folding wings every flight

[Norm]

There is a lot of wisdom in TJs post. I can not say for sure what I will do as my KItFox is still in the rebuild stage. I have my hanger a half hour drive away but I could park an enclosed trailer 5 min down the road and fly from there. The question I am faced with is would I fly more with the plane close with the wings folded in a trailer or 25miles away and not have to fold the wings. One of the reasons I am rebuilding a Fox is to allow me the freedom to choose from a couple of options. As hanger rents increase I can build a trailer for less than a hanger and keeps my options open. I think if you only get to fly weekly then folding every time might make sense, but if you get to fly daily then a hanger that allows you to pull it out and go might be the best option. The thing about the KitFox is it does allow you options. Something you don't get with most other planes.
I had a hanger that I had to use a dolly system to get the plane in and out and while it worked ok it was troublesome. I still got 100hrs a year in that hanger and I think wing folding might be less trouble.

[t j]

I you can just fold the wings and push the plane straight in and out of the hangar it only takes about 5 minutes.

Unloading or Loading on a trailer and securing everything takes me about 20 minutes minimum on each end of the flight.

[Norm]

I was thinking more of useing an enclosed trailer as a hanger so I would not secure after every flight. You are right though I got the kitfox when I had to use the dolly system and thought folding one wing would be easier than the dolly. Tom looks like a nice plane. Do you have an Album

[t j]

Norm, I don't have a album. My kitfox is a tinker toy compared to what most people build today. It's a classic 4 with just a Rotax 503 engine. Very basic bare bones. The only electrical accessory is the starter.

[awilson]

I now have a more realistic view of the realitles of trailering. I guess I will never know till I do it. But for sure one thing is certain the Kitfox gives you all options. One minor thing though:

If I want to tie down for a week or so you really can't do that with the Fox. Rain probably isn't a good thing. But an all metal like Zenith Cruzer is no issue. But then theres hail!

[awilson]

Heres another idea. I live 1.4 miles away from thre airport. Nice Asphalt streets all the way. Why do I need a trailer! Can't I tow it tail first on its gear that distance? I would have to make some sort of tow bar that fits a standard trailer hitch but I am sure it can be done. Does anyone know of any structural concrens with that.

[Dusty]

Heres another idea. I live 1.4 miles away from thre airport...

This wouldn't be legal here(new Zealand)
Tyres would have to be legal for highway use and a light systym would have to be fitted ,as well as a certified draw beam.
Towing like this does make sense but cornering speed and cross wind would be an issue with the original narrow gear

[wannafly]

Interesting discussion. I think we would all agree if we could have a reasonable hanger available we would take it. I don't so I trailer it every flight. Airstrip is a mile down the road and very nice. But no hanger and I'm not about to leave it out side. Still getting 60 hours a year in. I don't find it that hard to fold wings for the privilage to fly a Kitfox

[Jch]

FWIW, I have folded and unfolded my wings for the past year to fit it in the hangar with another plane. Is it a minor hassle? Maybe. Does it make me smile to think I am hangaring it for free. You bet!

[HighWing]

One more possibility. Chase has talked about this and realize it is not practical for most, but as costs of hangar rental space is brought up, it sure puts a great spin on my house payment.

When building my first Model IV, the garage was going to be my hangar. I spent a lot of effort trying to get the folded length of the airplane to fit in the available space. Then on a trip back from a Scout camp where we picked up our son, we stopped along the way to see the place where I used to have my Cessna 170-B serviced. My wife and son saw a home for sale there, loved it and the rest is history. Since my work was almost exactly between old home and new home - about an hour commute - it was doable. We moved and the wingtip of my new Model IV is about 15 ft. from my right elbow as I type this. Since we moved in, two Friends with Model IVs have also moved in and a third lives nearby but rents an otherwise unused hangar attached to a home down the street.