My channel is about flying and farming. The two things we do. The first videos will be on building your very own airplane and the steps to do it. Off airport flying has become my favorite pastime!
It has been one of the wettest springs that I can remember. Very tough to get a crop in the ground and up. Another 2.5 inch rain that was suppose to be a .5 inch rain. More replant I suppose. Haha. We just have to laugh and go on cause we can't do much about the weather.
I hope your soft rain helped your beans jump out of the ground. It’s been a wet spring in NW Ohio so most crops are still popping through and a decent number of planters still rolling. I do like the idea of scouting with the Farm Fox.
@@diepenj47 we did get .9 over night so they should pop out fine. We have planted everything in the mud it seems this year. Still need one more day to finish planting then wheat looks to be ready in about a week. I really enjoy using the plane for crop scouting. I don't post much because I didn't figure many cared. Good to hear from you Jim! Harlan Edit. ended up with 2.5 inches.....
Do you know if Kitfox offers a balistic parachute system and if so did you install one or would you consider installing one. I know theyre pricey but safety first.
As far as I know they do not offer the system. There are a few kit foxes that I have seen on line that have put the system in. I really don't see a need to carry the extra weigh since I can land almost anywhere if I am high enough to put the chute. Then you have to have them repacked every 5 years I believe. Just my opinion but I don't see much safety factor in a slow low flying plane. In a high speed night flying plane, that would be a different story. Harlan
@KitfoxPilot i see and all valid. I too have seen experimental aircraft install the system in planes thst weren't originally designed for a parachute system. Just curious what your thoughts were. Thx
@KitfoxPilot nice to know. I'm getting closer to putting a plane in my life. Two kids in college are holding my back. If you had to do it all over again would build a kitfox?
Wow! You could fill those wheels with rocks and sand and have a fair airplane tie down. It is interesting to see all the stuff on that sand bar. Can you imagine how much more is actually in the river? Maybe you will find a bunch of gold bars some day on those sand bars!
Thanks for the video Harlan. I enjoy watching you fly. (or should I say "I enjoy watching you ride" given the autopilot. :-) I'm glad you are happy with the Garmin autopilot in the rough air. I have all of that on order, including the yaw dampener. Did you get the yam dampener as well? I can't remember. Thanks again Harlan!
Hi Glenn. I do not have the yaw dampener. I would install it on a new build but at this point I'm not interested in adding it on to mine. I don't do long cross countries much over a couple hours so it's really not that big of a deal for me. Hows the building coming?
Thanks Harlan, my build is coming along slowly. I'm just getting to starting on the wing. I think a lot of what I've done so far would be considered some of the "easy" stuff, so now I'm getting to some of the more complex work. Keep posting those videos Harlan, always nice to see what you are up to!
@@randycalkins6361 I Randy, I am in southern Illinois. I believe I met you and your day at oshkosh. I have Genes plane on ski's in one of my videos. I have talked to him many times on the phone while I was building my plane.
Good debrief. "what do I think"? Well, sand being a most excellent abrasive must do wonders the moving parts of an aircraft that come into contact with it.
Hello Harlan, I’ve been looking at ordering my VPX and was looking for some videos of it installed and then wouldn’t you know it I found yours! Looks good and thanks for the rundown on how to pin things and prep the wires etc. I can’t wait. Thanks for making the video. Matt🎉
Thanks for posting. It may have been a 3-point attempt, but the drag of the small tires kept the tail up (kind of like riding the brakes to keep the tail up). On a soft surface, it's all about the tires
David I took my oratex to my friends body shop and he computer matched and it came out to match dodge silver. I bought 2k automotive paint and painted it then clear coated it on a sample piece. Color was good but too much shine so I got the semi gloss clear coat and it was perfect. Better than I thought I'd ever get it to match. Harlan
You hit the nail there Harlan "Talk to some who knows" all sand is not the same some sand a week after the water has gone is like concrete, and some you struggle to walk on. Like everyone says " The right tyres help" (U.K Spelling)
Nailed it Harlan, those small tires is the first thing I noticed. I don't fly on or off sand here in Nebraska. I haven't heard any announcement yet if there will be any STOL events at Wayne, Nebraska this year.
Thanks. I hope you get the stol event there, I enjoy watching them in Nebraska. You usually add some wind up there to the event to give real short landing!
