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Classic IV wing mods

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dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:47 am Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

I have a person that is  interested in clipping my long wing Classic IV to make it a speed wing.   Not for speed but to get it in his garage.   Has anyone ever done this  to a finished Kitfox?  I can walk the process through in my mind and it  doesn't look like it would be that difficult.  I can't remember for sure  but I don't think the internal wing bracing extends to the last rib so that  would not be an issue.    

     Seems like, cut with a razor  blade all around at the next rib, hack the spar/trailing edge and reattach the  wing tip with a little bit of Poly Fiber finishing tape/paint.  Job done in  a day or two.

  

 Don Smythe

    [quote][b]

frank goggio

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 5
Location: fayetteville N.C.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:00 am Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

don.I had a model 4-1200 that I did this to, I  cut the outboard rib bay off each side with a hacksaw,.could not tell any  difference as to take off performance, actually handled better to me,speed  increased,would roll much better,did not float as much on landing,then again I  took most of the washout in the tips out and most of the dihedral out,would roll  nearly as fast as a Pitts s2, this was with a 80 hp rotax with warp drive prop,i  liked the plane,don't have it now,driving a rv6a  now but keep up with the  list,

 frank goggio  Fayetteville nc

  I have a person that is interested in clipping my long  wing Classic IV to make it a speed wing.  Not for speed but to get it in  his garage.   Has anyone ever done this to a finished Kitfox?  I  can walk the process through in my mind and it doesn't look like it would be  that difficult.  I can't remember for sure but I don't think the internal  wing bracing extends to the last rib so that would not be an  issue.         Seems like, cut with a razor  blade all around at the next rib, hack the spar/trailing edge and reattach the  wing tip with a little bit of Poly Fiber finishing tape/paint.  Job done in  a day or two.

  

 Don Smythe

[quote]

[b]

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

To All,  I need your  assistance.    

     This morning I asked about  clipping my long wings back to the Speedster configuration.  Frank answered  that he had actually done that and reported nothing but good news.  I  started wondering if we might not be talking apples and oranges.  Frank had  a 912 and I have a 582. Can I expect the same good news as was Franks case with  the 912?

     I have agreed to sell my  airplane to an individual that wants the wings clipped primarily so he can keep  it in his garage.  I have also agreed to perform the work since he is not  familiar with any of the processes.

     Now, I want everybody to throw  some opinions at me about doing this with a 582 engine.  I certainly don't  want to kill a perfectly good airplane by performing the speedster  mod.

     Does anyone fly a 582 with the  speedster mod?  Please contact me off list with some information and  specs.

  

 Thanks and Desperate,

 Don Smythe

 [quote]   ---

occom

Joined: 26 Aug 2006
Posts: 404

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:19 am Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

I can't speak about the performance, although I  would expect that results would be similar. I just wanted to remind you that  there are two braces on that end rib that will have to be duplicated for the  "new" last rib. 

  

 do not archive. 

 do not archive

 --

davef(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:45 am Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Don, i hope you got your starter working  - i  never did hear back on how i went. 

  

 On your speedster mod,  I would be more  concerned about liability for changing a design standard. 

  

 Also ,  I took  a guy flying yestereday  that is activley looking for a Kitfox-  your ad was one of the ones i sent  to him as a potentail Kitfox IV with 582.  

  

 Dave 

  

  

 [quote]   ---

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Thank you Dave.  I woke up  in the middle of the night and decided "NOT" to cut those wings.  The "X"  braces and the liability were the controlling factors.  Sure hate to loose  a cash customer.

     However, cutting the wings is  not changing the design standards.  It is an acceptable "Speedster" mod  that's included in the original building plans.

  

 Don Smythe

 Do Not Archive

     

 [quote]   ---

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Just a thought Don,



Can you still easily fold your wings and will it fit

for him then?



Kurt S.



--- Don Smythe <dosmythe(at)cox.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		       Thank you Dave.  I woke up in the middle of the

 night and decided "NOT" to cut those wings.  The "X"

 braces and the liability were the controlling

 factors.  Sure hate to loose a cash customer.


	


__________________________________________________

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:59 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Kurt,



  When I started building I had a 20 ft deep garage that I expected to keep 

the airplane in.  Wings folded, the airplane is over 21 ft.  I forget 

exactly, but the Speedster length wings was a real temptation.



Lowell

---

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

--- Lowell Fitt <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Kurt,

 

 When I started building I had a 20 ft deep garage

 that I expected to keep the airplane in.  Wings

 folded, the airplane is over 21 ft.  I forget 

 exactly, but the Speedster length wings was a real

 temptation.

 

 Lowell


	


I had the same problem Lowell.  Origionally planned to

garage it.  I asked for the conversion kit with mine

and didn't get it.  I was going to remove the tips and

put it in.



Later got the instructions and decided I didn't like

having 2 long screws holding on my wing extensions, so

I left them long and had to get a hangar.  $$$ 



Kurt S.



Do not archive



__________________________________________________

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

No, I think Lowell hit it on the head.  The long wing is a tad long for his 

or a standard garage.  I remember old Michael Harter cut his to the 

speedster mod for the same reason (to get it in the garage)

Don Smythe

Do Not Archive



---

davef(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Hey Don, Correct me if I wrong but i think the Avid used an extension that 

would make the shorter wing a STOL wing.  But I do stand to be corrected as 

I have been covering wings all day and been sniffing super seam  all day 





Point is - would be neat to be able to fold wings and pull off a 2 foot 

extention so you could still retain the great performance of the long wing.

Dave

---

clint_bazzill(at)hotmail.
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:34 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

I keep my aircraft in my garage all the time.  Its too long so have to put 

it in at an angle.  Uses all of a 2 car garage.  It would be easier to 

modify the garage, then the aircraft.  Clint

From: "Lowell Fitt" <lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net>

Reply-To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: Classic IV wing mods

Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:58:39 -0700






Kurt,



  When I started building I had a 20 ft deep garage that I expected to keep 

the airplane in.  Wings folded, the airplane is over 21 ft.  I forget 

exactly, but the Speedster length wings was a real temptation.



Lowell

---

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Clint,

    My thoughts exactly.  I told the guy he could cut two small holes into 

the living room wall where the wing tips would just stick through.  He could 

use them as coffee tables and if he has a party with dancing he could simply 

go into the garage and flip on the strobes.  The best of two worlds.



Don Smythe

Do Not Archive

---

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

I'm about 90% sure that the Kitfox (back then) offered the same extension 

mods that you mention.  However, putting in that mod would still require 

cutting off the last bay and with the "X" braces needing relocation that 

makes it just as hard.  There were other good arguments to NOT cut the wings 

at this time.   I told the guy tonight that the wing cutting was not an 

option.



Don Smythe

Do Not Archive

---

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

Just a thought as I said Don.  If it was close, he

could just unscrew the wing tips and take them off. 

But I had the same problem - 6" clearance on the

fuselage, but no room for folded wings.  Needed about

30 more inches.



Kurt S.



--- Don Smythe <dosmythe(at)cox.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   No, I think Lowell hit it on the head.  The long

 wing is a tad long for his 

 or a standard garage.  I remember old Michael Harter

 cut his to the 

 speedster mod for the same reason (to get it in the

 garage)

 Don Smythe

 Do Not Archive


	


__________________________________________________

cliffh(at)outdrs.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:16 pm Post subject: Classic IV wing mods

I installed the wing extentions on my son's Avid.

Once they are installed they are permanent and  cannot be removed.

Floran H.

---

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