Hello folks,

I searched all thread discussion titles for "Kitfox" and read through those, but I was not able to find a discussion that specifically explains the differences between each model of the Kitfox line.

I've heard several times to steer clear of anything before a Kitfox 4. Any particular reason why? Would someone mind explaining all the differences between the various Kitfox models out there?

Thanks in advance!

The model four was the first model kitfox to have differential built into the flaperon controls. There is nothing wrong with the earlier models as long as you know how to use your feet. Each new model got a little bit larger than the last until the model 5.

Here"s a history of the kitfox http://kitfox.lazair.com/skystar/Aircra ... #Model%201

I just bought a mostly unbuilt Kitfox 5 with pretty much every series 7 upgrade, so that makes me qualified to stay at a Holiday Inn.

Start by looking at the vertical fin and rudder of the various models and you'll see it has continued to grow over time. I'm not going to say it was inadequate before as I'm guessing most of the people who built and subsequently ground looped them were probably a) not ready for a super light plane with no inertia, and b) not necessarily a skilled tail wheel junkie.

I will say the only time you can have too much vertical fin area is while taxiing in a strong wind.

Series 3 and earlier will be straight up two stroke engines. With the IV you get into the potential for a 912. Most will tell you to hold out for the 1200 lb gross weight model, as the wing spars are stiffened up quite a bit over the 1050. I've read somewhere of someone asking the current owner of Kitfox (John McBean) about pushing the gross weight up via pencil on paper and they were told straight up not to exceed 1050.

If you aren't fat and nor averse to two stroke power there are some screaming deals out there on a fun to fly airplane for improvised strip bagging. There are some videos of series 3 and some Avid's on floats and they literally jump off the water.

The Series IV with 1200 lb MTOW get snapped up pretty quickly. If you want to haul two butts and some gear any distance you'll probably want to have cash in hand ready to go.

I also understood that the earlier models aren't as well supported for parts, etc. as the Model IV and subsequent. There's an article in this month's Kitplanes about Buying Used: Kitfox.

Lots of my online friends narrowed down their choices to a Kitfox or a Rans S-6 / S-20 / S-21 as their primary choices. Seems that both camps have ardent followers. My choice was an S-6, primarily because it was the best available plane in my price range. Purchasing a ready-to-fly current version of the Kitfox or Rans S-20 would be way above my retiree budget. If I were going to build one today, it would probably be the S-20 (Raven) with the "141" wing (the all metal wing from the S-21). I just really like the looks of that plane, even more so than the S-21 Outbound.

Oh I love the S-20 and if there were any unfinished projects anywhere I might have gone that route. I've never heard a single negative statement about RANS designs (any of them).
As for factory support of series 3 and earlier, Kitfox will provide anything they can. That is mostly restricted to parts that are common to the series IV because much of the tooling for those planes had been discarded before the McBeans bought the company.
RANS has not changed hands but they have likewise axed a LOT of their designs

Mostly doing this to practice inserting images. Below is my Citabria at a yearly fly in at Curtis, WA near a pair of Kitfoxes. In this image they look like they're about 80% of the size of my 7ECA. I think N1182X is a IV but I'm not positive (it is really well built)




And here is my new KF5 project tucked into my hangar. Now that is how to make a Citabria look gigantic.

Thread drift alert, I see what looks suspiciously like a 170 further in the back ground

A guy in the Hanger Row behind me has a Kitfox 1 and a Kitfox 5 . Oddly enough I lust after the kitfox1 Single seater but I think I could fit it in the back of my Chevy Truck. So Cool

Mapleflt wrote:Thread drift alert, I see what looks suspiciously like a 170 further in the back ground

I had to look closely. I thought "damn, I know I've got a lot of stuff in my hangar but ... Oh the OTHER picture"

Hey aftCG, I recognize that green Kitfox 1182X. Yes it is a Model IV. I talked to the owner/builder a few times when he flew into Ellensburg.

By the way, I built and flew a Classic 4. That's it in my avatar. I sold it a few years ago and miss it a lot.

sierrasplitter wrote:A guy in the Hanger Row behind me has a Kitfox 1 and a Kitfox 5 . Oddly enough I lust after the kitfox1 Single seater but I think I could fit it in the back of my Chevy Truck. So Cool

Are you sure the little one is a Model 1? Your description sounds like a Kitfox Lite. They qualified to be flown as an ultralight.

Are you sure the little one is a Model 1? Your description sounds like a Kitfox Lite.

Most Likely it is Very Small Like a Clown Car

After checking YouTube it is a Kitfox Lite

This is the guy

https://youtu.be/tjDAKTapo_I