Horton STOL Kit

pif_sonic · Post by **pif_sonic** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:32 am

Well the Horton STOL Kit arrived today. I see there is a lot of work to be done. We are starting on it next Wednesday. I was wondering if any of you have installed a Horton Kit and if so, do you have any tips or hints?

pif_sonic · Post by **pif_sonic** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:19 am

First of all I want to thank John Barrett for all the help in teaching me how to post pictures on this site. It's not all that hard, just need to be walked through the steps.

Here are a few pictures of befroe and after the Horton STOL Kit.

Leading Edge Left wing

New leading edge

OMG THIS IS A LOT OF WORK!!!!!!!!!!

Painted new leading edge

Finished product

I have a lot more pictures if anyone is interested. I can say this was a lot of work. It was twice as much work as I thought it would be. I test flew the plane and it flys great. Slower stall speed, if you even want to call it a stall now. Stalled at 43 mph indicated, no flaps.

KMac · Post by **KMac** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:34 am

Wow! That turned out cool.

alaskan99669 · Post by **alaskan99669** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:36 am

Looks great! Does it have stall fences on the top? I thought all Hortons did. How did you make your decision on which kit to buy (Horton / Sportsman)?

pif_sonic · Post by **pif_sonic** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:12 am

The price was deciding factor between a Horton and a Sportsman. The Sportsman was about $800 more. Plus I had a 1964 150D with a Horton on it. I loved it and knew it would perform. Yes the Horton has fences. I will post a few more pictures.

My first wheel landing was a little messed up. I am not sure if it was because of the STOL Kit or if I over thought the landing. The three point was just fine and the last two wheelies I did were just fine. I will need to practice to really get a feel for the slower approach speeds for short and soft field landings. We have a dirt strip that parallels the main runway. It is a great place to practice.

I was wondering if the fences look good painted yellow. Let me know what you guys think. Don't worry you will not hurt my feelings.

Abe · Post by **Abe** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:43 am

Hey,
You've done a great job and looks real nice....I like the yellow fences....we'll have to get my Sportsman and your Horton together and do some "testing"....Nice Job!!! I haven't forgotten that cup of coffee that you owe me too...Let me know when you're ready to go into Minam Lodge and we can have breakfast....But you still have to buy the coffee.....

c170b53 · Post by **c170b53** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:38 am

Just curious did you use solid rivets or cherries?

jrenwick · Post by **jrenwick** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:27 am

As you transition from the stock 170 to the Horton-equipped one, it would be really nice to hear how you end up changing your landing technique, both for wheel landings and 3-point, please!

I have the Horton kit on my 170. I also have a friend with a stock 170, whose landings in his own 170 never suck, and who couldn't land mine gracefully to save his life. After flying it, he had to go back to his own plane for some landing practice to convince himself he hadn't forgotten how to fly!

I've been meaning to give my friend my 170 for a while so he can work it out and then tell me what he does. I'll try to get that done in the next few days, then maybe we can compare notes.

Best Regards,

John

pif_sonic · Post by **pif_sonic** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:04 pm

Well I did the first cross country with the STOL Kit. I had a head wind so my ground speed was not that accurate to compare to the speeds before. I indicated about 6-8 knots faster on the air speed indicator though. ??????? Not sure why.

When I left Baker OR this morning I was at gross weight, give or take a few pounds. I just let the plane tell me when it was ready to fly. I was off the ground about 150 ft before the 1000 ft markers. The indicated air speed was about 55 mph, no flaps. I did not try to pull it off the ground or horse it off; I just let the plane fly itself off the ground. As the plane gained air speed, I climbed out at 80 mph, 700 ft a minute. Temp was about 55 degrees, field elevation is 3370. When I was about 6500 ft the climb slowed to about 300-400 ft a minute and stayed there to 8500.

I landed in Aurora OR. I topped off the tanks and again was at gross give or take a few pounds. The temp was 75 degrees but field elevation is 200 ft. I did the same thing; I let the plane fly itself off the ground. The plane lifted off the ground at about 55 mph. The only real difference was it climbed out at 1000 ft a minute at the lower elevation. I flew to Estacada and landed, just a few miles away.

I did a wheel landing at both Aurora and Estacada. I felt as though I â€˜floppedâ€™ the plane on the ground on the first landing. The angle of attack is different with the STOL kit for the same airspeed. I am sure I need to really play with the throttle and airspeed to get a good feel. The landing in Estacada was a very nice smooth landing, even my wife commented on how smooth it was. I wish she would comment on how smooth other things were!!

Any advice from other STOL kit equipped plane owners would be appreciated. I know it will land slower; I just need to get a feel for it.

Abe,
I will make a deal with you; if we meet at Minam Lodge I will buy breakfast and coffee. If we meet in Enterprise I will just buy coffee. I can guess where we will meet. Letâ€™s set a date for Minam Lodge.

C170b53,
The kit came with Cherry rivets. Every hole had to be drilled, reamed out, counter-sunk and then riveted. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK!!!!!! But it was worth it.