Awesome video.....I'm super envious. Wish I had started getting involved with planes in my teens. In my seventies now and love your hobby videos. Keep it up!!!!
Awesome upgrade video! Thanks, man! That third landing, the bounce was so minor as to make it imperceptible in real time and only noticeable in slo-mo...
I wonder if you could rivet some angle aluminum along the inside portion of the gear frame to give some handy attachment points for the lines. And then you can have a clean profile for covering later.
You can order the gear with brake line tabs if you know you are going to cover them. Wish I had now. Something to consider if you are thinking about ordering them from Tony. The wing fairing material also works on these gear legs.
Great video. Informative, interesting, great camera angles, the works. My only questions are; what breaks and wheels are you using? And did you resolve to satisfaction the soft break issue?
Wondering what pressure (psi) you had in the shock monster and in your tires. I've been told you need a higher psi in the tires in order for the shocks to work properly. Great video. Tom upstate NY
Hi Brian, Thanks for the great information and video. I know you said the Monster Gear setup was 1.6 lbs lighter, but does that take into consideration the weight of your new stainless steel brake lines since the Grove Gear is gun drilled and does not require the extra weight of this type of brake line material?
My grove was not gun drilled so I had plastic brake lines running down the back of the gear in a grove. There was not much difference in weight between the brake lines, but I did not weigh the stainless lines.
Next time, Please don't lift your plane from the engine lifting point! This is to lift just the engine not the weight of the whole plane. I have seen the top of the engine being torn out! Next time lift from the motor mount at the firewall, much stronger!
Did you say you were going to try and put fairings on those new gears? Do they have something that covers the whole shock? Curious what you were talking just about.
You can use the same extruded plastic fairings that are used on the wing struts to fair the gear legs and then cover them, I'll have to come up with something for the shocks themselves.
Your plane looks Awesome. Love the new gear! Just curious what does your plane weigh in at. I will be looking into a kitfox next year for my wife and I to have some fun with and travel around in.
@@BowenAero so that leaves you with 615 useful load. Full Fuel is about 140lbs ?.. I'm just seeing with my wife and I, full fuel, and some gear we will be flying around at max gross. Have You flown at max gross? And if so can you still play around with the off airport shenanigans ;) or does it become risky and possibly unsafe? Also to add another factor we live in Utah with the higher elevations and hot summers. Just trying to figure out if the kitfox will be the right fit for us. Maybe we need a his and hers kitfox lol.
I've been curious for a while -- wondering if these new(er) better non-stock landing gear kits, Shock Monster, Beringer, etc have different lengths legs? So bush planes look really tall with heaps of prop clearance, while other's seem rather low to the ground? Is there such a thing as a STOL bush plane lift kit? Or is the length appearance all contingent up the size of you bush wheels?
I always thought you were a little too serious but I had a laugh out loud moment when you said nipple then That's right I said nipple! You just earned a subscribe my friend!
Doug Hoerber Enjoy your Kitfox build videos very much. Saw you at this years Reno 2019 STOL Drags, outstanding! I live in Redding, do you ever have your plane available for public viewing? Benton fly in? Would love to see it up close and personal.
What psi is the line? some times people don't use the correct psi brake line for the beaks . I would use. Earl's break lines you can find them in summit racing
You mentioned being able to takeoff in the 3 point attitude with the taller gear. Raising the tail gives better directional control (as effectively moves the cog forward nearer the main gear), better forward vis, reduced tailwheel drag and allows you better control over when the takeoff occurs (nothing worse than getting off early due to a momentary gust) But all that said great looking set up.
The three point attitude allows for the highest angle of attack and will get it airborne the soonest, but it naturally raises the tail a little bit as it starts to get light on the wheels, forcing it to stay on the ground makes it a little unstable. The method I have always used is to raise the tail, mostly to see where I'm going, and accelerate to 45mph and rotate. With the grove gear I would hit the tail if before 45, with this gear it just flys.
It is much better for off airport landings. It prevents you from bouncing and the suspension can handle rougher terrain and allows for better braking, but it is a trade off with the lose of speed. I am missing the 115mph cruise.
Why not have the struts designed for internal routing of brake lines so as too protect the brake lines for backcountry landings. Plane is really come along.
