Wind

[DesertFox4]

Dorsal, Like Highwing my limits here at home are different when
"on the road". Here (Phoenix) I just pass if it's 15mph or above knowing tomorrow will most likely be less than 5 mph and sunny.

Worst I've encountered while "on the road" was flying back from the Kitfox factory fly-in about 4 or 5 years ago. Mike B. was flying his Vixen. We'd gotten our tails kicked all across Nevada especially from Ely south to Mesquite.

Mike had his fill by Mesquite.
Airport advisory said winds at Mesquite were 230 degrees at 35 gusting to 45 mph.
Rwy. 19 in use. Turning base to final I overshot final by 100 feet and had to fight my way back to center line. That large rudder and the full span flapperons got us down OK.

Mike talked the manager into renting us the last hangar on the field while I sat in my Kitfox holding the brakes & stick.

We fit both Kitfox's in the hangar by folding one wing on each. Happy to have them inside with 50-60 mph winds forecast for 2 days.

[jtpitkin06]

Yeowee!!! 50 to 60 knot winds would have the poor Kitfox hovering above the tie downs. Lucky you got in the hangar. Good idea folding the wings. I hope you got a two for one special rate!!!

John Pitkin
Greenville, TX

[DesertFox4]

Not sure about those knot thingies John but it was 55 mph according to the tv and radio the next day and walking between the 2 casinos it felt all of 55mph. The airport manager was great and even helped us push and pull on the Kitfox's to get them squeezed in that little hangar and get the door shut.
The folding wings saved the day.
If not for the hangar I would have expected to come out and find my rudder missing or worse. Felt sorry for those little airplanes tied out on the ramp.
The 3rd morning when we took off it was still blowing 20 mph. Bumpy ride home.

[SkyPirate]

you also have an advantage Dorsal ,..since your plane is a tricycle geared config,..once your on the ground and all 3 wheels down,..just cross your controls to keep the wings level and weight on the nose,..and if you've got 25 mph winds keep your taxi speed below 15 mph,..or 30 mph winds taxi speed at 10 mph,..ground effect is always a factor,
With the kitfox ,..if you've got the flaperons set so you have 1 notch negative available to you ,..this will also help keep the plane on the ground ,.. my model 2 I had set the flaperons so that I had -2 degrees at the bottom of the flaperon control stick ,..this also lets you come down on approach at a faster speed,..and just before touch down, pull up on your flaperon control to a positive angle of your choice that meets your need , and reduce power,..once your on the ground ,..put the flaperons back to the negative angle of attack if you have cross winds or high head winds,.. the junker style wing/flaperon that the kitfox uses has allot of advantages

Chase

[Slyfox]

today I just had to fly. I got to the runway and was told by the tower, winds 7 gusting to 25, on a 240 heading, the runway is 21. He was very worried for me. Well like I said in my earlier post, over 10 and it's the RV. I came back with not a problem, and took off. Coming in, I still had him being concerned. I just said cleared to land. On the way in, man, airspeed managment. I would drop out, the airspeed up and than down, I just managed with throttle only, well maybe a little stick. I get down to the runway, round out and at the time that I should touch, the big gust and back up I went and leveled at 10ft off with no coming down, I went like this for about 200ft and let off the throttle just a bit, now it wants to drop out, so just as fast as I took out power I'm now adding power, than the touch down, nice and sweet, with a roll out that was real short, got off at the first turn off. Like scotty says in the new movie, that was exciting.

I have done this stuff in the fox that's why I knew what to do with the throttle. When flying this stuff only, I mean only mainly use throttle to control airspeed and drop out. Just so you know, I was flying the RV. But the leasons learned in the kitfox will help in any plane you fly.

[SkySteve]

you also have an advantage Dorsal ,..since your plane is a tricycle geared config,..once your on the ground and all 3 wheels down,.

SkyPirate,
Did I read you right? Oh man, you are about to get slammed along side your head with a tail wheel. You have actually said it out loud. The thing about a tri gear being an advantage. But I'm with you.

[Dorsal]

I am assuming most have found this site but for those that haven't it is pretty handy for a quick visual on upcoming conditions.

http://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi

[sadmemories20]

I have done this stuff in the fox that's why I knew what to do with the throttle. When flying this stuff only, I mean only mainly use throttle to control airspeed and drop out. Just so you know, I was flying the RV. But the leasons learned in the kitfox will help in any plane you fly.