RBBailey
07-20-2020, 01:00 PM
Hello everyone, glad to be here.
I'm beginning the process of researching a future Kitfox purchase. I've been out of aviation for about 20 years now.... it goes by fast. I started flying as a sophomore in high school, and somehow managed to end up doing freelance instruction, photography, and I had my own banner tow business for a while. But when it came down to it, I never wanted to do airlines, and in the mid-1990s, a job in aviation was hard to come by. I never made any money as a commercial pilot for 3 years. So I went back to school to become a teacher. I sold my 1969 150 TD (https://flic.kr/p/8rz6hn), and basically walked away. Family, other hobbies, but mostly time and money has kept me away from flying. I did get my BFR last summer, but have not flown since. I thought I'd just rent once a month or so, and never look into buying my own airplane again. But the only kind of flying I want to do is in my own airplane! Especially since looking into the Kitfoxes.
In the 1990s, owning a Kitfox or kit plane of any kind was sort of seen as a bit of a fringe element. I always liked the idea though. Now, it seems with the new tech, materials, and other things, that owning a kit plane really is the way to go if you are looking for something with two seats. And my wife hasn't said no, so...
I'm unofficially looking for a III or a IV. I'm not really ready to buy yet, so I'm researching and figuring out the plan. I would not mind building my own 51%+, but I think I'd rather buy a built, stock plane that I can get to know while I get the training to get back in the cockpit. So I have a few questions:
Would you buy a ground-looped plane, or something with frame damage? Why or why not?
How realistic is it to NOT hangar the plane, but to keep it in a covered trailer? What type of tow vehicle are people needing if you do this?
Can a Mk III be modified in the same way you see the V and up?
What about a Mk I or II? Why, or why not, buy one and mod it up?
What pitfalls must I look at when looking for a Kitfox?
I think my research has narrowed it down to Rotax or Yamaha engines: What kind of upgrade to an engine can a II or III airframe take?
My end result would be a moderately well equipped "bush" plane. Moderate STOL mods. Moderate power mods. I don't need an ultimate bush plane, but I would like to go in and out of the established grass strips, and at higher altitudes. Cruise performance is not a problem, the 150 I had might have cruised at 100 on a good day.
Take a look at a few of my flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bhcmbailey/)albums if you want to know more about my interests, where I'm from, and how I might use my future Kitfox.
I'm beginning the process of researching a future Kitfox purchase. I've been out of aviation for about 20 years now.... it goes by fast. I started flying as a sophomore in high school, and somehow managed to end up doing freelance instruction, photography, and I had my own banner tow business for a while. But when it came down to it, I never wanted to do airlines, and in the mid-1990s, a job in aviation was hard to come by. I never made any money as a commercial pilot for 3 years. So I went back to school to become a teacher. I sold my 1969 150 TD (https://flic.kr/p/8rz6hn), and basically walked away. Family, other hobbies, but mostly time and money has kept me away from flying. I did get my BFR last summer, but have not flown since. I thought I'd just rent once a month or so, and never look into buying my own airplane again. But the only kind of flying I want to do is in my own airplane! Especially since looking into the Kitfoxes.
In the 1990s, owning a Kitfox or kit plane of any kind was sort of seen as a bit of a fringe element. I always liked the idea though. Now, it seems with the new tech, materials, and other things, that owning a kit plane really is the way to go if you are looking for something with two seats. And my wife hasn't said no, so...
I'm unofficially looking for a III or a IV. I'm not really ready to buy yet, so I'm researching and figuring out the plan. I would not mind building my own 51%+, but I think I'd rather buy a built, stock plane that I can get to know while I get the training to get back in the cockpit. So I have a few questions:
Would you buy a ground-looped plane, or something with frame damage? Why or why not?
How realistic is it to NOT hangar the plane, but to keep it in a covered trailer? What type of tow vehicle are people needing if you do this?
Can a Mk III be modified in the same way you see the V and up?
What about a Mk I or II? Why, or why not, buy one and mod it up?
What pitfalls must I look at when looking for a Kitfox?
I think my research has narrowed it down to Rotax or Yamaha engines: What kind of upgrade to an engine can a II or III airframe take?
My end result would be a moderately well equipped "bush" plane. Moderate STOL mods. Moderate power mods. I don't need an ultimate bush plane, but I would like to go in and out of the established grass strips, and at higher altitudes. Cruise performance is not a problem, the 150 I had might have cruised at 100 on a good day.
Take a look at a few of my flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bhcmbailey/)albums if you want to know more about my interests, where I'm from, and how I might use my future Kitfox.