Oh right on. I grew up in Redding off Alta Mesa. Hey so I’m in sacramento now all my family is still in Redding. I’m looking to buy or build a kit fix. I currently fly a Cherokee 160. Hoping to sell that to fund the project. Sucks cause I won’t be able to fly for a long while. Anyways. Do you know anyone that is selling an unfinished kit or a kit that is for sell or used plan? I’m also looking for a build mentor of sorts for the kit fox that is close to home (sacramento). Love your videos, love all your content and information in your videos. Any help would be much appreciated. Also I would love to come watch you fly or even fly with you to get a feel for the kit fox.
I knew you took measurements to monster shocks but I would think as many kits as they have and yes I would be disappointed to. I have a kit fox five also and want to put shock monster also Yours should be the same as mine
My gear legs are made by TK1 (Shock Monster) and not the ones you would get if you ordered them from Kitfox. The design is a little bit different and they are taller, but use the same shock.
I like you videos but if you actually showed you doing the work I think you would get a lot more views and subscribers. I have watched a good number of your vids but you always jump to it installed ad not what went into putting it in or on the aircraft. Just my 2 cents
It's obvious Tony not only makes a great product but he stands by the customer after the sale. That's a great businessman.
Impressive how the gear soaked up the harder landing! That will make practicing STOL landings much more comfortable and safe.
Awesome video.....I'm super envious.
Wish I had started getting involved with planes in my teens.
In my seventies now and love your hobby videos. Keep it up!!!!
The audio was very good, no wind or engine noise interference. You did a great job editing!
Nice job, good luck with the new gear.....safety first!
New gear looks amazing.
That landing look smooth with this gear
I love this whole aircraft. Love the KF V with that engine. And now this gear. Nice upgrade.
Looks great!
looks like a success!
New Subscriber, Beautiful Plane‼️👍👍✈️. GOOD LUCK,. VINNY 🇺🇸
Awesome upgrade video! Thanks, man! That third landing, the bounce was so minor as to make it imperceptible in real time and only noticeable in slo-mo...
Good vid, thanks. May you always find the ground right about where you think it is.🤣
Nice vid!
I wonder if you could rivet some angle aluminum along the inside portion of the gear frame to give some handy attachment points for the lines. And then you can have a clean profile for covering later.
You can order the gear with brake line tabs if you know you are going to cover them. Wish I had now. Something to consider if you are thinking about ordering them from Tony. The wing fairing material also works on these gear legs.
Great video. Informative, interesting, great camera angles, the works. My only questions are; what breaks and wheels are you using? And did you resolve to satisfaction the soft break issue?
Wondering what pressure (psi) you had in the shock monster and in your tires. I've been told you need a higher psi in the tires in order for the shocks to work properly. Great video. Tom upstate NY
Right now I am at 180psi in the shock and 8psi in the tires. I think I will go a bit higher in both.
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the great information and video. I know you said the Monster Gear setup was 1.6 lbs lighter, but does that take into consideration the weight of your new stainless steel brake lines since the Grove Gear is gun drilled and does not require the extra weight of this type of brake line material?
My grove was not gun drilled so I had plastic brake lines running down the back of the gear in a grove. There was not much difference in weight between the brake lines, but I did not weigh the stainless lines.
Next time, Please don't lift your plane from the engine lifting point! This is to lift just the engine not the weight of the whole plane. I have seen the top of the engine being torn out! Next time lift from the motor mount at the firewall, much stronger!
It can also distort the case..and as these cases have an inherent issue with the Center Main, you want the least distortion possible..
John Haedt
Did you say you were going to try and put fairings on those new gears? Do they have something that covers the whole shock? Curious what you were talking just about.
You can use the same extruded plastic fairings that are used on the wing struts to fair the gear legs and then cover them, I'll have to come up with something for the shocks themselves.
Hi Brian, I'm think of getting this setup on my 4. What did the shock and gear set you back ? Great info!
You will need to contact Tony at TK1 racing for that. (916)806-8575
Me too! I want Shock Monsters on my IV
Your plane looks Awesome. Love the new gear! Just curious what does your plane weigh in at. I will be looking into a kitfox next year for my wife and I to have some fun with and travel around in.
My Model 5 weighs in at 935 lbs with the big tires.
@@BowenAero so that leaves you with 615 useful load. Full Fuel is about 140lbs ?.. I'm just seeing with my wife and I, full fuel, and some gear we will be flying around at max gross. Have You flown at max gross? And if so can you still play around with the off airport shenanigans ;) or does it become risky and possibly unsafe? Also to add another factor we live in Utah with the higher elevations and hot summers. Just trying to figure out if the kitfox will be the right fit for us. Maybe we need a his and hers kitfox lol.
