Converting Vixen to tailwheel?

[Say_Again]

Hey y'all,

Just joined the forum since I've found a nice Vixen for sale and was wondering if it is possible to convert them to a tailwheel configuration.

If so, is it a plug and play operation or are internal mods required to mount a tailwheel and move the main gear.

This is not a deal breaker but since I plan to fly the plane out of my pasture, the nose gear will be taking more abuse than it would when flying off pavement.

Also, how large of a tire can be used on the nose and the mains with the trike?

Thanks,

Beaux

[DesertFox4]

Beaux-

The Vixen airframe was designed from conception as a Tri-gear only. The fuselage and tail area were not designed for tailwheel loads and would take quite a bit of beefing up to work. That would of course require stripping the entire fuselage of fabric and lots of cutting and welding.
The main landing gear attach points are not in the Vixen so much strengthening would be needed for the main gear to move forward. I believe the sides of the fuselage would have to be strengthened also to spread out landing loads around the cockpit area.

Just too much work and engineering to be worth it and also you would, in my opinion, devalue a model of Kitfox that was quite limited in production.

By the way- welcome to TeamKitfox.com Beaux.
Lot's of great Kitfox people here.
Enjoy the forums.

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[kmach]

I have a 1550 gross outback , which is the taildragger brother of the vixen. I cant switch it to a trike it does not have the weldments ,strengthening plates , needed for attaching the main grove style gear in the aft trike position . I think the vixen would / could have the same issue for moving the main gear forward . The model 6 is the first series to have the ability to move the gear back and forth without modifications. You can add the mounting plate for the gear but it would be a fair amount of work. welding and fabric etc.

Lots of vixen owners out there , Im sure they will verify !

[Say_Again]

Thanks for the information. I knew some of them could be changed back and forth. Since the Vixen can't, it might save me the eventual embarrassment of a ground loop.

So, how about my second question: How large size tire can be installed on the Vixen?

Beaux

[kmach]

I think you would be limited on tire size on the nose wheel setup, I think the stock size is pretty much it .

[Paul Z]

Personally I think the Vixen is just too pretty to mess with, leave it as a Tri Gear. You might want to tals with Sky Steve, Steve Wilson, I believe he has 8.5 X 6 on his mains. But I would defer to him to give you the correct answer I know he flies his trike out of Gravel Landing Strips, and back country airports in Utah.

[Paul Z]

Personally I think the Vixen is just too pretty to mess with, leave it as a Tri Gear. You might want to tals with Sky Steve, Steve Wilson, I believe he has 8.5 X 6 on his mains. But I would defer to him to give you the correct answer I know he flies his trike out of Gravel Landing Strips, and back country airports in Utah. From what McBean had to say Steve could get me into trouble landing at airstrips I wasn't ready for. Here is a Picture of us at Promotory Point, a Gravel Strip. FYI the frount wheel is limited by the front wheel fork.

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[desertfox1]

5.00x5 is the optional tire for the Vixen. I flew 1400 hours with the
smaller Lamb tire, many off pavement landings including Alaska, many
dirt and grass, dirt roads with grass in the middle. Keep the stick back
and the load off the nosewheel. Love the Vixen

Phil

[SkySteve]

I've got 8.00x6 (12 psi) on my mains and a 5.00x5 on the nose. I wanted to change the nose to a 6.00x6 for taxiing on rough terrain, but no joy, it won't fit. The 5.00x5 is the max on the nose .... unless one "adjusts" the Nosewheel bracket (thinking here...just thinking). But as Papa says, just keep the Nosewheel off the ground. Full back stick with full power to take off and the wheel comes right up. Full back stick on the landings (landing on mains) and the Nosewheel stays off the ground until you're almost stopped. So far I've never had a problem landing on any backcountry airstrip, ranch road, island top ridge, island shore, canyon bottom, desert area, pasture, meadow, etc. Haven't tried any gravel bars but we don't have those around where I live.