Anyone here have experience with a Eurofox? Looks to be a factory built Avid with improvements. Got a line on one but I have never paid much attention to them at the shows.

Is it the same as the Aerotrek?

I flew one in California belonging to Bob Comperini. I liked it a lot. The only thing about which I'm at all uncertain is flaperons (in general). I can tell you that it handles nicely. It is faster than I anticipated. And I'd be proud to own one. I subsequently bought an S-7 which, like all aircraft, instantly becomes the best plane on earth once it's yours. I'm sure I'd have felt the same way if I'd purchased a Eurofox.

I'd also observe that the guy that imports them into the US, whose name I can't recall but it sounds like Rollison, is fantastically helpful and knowledgeable and I think he'd be a great guy to deal with if you were to buy one new. I say this on the basis of an mail exchange and a couple of phone calls, so he could also be Jack the Ripper (but I'm guessing not).

Zzz wrote:Is it the same as the Aerotrek?

Yep, that's the one.
Kind of a Kitfox/Avid clone.
Not an S-7 but a heck of a lot less expensive.

I have looked at them while at Oshkosh and they look like a decently built plane. Sort of looks like a mirrored copy of the Kitfox. I think if you got one you would be happy. I am still contemplating purchasing an Model IV Kitfox. This particular plane needs a total bebuild but I am intrigued with the ability to fold the wings and trailer it in my travels.

I think it would depend on how good $$ the deal is. It's pretty much a replica of the Kitfox SS7, and Kitfox is a company right here in Idaho, USA with an owner that has attended the BCP fly-in. Of course, that only means anything if you plan to buy a kit or factory built from them.

The third wheel is in the right place!
That looks pretty cool.... some 8.50x6's or 26" Goodyears and it's gonna look real cool.

Well as it turns out, the aircraft was totaled and rebuilt. So not for me. The guy who rebuilt it is some yahoo in S.D. who buys junk and "rebuilds" them a cheap as he can to make a fast buck using non-factory parts. It's a shame because the original aircraft looks like it would make a decent back-country plane. I feel bad for the current owner. He is a newbie who bought it to learn in but it is not working out for him. So now he is trying to unload it.

Anyway, the hunt continues. Thanks for the replies.

S-12Flyer wrote:Well as it turns out, the aircraft was totaled and rebuilt. So not for me. The guy who rebuilt it is some yahoo in S.D. who buys junk and "rebuilds" them a cheap as he can to make a fast buck using non-factory parts. It's a shame because the original aircraft looks like it would make a decent back-country plane. I feel bad for the current owner. He is a newbie who bought it to learn in but it is not working out for him. So now he is trying to unload it.

Anyway, the hunt continues. Thanks for the replies.

If S.D. means South Dakota, PM me. If it is in my neck of the wood less plains I would like to know. If it is San Diego let us know that too.

Zzz wrote:I think it would depend on how good $$ the deal is. It's pretty much a replica of the Kitfox SS7, and Kitfox is a company right here in Idaho, USA with an owner that has attended the BCP fly-in. Of course, that only means anything if you plan to buy a kit or factory built from them.

Though it looks like a SS Kitfox from 30 yards, up close you will see that it is a very different and much smaller plane. These planes were cloned off an Avid model C, which was the competition to the Kitfox model III, in the early to mid 90's.

Interesting features of the Aerotrec planes:

Aluminum wing ribs
Composite Flapperons
Composite landing gear legs

Av8r3400 wrote:Though it looks like a SS Kitfox from 30 yards, up close you will see that it is a very different and much smaller plane. These planes were cloned off an Avid model C, which was the competition to the Kitfox model III, in the early to mid 90's.

Interesting features of the Aerotrec planes:

Aluminum wing ribs
Composite Flapperons
Composite landing gear legs

Ahh... Good to know, thanks.

Don't know about the "aerotrec", but besides the Eurofox wasn't there a Kitfox knockoff mfr'd in So Africa?

If your going to buy one of the Kitfox looking airplanes, just get a real Kitfox from John & Debra. They are made here in the states and are fantastic airplanes and extremely capable. I owned two and built one. My S7 (not to be confused with a Rans S-7 although they are awesome too) had an empty weight of #853 and a gross weight of #1550 and a good sized baggage compartment. You can build them as light at #730 but mine had the turbo'd Rotax 914 and an airmasters electric CS prop.

It was an awesome airplane and flew wonderfully... Unfortunately (or fortunately) my family got too big and I was forced to buy a 180 that is very nearly back in the air after I tore it apart and Pponked the motor and added extended baggage and.... well.... and a lot more. Wish I could have them both... but don't we all.

My S7 would scoot along at 120 - 125 mph on 4.5 gph (with 850s), climb at 1800 fpm and get off in 300' easily.

That KF looks awesome! I eyeballed McBean's personal (corporate?) Kitfox a year or two ago and thought it was pretty damn nice. If I was gonna build a sport plane, I'd quite likely go that way.I don't know how many they've sold, if any, but their price for a ready-to-fly LSA seemed pretty reasonable-- esp compared to the $100K+ George Jetson plastic wonders out there.

In my search for aircraft kits to build, I have only sat in the Kitfox and wiggled the stick, but what struck me was how comfortable the seat is. It's very ergonomic, compared to some others that are more like a early 50's Cessna seat.

You should try flying one.... An real areal sports car.

Darinh wrote:If your going to buy one of the Kitfox looking airplanes, just get a real Kitfox from John & Debra. They are made here in the states and are fantastic airplanes and extremely capable. I owned two and built one. My S7 (not to be confused with a Rans S-7 although they are awesome too) had an empty weight of #853 and a gross weight of #1550 and a good sized baggage compartment. You can build them as light at #730 but mine had the turbo'd Rotax 914 and an airmasters electric CS prop.

It was an awesome airplane and flew wonderfully... Unfortunately (or fortunately) my family got too big and I was forced to buy a 180 that is very nearly back in the air after I tore it apart and Pponked the motor and added extended baggage and.... well.... and a lot more. Wish I could have them both... but don't we all.

My S7 would scoot along at 120 - 125 mph on 4.5 gph (with 850s), climb at 1800 fpm and get off in 300' easily.

I agree, buy "local". And don't ask a Rans S-7 flyer about the Savage....same deal, a knockoff/rip off, whatever you want to call it. A slap in the face of the original designers. I wonder what Dean Wilson thinks about the EuroFox Inside joke for those knowing the history of the whole Avid design.

DarinH, if you don't mind me asking.... how much did your KF sell for?

Hotrod150,

I sold it for $70k in 2008. The gentleman who bought it converted it to a nosedragger and subsequently starved it of fuel (never cleaned the fuel filter in 2.5 years of ownership) and put it on its nose during the forced landing. I think he has it about back together now.

Darinh wrote:Hotrod150,

I sold it for $70k in 2008. The gentleman who bought it converted it to a nosedragger and subsequently starved it of fuel (never cleaned the fuel filter in 2.5 years of ownership) and put it on its nose during the forced landing. I think he has it about back together now.

Did it have one of those see thru glass bowl fuel filters? They have very little surface area, They look cool but plug easily, been there/done that. I use auto style inline type, many times the surface area, I took them both apart and measured the media, huge difference. I change mine every annual, less then 10 bucks.