I've been curious for a while -- wondering if these new(er) better non-stock landing gear kits, Shock Monster, Beringer, etc have different lengths legs? So bush planes look really tall with heaps of prop clearance, while other's seem rather low to the ground? Is there such a thing as a STOL bush plane lift kit? Or is the length appearance all contingent up the size of you bush wheels?
The factory legs are a set length, but TK1 AKA Shock Monster can and will build them to whatever length you like.
I always thought you were a little too serious but I had a laugh out loud moment when you said nipple then That's right I said nipple! You just earned a subscribe my friend!
Doug Hoerber
Enjoy your Kitfox build videos very much. Saw you at this years Reno 2019 STOL Drags, outstanding! I live in Redding, do you ever have your plane available for public viewing? Benton fly in? Would love to see it up close and personal.
It was out at the Benton Fly in, I hope you got to see it.
What psi is the line? some times people don't use the correct psi brake line for the beaks . I would use. Earl's break lines you can find them in summit racing
I did use the brake lines from Summit Racing.
You mentioned being able to takeoff in the 3 point attitude with the taller gear. Raising the tail gives better directional control (as effectively moves the cog forward nearer the main gear), better forward vis, reduced tailwheel drag and allows you better control over when the takeoff occurs (nothing worse than getting off early due to a momentary gust) But all that said great looking set up.
The three point attitude allows for the highest angle of attack and will get it airborne the soonest, but it naturally raises the tail a little bit as it starts to get light on the wheels, forcing it to stay on the ground makes it a little unstable. The method I have always used is to raise the tail, mostly to see where I'm going, and accelerate to 45mph and rotate. With the grove gear I would hit the tail if before 45, with this gear it just flys.
What is the advantage of the new gear over the Grove gear that makes it worth losing the speed?
It is much better for off airport landings. It prevents you from bouncing and the suspension can handle rougher terrain and allows for better braking, but it is a trade off with the lose of speed. I am missing the 115mph cruise.
Hey, thanks for the response!
Do you know Alex Di Sessa and his lading gear?
I do, Alex is a friend of mine and I am very impressed with his ingenuity. It seems to function very well and it has less drag penalties.
Why not have the struts designed for internal routing of brake lines so as too protect the brake lines for backcountry landings. Plane is really come along.
I'm sure that is something that Tony at TK1 racing, would do.
What motor are you running on that Kitfox?
My model 5 has a Lycoming O290D 130hp engine.
Hello! Did you have to do major changes to fit the Monster Gear ? And what's the price for the complete kit ? Thanks !
No major changes needed. Re-plumbing the brakes is the biggest part. You can contact Tony at TK1 racing for prices.
What is the useful load and gas tank size on your Kitfox 5 ?
933lb empty, 27 gallons fuel, gross EAB 1550, gross LAS 1320. So about the same as a Carbon Cub SS
Rad videos! what is your home airport? would love to fly out and check out that area!
Home airport is Benton, in Redding and Corvallis, in Oregon.
Oh right on. I grew up in Redding off Alta Mesa. Hey so I’m in sacramento now all my family is still in Redding. I’m looking to buy or build a kit fix. I currently fly a Cherokee 160. Hoping to sell that to fund the project. Sucks cause I won’t be able to fly for a long while. Anyways. Do you know anyone that is selling an unfinished kit or a kit that is for sell or used plan? I’m also looking for a build mentor of sorts for the kit fox that is close to home (sacramento). Love your videos, love all your content and information in your videos. Any help would be much appreciated. Also I would love to come watch you fly or even fly with you to get a feel for the kit fox.
What engine do you have in that?
Lycoming O290D 130hp.
I knew you took measurements to monster shocks but I would think as many kits as they have and yes I would be disappointed to. I have a kit fox five also and want to put shock monster also Yours should be the same as mine
My gear legs are made by TK1 (Shock Monster) and not the ones you would get if you ordered them from Kitfox. The design is a little bit different and they are taller, but use the same shock.
"that's right i said nipple" :0
I like you videos but if you actually showed you doing the work I think you would get a lot more views and subscribers. I have watched a good number of your vids but you always jump to it installed ad not what went into putting it in or on the aircraft. Just my 2 cents
Great feedback. I will be including some time lapse of the work in the next video.
He said “ nipple”...