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Thread: Cruise Speed

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  1. #1
    Senior Member
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    Default Re: Cruise Speed

    The first time you fly your Kitfox anywhere near the redline of 140 , you will make a note to self , DON"T DO THAT AGAIN! Bruce N199CL

  2. #2
    Senior Member Dorsal's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cruise Speed

    BTW, I belive VNE (as it relates to flutter) is a function of true airspeed not indicated
    Dorsal ~~^~~
    Series 7 - Tri-Gear
    912 ULS Warp Drive

  3. #3
    Senior Member av8rps's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cruise Speed

    I don't doubt you could get a Kitfox with the Riblett airfoil to go 150, especially at altitude. I seem to recall the factory 914 demonstrator going 151 mph average at altitudes as high as 21k. But even at lower altitudes all cleaned up even with just a 912s they can scoot right along. Remember when they ran a factory 912s demo in the sun 100 air race? Even with two guys in a tri gear and only running a bit higher than sea level it averaged 139 mph. Knowing that, 150 mph is for sure feasible. A bigger engine for sure would help if you can keep the Kitfox light, but aerodynamic clean ups will probably get you there even without the big engine.

    BUT, I agree with the others saying its not really designed for that. I mistakenly once hit 155 mph in my Kitfox 4 on floats (!!), and while it concerned me being over VNE specs, it was still accelerating in that long shallow dive I was in trying to catch up to my friends ahead of me (for the record I passed them like they were standing still...the seaplane community still marvels at my hotrod Kitfox ). The new wing is nothing like the old wing. My 80 hp Model 4 on floats will go 125 mph at max cruise power straight and level, so again, these things can scoot if set up well.

    So while I am positive you can get a Kitfox to do those numbers, if you own one you are likely to discover what we all have... no matter what your cruise speed is, the Kitfox is an absolute blast to fly, so you don't mind if it takes longer to get somewhere compared to faster, but typically less fun cruisers. It's not the destination, it's the adventure...
    Last edited by av8rps; 03-24-2016 at 05:42 PM.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Cruise Speed

    What Bruce says, if you want to go fast get a different plane.

    Jeff

    Quote Originally Posted by airlina View Post
    The first time you fly your Kitfox anywhere near the redline of 140 , you will make a note to self , DON"T DO THAT AGAIN! Bruce N199CL

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