Grove gear ? Any experience ?
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Grove gear ? Any experience ?
Does anyone have any direct experience to share with the Grove aluminium landing gear in the Avid / Kitfox world ? A recent 'circular' landing ( fortunately little damage ) has raised the issue of possibly calming things down a bit with a wider track undercarriage. I would like to hear if there is a real improvement, and how easy it is to fit to the airframe. Many thanks.
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Jonathan Holland
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 3:26 pm
Hi there
I have the Grove gear on my Mk IV Kitfox and flew it for some 80 hours before it was installed so feel I can explain the benefits.
Basically, the wider track once it is installed means that ground handling from a directional point of view is far more stable. It will track straighter due to it being a fair bit wider than the bungee standard set up on the normal gear.
On landing, I also find that it is more absorbing especially during a deliberate wing-down cross wind landing. The bungee gear used to sometime ping the upwind wheel back up even when it first touched gently but I find the grove seems to be a lot smoother and makes this landing method a lot less hassle.
Be aware that the earlier Kitfox models (don't know about Avids) do not have the ability to install Grove gear. I think it is Mk 3's and upwards where it is an option due to the placing of the mounting lugs.
When the wheels leave the ground on take-off there can be a slight "twanging sensation" but this is just the gear settling into their natural position after being under weight on the ground. It can be stopped by dabbing the brakes.
I found it blocked the escape air from my radiator slightly and made the engine run a bit warmer than before the changeover happened so I installed a larger radiator which has helped a lot. Whether this would be a problem for you will depend on the positioning of you rad' - each machine is different obviously.
It will add a bit of weight to the aircraft - approx 25 lbs I think.
Speed is hardly really affected - although if anything I would say there is slightly less drag.
Not important I know but I think they look better with the Grove gear too! (see below)
Finally, in terms of fitting, I cheated and got an expert to do mine - a very fine job he did too. It is a case of removing the bungee system and the old gear, mounting the Grove with the brackets, re-routing the brake line through the legs, re-positioning the radiator (perhaps), sorting the wheels/brakes out etc and then re-weighing and C of G'ing.
Was it worth it? Yes, it was worth every penny.
I hope this helped.
I have the Grove gear on my Mk IV Kitfox and flew it for some 80 hours before it was installed so feel I can explain the benefits.
Basically, the wider track once it is installed means that ground handling from a directional point of view is far more stable. It will track straighter due to it being a fair bit wider than the bungee standard set up on the normal gear.
On landing, I also find that it is more absorbing especially during a deliberate wing-down cross wind landing. The bungee gear used to sometime ping the upwind wheel back up even when it first touched gently but I find the grove seems to be a lot smoother and makes this landing method a lot less hassle.
Be aware that the earlier Kitfox models (don't know about Avids) do not have the ability to install Grove gear. I think it is Mk 3's and upwards where it is an option due to the placing of the mounting lugs.
When the wheels leave the ground on take-off there can be a slight "twanging sensation" but this is just the gear settling into their natural position after being under weight on the ground. It can be stopped by dabbing the brakes.
I found it blocked the escape air from my radiator slightly and made the engine run a bit warmer than before the changeover happened so I installed a larger radiator which has helped a lot. Whether this would be a problem for you will depend on the positioning of you rad' - each machine is different obviously.
It will add a bit of weight to the aircraft - approx 25 lbs I think.
Speed is hardly really affected - although if anything I would say there is slightly less drag.
Not important I know but I think they look better with the Grove gear too! (see below)
Finally, in terms of fitting, I cheated and got an expert to do mine - a very fine job he did too. It is a case of removing the bungee system and the old gear, mounting the Grove with the brackets, re-routing the brake line through the legs, re-positioning the radiator (perhaps), sorting the wheels/brakes out etc and then re-weighing and C of G'ing.
Was it worth it? Yes, it was worth every penny.
I hope this helped.
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mike newall
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:56 pm
- Location: N Yorkshire
From a service and quality point of view, my Bro and I have had at least 3 sets of gear or brakes or both from Grove.
The product is of highest quality, well thought out and if you get the option of gun drilling - do it, because it solves all the problems of lines etc.
The wheels and brakes are - in my opinion of higher quality than Cleveland.
I am about to start an RV8 and the standard gear will be replaced by Grove gear, wheels and brakes throughout.
The product is of highest quality, well thought out and if you get the option of gun drilling - do it, because it solves all the problems of lines etc.
The wheels and brakes are - in my opinion of higher quality than Cleveland.
I am about to start an RV8 and the standard gear will be replaced by Grove gear, wheels and brakes throughout.