Kitfox Factory Fly In - 2017

[jdmcbean]

Its a new year and some exciting things going on...

First; is the scheduling of the 2017 Kitfox Fly-in! We will be holding it at the Greenleaf Air Ranch.. Greenleaf is approximately 7 air miles from S66, about 10 air miles from KEUL and about 31 air miles from KBOI.
It is a private Air Ranch and there will be plenty of aircraft parking and vehicle parking.. even room for motor homes...
Plenty of areas to camp.. and we will have room in a couple of hangars for bunking. Please see attached and we hope to see you Sept 1st - Labor Day Weekend.
Please RSVP to Kitfox-fly-in-2017@kitfoxaircraft.com so we can get a head count for the BBQ dinner.

[rv9ralph]

Looking forward to being there with my wife Darlene. Hotel reservations made.

Ralph

[Av8r3400]

God willing and the creek don't rise... :D:D

[PapuaPilot]

I hope I can make it this time. Better start planning the 16 mile X-country. :D

[jdmcbean]

15 days until the Factory fly-in...
We hope to see you here.
Counting heads for beds... so if you haven't RSVP'd please do so..

[Frontier Fox]

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Joe

[Slyfox]

if all the planets align, I will be there

[Slyfox]

I would like to know what our fuel options are. I mostly run auto fuel with 10% 91 oct. , so that would be nice.

[Esser]

Unfortunately I have my sisters wedding that weekend. Next one for sure!

[PapuaPilot]

Regarding fuel:
Caldwell (10 miles from Greenleaf) has avgas for $4.65
Nampa (16 miles) has avgas for $4.66 and 91 octane Mogas for $3.52.

I am base at Nampa and use the Mogas all the time. It is at the pump and does not have any ethanol.

Personally I would suggest Nampa as your fuel stop because the airport is usually less busy. Caldwell has helicopter training that uses taxiway A for their runway. What this means is all fixed wing traffic does their patterns to the north and all helicopters do their traffic to the south and use taxiway A. Runway 30 has right traffic at Caldwell.

Other fuel options:
Mountain Home (65 miles SE) has avgas for $4.15
Payette (30 miles N) has Mogas for $3.35
Weiser (37 miles N) has avgas for 4.49

[jiott]

Thanks Phil, for a very good listing of fuel options.

[Slyfox]

way cool, Nampa it is, the price is good as well for the 91 oct fuel.

[Av8r_Sed]

E-free Mogas is great for my old tanks. Anybody happen to know if there's an Amsoil dealer around Nampa? I've got to try to source a few gallons of Eliminator or HP Marine on that end of the trip. Dunno, I may be the only two stroker making the trip.

[wannafly]

If the combing gets done. It will have to be short notice. Haven't logged enough miles yet this year. 😂😂

[jdmcbean]

I've got to try to source a few gallons of Eliminator or HP Marine on that end of the trip. Dunno, I may be the only two stroker making the trip.

Would you like me to try and get some for you?

[Av8r3400]

Looking forward to the trip!

Paul, I'm sure if John can't find it for you, you can always ship some out to the Kitfox Factory to use when we get there.

[Av8r_Sed]

I found an Amsoil dealer by Nampa. I'll see what I can arrange.

[Slyfox]

Looking forward to the trip!

Paul, I'm sure if John can't find it for you, you can always ship some out to the Kitfox Factory to use when we get there.

larry, sounds like you are still planning the trip.

[Av8r3400]

Yes we are. The flatlanders are coming west..

[Slyfox]

Yes we are. The flatlanders are coming west..
flatlanders, good one. looking forward to seeing you all.

[Av8r_Sed]

Would you like me to try and get some for you?

Thanks for the offer, John. I made arrangements today. Amsoil has a pretty extensive network it seems.

[Av8r3400]

Can you give any fire/smoke reports for us coming out for the Fly In?

Will there be any flying up north?

[Slyfox]

if any of you belong to AOPA, the flight planner has all the TFR's. I live up north so I'll be flying from and to the North.

[PapuaPilot]

Right now there isn't any smoke in the area and the visibility is very good. The closest fire fighting TFR is over 100 miles to the north.

Like was said, anybody flying here will need to check on TFRs as this can change daily and even by the hour.

[neville]

Does the fly-in landing field have a official CTAF? If not what freq would be appropriate?

[Paul Z]

Does the fly-in landing field have a official CTAF? If not what freq would be appropriate?

I don't believe it has an identifier. I recently got back from Homedale, and I have landed there several times. I found it on ForeFlight, since I had been there, I knew about where to look. Here is a Google maps location, once you can find it you can put in Waypoint Coordinates. Have fun at the Flyin.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stick+%26+Rudder+Aviation,+21331+Cessna+Ct,+Greenl eaf,+ID+83626/@43.6792347,-116.8236479,16z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x54afc9d2c1422f3b:0xd363a 74acc32e6e1

[Av8r_Sed]

The official Kitfox Fly In bulletin lists the location: Greenleaf Air Ranch,
GPS location: 43.681507, -116.826273

No frequency provided

[Slyfox]

I guess you will just have to look out the window for traffic. :eek:

[Esser]

I guess you will just have to look out the window for traffic. :eek:

Does the US not have a standard frequency for unpublished airports? 134.2?

