First, Build a Shed

[DesertFox4]

Fantastic news Carl! BIG Congratulations.! Always exciting to see another Kitfox take flight for the first time. Glad your one and only unintended ground excursion, off that hard surface, was completed without remodeling to any newly commissioned parts.

Thanks for sharing your build Carl. Looking forward to following the flying adventures that lay before you.
Enjoy every flight.

[efwd]

Congratulations Carl!!!! Got to hand it to ya. I only nearly ground looped mine (25 hours into phase 1) when I got the shimmey from the loose tailwheel spring setup. I parked it and didn't fly again till my new tailwheel assy showed up. I didn't have the nerve to try again that same day. Ive been waiting for so long for yours to fly since we started our builds at the same time. Glad to hear that it has made its first flight and all is well.

[jiott]

I also carry 15 psi in my 22" Dessers.

[Cherrybark]

Parked in the hanger before the first flight. Has a black Fox decal on the tail but needs something added to the nose.

[efwd]

Very Nice Carl. I like the black spinner up front too.

[alexM]

Beautiful. I love the red.

[Benbell4140]

Pretty airplane!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Eric Page]

Congrats, Carl! It looks great and I'm sure you're going to love it once those few bugs are worked out.

When you figure out the parking brake issue, can you post details/photos? I wasn't really confident that I understood how that valve works when I installed mine, so I'd appreciate seeing the correct orientation.

[Cherrybark]

I don't have the instructions handy but there is a small dimple on the parking brake shaft that is used to orient the handle. Obviously I have my lined up incorrectly. I don't remember reading any operating instructions and thought you simply "shifted" the lever to "On" and the brakes were set. Likewise, "Off" would release the brakes. Finally, someone showed me how the parking brake works. Think of the parking brake as a one-way valve that is brought in-line when the lever is moved to "On". The parking brake doesn't really move any hydraulic fluid but it will only let the fluid move in one direction. With the parking brake on, depress one of the brake pedals. Fluid will operate the caliper, the brake pads will squeeze, and the brake is set on that wheel. Release the brake pedal and the pads will continue to squeeze because the one-way valve continues to hold the pressure. Press the other brake pedal and both brakes will be set. Move the parking brake lever to "Off", the valve will open, and the brakes will be released. Now I need to dig out the instruction and figure out how to orient the lever. Or more likely, since I misread the instructions the first time, I'll try the four 90 degree orientations and see which one works.

[Eric Page]

Ah, OK. Now that you mention it, I do remember the actuator stub being square, so it's not a panic-worthy event if the handle doesn't set the brake; just remove the handle, spin the actuator 90 deg and try again. Thanks, Carl!