Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

kitfox trim.

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

Sbennett3(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: kitfox trim.

I recently purchased a kitfox 4 1200 with a rotax  912.  When we try to trim it out in cruise speed there is still a tendency  to nose down...  I'm lazy and don't want the back pressure...  Do any  of you guys use elevator trim and just move the flaperons full forward  ?   Also, it's a torquey little beast at full power... It likes a lot  of right rudder on climbout... Should I bend the tail trim a little further and  use the rt. rudder less on climbout our just get used to it ???   Any  comments from you old pros will be gladly accepted...  Steve Bennett   Durham NC. 



Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

  [quote][b]

- 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:

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

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: kitfox trim.

Well.. I'm no "Pro" but I'll chime in with my limited experience 



Are you trimming with flaps or do you have the motorized trim tab option? I have the trim tab on mine and there's plenty of trim authority to trim for strait and level. In fact, my trim setting is forward of neutral at cruise. 



As for yaw: I too need lots of right rudder to stay coordinated on full power Vy climb. On the other hand, I still need a little left rudder at cruise. I spend a lot more time at cruise then I do at climb so that's more of a factor for me. I guess it's a trade off either way but there's no escaping that your feet are going to be a lot more busy in a Kitfox then they would be in your average Cessna.

- 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:

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

_________________
Luis Rodriguez
Model IV 1200
Rotax 912UL
Flying Weekly
Laurens, SC (34A)

Guy Buchanan

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

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject: kitfox trim.

At 03:34 PM 9/3/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  When we try to trim it out in cruise speed there is still a tendency 

to nose down...  I'm lazy and don't want the back pressure...  Do 

any of you guys use elevator trim and just move the flaperons full forward ?


	


First check the flaperons. You may have some flap on. I like the 

flaperons to have the same angle of attack as the wing. Once you've 

checked them, then I recommend adding an elevator trim. I like it 

better than trimming with the flaperons, though I confess I've not 

been able to ascertain a big speed difference either way.



 	  Quote: 	
		  Also, it's a torquey little beast at full power... It likes a lot of 

right rudder on climbout... Should I bend the tail trim a little 

further and use the rt. rudder less on climbout our just get used to it ???


	


I set the rudder trim for cruise and add rudder for going up and down hill.

Guy Buchanan

San Diego, CA

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

- 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:

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

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

barry(at)pgtc.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:23 am Post subject: kitfox trim.

My model IV has three holes at the leading edge of  the horizontal stabilizer.  I had to lower the leading edge to the lowest  hole to get proper trim in cruise and then there is not much to spare.   Nevertheless, I have no problem trimming for cruise and have left it that way  for six years.

  

 Barry West

 [quote]   ---

- 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:

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

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:20 am Post subject: Re: kitfox trim.

Barry,  



I have 3 holes on my  IV as well  -

--top hole for Wheel and skis 

bottom hole when on floats.



fly hands free in straight and level flight.



Kitfox controls are essentially very light and I really have little need for trim although if I had it I would use it likely. 



Dave

- 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:

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

barry(at)pgtc.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: kitfox trim.

Dave, I used the bottom hole though mine is on wheels.



Barry



---

- 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:

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

michaelgibbs(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject: kitfox trim.

Steve asks:



 	  Quote: 	
		   When we try to trim it out in cruise speed there is still a

 tendency to nose down... I'm lazy and don't want the back pressure...


	


Have you checked the placement of the horizontal stabilizer leading edge?  If the plane is otherwise rigged properly, maybe it needs to go into a lower hole.



 	  Quote: 	
		   Should I bend the tail trim a little further and use the rt.

 rudder less on climbout our just get used to it ?


	


I agree with the other responses you've gotten on this part: set the trim tab so you can put your feet on the floor in cruise.  But don't leave them there...



Mike G.

N728KF, Model IV-1200

Phoenix, AZ

- 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:

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

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: kitfox trim.

On my initial flights, my test pilot and I moved the horizontal stab  

as low as it would go and drilled a new hole to accommodate the front  

attaching bolt. I then had to add a 3" tab to the trim tab to further  

give enough trim control to the elevator. I have since cut the added  

tab down to 2-3/4" because it is too sensitive to the electric trim  

control. I'll probably cut one eighth at a time until it suits me.  

This trim tab runs the full length...about 26"...of the electric trim  

tab.



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/400+ hrs

On Sep 3, 2007, at 6:34 PM, Sbennett3(at)aol.com wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		      I recently purchased a kitfox 4 1200 with a rotax 912.  When we  

 try to trim it out in cruise speed there is still a tendency to  

 nose down...  I'm lazy and don't want the back pressure...  Do any  

 of you guys use elevator trim and just move the flaperons full  

 forward ?   Also, it's a torquey little beast at full power... It  

 likes a lot of right rudder on climbout... Should I bend the tail  

 trim a little further and use the rt. rudder less on climbout our  

 just get used to it ???   Any comments from you old pros will be  

 gladly accepted...  Steve Bennett  Durham NC.



 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List _- 

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

- 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:

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

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

kerrjohna(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: kitfox trim.

Boy! This could become an embroiled discussion.  My experience was just the opposite of Lynn's.  Initially the horizontal was lowered to help "carve" around in the turns but we were not happy with the cruise trim. I believe we measured the flap setting to be 11 +/- degrees for level flight.  

  

 Ultimately, we moved the horzontal stab to its highest setting, sealed the horizontal/elevator gap and trimmed for level flight with the flaperons.  We set the ailerons at neutral with the jib then flew to assess the situation.  It took very little up (forward handle) trim from that point for level flight at 90-95 kts.  We picked up speed because we were no longer dragging the flap, they were acutually a little reflexed.

  

 We found that a little more rudder was needed in the turns but overall performance was improved significantly.

  

 John Kerr

 Classic IV/912, 766 hours as of this morning.

  

 [quote]-------------- Original message -------------- 

From: Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> 



[quote] --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Lynn Matteson 

 

 On my initial flights, my test pilot and I moved the horizontal stab 

 as low as it would go and drilled a new hole to accommodate the front 

 attaching bolt. I then had to add a 3" tab to the trim tab to further 

 give enough trim control to the elevator. I have since cut the added 

 tab down to 2-3/4" because it is too sensitive to the electric trim 

 control. I'll probably cut one eighth at a time until it suits me. 

 This trim tab runs the full length...about 26"...of the electric trim 

 tab. 

 

 Lynn Matteson 

 Grass Lake, Michigan 

 Kitfox IV Speedster w/Jabiru 2200 

 flying w/400+ hrs 

 

 

  > O  ======   	  Quote: 	
		  [b]

- 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:

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

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum