Skyfox Gazelle Info Wanted
mack...@peg.apc.org
Skyfox Gazelle owners/operators/pilots.
Reply to mack...@peg.apc.org or post here if of general interest. Thanks.
Peter Allen
The Skyfox Gazelle grew out of the shortcomings in the original
tailgragger skyfox ( which is based on the kitfox III)
The taildragger Skyfox was a pit of a pig to land - more difficult
than the Lightwing, Thruster Gemini and Drifter. and GA pilots also
found it more than a handful.
So they made a tri gear version. The skyfox is a good aircraft and
quite nice in the air, well constructed, and with the Rotax 912
engine, quite a performer, if the trigear option makes it easy to
land I think it will be a real winner with many flying schools using
it to replace their clapped out old 152 's.
At $55,000 though, a little pricey.
Hope this helps,
Peter Allen
Senior Instructor-ultralights (inactive)
Adelaide
South Australia.
Richard J Taylor
> Would appreciate any info/opinions (favourable or otherwise) from
> Skyfox Gazelle owners/operators/pilots.
> Reply to mack...@peg.apc.org or post here if of general interest.
Well, I'm doing PPL Training in one at Redcliffe, QLD., they are
certainly very easy to fly. I'm told that they are very cheap to
run, and that they are known for 25kts+ crosswind landing
performance.
If you want some more specific details, I have all the factory specs
here.
> Thanks.
Your welcome,
--
Richard Taylor - Research Scientist - Architecture Unit --------
CRC for Distributed Systems Technology _-_|\
E-mail: tay...@dstc.edu.au / DSTC
Ph: +61 7 3365 4306 Fax: +61 7 3365 4311 \_.-._/
WWW URL: http://www.dstc.edu.au/AU/staff/richard-taylor/ v
Anthony Berglas
>Peter Allen (Pet...@tafe.sa.edu.au) wrote:
>: mack...@peg.apc.org wrote:
>: >
>: > Would appreciate any info/opinions (favourable or otherwise) from
>: > Skyfox Gazelle owners/operators/pilots.
>: > Reply to mack...@peg.apc.org or post here if of general interest. Thanks.
>: The Skyfox Gazelle grew out of the shortcomings in the original
>: tailgragger skyfox ( which is based on the kitfox III)
>: At $55,000 though, a little pricey.
>$68,900 actually.
I'd be curious to here of any comparasons to the Jabaru. It certainly
looks more like a modern airoplane should, and is a joy to fly
compared to a tank link the C150. Normal cruse is 90kts (ie. not
"flat out"), and it drinks 11 litres per hour at cruse. I think an
engine rebuild which is required every 600 hours costs about $2,500 (I
could be wrong on this point).
Anthony
--
--
Anthony Berglas
Rm 312a, Computer Science, Uni of Qld, 4072, Australia.
Uni Ph +61 7 365 4184, Home 391 7727, Fax 365 1999
Jon Herd
: mack...@peg.apc.org wrote:
: >
: > Would appreciate any info/opinions (favourable or otherwise) from
: > Skyfox Gazelle owners/operators/pilots.
: > Reply to mack...@peg.apc.org or post here if of general interest. Thanks.
: The Skyfox Gazelle grew out of the shortcomings in the original
: tailgragger skyfox ( which is based on the kitfox III)
: At $55,000 though, a little pricey.
$68,900 actually.
Contact:
Fraser Anning
Skyfox Aviation
PO Box910
Caloundra QLD 4551
Ph: (074) 91 5355
Fax: (074) 91 8237
They will send you a colour brochure and a sheet describing ways of
making money out of the gazelle. You can actually put in on line fopr
$40 per hour and make dough!
The tri gear design came out of requests from non-tail dragger pilots,
not because of any inherent fault in the skyfox. Most pilots I know
speak highly of it.
It costs around $30 per hour to fly. It does 95 kts flat out, but it is
hours that go into the logbook, not speed or miles flown.
(Tell them I referred you please...)
Anyway.....
Yours,
Herdy.
Howard Jones
: >: > Would appreciate any info/opinions (favourable or otherwise) from
: >: > Skyfox Gazelle owners/operators/pilots.
:
: looks more like a modern airoplane should, and is a joy to fly
: compared to a tank link the C150. Normal cruse is 90kts (ie. not
: "flat out"), and it drinks 11 litres per hour at cruse. I think an
: engine rebuild which is required every 600 hours costs about $2,500 (I
: could be wrong on this point).
