Who Has Passenger Brakes?

[Ehfox]

Do many of you folks have brakes on the pass. side and if so, would you install them again? ...Dan

[SkySteve]

Got them. Never used them. Don't think I'd install them again.

[t j]

I don't because of cost, complexity, and weight. I would not unless the plane would be used for training.

[DesertFox4]

Had them. Removed them. Saved weight, complexity and improved room for feet of passengers.

[Dorsal]

Are you limiting this to breaks or rudder pedals? I have both and have used the rudders several times letting my sons fly. I have not had need for the px brakes but the brakes alone do not add much weight or complexity in my opinion, I would do it again. I do wish I had put in the parking brake to hold the plane while warming up, a future add.

[Tom Waid]

Since my wife is also a pilot and we alternate being pilot and passenger I'm striving to make both the left and right seat co-equal pilot stations. With that in mind having brakes on both sides is essential.

[Av8r3400]

I do not have passenger brakes on my flying plane.

I do have passenger brakes on my project plane (grove parts).

I have had very little need to have them other than the initial training and check out that I got in the plane (thanks again JimS!). I am currently undecided weather they will stay as the project progresses. Odds have it that I will most likely keep them.

[Dave S]

Good afternoon,

I have adjustable rudder pedals with brakes on both sides.

1) I fly from one side or the other at any particular time for no particular reason

2) Which ever side my passenger is on - part of the briefing is they are instructed to keep their toes flat on the floor while we are on the ground (because of the brakes).

Sincerely,

Dave S

KF7 Trigear
912ULS Warp

[Av8r3400]

Don't want hijack the thread, but just a quick question:

The levers that control the adjustable rudder peddles, do they control the peddle placement independent on each side or do the pilot and passenger peddles adjust together?

[DesertFox4]

I saved 3.25 lbs. removing cylinders, pedal inserts, fittings and stainless steel braided hoses. If I built a new one they would not be installed. A parking brake is a nice feature.

[Tom Waid]

Don't want hijack the thread, but just a quick question:

The levers that control the adjustable rudder peddles, do they control the peddle placement

They are independent.

[Newkid]

I don't think they are worth the weight.

[carsonvbaker]

Consider this: You have tri-gear, a pilot/passenger on board, no brakes on passenger side and are flying from the usual left seat. You get a leg cramp and can no longer fly the plane. The pilot/passenger takes over. He lands the plane just fine and then proceeds to drive the plane off the runway because you cannot steer the Kitfox tri-gear at low speeds on the ground without differential braking. Ref: a Kitfox post a few years back.

[jtpitkin06]

There are many aircraft with single controls.

However, if you build a Kitfox with conventional gear and need a checkout/tailwheel endorsement in your aircraft, as an instructor and PIC I would demand brakes on both sides.

If you just need a biennial review, then single brakes are fine. It depends on who is PIC.

If you never plan on having someone land and taxi from the right seat and are that concerned about 2 pounds, build it without right side brakes. To each his own.

JP

[wildirishtime]

From a pilot who had brakes fail on a Piper 140, I'd personally never be without passenger brakes - that's how we maintained maneuverability in our situation - even when the passenger wasn't a pilot it was greatly useful. If you're landing in fields so short you can't afford the weight of passenger brakes, I suggest you reconsider your landing choices

[Dave S]

Carson - good point - FYI - I am aware of a KF V which had the rudder pedal snap off on landing (old design) making rudder/tailwheel and brakes not very usable for the pilot - Guy in the right seat took over and things went well.

Redundancy (as well as good karma) is a good thing.......

Sincerely

Dave S
KF 7 Trigear

[Newkid]

Or you could forget the dual brakes and always have a banana at hand.:D

[foxy]

hello everyones,

my first post here..

a friend just bought a Speedster (nose (Grove) gear) and his instructor won't start training without brakes on the right side.

I have read in the previous post that some of you have removed the brakes on the right side.......are you selling ?

My own plane has parking brake and I like this feature A LOT.
how is it made on the Kitfox ?

thanks

Jacques

[Dorsal]

I believe the parking brake sold by KF is a releasable check-valve on the break lines. I just got one and will be installing it sometime this winter. I have come to really appreciate full ruder and breaks on the px side as it allows others to taxi and fly the plane.