Just curious how many BCP members fly Kitfoxes. Are any of you in Colorado? I would really love to sit in one and see what it is like.

Are there a lot of them out there for sale? I am thinking probably a Series 5 or newer would be the best. How do these airplanes handle? Are they easy to fly? What are you general impressions of them? Are they a solid backcountry platform? I am a pretty big guy (6'1" @ 250) will myself and a passenger fit nicely into one?

Sorry for all of the questions...just trying to educate myself. I am trying to make a decision as to whther or not I should continue flying as a Private Pilot or if I should downgrade to Sport Pilot. Not sure I want to go through all of the hassles of getting a medical due to some minor health issues. Besides 99.9% of my flying is day VFR.

Thanks Guys.....

Hey there Greenhorn, look close at aircraft paperwork if you wanna go Sport Pilot. The earlier KF's (series 4 and below) are LSA legal- the Series 4-1200 ID means 1200# gross. But I believe the series 5 kits were produced with the idea of spec'ing them at around 1550. It all depends on how the builder certified it, but until LSA-SP came along most people understandably wanted to certify with gross weight as high as possible.
I understand that the FAA will not accept lowering the gross weight of an already-certified higher-gross airplane to 1320 or below as being LSA-compliant. And therefore Sport Pilot legal.
If you build one yourself, you can certify it at 1320. But I talked to Skystar a couple years ago about doing this with a new series 7 kit using O-200 for power and they suggested that there wouldn't be enough useful load certified at 1320. Pretty borderline using a lighter engine like Jabiru or Rotax.
Ditto for the eastern Oregon sales rep for Just Highlander kits.

Hi,

I have a Kitfox Speedster which is a clipped wing Kitfox IV. I live in Maine but otherwise I'd be glad to let you check her out.

Are there a lot of them out there for sale? Check out Barnstormers.com under the "Experimental" section. Some Series IV and earlier have the 2-stroke Rotax which I don't particularly trust. Any Kitfox with a Rotax 912 is a good performer. I have the 80hp Rotax 912. Watch out for auto conversions; they are heavy and they will severely cut into your payload, especially if you are going to go for a 1320# max LSA. Great comments by 01V about the max load issue.
I am thinking probably a Series 5 or newer would be the best. How do these airplanes handle? I've never flown a S-5 but I've heard that they are as nice as a IV but more refined...not as much adverse yaw. The IV is a sweetheart to fly.
Are they easy to fly? YES!
What are you general impressions of them? I have no regrets. It is a wonderful airplane.
Are they a solid backcountry platform? Last week I had a pax with 2/3 fuel (16gals) and we were off the deck in about 250'. It was 40 deg F and we were 70lbs under max gross of 1200 lbs at sea level. We had a 900'/min rate of climb. If I were to go high altitude back country I would want the 100 hp Rotax. Also, they are light airplanes so they get knocked around by the wind a lot more so than the Stinsons, C-180s, or Super Cubs.
I am a pretty big guy (6'1" @ 250) will myself and a passenger fit nicely into one? Not a IV. I'm 5'10" 200lbs, and with me and another adult it is cozy. The 5, 6, and 7 have wider cockpits, but you would have to sit in one and judge for yourself.

Good luck and keep tell us what you come up with.

Hey Zane, the bold function doesn't work. It couldn't possibly be operator error

Also, the spell check doesn't recognize "Zane"

Crazy thank for all of the info. I looked at the specs and the Series 5,6,7 have a 44 inch wide cockpit. Looks like the IV has a 40" cockpit....I'll bet the extra 4 inches make a big difference though. How do you fit height wise? Will I be banging my head constatnly being 6'1"?

I found a guy in Colorado Springs that wants to sell a half finished Series 5 kit for $15000. Do you guys think that would be worth it? I was thinking I would probably have to put another $15000 to get it complete. $10000 (used rotax 912), and $5000 for paint, upholstery, and avionics.....I might be dreaming though. I have never built an airplane so I have no reference. Might just be better to try and find a used one that is already built.

01V~ I spoke to this guy that had the kit. He seemed to think that it would qualify as an LSA as long as you did not load it over 1320# (A Series 5 has a gross weight of 1550#). Not sure this is really accurate though. Might have to speak with some EAA people if I get serious about it. I like working on things, but I am still thinking I should buy one that is already flying. I would much rather fly places than wrench....

What do you mean? (You had "Disable BBCode" checked)
Yeah something is wacky with the spellcheck, I need to update the dictionary file I think. I thinks "nieve" is a word.

Green, if you're gonna build it, then it's up to you what gross weight you certify it at. Trouble is, if the airplane weighs much over 850 or so empty, you're not gonna have much useful load. Even at that, do the math: 850 empty, you @250, 15 gallons gas + oil @ 100, = 1200. That leaves 120 pounds for your companion and camping gear. Doesn't allow for much.
That's the trouble with the whole LSA/SP thing. The max weight is just too damn low! I was just reading a recent article on the CC Sport Cub in Pilot Getaway magazine (CC giveaway at an aviation show here last weekend), and the writer talks about being about 100 over gross flying the prototype with 2 guys and half fuel.
I have real doubts that the FAA will ever budge, but I think EAA,AOPA, & every other pilot grou oughta be lobbying for a higher LSA gross weight. Something realistic, like 1700 or so. Then a reasonable empty weight of 1100-1200 would be acceptable. I don't think that would decrease the safety aspect of LSA/SP, and might even increase it by allowing more substantially-built aircraft. Also will allow safe & affordable aircraft such as the popular C-150 to be flown SP.
OK, I'm climbing down off the soapbox now.

Eric

Ahhh, yes. The dreaded "Disable BBCode." Anybody see my Computers For Dummies book?

Greenhorn - You should fit at 6'1". The guy I bought it from was 6' and he had no problem. Again, go sit in one first and make sure.

I saw that one for sale in CO Springs. $15,000 seems like a good price, but...remember that the Series 5 is no longer made so if he is missing some model-specific materials the new Kitfox may not have them available and it'll be up to you to fabricate or scrounge. And I'm not sure that the new Kitfox company can give tech support for the 5. They do supply a lot of parts for my Speedster, but not all. Caveat Emptor. Call Kitfox and see what they can do for you. Also, if you consicer buying the kit then make sure you do a very accurate inventory of what he's selling.

Seems to me that if you build it yourself, the only real reason to go LSA would be to avoid having to get a FAA medical? BTW, I don't recall my homebuilder neighbors actually weighing their planes on a scale when the FAA guy was there Also I haven't seen any FAA guys doing a ramp check with a scale, no matter my wife won't get on a scale for anyone

Chances are slim that the FAA will catch you. The problem comes with the insurance company. If you have a crash and the NTSB determines that you were flying over max gross then they will give you squat in the settlement and won't cover any of your liability.