Screaming Eagle tailwheel pirep

[C-FAH Q]

This winter I installed Vince Fraziers Screaming Eagle tailwheel retrofit kit on my RV-7. I had decided to install this because it would raise the tail up and give better ground clearance around ramps. I always push my tail off the asphalt and onto the grass to keep it from rolling, and the extra clearance is nice when pulling it back onto the ramp.
I order the parts through Vince's Website http://www.flyboyaccessories.com/store/ Parts came quickly and when I opened the box, was imediatly impressed with the workmanship of the parts....they were beautifully constructed. The install took all of about ten minutes and all the parts fit perfectly into the vans parts. All I had to do was drop the old tailwheel fork( remove large nut from top of shaft) swap the tailwheel itself and install the new fork. It was so easy a caveman could do it!
With new fork installed, out I went for a test flight. First thing I noticed imediatly after sitting down was the much better forward visibility, it was improved so much, I took the booster cushion out from under my butt, which was nice because now I have more headroom and still have good view forward while taixing. Once I began to taxi, I noticed ground manouvering was much easier, with the angle of the fork changed as compared to Vans tailwheel, the plane was more responsive and took less rudder pedal pressure to turn. On take off and also on landing, I found it to be more responsive and reflective of my pedal inputs.
I love my new Screaming Eagle tailwheel and recommend it highly. I was amazed at the difference it made. I also added a tail wheel fairing(Vans item)and it fit easily with little work but cutting the hole in the top of the fairing to fit over the fork shaft. Now I have a full swiveling tailwheel with fairing that looksgreat and performs even better.
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[777drvr]

Looks cool ! I may have to give that a try . When I get my 4 back in the air I would like to fly out and have a look at it

Marc

[vfrazier]

Gary, thanks for the great compliment and feedback. That tail wheel pant looks great and has gotta be good for an extra 20 knots!

We are very pleased with our tail wheel fork and have quietly shipped about 300 of them over the last 5 years. 95% to RVs and Rockets, but several have found a new home on Cubs, Avid Flyers, Pitts, and others.

We try to keep these in stock at all times and there's a new batch of 12 sitting on the bench awaiting welding right now.

Vince

[C-FAH Q]

Wow, 300 units !! I guess the numbers speak for themselves. Great products always sell themselves, and this is a great tailwheel improvement.

[Larco]

A couple of us at DVT have each installed one on our RVs to accommodate The rear fender :-)) We like the fork and The wife loves her little fender. Larry

[JDRhodes]

Looks like a good install and I've always liked the TW pants on RVs.

Curious, though, that you site the need for more ground clearance as the reason you upgraded the fork - then slap a fiberglass wheelpant on that probably reduces the clearance to less than what you had before - and adds a broken wheelpant to the risk. Am I missing something?

[vfrazier]

Jeff, yes the tailwheel fairing, which is completely optional, can reduce the clearance as compared to the unfaired tailwheel, but it's still got considerably more clearance than a Van's fork. And steers easier too.

When a fairing is done correctly, the tailwheel will still full swivel. The fairing will clear the tail spring.. which it typically won't do if installed on a Van's fork.

Once again, the fairing is optional. Van's standard tailwheel pant can be drilled to fit our fork if speed is your game.

FWIW, I don't have a tailwheel pant on my Rocket. I have a pant on the bench, but can't find enough free time to ever get to installing it. Too busy making forks!

Besides, my Rocket is soooo fast already......

Thanks,
Vince

[C-FAH Q]

Jeff,
with the Vans tailweel fork, there is virually no clearance after the pant is installed. I like speed, and the look of the pant, and if i do wreck the pant.....well, its an easy fix.

[rvmills]

Gary,

Just a me-too post to show my similar set-up. I put a "Smokey Schrek" fairing on my Van's TW before the Rocket 100 (and like it), but have always liked my Flyboys TW a lot, for all the reasons you described. So when I found out Tom had the Van's fairing on the Flyboys TW, and you were doing the same, I had to try it as well. All the good qualities of Vince's TW, with a full-swiveling fairing as well...sweet!

Here's the new rig (just like yours, only in red "camo" ):



And I'd agree with you on the clearance issue. For Jeff, the nice clearance feature with Vinces TW is the ground-to-metal fork clearance. Just seems with the slight lift and angled fork, it will clear things (monster expansion joints or small potholes) better and perhaps help prevent a sudden stop and damage to the TW fork or spring. Maybe a low percentage problem, but it does also seem to steer better and give a little better vis over the nose (albeit slight, its there). I added the fairing for racing, and if I shwack it in a pothole, its cheap and easy to fix...as long as I keep the fork out of the hit zone!

Noting wrong with Van's original, this is just a nice option! (Flyboys and Just Plane Works are pretty dern good guys too!)

Cheers,
Bob

[algrajek]

How big of a job is it fitting that tailwheel fairing. Looks cool.
Al grajek