Last April I picked up a partially completed, but then deconstructed Kitfox 5. It came with lots of upgrades and was a pretty good deal. I didn't get serious about building until around July or August of this year. I just reached the stage where my fuselage is ready to set aside and start on the wings (which I have to do from scratch).
I went down a rabbit hole with my video editing software, which I'm still quite inept at, and ended up launching a channel for my project. Here's the first video:

Thanks for posting the video aftCG. I built a Classic 4 kitfox but have never seen a model 5 in the infant stage. I was surprised at how many differences there are. The radial engine sounds interesting.

I forgot I started this thread here. Latest video is up now that my "slow build" wings are framed up enough to join them to the fuselage.



I just sold the Citabria which shows in the thumbnail image because I need the hangar space to rig the wings.

My wings are completed enough to fit them to the fuselage. This video follows them through to the (nearly) quick build stage and transporting them to my hangar where the fuselage awaits.

So this is back when I went through the wing rigging process, and subsequently getting them to fold



This is my 7 cylinder Verner Scarlett 7U radial engine..

124hp at 2380 rpm, 103hp and 288 ft lbs at 2000 rpm, Electronic ignition with two plugs per cylinder and one coil per plug.


In the previous image it shows the SS carb. The importer is converting it to Airflow Performance TBI fuel injection shown mocked up here


The exhaust system.


Meglin 2000mm (78.5") 3 blade carbon prop


Wing tips trimmed and fit

Wings completed and ready to cover


MGL avionics using two MX1 touch screen displays (EFIS, moving map plus engine monitoring), single headless COM with built in intercom, uAvionics echo UAT for ADS-B in/out and Sandia STX 165R headless transponder. All up about $10k. The displays each have built in AHARS, Air data, GPS, autopilot (if desired) and AoA.


Early panel layout created using Solidworks

Later version, but still a draft. I have those copies of space shuttle switch guards in hand, one of the joys of experimental.


I designed my own engine mount and accessory cowl. Ignore the faked in engine which I just threw in for visualization purposes. The engine mount is being fabricated now. The accessory cowl will come alter.
Unlike the radial engine planes I've flown, the oil tank is below the lowest cylinder (no scavenge pump). What looks like an intake scoop is just there to hide the tank.


Ditching the Grove gear for Roberts Bush Gear


Installed my 26" Airstreaks as long as I had the wheels off.


I started covering with Oratex last week. It's too cold for the adhesive in my garage so I brought a piece inside (try that with your Polyfiber)

AftCG,
I built a kitfox classic 4. Your build makes mine look like a tinker toy. Have you heard the story about the history of the Kitfox Round Engine Cowl?


I think it was about 1985. Kitfox offered a 65 HP radial engine called the Red Dragon for the Model 1. It had six cylinders. All radials have an odd number of cylinders but the manufacturer claimed this one worked because it had two offset rows with three cylinders each. Thus the 12 bumps on the Kitfox round cowl.

That engine didn't work out too well but they kept the round cowl for the good looks.

I sold my Kitfox a few years ago. I miss it a lot.

tcj wrote:AftCG,
I built a kitfox classic 4. Your build makes mine look like a tinker toy. Have you heard the story about the history of the Kitfox Round Engine Cowl?


I think it was about 1985. Kitfox offered a 65 HP radial engine called the Red Dragon for the Model 1. It had six cylinders. All radials have an odd number of cylinders but the manufacturer claimed this one worked because it had two offset rows with three cylinders each. Thus the 12 bumps on the Kitfox round cowl.

That engine didn't work out too well but they kept the round cowl for the good looks.

I sold my Kitfox a few years ago. I miss it a lot.

I knew the bump cowl was for a radial that didn't work out but I've never seen a picture of it. Two rows of 3 cylinders still fits the formula. I wonder if there are any examples of that engine around.

What is odd (for the series 5 anyway) is that bump cowl became a full length piece including the boot cowl section. You can't just remove the section over the engine the way it is shown in that picture, you remove the upper section all the way back to the windshield.

