Prop Choice

[jiott]

Ditto, I am in the same boat and am very interested in the replies.

Jim

[jamesmil]

we are going to use the kive prop on our ss7.

[HighWing]

I just went through this process and took delivery recently of a Warp 68" taper tip. I am going to be flying a Model IV with the Rotax 80hp. I considered the IVO and the Kiev. A couple of guys I regularly flew with had Power Fin props and they were poor performers relative to the Warp, so didn't consider Power Fin.

I put 900 hours on a Warp with my first Model IV with no issues and the guys I most frequently flew with favored the Warp. I found while flying with some IVO guys that inflight pitch issues would occasionally occur requiring unscheduled stops to do field maintenance (two in one flight - both of the IVO equipped airplanes). The Kiev has great reports, but being fairly new, I decided to go with what I was familiar with.

Our flying group has flown all over the Western US - Parts of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah and most of Idaho, Nevada and California. Terrain has included Mountain, high Desert and the coast.
Lowell

[DanB]

I just went through this process and took delivery recently of a Warp 68" taper tip. I am going to be flying a Model IV with the Rotax 80hp. I considered the IVO and the Kiev. A couple of guys I regularly flew with had Power Fin props and they were poor performers relative to the Warp, so didn't consider Power Fin.

I put 900 hours on a Warp with my first Model IV with no issues and the guys I most frequently flew with favored the Warp. I found while flying with some IVO guys that inflight pitch issues would occasionally occur requiring unscheduled stops to do field maintenance (two in one flight - both of the IVO equipped airplanes). The Kiev has great reports, but being fairly new, I decided to go with what I was familiar with.

Our flying group has flown all over the Western US - Parts of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah and most of Idaho, Nevada and California. Terrain has included Mountain, high Desert and the coast.
Lowell

Thanks for posting this one Lowell. As I am somewhat of a rookie Kitfoxer having been around for only about 6 years, this is one observation I have noted as well. Many of the guys that fly with the IFA IVO Prop experience trouble (such as shorts and getting stuck in one position). This is not to say anything negative about the performance of this composite, but it is troubling to know the IFA system is not solid. Now to be fair, I have heard there are some differences in design between the light prop system and the Medium set-up. I was told at some point the Medium IVO had a "beefier" IFA designed into it but I don't know the specifics. Can someone take this and explain the differences and or, your experience? Thanks

[catz631]

I removed my Warp taper tip and installed the Kiev. It was a dramatic difference ! It is much smoother,quieter,better looking, and easy on the gearbox.I have had it for about a year and still love it. It took awhile to get the pitch correct but it is there now. My prior posts will give you more info on the selection.
This is one area where everyone has a different opinion and it kind of depends on the area of the country you are in as to which is most popular.

Jeez Lowell, I have my old Warp taper tip hanging on the wall and could have sold it to you cheap !

Dick Maddux
Fox 4,912UL
Milton,Fl

[DanB]

Thanks for posting this one Lowell. As I am somewhat of a rookie Kitfoxer having been around for only about 6 years, this is one observation I have noted as well. Many of the guys that fly with the IFA IVO Prop experience trouble (such as shorts and getting stuck in one position). This is not to say anything negative about the performance of this composite, but it is troubling to know the IFA system is not solid. Now to be fair, I have heard there are some differences in design between the light prop system and the Medium set-up. I was told at some point the Medium IVO had a "beefier" IFA designed into it but I don't know the specifics. Can someone take this and explain the differences and or, your experience? Thanks

Still waiting for someone to tell me about their experience with the IVO, IFA.
Medium vs. Light? I know there are a bunch of you out there...do I intend to start a debate about props? Yes, I think I do. Time to step up and defend the IVO IFA system. Is it lacking? Can it be better? Has anyone determined what can be done to make it more of a solid platform? Has anyone developed a fix the rest of us would be interested in?
All you ole timers...throw us youngsters a bone

[kitfox2009]

I suppose the main criteria would be whether rules that the a/c is operated under allow IFA props. If they do, then I would definitely choose IFA.
I have a Vixen (912UL) and switched to an IVO ultra light 70" about 120 hours ago. This change made my 97 mph a/c into a 117 mph a/c and allows for 1000fpm climb-outs. Pretty happy with that for 80HP!
At about 100 hours the pinion on the carrier stripped requiring replacement. I replaced this myself although I had never opened up the planetary assembly before. The job was quite a simple (about 2 hours) procedure and next time would very straight forward.
I am not sure if 100 hours is the "operating life" of these parts or whether I might have over used the IFA feature because it was a brand new fun thing to play around with. I am finding now that I probably do not play around with it much as when it was a new novelty. For example, if I am just doing circuits I now leave the prop at climb out pitch.
I just cannot understand how ANY propeller that has a fixed in flight pitch would be able to match the performance of a properly operated IFA. (Especially on these smaller horsepower engines)
I am sticking with my IVO!! Even if I need $20 parts every 100 hours!
Cheers
Don