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Thread: Kitfox Crash

  1. #51
    Senior Member av8rps's Avatar
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    Oct 2009
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    That truly is an amazing story with a very happy ending for you. Your beautiful Kitfox unfortunately was sacrificed, but certainly proved its crashworthiness. I hope you find a replacement soon.

    Flying floats for decades down rivers really makes me appreciate, and seriously think about what happened to you. So thank you for your willingness to share your experience with all of us. I'm sure it's not easy to talk about.

    For those that may not know, it is pretty much impossible to see wires across rivers, or wires out to islands from a lake shore. If I don't know the area well I traditionally will fly at a minimum of 200 ft above the water as around here even big power lines are lower than that. On rivers I know, if I desire to scud run a river I do that with my floats only a foot or two off the surface as that keeps me under even the lowest power lines (being no taller than the bigger pleasure boats on the river). I also try to not fly down the middle of the river as the lines are lowest there. And I consider the 10ft to 200 ft area above the surface as a NO-FLY ZONE, and really try to adhere to that rule even on rivers I think I know well (power companies don't call to tell me they just installed a new cable...). Flying rivers is a great time, but a guy really can't be careful enough. And I have never encountered a zip line in all my years. That possibility, along with deep mountain passes adds a whole new level of caution to deal with

    ... And then there is my friend that took his buddy out for a ride in his just Cessna 185 during a half time break of a Super Bowl game that everyone in the area was watching because their team was playing. He thought it would be fun to show his friend a 150 mph buzz job down on the deck of the local river that seperated the neighborhood. But as he buzzed over a small county bridge he heard a loud snap! He had hit the main power line feeding all the neighbors houses (and even worse, all of the local bars) on both sides of the river, causing everyone in the area to lose power for the rest of the day!! I think his entire neighborhood is still mad at him

    Oh, and he had just bought the plane and hadn't yet figured out that those funny things on the landing gear were cable cutters ( apparently used by power company pilots flying a lot near power lines). They for sure were worth their weight that day. He hates me telling that story as he says he has since gave up flying down rivers. But that story is a good reminder for all of us when we are being tempted to have a little more fun than we probably should...

  2. #52
    Guy Buchanan's Avatar
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    Mar 2009
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Want to see what it looks like now? Some of you saw it before and may be a little shocked. I know it discourages me every time I look at it. Digging into the motor now, but it's not good. The river was very silty and the motor was not only full of water, but full of silt. Fun.
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    Guy Buchanan
    San Diego, CA
    Deceased K-IV 1200 / 912uls / 70" Warp 3cs

    gebuchanan@cox.net

  3. #53
    Administrator DesertFox4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Yikes!!! I really prefer the before photos.


    So glad you are doing well Guy. Hope to see you soon and in another beautiful Kitfox.


    DesertFox4
    Admin.
    7 Super Sport
    912 ULS Tri-gear


  4. #54
    Senior Member
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    Chisholm Mn
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Wow, what a mess. Such a shame, but so good that you are still here to look at the parts and figure where to go from here. Planes can be replaced, people can't. Find another and go from there. JImChuk

  5. #55
    Senior Member
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    Garland, Texas
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Glad to hear you are OK. There are always other planes out there. I’d recommend going with a 5 or 7, I’d send the engine to Edge performance for a rebuild and upgrade.
    Paul Zimmermann
    LSRM-A
    Garland, Texas

  6. #56
    Senior Member Wheels's Avatar
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    Oct 2010
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    Spokane Wa
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Don't Leave the Brother hood of IVs!
    5, 6, and 7, are cool ... if your into that, but the IV .... OH MAN, You know how they handle. There is the one fact that nothing is easy in maintenance of the IV, but, hey, Its a IV!! they ROCK!!

  7. #57
    Guy Buchanan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Kitfox Crash

    Yeah. No worries there. It'll be a IV.
    Guy Buchanan
    San Diego, CA
    Deceased K-IV 1200 / 912uls / 70" Warp 3cs

    gebuchanan@cox.net

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