Light Aircraft Association

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.

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.

Hi Johnathon,

thanks for your most helpful message and a great picture of the Kitfox. I will have to investigate further - w&b will need looking into amongst other things, given the weight increase.

Best regards

Ian Holt
Reading
OGFC founder member.

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.