How Ground Loopie is the S7?

[kitfoxjen]

Hi all

I have been reading your great responses with interest. Thanks Lowell and evdryone.

I am currently enroute to the factory to learn more, should be there 1_2_13.

And this question is about the S7 tendency to ground loop. How docile is she on landing in tailwheel configuration? Wheel vs three pointer? I've never been up in one. Yet.

I agree tri gear is more relaxing on landing, though TD is more fun....

"S"ing down taxiway is cool, i think.

Pirouetting when needed is a signature taildragger move, and lots of fun. Just make sure hoi have wing clearance. I have enjoyed taxying to almost stop, then pulling mixture and stepping on one brake, to pirouette and stop prop at same time, square to hangar....

I used to turn students lose on TD when yhey coild make simulated forced wheel landings, oto a mark on runway, with me distracting....

I havent gg lown TD in a ehile. Not sure if i miss it or if ive gotten lazy :)

But i was curious about how docile they were on landing

Jen
On phone in motel in Mesquite, NV

[Dave F]

never flown a 7 but I understand they are more docile than the earlier model.

I never had an issue.


Check my youtube link

got a few hundred kitfox movies for you.

none have ground loops involved.

[HighWing]

Jen,
I did my BFR in a SS LSA at Paul Leadabrand's Stick and Rudder. It was after a five year lay off because I was still buildiing my replacement Model IV. I found the airplane very stable in the air and not challenging to land - quite straight forward. The current Kitfox models are very stable on landing as the landing gear is straight and true and they track very well. I don't think the conventional gear Kitfox has quirks as far as landing is concerned. I did my initial training in a Cessna 170-B with the cross wind gear - there were quirks with that arrangement. I did a BFR after 17 years out of aviation in a Citabria - that took more than one day, then 900 hours in the Model IV. So far I am still on the will side of the well known two types of tail dragger pilots rule.
Lowell

[n85ae]

I have ground looped mine once, so with practice, like all other mild
aerobatics it is indeed doable. I didn't manage to tip a wingtip, so I
might not have the technique perfected yet ...

My ground loop was on a very windy gusty day, and I made a poor
runway choice. When using good judgement the plane is very easy
to land.

I also fly a Decathalon and a Super Decathalon on occasion, the Kitfox Series
5-7 is a much nicer handling plane in my opinion, especially good rudder.
If you can fly reasonably well in a taildragger you should be okay in one.
The Decathalons will wear you out on a windy day, with really heavy
rudder. The Kitfox rudder is much lighter, and very powerfull. It also
behaves a lot better in a stall.

Regards,
Jeff Hays
Series 5, IO-240B

[kitfoxjen]

You guys are funny.. I hope not to perfect ground loops... :) trying to stave that off till im100

Im in Boise, now early guess i have to wait here till 1/2/13 to see fctort, talk to them .

Lowell:

What is two taildraggrr rule? And i messed up? Ive flown TD

Ranger Fairchild
Stinson Reliant SR9B
108
Taylorcraft F22
C120
C46

Jen
On pjone im motel reachi.g odd angle to pjone thats plugged in go out of way socket.

[HighWing]

Jen,
The rule goes something like this - There are two types of tail dragger pilots - those who have ground looped and those who will. I am still on the Will side with fingers crossed.
Lowell

[kitfoxjen]

Jen,
The rule goes something like this - There are two types of tail dragger pilots - those who have ground looped and those who will. I am still on the Will side with fingers crossed.
Lowell

Ah, I see. Me too, so far, fingers crossed also.

I used to tell students, "It's not hard to keep it straight. But if you don't, it'll go around in 2 seconds, every time. So just be vigilant. Think about it, and keep it straight."

Jen

[n85ae]

This is not true, the time is significantly less than 2 seconds ... Plus
I was exactly, perfectly, straight, until I wasn't.

I'm in the "Has" category of taildragger drivers.

I think there should be a shoulder patch to put on a flight suit for the
groundloop graduates. Anybody do embroidery out there?

Regards,
Jeff


Ah, I see. Me too, so far, fingers crossed also.

I used to tell students, "It's not hard to keep it straight. But if you don't, it'll go around in 2 seconds, every time. So just be vigilant. Think about it, and keep it straight."

Jen

[BigJohn]

There are those that Have, There are those that Will, There are those that Will again. And then there is me that Has, Has and will probably again.

Seriously, The Kitfox seems to me to be a little more sensative than say a Cessna 170 or a Super Cub but also seems to be more responsive. That being said, I have about a 1000hrs in a Kitfox with no ground looping and about the same is Cubs etc. and have ground looped them twice. (Yes my fault each time)..