Iceland Fox, new member.

[Iceflyer]

My Kitfox flying today 11. feb 2010.

This is a 1995 built Kitfox III with 912A. TTAE is 430 hrs.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs236.snc3/22361_1321870120330_1038125030_30979314_4450541_n. jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs236.snc3/22361_1321869920325_1038125030_30979309_3454216_n. jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs216.snc3/22361_1321869960326_1038125030_30979310_2700133_n. jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs216.snc3/22361_1321870000327_1038125030_30979311_2299726_n. jpg

[DanB]

Nice pictures Walter, looks like fun...thanks for sharing.

[t j]

I think I need one of those mirrors.

[Iceflyer]

Yeahh the mirror is pretty good idea. Also when taxiing on ground!

I recently bought the aircraft and this flight was only my second day flying the Kitfox. I now have 22 landings in it and 3.5 hrs all accident free

[t j]

I make my final approach to landing at 50 mph. Sometimes if there are other airplanes in the pattern I would like to know if they getting too close behind me.

[Slyfox]

But if you do a short approach with lets say a base to final over the numbers. Well, you can see the final slot and turn and touch down and be off the runway real quick. I think this is the safest landing, do it all the time.

I also hold 60 before the turn, after the turn I'm closer to 50 than touch down right after the turn. Very fun.

When I do a wheel landing, I go into the turn at 70, after the turn it's 60 and down on the wheels and than lower the tail.

I use no flaps. gives me great aileron control.

[Iceflyer]

Thanks for the tips guy´s

My instructor advised to use 60mph and do wheel landing until I´m more used to the taildragger. I have never flown ´em before.

I looking forward to get more experience and have more control on the landings.

[Av8r3400]

I would never advise against your instructor, he knows you and your skills.

But-- I have only ever wheel landed my plane a handful of times. There is no need. 3-pointing gets you down at a slow speed and under control faster. I've found (me personally) that I can deal with the wind much better in a 3 point landing than a wheel landing.

Turn final at 60 mph, over the fence at 50-55, touchdown in 3-point at ~35. The tail is on the ground and steering, under control.

[Slyfox]

I think back to when I first started flying, yes I was learning in the cessna and the kitfox, and I couldn't do a proper wheel landing for anything. I had to settle for 3 points for a long time. The kitfox is a fun airplane, but it takes a lot of skill to master. You want to learn wheel landings, do it after you get down the 3 point is my advice. You really need to be on top of your game when lowering the tail, at least when I do it, I bring it down real slooow. Makes for a nice look. half way down it always does a sort of tail wag I guess you can call it, can really put things bad quick if your not ready for it. That and as you bring the stick back you have a chance of moving the stick to one side and than you have a wing that will come up on ya. My advice, stick to the 3 point for now.

[Iceflyer]

Thanx guy´s for the advice. I will try to move to 3 points next time I fly, which looks like it´ll be tomorrow :) Nice weather forecast and I´m off work.

The thing is I have been starting the flare a tad to high I guess. Flaring about at 2-3 feet and she stalls and bounces back. I´m getting really good at recovering from bounce :D

I guess I´ll learn it sometime. looking forward to practicing more tomorrow.

[Slyfox]

man are you bringing back the memories. I to flaired to soon, my first landing took out the bungies, had a real quick lesson on replacing those buggers.

[akarmy]

back when I was in high school and was taking flight training, a friend of mine had a condition we classed as FOG (Fear Of Ground). Good old one bounce Roger, he would flare the 172 at 4 foot on a regular basis. Made for some exciting go arounds!

[Slyfox]

My instructor said I had commercial airlineridas. Meaning I started my flair early like the bigun's

[Iceflyer]

We´ll now I have 6.7 hrs and 48 landings. I´m getting the hang of it although the landings are still not as short as I would like them to be.

We had a nice day yesterday, about 10mph wind with about 30° crosswind so I had a chance to practice x-wind landings.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs465.ash1/25533_1347063070138_1038125030_31040159_2751300_n. jpg

[Av8r3400]

Awesome picture! Looking like the ol' pro! Keep practicing.

[Paul Z]

I hope everything is well in Iceland, everything is going Soc- - - - South in the US!

[Iceflyer]

Hi Paul

It´s the same here. The nation is going to the dogs here also. The situation is pretty bad. Foreign debt is so high no one knows how to repay it all. Taxes have increased so much that people are leaving the country.

Walter

[GDN]

I'm in the same case...new flyer off that fantastic machine.

My final at 60 and hard to land without bounce i saw that if i arrive more higher in speed the plane didn't want to go down i'm too up of the plan. Do you use the flaps. I put a lot but he don't want to go down quick. I make a aircraft landing and not a ULaircraft approach. What is the best method to land on short runway 1000 feet ?

Other problem, how to know the degrees i putted for the flaperons ? No marks on the handle and i saw that if you put too much, you'll lost roll efficiency. How can i put a maximum limit mark on the handle or a crank to stop it ?

[SkyPirate]

try this .. on approach say 1500 AGL for landing slow to your near 65 mph..apply just enough flaperon to drop the nose about 2 to 3 degree's ,..now back presure to hold your nose on the horizon,.. cut your power slightly and give her left rudder and right aeleron ,now put your nose about 12 degrees up..she will slip like a pro,..when your about 500 AGL start bringing her out of the slip ( until you master it ,..then you can bring her out right at ground level) once your straight and headed for the numbers,..adjust power to get you were you want to be for touch down target,.. when your about 3 feet above the surface pull back your power easily,..when you feel her sink apply a little back pressure on the stick,..she should settle right down on an almost 3 point position mains first. once your mains are settled apply your brakes with stick in your lap.

If the 2 to 3 degree's of flaperon isn't enough ..next time around go for 4 to 5 degree's ..it doesn't take much input on flaperon control to make a difference,.. I'm going to take a stab that 3/4" to 1 inch up from bottom will be the sweet spot for pilot alone,at about 50 mph..and possibly 1 inch to 1.5 inch for pilot co pilot ,..that's a good safe place to start,..once you get that mastered you can work on shortening the process,..set up the same way ..but a little steeper and at 5 to 10 AGL depending on your sink rate,.apply more flap and less power,..she'll almost set down and and stop in the same breathe,..if bouncing is an issue loose a lb or 2 of air pressure in the tires until you can grease your landings,..
the biggest problem with the light planes ..watch your ASI not your visual ground speed until you get as good feel for the plane

hope this helps

Chase

[Iceflyer]

Hi guy´s thanks for all the good advice.

I have now mastered the 3 point landings. It was just a question of practice. I can now land really short and smooth so I´m really happy with the plane.

Have a total of 15 hrs time in it now.