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Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

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rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:55 am Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Flew all weekend on the new bush gear, and it is a night and day difference for me.  I'm a low time taildragger pilot, so I probably over correct and seem uncoordinated anyway, but with the old gear it seemed like every time I landed it was a great adventure between the time that my gear touched and I stopped.  The first time I took off with the bush gear I was on edge about how it was going to act, but wheels touched and the aircraft just tracked straight ahead with no problems.  With about a dozen landings now on the gear (even some pretty good crosswinds), I can say I am loving it.  



The aircraft weighs about 5 lbs less now, and lost about 4 mph (the old gear had the wood streamlined struts and fabric).  



I chose to go with the Highwing LLC gear instead of the Kitfox (McBean) gear for a few reasons.  The Kitfox gear comes with a few extras (new axles, white powder coating, etc) but they also have a higher price tag.  Since I was trying to reduce cost, it was easier for me to reuse the original axles and wheels and paint them the color I wanted.  Lowell and the guys at Highwing completed my order faster than promised, and I was amazed that it all bolted on to my existing mounts without any "persuasion" needed at all.



All in all, I couldn't be more pleased.

Ryan

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_________________
Kitfox IV-1200
Indianapolis, IN

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Now you need some big tires.

_________________
Tom Jones
Classic IV
503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp
Ellensburg, WA

patreilly43(at)hotmail.co
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:10 am Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Ryan C Thanks for the report. I am painting the gear I got from Lowell. He delivered it earlier than promised also. I have his radiator shutters C elevator trim C and now the bush gear. I did get the fairing set also. It sounds like you didn't get the farings. He really did a sweet job of engineering aluminum fairings into the design. I won't be able to compare to the stock gear. I decided to change over now before I install the wings. Even though I have a brand new faired gear installed. I am rebuilding a model 3 that had the landing gear knocked out from under it by a car while on a trailer. Guess I'll sell the new stock landing gear on Barnstormers after I remove it. How did you determine the new weight of the plane being 5# less?

  

 do not archive

  

 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 582 rebuild

 Rockford C IL

 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

 From: rawheels(at)yahoo.com

 Date: Mon C 8 Jun 2009 04:56:03 -0700

 To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

 

 --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "rawheels" <rawheels(at)yahoo.com>

 

 Flew all weekend on the new bush gear C and it is a night and day difference for me. I'm a low time taildragger pilot C so I probably over correct and seem uncoordinated anyway C but with the old gear it seemed like every time I landed it was a great adventure between the time that my gear touched and I stopped. The first time I took off with the bush gear I was on edge about how it was going to act C but wheels touched and the aircraft just tracked straight ahead with no problems. With about a dozen landings now on the gear (even some pretty good crosswinds) C I can say I am loving it. 

 

 The aircraft weighs about 5 lbs less now C and lost about 4 mph (the old gear had the wood streamlined struts and fabric). 

 

 I chose to go with the Highwing LLC gear instead of the Kitfox (McBean) gear for a few reasons. The Kitfox gear comes with a few extras (new axles C white powder coating C etc) but they also have a higher price tag. Since I was trying to reduce cost C it was easier for me to reuse the original axles and wheels and paint them the color I wanted. Lowell and the guys at Highwing completed my order faster than promised C and I was amazed that it all bolted on to my existing mounts without any "persuasion" needed at all.

 

 All in all C I couldn't be more pleased.

 Ryan

 

 --------

 Ryan Wheeler

 Kitfox IV-1200

 Indianapolis C IN

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=247270#247270

 

 

 

 

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 http://forums.matronics.com//files/gear_close_129.jpg

&g=======================
	


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rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Yeah, big tires would be nice.  Baby steps.



I knew that there was some confusion on the weight when Dick posted his update, so I made sure to do a complete weight and balance before and after the swap.  The only change between measurements was the gear including the new brakes lines and everything.  I'm not sure how much the wood and fabric on the old gear weighed, but I think you could safely say that the gear themselves are pretty equivalent in weight if not lighter than the original.

vetdrem

Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 62

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

The gear looks great.  



Can you tell me the difference in the width of the mains.  My trailer uses a flat deck that the mains sit on, but I am concerned that the stance may be too wide with the bush gear.



Thanks



Louie

dcubj3(at)terra.com.br
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Could you share kitfox´s photos with Bush Gear  ?

 Here is mine, with outstanding kitfox factory landing  gear!!

  

 FD

 Brazil, SA

 www.dcubj3.com.br

  

  

 [img]cid:0F8567AE445B4CC8BEA991C55694DB5B(at)compa563fded83[/img]

  

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Boilermaker2000

Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 11
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

The Highwing LLC gear itself is about 66" wide.  So, if you have 6" wide wheels like mine, it is about 78" outside of tire to outside of tire.  That is about 16" wider and a couple inches taller than the original.



 	  vetdrem wrote: 	
		  The gear looks great.  



Can you tell me the difference in the width of the mains.  My trailer uses a flat deck that the mains sit on, but I am concerned that the stance may be too wide with the bush gear.



Thanks



Louie

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

I think it was 72" center to center on the tires.



Sorry FD, what is it that you are asking?  I don't think the Kitfox Factory wants any pics of my aftermarket gear if that is what you are suggesting.

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

[quote="dcubj3(at)terra.com.br"]Could you share kitfoxï¿½s photos with Bush Gear  ?

 Here is mine, with outstanding kitfox factory landing  gear!!

