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john.tempest(at)basf.com
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 Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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Hello Kolb List,
I'm a new Firestar owner, who's been listening in and reading previous posts. I've picked up a lot of info. I've not found anything on this subject. I'm a proletarian who's forced to store the Kolb in the garage. It doesn't fit loaded on it's trailer and besides that, getting the plane on and off it's trailer is a two person endeavor.
As I live 1.5 miles from my airport, I'm toying with the idea of towing my plane by it's tailwheel on a fabricated arm/hitch. The trouble with my idea is the leading edge of the wings (folded) sits about 4.5 inches off the deck. I don't have to clear any speed bumps or the such to get there, but I'd like a little more clearance for peace of mind. I was considering tundra tires, but I'm intrigued with the steel leg upgrade you guys have been discussing. Would these longer legs give me the extra bit of clearance I'm after? What do they go for? Are there any other ideas to get me a couple of inches more? Thanks John [quote][b]
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slyck(at)frontiernet.net
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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As a MkIII owner, not a FS, here's my experience: I have towed my plane with an adapter to thetailwheel spring. -A not lengthy but challenging route from my basement shop to the airstrip.
Take the wings off.
Done it both ways. Since there is a matter of a measly two more bolts to remove, it is well
worth the avoidance of damage to remove them. A big load will be removed from the
tail and it will trailer very nicely. -no need to worry about scraping that leading edge.
Besides my old back can't handle the task of lifting it folded anymore. MkIIIs are HEAVY with
those things back there. It was designed for nice short trips from a paved, flat apron into
a cozy hangar, not road trips.
BB, alas that time approaches once more.
On 25, Aug 2008, at 4:26 PM, John Tempest wrote:
[quote]
Hello Kolb List,
I'm a new Firestar owner, who's been listening in and reading previous posts. I've picked up a lot of info. I've not found anything on this subject. I'm a proletarian who's forced to store the Kolb in the garage. It doesn't fit loaded on it's trailer and besides that, getting the plane on and off it's trailer is a two person endeavor.
As I live 1.5 miles from my airport, I'm toying with the idea of towing my plane by it's tailwheel on a fabricated arm/hitch. The trouble with my idea is the leading edge of the wings (folded) sits about 4.5 inches off the deck. I don't have to clear any speed bumps or the such to get there, but I'd like a little more clearance for peace of mind. I was considering tundra tires, but I'm intrigued with the steel leg upgrade you guys have been discussing. Would these longer legs give me the extra bit of clearance I'm after? What do they go for? Are there any other ideas to get me a couple of inches more? Thanks John | Quote: |
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List
href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
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by0ung(at)brigham.net
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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One problem in tailoring on the landing gear is the shock associated with bumps in the road being transmitted directly to the aircraft. The trailer I built extended only a foot or so past the tail, and only went to the main landing gear on the other end. I pull the plane backwards and have a pedestal to mount the tail boom on. It was built so I could pull the plane onto the trailer. The axel I found was for 1000 lb.. so I removed one of the leaf springs, giving the plane a smother ride. The trailer was built with 2 mounting locations for the axel and a removable long extension to the front. That way I can use it as a utility trailer or to haul the plane. The 2xd6’s on the trailer deck fit in the spaces just under the main gear and are used for ramps.
Boyd
[img]cid:image001.jpg(at)01C90757.C5C1A040[/img]
| Quote: | >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As I live 1.5 miles from my airport, I'm toying with the idea of towing my plane by it's tailwheel on a fabricated arm/hitch.
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ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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I use to haul my firestar on the main gear a lot with no problems and at 50 MPH, I just made a custom hitch that would extend out 4 feet from the back of my truck hitch and accept the tail wheel to be locked into place worked Great for me but what Do I know.
Ellery in Maine
do not archive
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
[quote][b]
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tkrolfe(at)toast.net
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:21 am Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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ElleryWeld(at)aol.com (ElleryWeld(at)aol.com) wrote: | Quote: | I use to haul my firestar on the main gear a lot with no problems and at 50 MPH, I just made a custom hitch that would extend out 4 feet from the back of my truck hitch and accept the tail wheel to be locked into place worked Great for me but what Do I know.
