Wheeler or 3 point?

[Mogas]

Hi Guys
I would like to hear from the tail-wheel pilots, what is your landing method of choice.
Please discuss flap, power and approach speed.
Mogas

[Slyfox]

I do either one. If it's pretty narly I go with a 3 point most the time. That way I can full stall it and flop it on the runway, generally with a bunch of rudder dancing as well. Than again, if I have trouble with floating, I go wheels. If I want to just play around and show off... I do weelies, generally left wheel than both than right wheel than both and than another left wheel, all within one touch and go. I touch down with a wheels landing at 60mph, no flaps. I do a 3 point at 50 over the numbers, again no flaps. Do I have flaps, let me think, ya, but I don't use them.

[Mogas]

Thanks for the reply Allbee, but why no flaps?

[Slyfox]

I just don't like them. Plays with the airleron control. Plus one less thing to fool with the better. I'm probably going to try and not use flaps when I get the RV7 going as well. Like I said, one more thing to fool with.

Oh, one more thing to remember. The flaps will cause the airplane to drop on the nose. The flair will be much more difficult. So without flaps, the flair is nice with little pressure on the elevator. Land without flaps and land with flaps, you will find out what I'm talking about.

Now, this is one thing to remember as far as landing. If you have a tail wind when landing, yes this does happen and I've done it with over 10mph. Don't land wheels, you could get a surprise, like the tail comming up when you dump the power to lower the tail. I always land 3 point, and another thing to remember, the last few feet will drop out on you, so have or already have, a little power in for the flair. If you don't it will suddenly drop out on you.

[SkyPirate]

practice practice practice..start with wheel landings then progress to 3 point,..if you have to ,..play with your tire pressure a little to get a little more or a little less give ,..
Personally I prefer my tires inflated to the required rate the tire calls for plus a lb or 2,..this gives you alot better ground control,..less tire side roll,..less chance of a ground loop,...
..do it without any cross wind,..zero wind is best. make your approach the same as you would with tricyle gear ..let the mains touch down ..drop your power gradually until your tail sets..don't rely on the rudder alone ..you have toe brakes,.use them ,..feather them as little to keep your nose straight if you need to,..just remember to keep the stick
in your lap once all three points are on the ground.
and practice practice practice

Chase

[prolab4]

I don't use flaps either and I don't like the effect of flap setting on aileron control at all but I am new to Kitfox. I have flown a Citabria for the last 25 years which has no flaps, I'm spoiled.

When I began in the Kitfox 3 last year I had no instruction and did not realize consequences of the lack of inertia. I came in and flared as I did in the Citabria and as previously mentioned, "the bottom falls out" 5 ft above the runway in my case with a wonderful consistent bounce and rotation to the left resulting in power and a go around. I was thankful for the aluminum gear we had installed

The first time I flew the plane I did this 6 times in a row for a first landing attempt at a practice field and became thankful I had 23 gal of fuel and the rest of the day to get it down....I was also thankful no one was watching.I did a wheel landing to finally get it down.

Ed Down's fine little manual the "Kitfox Pilots Guide" was not available at the time and would have been a great help. Debra has them. May I recommend it to you As Downs suggests, flying a Kitfox often requires your full attention. I feel it is absolutely necessary to be skilled in both wheel and 3 point