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.

FMI: www.kitfoxaircraft.com