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Speedster features giving it higher speeds

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av8rps(at)tznet.com
Guest

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject: Speedster features giving it higher speeds

Don,



Here is something I scanned that offers a good description of what differs 

between the Speedster and the rest of the earlier airplanes.  Please note 

the paragraphs that talk about the elevator trim, and the extra false ribs 

on the bottom of the wing, as I personally believe this is what gives the 

Speedster and later Kitfoxes considerably higher speeds than some of the 

earlier model IV's (which fwiw are still faster than the 3's and earlier).



My IV-1200 on floats will go 120 mph on a 912ul, and it has a long wing. 

I've been perplexed as to why it goes that fast when others say they can't 

go that fast on wheels?  And it is faster than a few of my buddies Model 

IV-1050's that are on wheels?  Only observable difference between the 

airplanes is that I have extra false ribs in my wing they don't, and I have 

electric elevator trim.  Apparently these things make a large difference. 

And I think I can understand as they both make sense.  If the wing doesn't 

hold it's shape consistently at high speeds, it will revert back to the 

original airfoil shape somewhat, thereby increasing drag.  And the elevator 

trim definitely helps as you no longer need to trim the plane with the 

flapperons, which are major drag if not neutral to the airstream (they are 

essentially full length wings with a 10 inch chord, right?).  So in  my 

opinion, if you  you want a good little cross country Kitfox, make sure it 

has those features.



However, if you desire a real booney basher with extreme stol 

characteristics, but a model 3 or earlier with the lightweight airframe and 

the high lift undercambered airfoil.



Just my two cents worth...



Paul Seehafer

Central Wisconsin

Model IV-1200 912ul IVO prop

Aerocet amphib floats

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pwmac(at)sisna.com
Guest

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject: Speedster features giving it higher speeds

True. If the shape of the bottom of the wing can be held in the 

Riblitt designed shape It is bound to improve performance. And 3 

false ribs/bay is much better than zero and 4 is better than 3. More 

than 4 is starting to add weight. Standard speedster had 3 false 

bottom robs in each bay.

Paul

=====================

At 04:39 PM 5/14/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Don,



Here is something I scanned that offers a good description of what 

differs between the Speedster and the rest of the earlier 

airplanes.  Please note the paragraphs that talk about the elevator 

trim, and the extra false ribs on the bottom of the wing, as I 

personally believe this is what gives the Speedster and later 

Kitfoxes considerably higher speeds than some of the earlier model 

IV's (which fwiw are still faster than the 3's and earlier).



My IV-1200 on floats will go 120 mph on a 912ul, and it has a long 

wing. I've been perplexed as to why it goes that fast when others 

say they can't go that fast on wheels?  And it is faster than a few 

of my buddies Model IV-1050's that are on wheels?  Only observable 

difference between the airplanes is that I have extra false ribs in 

my wing they don't, and I have electric elevator trim.  Apparently 

these things make a large difference. And I think I can understand 

as they both make sense.  If the wing doesn't hold it's shape 

consistently at high speeds, it will revert back to the original 

airfoil shape somewhat, thereby increasing drag.  And the elevator 

trim definitely helps as you no longer need to trim the plane with 

the flapperons, which are major drag if not neutral to the airstream 

(they are essentially full length wings with a 10 inch chord, 

right?).  So in  my opinion, if you  you want a good little cross 

country Kitfox, make sure it has those features.



However, if you desire a real booney basher with extreme stol 

characteristics, but a model 3 or earlier with the lightweight 

airframe and the high lift undercambered airfoil.



Just my two cents worth...



Paul Seehafer

Central Wisconsin

Model IV-1200 912ul IVO prop

Aerocet amphib floats

- The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:51 am Post subject: Speedster features giving it higher speeds

At 04:39 PM 5/14/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Here is something I scanned that offers a good description of what 

differs between the Speedster and the rest of the earlier airplanes.


	


Paul,

         Thanks for this post. When I get my "Kitfox Flying Guide" 

back I'll try to put together a Matronix Wiki entry covering the 

various models and history which people can update at will.

Guy Buchanan

San Diego, CA

K-IV 1200 / 582-C / Warp / 100% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.



Do not archive

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Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

_________________
Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
A glider pilot too.

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