Bike Rack

[av8rps]

If a person was to carry external baggage such as a bike I think it should be attached in a sort of streamlined pod so as not to create so much drag.

In addition to my Kitfox I also have a Lake amphibian, and it has pretty large wing floats that we have tested flying with and without the floats attached and found the drag is so minimal that it is hardly noticed. So maybe one could make a pod that could hold a bike and get the same effect. I would think a bike with spoke wheels and round tubing would be huge drag without some sort of additional streamlining.

The biggest factor to me with doing something like this is that you have to be careful about putting weight far out on the strut where the wing flexes the most. I think if you could possibly get the load to fit inboard of the jury struts it would be better as that part of the wing and strut is quite sturdy with minimal (or no) flexing. Maybe a folding bike in a smaller pod?

Just my two cents worth... free internet advice

[Esser]

There are also lots of hard points already on the bottom of the fuselage.

[avidflyer]

A guy from Washington flew his tri gear Avid MK IV a lot with a kayak strapped to the bottom of his plane. If you don't know, the Avid MK IV is comparable to the Kitfox 3 in many respects. If it can be done with a kayak, a bike should be possible. JImChuk

[Ale]

I flew the Murphy Radical in Chilliwack, with a mountain bike under each wing, the plane handled great, I felt no effect on rudder, elevator o aleiron, the test pilot in the plane with me told me they stole about 10 mph.
I would love to add those to a Kitfox 5, but I am concerned about strength and location. If the racks are installed outside the struts, as in the Radical or the 185 operating in NZ, would that put excessive stress on the bolt of the front spar? The two planes I mentioned don't have folding wings, so in theory they are stronger there. If I install the racks slanted inside the jury struts, that would significantly reduce the stress/moment/torque on the holes through which the bolt that holds the front spar goes through, but the turbulence created by the bicycles would be a lot closer the the tail surfaces, possibly affecting handling.
One bicycle can probably be attached under the fuselage with no issues, but it might affect the airflow on the tail surfaces slightly. I think two bikes under the fuselage is not possisble.
I'm willing to hear the thoughts of the more experienced Kitfoxers. Thank you.

[txsailor]

Looks like nobodoy has opinions to my concerns and doubts...