Ellery in Maine
do not archive
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Ellery,
I too tow my FireFly on it's main gear to my airfield each time I fly. Great minds must think alike.  Beats messing with a trailer for the short haul, which is 1/2 mile each way. With 600 flights logged at 1 mile per round trip, plus numerous trips over there to do setup and maintenance, I bet I have the most road miles of any Kolb. Anyone else out there with more than 600 road miles not on a trailer? Next I'll have to be applying for a PA license plate!
Of course flying is what it's all about and the road miles make it possible. 910 hr.s flight time and counting.
Terry - FireFly # 95
[quote][b]
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capedavis(at)yahoo.com
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:32 am Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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Ellery , With the wings or without? Thanks Chris
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ElleryWeld(at)AOL.COM
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:16 am Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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I always hauled it with the wings on the airframe I had them secured with some aluminum brackets I welded up they didn't move at all and I hauled my Firestar 6 miles to & from every time I flew if I didn't want to mess with the inclosed trailer and these roads around here are not the best but it still was not a problem and you sure get a lot of lookers and others stopping to ask what it was when you pull into the gas station with a Kolb in toe
Ellery in Maine
do not archive
In a message dated 8/26/2008 12:33:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, capedavis(at)yahoo.com writes:
| Quote: | Ellery , With the wings or without? Thanks Chris
----- Original Message ----
From: "ElleryWeld(at)aol.com" <ElleryWeld(at)aol.com>
To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:27:43 AM
Subject: Re: Tail wheel towing
I use to haul my firestar on the main gear a lot with no problems and at 50 MPH, I just made a custom hitch that would extend out 4 feet from the back of my truck hitch and accept the tail wheel to be locked into place worked Great for me but what Do I know.
Ellery in Maine
do not archive
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
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It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
[quote][b]
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mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.co
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: Tail wheel towing |
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John C
Your interest in towing your plane from the rear is similar to mine. I recently purchased property 1/4 mile from the local airport. I built a boom tube support for my MKIII C (from Uncle Craig's version) and added small welded tabs at each outer end C to attach a towhook. The towhook will be a "Y" shaped thing that has pins that fasten to my boom support.
This arrangment will allow for "mild" towing needs. The little tires on the boom support are castors C which allow the plane to track behind your towing vehicle. I would imagine you wouldn't want to go over 15 mph C and watch for bumps or divots C and in my case C I can leave the wings attached at all times. (I'm at the edge of town C with very little traffic on my country road.)
If you have any further ideas or questions C feel free to contact me directly. My accomodations are "MEAGER". I'm living in an RV trailer while I build my hangar C which is VERY well along. I should
be close to finished in about 3 weeks.
My current internet access is the local public library....which is where I'm sitting at the moment!
My home computer has all the close-ups of the boom support. I don't have access to it for a month or so.
(You say you are a "proletarian". Does that mean you can get a "Hoveround" free C without any medicare deductable?? Cool!!)
BFN C
Mike Welch
MKIII CX
[url=javascript:;][img]http://by142w.bay142.mail.live.com/att/GetAttachment.aspx?tnail=1&messageId=2ddaa49b-abba-4c84-aefa-4aa97d6e6f24&Aux=44|0|8CA7C9014751BD0|[/img][/url]
To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Tail wheel towing
From: john.tempest(at)basf.com
Date: Mon C 25 Aug 2008 16:26:10 -0400
Hello Kolb List C
I'm a new Firestar owner C who's been listening in and reading previous posts. I've picked up a lot of info. I've not found anything on this subject. I'm a proletarian who's forced to store the Kolb in the garage. It doesn't fit loaded on it's trailer and besides that C getting the plane on and off it's trailer is a two person endeavor.
As I live 1.5 miles from my airport C I'm toying with the idea of towing my plane by it's tailwheel on a fabricated arm/hitch. The trouble with my idea is the leading edge of the wings (folded) sits about 4.5 inches off the deck. I don't have to clear any speed bumps or the such to get there C but I'd like a little more clearance for peace of mind. I was considering tundra tires C but I'm intrigued with the steel leg upgrade you guys have been discussing. Would these longer legs give me the extra bit of clearance I'm after? What do they go for? Are there any other ideas to get me a couple of inches more? Thanks John
Get thousands of games on your PC C your mobiT/go/108588800/direct/01/' target='_new'>Game with Windows [quote][b]
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