  

 FD

 Brazil, SA

 www.dcubj3.com.br

  

  

 [img]cid:0F8567AE445B4CC8BEA991C55694DB5B(at)compa563fded83[/img]

  

  	  Quote: 	
		     --- 	


Now that is one sexy looking bird!  VERY, VERY NICE!!!

_________________
DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009

I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

Dick Maddux

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Location: Milton, Fl

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Ryan,

  I am glad you enjoy your new gear as much as I do. It  absolutely makes this a new airplane in the ground handling department and  also adds stability on approach.

  It is interesting to note that you too received the same results from  the gear as I did. It is lighter in weight than the stock gear and there is an  approximate reduction of 3-4 mph in cruise speed. Now perhaps the nay sayers  will believe the results I came up with. It looks better too.

  My gear span is now 7 ft measured at the  outside of each tire.(Nanking) That is a 3 ft increase in gear  span.

 There is no way I would ever go back to the original gear as the results of  the "bush gear" is phenomenal !

 ( I couldn't anyway as I sold it on EBAY)

                                                                  Dick Maddux

                                                                  Fox 4-1200

                                                                  Milton,Fl

  Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop: Now in 6 vibrant colors! Shop Dell's full line of laptops.

  [quote][b]

Av8r3400

Joined: 22 Sep 2008
Posts: 83
Location: North Central Wisconsin (KRRL)

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:24 am Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Now that there has bee a few sets of these flying for a little while, what is the verdict?



Would you do it again?  Any regrets?

_________________
Thanks,
Av8r3400

Kitfox Model IV-1200 W/912UL & IVO
Kitfox Model IV-1050 W/912UL & Warp
YouTube Videos

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

 	  Av8r3400 wrote: 	
		  Now that there has bee a few sets of these flying for a little while, what is the verdict?



Would you do it again?  Any regrets? 	




I still like mine.  Aircraft handles better, and seems more stable.  Plus, I got to smile a little when I saw two guys wrapping bungees on an older Merlin GT a couple of weekends ago; Never again (at least on this plane).



Regrets:  Only the reduced performance.  My aircraft was never a speed demon, and the increased drag has really played with it.  Level cruise is only effected by 5 mph, but it also means slower to build speed, and recoup lost airspeed.  I'm definitely going to be installing some speed mods to counteract the loss.  It will be interesting afterward to see how much of the improved handling characteristics are due to the extra drag.

_________________
Kitfox IV-1200
Indianapolis, IN

Pat Reilly

Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 345

Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:09 am Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

Ryan, Which bush gear have you got? Is it faired?

  

 Pat Reilly

 Mod 3 582 Rebuild

 Rockford, IL

 On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 9:29 AM, rawheels <rawheels(at)yahoo.com (rawheels(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "rawheels" <rawheels(at)yahoo.com (rawheels(at)yahoo.com)>

 



Av8r3400 wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Now that there has bee a few sets of these flying for a little while, what is the verdict?



 Would you do it again?  Any regrets?


	




I still like mine.  Aircraft handles better, and seems more stable.  Plus, I got to smile a little when I saw two guys wrapping bungees on an older Merlin GT a couple of weekends ago; Never again (at least on this plane).

 

Regrets:  Only the reduced performance.  My aircraft was never a speed demon, and the increased drag has really played with it.  Level cruise is only effected by 5 mph, but it also means slower to build speed, and recoup lost airspeed.  I'm definitely going to be installing some speed mods to counteract the loss.  It will be interesting afterward to see how much of the improved handling characteristics are due to the extra drag.

 

--------

Ryan Wheeler

Kitfox IV-1200

Indianapolis, IN





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[b]

rawheels

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Westfield, IN

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:42 am Post subject: Speed Fairings, was bush gear

 	  Pat Reilly wrote: 	
		  Which bush gear have you got? Is it faired? 	




I opted for the non-faired version with the thinking that I would install wood and fabric like the old gear had.  I still plan on doing that, but am starting with the wing struts first.  They seem easier (snap PVC) , and I think will provide a more significant speed increase than the gear.  



On that subject, what are some alternates to the .016" metal strut cuff that is included in the PVC speed fairing kit?

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject: Bush Gear; Another Happy Customer

The original kits came with instructions to cover that area with fabric. 

What I did was cover as best I could using one piece of fabric terminating 

at the trailing ede, then making a figure eight patch that was layed across 

the top open edges, glued in place at the perifery and shrunk.  It came out 

fine.



Lowell Fitt

Cameron Park, CA

Second Build Model IV-1200 R-912 UL

Covering,  Building Paint booth.



---

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Speed Fairings, was bush gear

 	  rawheels wrote: 	
		   	  Pat Reilly wrote: 	
		  Which bush gear have you got? Is it faired? 	




I opted for the non-faired version with the thinking that I would install wood and fabric like the old gear had.  I still plan on doing that, but am starting with the wing struts first.  They seem easier (snap PVC) , and I think will provide a more significant speed increase than the gear.  



On that subject, what are some alternates to the .016" metal strut cuff that is included in the PVC speed fairing kit? 	


ok don't laugh too much..  I went to put mine on last week after looking at the box in the garage for the last year.  The aluminum pieces sent did not fit for caca.  soooo in true Alaska fashion, I busted out the good ole gorilla tape (for test flights only).  While it did make it slipperier on decent, it really did not seem to affect cruise too much.  Maybe 2-3 MPH RPM for RPM.  The big shocker for me was today when I put my new full lotus floats on (1450's) and GAINED 8-10 MPH in cruise and about 150 FPM climb over my unfaired avid wide gear and 24" tires.  I am thinking that when I pull my floats off I will be going onto a set of Lowel's cub style gear!



Super duper snake oil sales man

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