Jenki

Thank you very much for such quick answers.

Well, this is technical part. What I understand is that Kitfox was aiming to higher performance based on bigger aircraft, higher gross weight. But step by step Avid went to the similar way as well.

Now, what are differences regarding performance, handling etc.

Sorry that I am asking to much questions but is better to ask to have more clear picture. And here I can find really huge number of experienced pilots and builders.

Hi everybody,

I am wondering if somebody is able to make sort of comparison of actual versions of these birds regarding the most important differences.

There are many of them here in Europe so maybe even more it is sometimes complicated to recognize what aircraft i can see to fly. I understand that there are differences based on the age/release time, modifications etc. but still, I'd like to know from somebody flying both of them where are basic differences and what is simply nearly the same. Both of them are real STOL, both were born in Idaho (does make sense ) so maybe what refinements and why were done on them and what are real differences...

Well, nice discussion.

Last year I had not too much opportunities. I needed aircraft as my "STOL nose dragger" was already promised to my friend. I was attracted to tail dragger but needed to travel a lot as well. I had idea but finally agreement was broken by provider.

Suddenly Mr. Bristala, owner of company BRM Aero was calling for something different - I just raised question "do you have anything for me, used plane for example?" And he said, let's go to factory, discuss, what we can do. I had many parts at home, ready for rebuilding my STYLUS, like engine, old analog instruments, small EFIS ... when we checked inventory, we found that nearly all we need we have.On this base my Bristell was born. Old engine, partially old instrumentation, but new aircraft. And tail-dragger finally. One step closer to dream. Tail feathers are very low in position, but landing on mains will solve it partially.

I have two sons flying as well (not taildragger till now) so we have plenty opportunities for future how to use Bristell once I will be ready to let them fly solo with TDO

Yes, performance is excellent. It is 75% replica of original German Fiesseler Storch.

Slepcev started 1994 as far as I know. I flown it only one time, but it was really nice experience.

Yes, you are right. This part on the picture is north part of Croatia and souht-west part of Slovenia. The name of this peninsula is Istria, beautiful part of Adriatic shore.

@Richard Smith

Well Bristell is known even in US just maybe in different community. There are probably tents of them flying, mostly tricycle version LSA and kit versions. One taildragger demonstrator is there as well (red one with carbon luxury cockpit) and definitely one with Rotax 914 engine (Turbocharged) is very often on YouTube as Petite Prince. Overall production  get beyond number 300 in the summer 2017.

Taildraggers are only a few from this number, maybe less then 10.

@EDMO

Well I can't say it is (was) always true ... but for now yes. I am happy. Slow &low is my priority now. Although I am flying 3-4 hours over top in my Bristell to Croatia as well - because of weather sometimes. And then and there again slow&low over small beautiful islands on the Croatia shore (we don't have sea here in my country). This sort of freedom is something. As it is on the picture

Hi Ed

I am old, but not as old as history of last taildraggers aircraft serving in Air Force.

I can say no, there were no taildraggers at all. I've flown taildragger 37 years ago as the last time (finished 1980) and that time it was about 30 hours mostly on Zlin Z126 Trener and a few hours on Zlin 326 Trener Master with retractable landing gear and CS propeller. Then long time tricycle only and last year (Jun 2017) again taildragger - my taildragger Bristell.

In the meantime a few thousand hours on "heavy metal", the smallest one was L-29 Delfin, the most comfortable L-39 Albatros, the most challenging MiG-21 Fishbed in nearly all versions. Short experience with MiG-29 Fulcrum and a few flights with F-16 are just "icing on the cake". There were some props during Air Force service as well, mostly from Zlin family like Zlin Z-142 or Z-42 and Z43, Cessna FR172 Reims Rocket (French Cessna), but all were tricycles. I spent about 60 hours (late eighties) in the famous Blanik L-13 as well - but it is different taildragger. So mostly fighters was my job.

When I finished my service at the end of 2003 there were no real opportunity to continue, even my CPL license lost currency and finally I decided to fly light aircraft. I know, that I will never more fly really high altitude and speed again- but now I can fly slowly and low. And STOL and bush flying became real challenge for me. Still it is more dream then reality, but I am flying about 150 hours per year now and once I will start with real bush flying.

That all my story.

@akflyer

Oh, thank you, I will do. My feeling is that I am part of this forum community.

Well, my bird.

It is Bristell TDO / it means, Tail Dragger Option/ product of BRM Aero Kunovice, Czech republic - just 50 minutes flight from my home. All metal aircraft, traveling 100 kts indicated, 48 kts on final, landing 40kts due to long wing 29.95feet. cockpit size is really very comfortable, width 4.2ft, big enough , even bigger then I need as I am short.

MTOW is 600kg/ 1320 pounds, empty 750 pounds (due to my version of avionics, usually about 700pounds). Engine Rotax 100HP, propeller FITI, light Tundra tires as I will do this just very careful due my low wing.