What phillistine comments!! The tube and fabric kitfox/skyfox/gazelle
are being directly compared with an aluminium Cessna 150/2 and a composite
Jabiru. each technology has its advantages and disadvantages, each design
has totally different flying characteristics.
to claim that this apple is better than that orange, is better than that
avocado is a little tenuous ... dont you think. each design should be enjoyed
for the spicy differences that it offers the pilot.
I think that the Cessna 150/2 is the most honest little sporting aeroplane
ever put into production. The Jabiru with it's neutrally stable wing is quite
different to fly but I love it. The skyfox/gazelle is a treasure that awaits
me as a challenge to savor, but heavens guys, they are all delightful little
aeroplanes! preferences are at best a personal matter.
c'mon write of your experiences *flying* them, they are all fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Jones, (how...@perth.dialix.oz.au) _--_|\
66 Towton Way, Langford 6147, Western Australia / \
Freeflight Aeromodeller,Tyre Kicker & Current Pilot! *_.--._/
Corby Starlet Plans #279....RAAF Association Flying Club Member V
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jon Herd
: looks more like a modern airoplane should, and is a joy to fly
: compared to a tank link the C150. Normal cruse is 90kts (ie. not
: "flat out"), and it drinks 11 litres per hour at cruse. I think an
: engine rebuild which is required every 600 hours costs about $2,500 (I
: could be wrong on this point).
I quote Skyfox's own publication:...
Skyfox CA25N
Top speed (5000') 95kts
Cruise 75% 85kts
" 70% 80kts
" 50% 50kts
stall 42kts
fuel consumption
75% power 13.5 l/hr
70% " 12.8 l/hr
50% " 7.0 l/hr
Range around 600km.
Phone them on (074) 91 5355 and they will be too happy to send you a spec
sheet.
(tell 'em I sent you, tho').
Yours,
Herdy.
=================================
Jon Herd
NORTH LAMBTON NSW AUSTRALIA
email: he...@ozemail.com.au
=================================
"Aviators may have their ups and downs
but the only hard part about flying
is the ground!"
"The only time a plane can have too much
fuel on board is when the bastard's
on fire!"
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith, 1928
--------------------------------
"Live Long and Prosper"
Spock, 23??
=================================
Jon Herd
: are being directly compared with an aluminium Cessna 150/2 and a composite
: Jabiru. each technology has its advantages and disadvantages, each design
: has totally different flying characteristics.
: to claim that this apple is better than that orange, is better than that
You are getting a bit touchy there Howard, mate! The man has only so
many dollars and wishes to spend them wisely. Mind you I do agree with
the sentiment.
: c'mon write of your experiences *flying* them, they are all fun!
Agreed!
My personal favourite (to fly, not to look at) is the Victa. Can handle
35kt crosswinds and aerobatics and is reasonable on the wallet.
Robert Roy
>
> I'd be curious to here of any comparasons to the Jabaru. It certainly
> looks more like a modern airoplane should, and is a joy to fly
> compared to a tank link the C150. Normal cruse is 90kts (ie. not
> "flat out"), and it drinks 11 litres per hour at cruse. I think an
> engine rebuild which is required every 600 hours costs about $2,500 (I
> could be wrong on this point).
increased on a regular basis as more data comes in. I think it may even be 1,200 hours by now, with 2,000 hours slated by the
end of the year.
My brief experience with both the Gazelle and Jabiru (1/2 hour each at Evans Head a few weeks ago) was that IMHO the Gazelle
was much nicer to fly. I was rather disappointed with the Jabiru because of a) the terribly underpowered motor (the 1,600cc
Jabiru was installed in the one I flew) and b) because of the very heavy rudder inputs required. In contrast the Gazelle felt
very light, precise and had a beautiful responsive motor.
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Gregg Faulkner
> Lots removed...
>
> What phillistine comments!! The tube and fabric kitfox/skyfox/gazelle
Howard,
If you're going to words like "Philistine" to attack someone's
opinions, at least consult a spell-checker.
(Only one L old chap!)
PS. I couldn't agree more with you re. comparing apples, oranges and
other fruit.
Gregg
Peter Stuy
>I'd be curious to here of any comparasons to the Jabaru. It certainly
>looks more like a modern airoplane should, and is a joy to fly
>compared to a tank link the C150. Normal cruse is 90kts (ie. not
>"flat out"), and it drinks 11 litres per hour at cruse. I think an
>engine rebuild which is required every 600 hours costs about $2,500 (I
>could be wrong on this point).
>
lasted 600 hours, without major trauma?
Peter