I started my adaptation for the Verner radial using the firewall and boot cowl intended for the Rotax 912 (mostly because that is what came with my project).

I imagine that any self respecting, gear hauling bush pilot will always consider the Kitfox a toy but the series 5-7 are roomier and more capable than earlier models.

Owyhee Reservoir
Last March I went to Idaho and flew this series 7 for about eight hours. Other than the power plant it is the closest thing to what I am building. I expected it to have that flying lawn chair feel but was pleasantly surprised at the handling and character in the air. Same fuel capacity my Citabria had (26 gallons) but much higher useful load (750-ish instead of 490).

For my mission (two butts and bags with the little wheel in back) I think it will be great.

I took the Airstreaks to the hangar yesterday and put them on the plane temporarily. I have plenty of prop clearance now.

aftCG wrote: ..... Last March I went to Idaho and flew this series 7 for about eight hours. .....

Was that with Stick & Rudder Aviation?
They are apparently factory-endorsed for KF specific training.

hotrod180 wrote:

aftCG wrote: ..... Last March I went to Idaho and flew this series 7 for about eight hours. .....

Was that with Stick & Rudder Aviation?
They are apparently factory-endorsed for KF specific training.

Yes it was Stick & Rudder, and yes they're where the factory sends pilots. It was a great experience. My instructor even worked at Kitfox before becoming pilot. Good people, all.

They even arranged for me to get a factory tour, which I was hesitant to ask for during Covid restrictions.

aftCG wrote: I expected it to have that flying lawn chair feel...

Sorry buddy, you're gonna need to completely eliminate the engine in front of you to get the flying lawn chair feel.


But seriously, cool thread. Thanks for updating.

Zzz wrote:

aftCG wrote: I expected it to have that flying lawn chair feel...

Sorry buddy, you're gonna need to completely eliminate the engine in front of you to get the flying lawn chair feel.


But seriously, cool thread. Thanks for updating.

Quite sure that I would not need a seat belt when flying that plane, but I might need help retrieving the seat cushion later on.

Another one of my build videos. This one showing the lessons I'm getting with Oratex. Pretty interesting stuff to work with.

I did some amateur level photo editing last night to create this rendering. Maybe this weekend I'll roll the fuselage outside to eliminate the cluttered background.
I "borrowed" the engine and prop from the Verner image gallery. The prop is wrong and the oil tank isn't quite right either but it will do for now.

Another low budget build video. Finished installing the landing gear and did a test fit of my instrument panel.

Fingers crossed, my engine and mount should be here in two weeks

Wings are now covered. First pic shows the left wing with the bottom covering in place. I had to stop to install the pitot probe and associated plumbing. My probe is the Garmin GAP26 probe which also supplies AoA. I'll play with the AoA feature in my MGL avionics in flight test. My plan is to use the variometer-like tone so there is no need to look at an indicator. If I don't like it I'll disable it and move on.

Second pic shows the probe from inside the wing. I included the service loop so I could pull the probe out to replace/troubleshoot it.

Last pic shows both wings completely covered. I still have some minor details but the largest part is done.

I had to put the wings on so I could set my butt ribs. Lots of stuff temporarily in place for evaluation, and then I threw on everything I have for the airplane and weighed it. So far it's at 493.8 lbs with my optimistic target to stay below 800.

Several months ago I posted a "photo shopped" version of what my fuselage would look like with my engine in place.

Two days ago I hung the engine for real.


I've got two props now. A 78" Meglin 3 blade carbon, ground adjustable from Ukraine, and a Sensenich two blade carbon (also ground adjustable) which I just received. The Sensenich is the one shown here.

I'm now in the process of locating the coil packs (no magnetos or distributor), fuel pumps, oil tank etc. I'll be fabricating my own accessory cowl to take up the space between the carbon boot cowl and the back of the engine. I'll be leaving the engine exposed like the good lord intended.

I'm going to get the wings back on and dry fit everything I have so I can weigh it and get a half way educated CG before I continue covering.

Finally got to hear it run.