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Thread: Rear edge stiffeners ?

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Feb 2014
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    Three Lakes, Wi
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    42

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    The tubes came with my kit. I believe I saw a reference to them in the wing covering section of the manual.

    Bob

  2. #12
    Senior Member Kitfox Pilot's Avatar
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    Spring Garden Illinois
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    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    I will look again but I don't remember seeing any with my kit, I haven't studied much about the wing section yet but getting closer.
    Harlan and Susan Payne
    Sold Piper Archer
    Flying FarmFox STI Kitfox N61HP
    Rotax 915is, Airmaster prop
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5A...oCVUP15G0uB-Yw

  3. #13
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Jun 2015
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    Yorba Linda, CA
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    2,817

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    The material is not included in the kit. It is not required and is merely a suggested technique many builders use to ensure the fabric doesn't warp the trailing edge.
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  4. #14
    Senior Member
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    Dec 2017
    Location
    Mapleton,UT
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    1,224

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    Was not included and no mention in our manual. Maybe the STI wing is different.🤷*♂️
    Dustin Dickerson

    Building 7ss STI x 2
    Oratex
    29" shock monster
    EP912STI 155hp
    Garmin
    N33TF......FLYING!
    N53TF......FLYING!

  5. #15
    Senior Member 109JB's Avatar
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    Mar 2019
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    Morris, IL
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    484

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    They weren't installed on the Kitfox IV I am working on that was covered with polyfiber, and they weren't installed on my friends Kitfox IV also covered with polyfiber. Here are a couple pictures of the wings on my project airplane that have since had the covering removed. Trailing edge looks pretty darn straight to me. I'm sticking with the motto that everything you add adds to the empty weight. When I recover my IV it will not be getting any of these tubes.

    20200401_164951.jpg

    Flaperon close up.jpg
    John Brannen
    Morris, IL
    Sonerai IIL (Single Seat)
    Kitfox 3/4 1050 - Rotax 582 (Back Flying and sold)
    Kitfox IV 1050 - Rotax 582 (sold)
    Kitfox IV 1200 Speedster - Rotax 912 UL (project)
    Piper Twin Comanche (Sold)
    Glasair 1 FT (Waiting to start)

  6. #16
    Senior Member bbs428's Avatar
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    Jan 2015
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    SW Missouri
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    649

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    Someone else came up with this idea. I just plagiarized and tweaked it.
    I priced out some carbon tube. Was more economical to buy these practice carbon arrows and you can get two braces per arrow. I will be
    covering the wing soon so I'll let you know how it goes. Lighter than the aluminum tubes? Yes. Stronger? Yes, since it is in compression.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Somebody said that carrier pilots were the best in the world, and they must be or there wouldn't be any of them left alive. — Ernie Pyle

    Brett Butler
    Flying: 1998 Model 5 Outback, 912ul Zipper 110hp, G3x avionics, ss7 upgrades

  7. #17
    Kahle76's Avatar
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    Sep 2013
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    Jackson, MO
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    110

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    Quote Originally Posted by jiott View Post
    One other idea I saw on this forum was instead of the 3/8" tubes he used carbon fiber arrow shafts at midspan hysoled between the trailing edge and the rear spar; an interesting lightweight solution he claimed did the job. Maybe the member/s who posted this quite a while ago will chime in and verify.
    I used the carbon fiber arrows. You can buy used ones at you local archery shop for next to nothing.
    Mike Kahle
    Jackson, MO
    IV Classic 582
    RV-12is building

  8. #18
    Senior Member HighWing's Avatar
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    May 2009
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    Goodyear, AZ
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    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    I remember - back in the old days - early 1990s of the talk on the early email lists about the scalloped trailing edges guys found after heat shrinking the fabric. I used the carbon fiber arrow blanks on my two Model IV builds. I don't recall hearing or reading of the factory recommending stiffiners, but those who commented on the scalloping were enough to prompt me to do the trick. 900 hours on the first build and almost.200 on #2 with no changes or issues appearing as eye catchers. Would I do it again? Simple - yes.
    Lowell Fitt
    Goodyear, AZ


    My You Tube Channel

  9. #19
    Senior Member Kitfox Pilot's Avatar
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    Aug 2019
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    Spring Garden Illinois
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    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    Lowell,
    What do the scalloped trailing edges do for the build? I have saw a few but didn't know why it was done.
    Harlan and Susan Payne
    Sold Piper Archer
    Flying FarmFox STI Kitfox N61HP
    Rotax 915is, Airmaster prop
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5A...oCVUP15G0uB-Yw

  10. #20

    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Three Lakes, Wi
    Posts
    42

    Default Re: Rear edge stiffeners ?

    I just looked at the assembly manual on the Kitfox website. Page 8 of the fabric covering section has a note about adding the stiffeners. Says they are optional.

    Bob

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