Well that's too bad. I was hoping to go to the one north of nashville tn this year in the rookie class but I see they moved it to oct which is in the middle of our harvest....We will see if I can get away or not. Thanks for the info.
Spoken like a true tail wheel landing pilot! You are the man with the excuses, pilots have been landings off airport with little tires longer than you have a pilot!
Hello Harlan, the seats look good. You’re probably sitting in them now flying around no need for Wright Rutter I don’t suppose in the KitFox. I’m getting ready to do the same process however, I cannot find the hardware nor anywhere in the instructions that tell you how to do this. Did you come up with this on your own, hopefully you still follow up on these. It looks like it’s been a little while. Thanks very much and have a great day, Matt
There are no instructions or anyone that would give me any advice on them. I went to Lowe's and bought some hinges and put them on. The video shows about all I know about them. Happy Building! PS: It always takes lots of right rudder in a kitfox!
Thanks Harlan, I wasn’t sure if I was missing something but now that you too tell me there are no instructions I feel a little better! Have a good day and thanks for the prompt response. Have a great day, Matt
I used this, www.thecoatingstore.com/product/flat-matte-satin-or-semi-gloss-urethane-clear-quart-kit/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5-uuBhDzARIsAAa21T804FwCZh567imePO1MVR55POI8DM1UCi4lREKvurZgohQ21NTuEq8aAtMdEALw_wcB . It has held up great so far after 2 years.
Love you videos Harlan. You’re one of my inspirations for building a kitfox. Trent Palmer is great and all, but I enjoy your videos much more. I like how you showed so much detail on your build. And I like that you show a lot of flying as well. I imagine myself flying to a sandbar like that and throwing a line in the water. I have 2 more years until my daughter is out of college and I’ll order my kit. God bless you and your family.
Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate your comments. If you are ever in Southern Illinois I would be glad to take you on a flight. I can haul 230lbs max passenger is the only restriction I have and if the rivers are down we might even find a sand bar!
Thank you, that is so kind! I am in the Louisville, Ky. area, a few hours from Southern Illinois. I am on the Kitfox forum as well, although I don’t post yet (until I get my kit started), I have followed quite a bit of your build posts on there as well. I will reach out on the forum when it gets closer to build time. Thanks again!
Hi Harlan. Some time has passed since you posted this. Can I ask ask how happy you are today with the Airmaster choice you made? Also, do you typically run it in "auto" mode or do you typically select your settings (TO/climb/cruise) manually? Thanks Harlan!
Hi Glenn. I am happy with the airmaster and auto mode is pre set selectors. 90% of the time I run in climb mode which is 5500 rpm. It does require more maintenance ,greasing every 100 hours, but costs less and operates just as well as the mt prop I'm told by people that have had them both. With the 915s power a cruise prop will work ok I have been told.
Thanks Harlan. I'm leaning towards the Airmaster so it is good to hear you remain happy with it. Nice to also know that just using a fixed pitch cruise prop could possibly suffice with a 915. Thanks again Harlan, for your great videos!
Just recently found your videos. I am about 2-3 yrs away from building a plane. This is such an inspiration. I will show my wife this video. I sure hope she will help me as without her help I will never get it finished. We do everything together :-) Looking forward to going through this series. Thanks so much for making these videos. They are a massive help to others. God bless you and your family.
So 130 MPH is your Vne? I'll bet a lot of Kitfox drivers would give their eye teeth for that cruise speed. Oh and nice digs you have there by the river!!
From what i know and have seen, when an STI owner actually puts the plane in an enclosed trailer there is about one inch on both sides for clearance to fit into a trailer.
Well I don't know the difference but mine is just under 9ft folded. I fold the wings once a year and now is the time. It is in for inspection while its zero outside.
I would love to do that Mark but the sti won't fold narrow enough, due to its wide wing, to travel in a normal enclosed trailer. Someday if I can ever get a flying buddy that will go out west, I might try it. Room and board is the biggest problem when traveling away from home in a small plane. I'm not much on camping like I see people do.
Breakfast is all you can catch and eat fish. Haha. I believe my extension is 9 inch. There is 9 inch slid up inside the factory pipe and 9 pointing down. 2'' od stainless pipe. No exhaust clean up now. Still trying to find a smaller type clamp but haven't had any luck.
