getting a Kitfox 4 this weekend

[Zorro]

Well I always wanted one, now I'm getting a model 4 912ul 1050.
I had a pilot with experience check her out this week for me, and he say's it's a good one.
I'm going to finish my tail wheel endorsement in it, Iv'e been flying a J5 cub. I hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew.
I know there is another Kitfox on the field here Pearson Field Vancouver WA. but I haven't met the pilot.
Any Advise for a rookie?

[DesertFox4]

What a great Christmas present to yourself. Congrats. Get to know the other Kitfox owner on your field. Always nice to have someone else to fly with. Makes it 4 times as much fun.

Advice, pick a nice day for your first flight. Don't land your Kitfox with a tail wind until you have a fair amount of hours. Expect a very nice handling aircraft with quick response to control inputs. Be ready for your first take off to happen before you expect. Be ready for the angle of attack during take off to be higher than you are used to. Watch your speed on final. Too much speed and you will work a little to get it on the ground. If in doubt, go around. All Kitfox slip exceptionally well. Make sure you put gas in the tanks because you'll be having so much fun you may forget. Never quit flying the aircraft no matter what happens.
On a Model 4 912 Rotax equipped Kitfox, always pull the prop through several times, in the direction of engine rotation only, before the first start up each day(make sure ignition is off). Especially if it has sat for a few days or more. Gets the oil out of the cylinders before hitting the starter and bending something expensive inside the engine.

[Slyfox]

you won't have to much trouble. I started flying, taking lessons in my kitfox. Had to do the check ride in the cessna, but that was ok. I now have over 1500 hrs in the kitfox and another 200 in the RV. I say go for it and have fun. If you can get a head wind down the runway of about 5 will be perfect. Than you can have a nice slow approach, calm is ok to. Just don't do the first with cross winds, save that for another flight.

[Zorro]

thanks for the warm welcome! N645GR will be here tomorrow if the weather is VFR

The gas station that sold ethanol free gas said WA. GOV. made them stop and everything is has corn in it. ( I guess the pilot can't have drink but it's ok for the airplane) I'm thinking I'll try the marina I heard boats get straight gasoline? Funny I never heard of a boat falling out of the sky!

I have had experience with hydraulic lock when I drowned a dirt bike in a river, almost broke my shin kicking it over.

As for going around, my instructor calls the throttle "The Eraser Button" if a landing doesn't look good, Erase it. I'm not to proud to go around better than smashing a beautiful plain up.

I can't wait to see how fast she gets off the ground, I know the J5 cub jumps up quick, I'm thinking it'll look like a C-172 next to the Kitfox.

I guess it'll be another sleepless night until she is here

[cap01]

zorro. good luck finding alki free gas . we lost our station that handled it a couple of weeks ago in the olympia area . i ran the first alki gas in 40kf last week , really hated to do that . ups delivered a new 13 gal wing tank today so as soon as i can get it installed at least one side i wont have to worry about . the tanks i have in her now i sloshed with an epoxy sealer that is alki resistant but who know how good that is .
cp

[cap01]

jr . your probably correct , if you checked the oil right after shut down . i usually am doing other things and get around to checking oil after shes gassed and put away . guess i should change my habits . then before i fly the next time i pull it thru enough to make sure the oils out of the case , not concerned about oil level as long as no puddles under the airplane since i knew it was good when i checked it last
cp

[Zorro]

Thanks for the advise. The present is from my Wife, not myself. I'm lucky to have a wife who supports her husband's flight addiction.

I have an instructor Theresa Nelson who is a aerobatic instructor CFII to help me get transitioned. I hope the last 15 hours of J5 Cub time ( in nasty weather) helps me transition, it was the only tail wheel available to me.

I knew there was only 1 direction to pull the prop through, didn't know which way thank you. I love slips, I never quit flying until an aircraft is shut down.
Now for some non-nonalcoholic fuel #@!! EPA!@$#

--
we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!

- Richard Bach

[Hallgrimur]

Hi Zorro

I think you are into a suprice when you start flying your Kitfox. It is simply a wonderful and very forgiving airplane.
As I was reading the good advice you are getting re. handling the KF under training etc... I would as a old flight instructor also strongly recommend that you practise taxing your plane, get used to sit in her and the visibility from the cockpit you learn to cope with.
Further, you can on a rwy increase the speed, lift the tail and then slow down again as after landing. That way you can do a lot of the training yourself.. Have fun!

kind regards
Hallgrimur TF-124

[jdmcbean]

Congrats !! Get ready for lots of fun !!

You have received some very good advice and I want to emphasize on one of them...
We as pilots are programmed to land.. we are setup on approach, to high.. then too fast and or it just plain doesn't feel right... yet we make the best of it and grab the tiger by the tail and land tha aircraft... WE DO NOT HAVE TO LAND !! The best landings are usually proceded by a good approach.. so go around come back and setup a nice stable approach. (off the soap box)

Glad you like slips... The Kitfox does it better then most...

[Av8r3400]

Awesome advise, John.

My (very wise ) instructor told me that a go-around is not a failed landing. It is just another phase of the landing process that needs to be practiced, too.

Also, his advise was not to taxi the plane unless you are ready to fly it. Especially "high speed" taxiing (Ill-advised). These planes fly at such a slow speed that taxiing becomes flying very, very quickly and unexpectedly.

I don't want to be a kiljoy, these little planes are an absolute blast. Just keep your head and expect the unexpected, especially when you are green. (With only about 50 hours of total Kitfox time, I still consider myself very green.)