Fri, Apr 01, 2011
Nosewheel And Tail Wheel Configurations Combined For Ultimate
Flying Experience
ANN April 1st Special Edition:
Kitfox has introduced a new version of its popular LSA which
doesn't force builders to choose between traditional or tricycle
landing gear configurations.
Dubbed the "TrikeDragger", the innovative design is based on the
company's "Classic IV" airframe. "This airplane does not force the
pilot to make choices," said Kitfox owner John McBean. "For
pavement operations, you can have a tarmac-friendly tricycle gear
configuration, but with about 10 turns of the counterweight trim
crank, it becomes a taildragger for grass or off-airport
takeoffs and landings."
The heart of the new TrikeDragger is a sliding weight mounted in
the lower part of the fuselage of the airplane. Shifting the weight
aft moves the center of gravity aft as well, which allows the
airplane operate in taildragger configuration. But with the weight
pulled full forward, the airplane lands like a trike. "It's not
enough to significantly affect the handling characteristics of the
airplane," McBean said. "It's just enough to change the CG to allow
the airplane to land in the desired configuration."
The one sacrifice that did have to be made was the LSA
designation, so the TrikeDragger will only be available as an
Experimental aircraft. "Between the counterweight and the extra
landing gear, we just couldn't keep the airplane under the LSA
weight limit," said McBean. "But I've flown this airplane, and
while it's a little slower from the extra weight and drag, it's
still pure Kitfox."
The kit will be available with a larger engine option to
counteract some of that extra drag. McBean says kits should be
ready to ship to homebuilders by mid-summer, and is currently
taking deposits on the airplane.
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