What else. It is very good traveler, range is more then 700 miles (31.7 gal/120 liters), endurance about 8 hours. Color is mat gray as I am air force pilot retired...

Maybe I can start topic later about experience and flying stories here if you don't mind ... in the section "other aircraft your working on"

Hi Leni,

some small support from Slovakia, Europe as well via PayPal

Well friends, my STYLUS is now in new hands.

I moved to different type - not easy for me, but for now it was only solution.

First of all, I have finally taildragger.

The second, I have a little bigger wheels / not real big bush wheels, but bush wheels, low pressure a slightly bigger then usual for such plane.

Third, it is low wing ... simply it happened, as no real good offer for STOL taildragger was here available.

It is definitely STOL, just not very suitable for really rough terrain as tail is very low after landing and wings are simply - low. I will continue to monitor this forum, maybe I will have shoulder wing STOL plan again. Bush flying is my dream.

This aircraft was build /kit manufactured by Nestor Slepcev. That time he was living in Australia. I don't know, how many kits was sold (some about number 200 I've found on internet) wolrwide , but the white one is the last manufactured in Australia.

Nestor Slepcev then moved to Europe and now he is living close to Novi Sad city, in Serbia. I don't know, if he is still able to manufacture kit or aircraft (really huge welding work) but aircraft I tried was excellent performer regarding STOL and regarding control as well. Aircraft is replica, so maybe some features are not really supporting comfort, but excellent performer.

Hi everybody,

I've joined this forum due to two important reasons:

• STOL features related to all aircraft and people here
• significant heritage of Avid Flyer (or Kitfox? , nobody know) easy to recognize on my plane STYLUS

I've found really STOL capable aircraft here in Europe as well, I had opportunity even to fly it. Name is Slepcev Storch, light replica of famous German Storch.

Here are som pictures from windy and cloudy autumns day i went to try it to lovely German airport close to Czech - German border.

Really nice experience, I just found photos.

Extremely short T/O and landing with Rotax 912 100HP

As we don't have real backcountry here, at least some agro strips are available

All this is from last year ...
I had to change a little my plane. Now I am taildragger but nothing to do with Avid ... sorry

I had to overfly owners home to report my intention to land - just friendly procedure.

And one more record from summer time, Dobra Niva arrival

Well, it is not a runway ... just paved pathway for agriculture/ crop duster aircraft taxi.

Runway is grass at the end of this asphalt strip. Runway is quite bumpy and that time not cut down properly, so I decided to take off from paved part, it is about 800 feet long.

As you can see, pretty enough for STYLUS

Hi everybody again,

I found some videos in my computer, so I will try to share.

Hi friends,

any new information, recommendation or news regarding Tail Wheel Lock?

I am going to start (after more then 30 years) with tail-dragger again, so any information to help me will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

My current installation is WHLT-8LD TAILWHEEL, LIGHT WEIGHT DUAL FORK 8" pneu tail wheel and I am thinking about replacement.

Thanks.

well, yes. It is (can be) registered as ultralight here. There is even not required multi engine rating.

Cri-Cri was designed by Michael Colomban. Michel Colomban (born 1932 in France) is a French aeronautical engineer known for his home-built aircraft. He originally worked for Morane-Saulnier^[1] on the Morane-Saulnier MS-880 (Rallye), and also later for Société Nationale d'Industrie Aérospatiale. He designed the Colomban Cri-cri in 1973. In the 1990s, he also designed the aluminium and composite Colomban MC-100 Ban-Bi, a two-seat aircraft that can reach 300 km/h (186 mph) with an 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax engine.

As far as I know (just word of mouth) he was working on supersonic Concorde project. Cri-Cri is only "home build" aircraft constructed with full support of wind tunnel measurement with full size aircraft. Even with one engine working is able to climb safely and it is fully aerobatic plane. There is not very important impact of one engine only flight regarding directional stability.

Excellent video, excellent aircraft.

I am waiting for my first flight with CriCri next spring. This summer i had opportunity just to sit in the cockpit, but I need to perform all setup of the plane according my shape and weight. The reason is that aircraft empty weight is 64 kg (141 pounds) only.  Owner and builder of this aircraft asked me for flying this plane, but I decided to do it next year about May due to good weather required.

Our CriCri has two engines each of 20HP so it is not so powerful as jet version, but still excellent performer.

I will send picture later today , slow internet connection in work.

Next time, I will try to upload my flight to airbase

Hi everybody,

please see enclosed video, my return to our airfield.

Excellent pictures and motivation from your article, thank you.

Regarding Aerotrek A220, do you (or mate) any feeling regarding "composite spring" type of main gear? Any impressions?

I will appreciate any information, thank you in advance.

Merlin GT has flaperons like Kitfox. STYLUS or SKYCRUISER has regular ailerons and flaps, cruising speed and economy are better, when stall speed with flaps is about 38-39 mph or 33-34 kts.