Kitfox IV ceiling.

[rwaltman]

Wondering how high my KF will be able to climb.
(Yes, of course, I will try it and find out by myself as soon as I can.)

Kitfox-IV speedster, HKS-700E engine (60HP), 3-blade Powerfin propeller.
Empty weight around 600 pounds.

What performance figures are you guys getting with similar configurations?

Thanks,

Roberto Waltman

[t j]

here's a graph I made during my flight testing. Classic 4 with 52 horse 503.

[Slyfox]

I don't care how high other people fly their kitfox's. I have a personal ceiling of 1000'agl

[rwaltman]

Thanks TJ - your graph made me think it would be a good idea to create a repository for KS's performance data in a format that would help people find and/or interpolate figures applicable to their particular configuration.
Will put on the thinking cup on this one ...

Slyfox - Yeap, I can see that a 1000' AGL limit can be fun running down a canyon in Idaho, but not when flying over North New Jersey, (too many trees, too many hills, too many houses, too little anything else), not with my wife on board.

High can be fun too. One of my more enjoyable flights was one of my solo cross-country when I was working on my private ticket. Flying back from Abilene to Forth Worth, in a Cessna 152. Had enough fuel, had enough time, so I climbed to 12000 (took forever) followed by gliding down to 2000 (to get under Dallas class B,) while doing a slalom in slow motion, zig zagging between clouds that rose from 2 or 3K to well above the 12K I had reached before.

Looking forward for an encore presentation, in a Kitfox ...

Roberto Waltman

[Slyfox]

when I run a canyon I fly lower than that. I stay at 1000ft agl because that's the min legal over populated areas, if it was lower I would do it. I just turn and avoid the trees and such, I look out the window

[sdemeyer]

A friend of mine sent me a picture a while back of his KF IV - 912UL. He was at 17,200 or so and still climbing...

[Pilot4Life]

One of the signs of Hypoxia is a lack of awareness that there's anything wrong...aka: denial! Why anyone would WANT to fly that high, especially with this aircraft being a land lover (Low Altitude, STOL FUN) is beyond me. Great performance though, isn't it! Good to know you can just in case you run into that opportunity for a high altitude mountain rescue! What an amazing plane!! Love it guys...keep it up!

[rwaltman]

> Why anyone would WANT to fly that high, especially with this aircraft being a land lover (Low Altitude, STOL FUN) is beyond me.

a) For the occasional long distance flight, to catch a good tailwind, fly above B/C/D airspace, etc.

b) For safety. One route that will became 'a regular' for me, is from my base field to Block Island, (http://www.airnav.com/airport/KBID.) Ten miles over water, crossing the Long Island sound. I could do it at 500', I guarantee you I will not.
I wouldn't go for this trip unless I know for sure that, if I have any engine trouble, I am high enough to glide to safety on either side.
The same for flying from New Jersey to upper New York state or Vermont over the Catskills. There is no place to land there. Altitude can save you.
c) To know what the performance and limitations of your plane are.

d) For fun! There is low fun, there is middle fun, there is high fun...
Roberto Waltman

[Slyfox]

I guess if I'm flying over water like that, I would take the life perserver out of the boat and wear it, it has self inflate if put into water. might even have the doors open, sounds like a fun flight 10ft off.

[rwaltman]

> ... if I'm flying over water like that ... sounds like a fun flight 10ft off.

Mmm... I'm beginning to see your point.

[SkyPirate]

I 've raced boats 2 foot off the water,..snow mobiles 2 foot off the snow,.what a blast~!!

Chase

[DanB]

Wow, That beats Jesus Christ...He simply walked on the water

[SkyPirate]

Can't compete with that DanB,..been too many time's when I was close to death and he saved my arse,..why? I haven't a clue,.truely a comforting feeling when your world seems like it is about to end when the precusion of an explosion goes off at your feet and knocks the wind right out of you ,. a calmness overwhelms you, and you just know your going to be OK, I just have the scars now to remind me of the many times he has saved me.
flying 2 feet off the water racing a boat is just one of the gift's I take advatantage of,..that I could not have done if it werent for Jesus Christ. no I'm not a holy roller,..I'm just a believer so if he want's to walk on water ,..I say let him ,..I'm a fan

Chase

[SkyPirate]

I'm convinced we are going to have to do some flying together Slyfox,..we just have too much in common with our flying habits not to :D

Chase

[Slyfox]

this mornings flight would have had you drooling.

[wannafly]

Finall did some cllimb test with the new 912s. Filled the fuel up and myself so weight would have been close to 1100 lbs. Temp was 14 degee Celcius, and calm. climbed at 60 mph indicated and 5400 rpm. Our strip is at 3029 feet indicated and I started the stop watch just before hitting the throttle. The numbers are : (drum roll )

Altitude minutes and secounds feet per minute
3000
4000 1:04 1300
5000 2:00 1300
6000 3:00 1100
7000 4:11 1000
8000 5:25 950
9000 6:36 850
10000 8:03 750

forward distance covered was about 8 miles

[rwaltman]

750 FPM at 10000? I am impressed, congratulations!