gain confidence on the engine (which did not run for a
long time, more below) and to acquaint myself with the ground handling
of *this* Kitfox, (which is different from Cubs, Champs, the Aerotrek
and other Kitfoxes.)

> The behavior of the plane and controls at taxiing speeds and
configuration will be significantly different than in landing
configuration and speeds

Agreed.

> Roberto, I`m curious: IS there any reason you took your lessons in
the Cubs, Champs and a Kitfox-like Aerotek rather than IN the KitFox?
> (You didn`t say so, but I assumed you own the KitFox or have access
to it)?

Yes, I bought it two and 1/2 years ago, in flying condition, and then,
due to life happening several times, sat untouched until now.
The lessons (and BFR in a Cub) are/were done in parallel with bringing
the Kitfox back into service, replacing potentially unsafe fuel lines,
switching from Mogaz to 100LL and seeing how the engine takes it,
finding an experimental friendly A&P for an annual inspection, etc.
I am still working on some problems. (Vibration, engine not reaching
full power RPMs)

> As a final thought:
> Doing hours of taxiing, especially if you are thinking of doing it
at increasingly higher speeds with any crosswinds around, can be
risky.... Ironically, IMO, possibly more risky than the same number of
hours of flying.

I have been warned *not* to do high speed taxi runs. It is low speed or
flying, with very little gray area between.

> The Kitfox is light with large wing area and if you get a gust under
the wing is as many LSAs needing to be handled carefully in crosswinds
to not get tipped and put that downwing wingtip on the runway or worse.

Caveats noted.

> In normal takeoffs (in contrast to the hours you are proposing
rolling around on the ground) a Kitfox is only in that very vulnerable
position (of being moving fast with the potential for massive lift under
one wing AND still close enough to the ground where the downwind wing
could hit the ground if the plane rolled even a modest 35 degrees) for a
VERY short time.
> That is because in normal takeoffs it is likely airborn within 6
seconds of applying takeoff power.

In a paved runway, solo, I am expecting no more than 4 seconds from full
power to wheels off. 6 seconds on grass... ;)

> Once it is even 20 feet off the runway even if a gust gets under the
wing it and unexpectedly rolls you uncorrected that wingtip isn`t going
to hit the ground.
> In short, in 10 minutes of high speed ground taxiing with any
significant crosswind seems to me you are exposed to roughly the
flip-over risk you would incurr in 100 cross-wind takeoffs.
>
> Disclaimer: I`m niether a Kitfox pilot or a CFI.
>
> My two cents.
> Alex

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, and sorry for my delay answering.
I did not see this message before, but for some reason it was marked "read"

Roberto.



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