KitFox
Super Sport
light sport aircraft, KitFox Super Sport LSA or lightsport aircraft, Light
Sport Aircraft Pilot News
newsmagazine.
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Light Sport Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit
into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight
aircraft,
light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental
aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt
aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include
weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes,
powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.
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KitFox Super Sport light sport aircraft, experimental
lightsport, amateur built aircraft.
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KitFox
Aircraft
123 Airport Way
PO Box 997
Homedale, ID 83628 USA
208.337.5111
www.kitfoxaircraft.com
I first had the opportunity to fly the Kitfox back
in the mid 80's, I was on a trip to Colorado to visit Leading Edge Airfoils, and
decided to drop in to the Kitfox factory.
I had met and interviewed the Kitfox
designer Dan Denny a number of times at Sun N Fun and Airventure. Back then I
was about 165 lbs and Dan's factory pilot about 175, while we both fit into the
craft, to say it felt a little tight would have been and understatement. |
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But the performance of the craft, which was being
powered by a Rotax 532 was outstanding. With two on board and full fuel we
managed well over 900 feet per minute, cruise came in at a comfortable 85 at
around 6200 and stall, well it didn't stall it just sort of mushed and the nose
dropped a little. Since that time Kitfox has delivered nearly 4500 aircraft
kits, which are flying in over 42 countries.
Last year I had the opportunity to interview the
new owner of the Kitfox factory John McBean, and the only thing I could find on
the plane that looked even vaguely familiar to the model I flew back in the 80's
was the Kitfox logo!.
John had his planes in both a
taildragger and a tricycle gear configuration on display at Sun N Fun. I should
mention that the plane can be purchased in one configuration and converted to
the other in literally hours, so you can have the best of both worlds in one
aircraft.
At Sun N Fun John mentioned that he was in the
process of preparing to put the Kitfox through certification for the light sport
aircraft category. At Airventure 2010 he not only had put the plane through the
ASTM standards for light sport aircraft, he had one on display and flying that
had over 200 hours on it in a training environment. PLUS he had a brand new
model a Kitfox Super Sport with a Rotec Radial engine mounted on it.
To be able to use the Rotec Radial John had to
extend the landing gear about 7 inches for better prop clearance, and of course
build a new motor mount to accommodate the radial style engine. Weight was not a
problem since the Kitfox has been designed to carry a variety of engines
including Continental's and Lycoming's.
John reports performance using the Rotec Radial is
about the same as a Rotax 912S, with fuel consumption coming in at around 5
gallons per hour at cruise. If you saw the plane at Airventure you know that
someone out there is going to see that big beautiful radial hanging off the
front of this baby and mount floats on it! |
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KitFox Super Sport light sport aircraft -
experimental lightsport aircraft |
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Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News Web Magazine.
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