If you have the Maul tailwheel, I would highly, highly recommend taking off the unlocking cam, so that the wheel does not go into full swivel mode.
At least for the first 100 hours or so of your Kitfox career.
If you have the Maul tailwheel, I would highly, highly recommend taking off the unlocking cam, so that the wheel does not go into full swivel mode.
At least for the first 100 hours or so of your Kitfox career.
Roddy..... Keep practicing....you'll get it with time.
About 3 years ago, I bought my Kitfox after many years of yearning for one. I had zero hours tail wheel time.... All my time was on Cessnas and our Cirrus SR22. My son was a Flight Instructor at the time, and the insurance company needed 10 hours of instruction before I was insured on my own. After 12 hours, I actually thought I would never get it!
We have our own farm strip, and on Fathers Day, 2010, my son took me up for almost 3 hours of circuits on our own strip.... I'm guessing we did 40-50 touch and goes.....I got it! Then I spent the next few months making sure each flight included about 10 or so touch and goes. Today, I feel like I'm wearing the plane when I take it out (2-3 times a week).
About a year after I bought the plane, I changed to Grove gear from the original Kitfox bungee gear, which made a big difference.....then, this last winter I changed to 29" Airstreaks and better Grove wheels and brakes..... Which made an even bigger difference..... But the game changer was the practice! I still enjoy doing circuits.... Practicing various techniques, crosswinds, short field, wheel landings....keeping the tail up all the way to "stop"!
There is no shortcut for experience. keep at it!
Cheers,
Ackselle
Ackselle
Kitfox IV 1200 Classic C-GIKV
29" Airstreaks, 11" Matco Tailwheel
ROTAX 912, Hoffman HO-V352F CS Prop
Roddy,
My A&P added one inch. It made a huge difference for me. Allowed me to get my feet on the brakes when needed and increased the pressure I could assert. I can also tap them lightly and get the plane to turn nicely.
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Taper Tip Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel
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