There is a member, here on this list, with the handle Av8rPS. Paul owns several aircraft ranging from several Avid Flyers and Kitfoxes to most recently he has purchased a Just Highlander. He has flown them all on floats and wheels and is quite knowledgeable on this design class (the Avid descendants) of aircraft.
Contact Paul. He love to talk airplanes. Really...
Av8r3400 Kitfox Model IV
The Mangy Fox
912UL 105hp Zipper YouTube Videos
My advice is to just get the plane you want, looks, performance, and most important, factory support. Than go out and fly the snot out of it, be one with the airplane, than you will have fun and not look back. I love my kitfox because it's easy to fly, the only adjustment is the prop. I use no flaps, just push pull the throttle. If I want to land short, I just pull back on the throttle all the way(idle set to 500rpm), this allows me to stand on the nose and land it, if I'm not going slow enough I level out and put a bunch of rudder in, I end up flying sideways, this is much better than any flaps, I get to 70 I straighten up and land the plane, most the time I can touch down and roll out about 300ft. Why do I need any of the complexities of flaps for. My plane flies and can do what I want it without the trouble. I am one with both my airplanes and can do things with them that no body else can, why, I fly them all the time and know what they can do.
I took off from a strip the other day and on take off a blue haron came out of the weeds and went right in my path, (I was in the RV) did I freak, no way, I stayed on the runway a little longer and got my speed up, just when I thought I was clear of the bird, it was about 10ft off, it turned around and went right in my path, what did I do, I lifted off and banked hard right, missed it by about 5 feet, did it scare me, no way, I just went on my way. I thought it was cool actually. You need to know your airplane and not get caught up in, this guy says this plane is best, or that plane is the only one to have, a plane is a plane, and you make it what it is. So go out and find the plane YOU want and build it or buy it and than fly the snot out of it and enjoy it.
It all depends on the mission.. If you dont use flaps, you are not as one with the plane as you may think. I can get in and stopped in under 150' consistantly... Each plane has a different mission. Define your mission, then look for the plane that best suits that mission.
Larry gave you great advice! Talk to Paul. I doubt there are many here (if any) who have as much time in the various models from the Avid A up to the present planes as Paul does. He will give you honest answers without any brand X hype.
I've never needed to come in and stop at 150ft. so why bother.
I thought about this one a bit and here goes. If I land and don't use the brakes, which I do. Does that mean I'm NOT one with the airplane. If I go to land and turn the engine off and land without the engine, does that mean I'm NOT one with the airplane. I think you should rethink your response
Re: Kitfox vs. Highlander
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