5 vs 7

[rcnut]

Recently retired I want to get back into flying, I am a low time PP but want to fly sport due to medical issues. I have only had conventional gear flying . so here is my delima. if you could afford either a KF5 trike or a SS7 taildragger which would you buy???? I like the larger SS7 for my size , once built can another owner that purchased the taildragger convert it to trike?I am not afraid to start from scratch with a kit but I still want to fly while building then.

[ken nougaret]

hi gary,
i'm 5 months into a ss7 build. i'm fortunate to have a cherokee that i fly while i build. the kitfox is convertible to a nose gear after it has been built; buy the nose gear and move the main gear back. i'm building mine as a tail dragger. i used to have a champ before the cherokee and i like the little extra challenge of a tail dragger, and i think the plane looks so much better in that configuration.
i don't have any experience with a model 5.
ken

[Monocock]

If purchase price is no issue then go for the 7. I'm almost certain it wouldn't be a problem to convert a conventional gear one to a trike, but it seems a bit of a shame.

You would also have a better engine mount set up than the 5. The 7 has a Kitfox + Rotax ring mount set up allowing an air box, increased carb security from the inlet manifolds being the "normal" way round and a sensible range of C of G is easier to achieve due to the extended distance from prop flange to firewall. The 5 has a dynofocal mount meaning the carbs have to be on the reversed inlet manifold arrangement. Although not a major problem, it isn't as nice as the 7 mounting system.

The benefits of the 5 are purchase price (compared to a 7) and the climb performance which, with similar engine and prop installations, should be better than a 7 (from what I have experienced).

Either way, it's a nice decision to have to make!

[Dorsal]

Akarmy on this group purchased a 7 and converted it from a trike to a tailer, I think there may be some photos in his album. If you want to put skis or big wheels on you may want to leave the 7 it as it is. The 7 is nice in that it gives you the gear option now and in the future.

[kitfox2009]

Hi Gary
Your situation sounds very similar to mine. Two years ago I found a Model 5 Vixen with 912UL TT E&AF 110 hours direct from the original builder. It came with all manuals and work sheets. I believe the 5`s have the same size cockpit as later models, although Vixens are not convertible.
Aircraft like these can be found at less than 1/2 the cost of a model 7 completed kit ( I cannot understand why, bad economy I guess). It would be very hard to beat these for value. The big plus is, I am 71 and flying every week (over 300 hours now)instead of building until I am 75 and maybe unable to pass the medical.
There have been some great deals advertized over the past couple of years. For the owners sake I hope used prices improve!

[rcnut]

thank you to all who responded, part of my question should have been is. If I buy a 7 tail dragger would it be better since I have to have some dual time anyway is to get my tail dragger endorsment at the same time I build up my hours to get current again? I don't know what to anticipate the diffilculty in getting current and tail endorsment at the same time. or just get current in a trike and then work on the tail. ??? Time is no problem just getting current. either way I WILL FLY AND OWN A KITFOX!!!!!
thank you
gary

[Monocock]

I would do exactly that. Conventional gear is not more difficult than nose wheel and you would save any uneccesary devaluation of the aircraft by keeping it as a conventional. You'll also get the best out of your aircraft.

[BigJohn]

I currently fly a KF5 and love it, That being said, I Changed the Elevevator to the 7, Put on Wide Bush Gear with larger tires, Changed some of the Instrument Panel, Put on an Alaska Bush Tail Wheel. Put on VG's, added a Heater. etc, etc, etc. and I fly it Conventional and wouldn't desire to fly it as a nose wheel plane where I like to fly.

That all being said I still would like to add the 7 engine mount and change the cowling. So If you have a chance to buy a 7 or SLSA I would go that route, You can convert from Tri to Tail wheel when you like, have all the benefits of the items I had to change and you already have the better CG with the 7 engine mounts.

No don't get me wrong, I love my 5 and it does everything I want to do, but I had to make the changes to get it there from a stock 5 to get what I wanted and still would change a few things, The 7 or SLSA is ready to go.

[kmach]

I agree , if you can afford a series 7 or if you reguire the SLSA Super Sport, those would be my first choice. The improvements on them could be done to series 5's and up, but would be costly. I too enjoy my series 5 , but I do wish I could afford some of the things that a 7 offers, like engine mount , the boot type cowling are just two that come immediately to mind.

[Newkid]

The Series 5, 6, and 7 are all the same size. If you want to go used Series 6s also have convertible gear.