[Av8r3400]

In the US the unspecified frequency is 122.9.

[Slyfox]

I always assume that the other airplanes in the pattern are NOT on any freq. so looking out the windows is a very viable reality. I have no problem with it.

[rv9ralph]

The Greenleaf Air Ranch website at this url: http://www.greenleafairranch.com/pilots

It lists the specifics for the airfield including the Unicom.

Ralph

[jdmcbean]

122.9 is the CTAF for Greenleaf AirRanch. It is a common freq in the area and is used all over the back country. Nearby Caldwell (KEUL) and Nampa (KMAN) use 122.7 so please be aware of the traffic in the area could be on either freq.
Also, KEUL has a HIGH volume of Helicopter traffic... They operate on the opposite side of the airport from aircraft traffic and land and depart the parallel taxiway.. not the runway..

See you there!

[Av8r3400]

Anyone interested in following my PLB tracking map for our trip to Idaho? I'll start a new thread and include a link if there's any interest.

(That way you can find where the wreckage is and laugh at the stupid flatlander when you go by. :rolleyes:)

[efwd]

Let's hope not Larry. Fly safe.

[SkySteve]

Good idea, Larry. I always use a PLB (SPOT) and am guessing many of us will. It might be a good idea to have a thread where we can all put our links. Mine is also in my signature.

[jiott]

Anyone heard where the Saturday morning flyout/breakfast airstrips are?

[Slyfox]

making a call out to anybody headed to the flyin from my area. I'm leaving Spokane felts field Friday morning, like 6 or soon after. going through Pullman, Joseph state and then into homedale.

[rv9ralph]

Steve. I look forward to meeting you when you get to The Factory fly in at Greenleaf Air Ranch.

Ralph

[3 tracks]

Sly Fox Im a little south of you Orofino. We will be leaving about 8:00 PST direct Council to Homedale. N103GE. Should be coming in from the north about the same time as you. See you down there John.

[Slyfox]

Sly Fox Im a little south of you Orofino. We will be leaving about 8:00 PST direct Council to Homedale. N103GE. Should be coming in from the north about the same time as you. See you down there John.

I'll monitor 122.8 and listen for ya, who knows, maybe we will meet up on the way down. I'll be at Felts around 6am, but I don't think I'll get out until about 6.30. see you there. you say we, are you going with somebody?

[Korben88]

I'll be driving in early Saturday morning. Anyone have an extra seat for the breakfast trip?

[DesertFox4]

Good morning from Greeleaf Airpark. Just flew with Paul to Caldwell for fuel.
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[jdmcbean]

Good morning

[jdmcbean]

In the grass

[DesertFox4]

Dry lake bed before breakfast at Feild's Station.

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[jiott]

Was on my way about 15 min. from home at 7:00 am this morning, climbing to clear the Cascade mountains when my CHT on both sides went into the red. I immediately pulled power way down and leveled off and turned for home. CHT peaked at 360 F and then stayed at 350F while I limped back home. Coolant was dripping out of the lower cowl and coating the belly and tailwheel. It appears to be leaking from the center bottom of the radiator. All hoses and joints were good. I have the older copper radiator; guess I will be getting the newer aluminum one. I hope the engine isn't damaged by the 15 min. at 350F CHT limp home at low power.

Bummer, I was all set for a fun time at the fly-in. You all have an extra good time to make up for my aborted effort.

[DesertFox4]

Sorry to hear that Jim. Hope you get it sorted out soon.

[southwind32]

Was on my way about 15 min. from home at 7:00 am this morning, climbing to clear the Cascade mountains when my CHT on both sides went into the red. I immediately pulled power way down and leveled off and turned for home. CHT peaked at 360 F and then stayed at 350F while I limped back home. Coolant was dripping out of the lower cowl and coating the belly and tailwheel. It appears to be leaking from the center bottom of the radiator. All hoses and joints were good. I have the older copper radiator; guess I will be getting the newer aluminum one. I hope the engine isn't damaged by the 15 min. at 350F CHT limp home at low power.

Bummer, I was all set for a fun time at the fly-in. You all have an extra good time to make up for my aborted effort.

Bummer is Right !! Hopefully just the radiator and nothing else. Best of luck.
Brian

[Wheels]

I'm very jealous of all of you flying out there. I'm home in my shop tonight working on the install for my motor. I will be watching anxiously for pics and stories. Hope you all have a blast.
Wheels

[DesertFox4]

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[kmach]

Very Nice!

[DesertFox4]

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[efwd]

Nice pics Steve.
Is a group pic with names attached possible? Would be cool to put face to names of the guys from this forum.
Pauls place has certainly grown since I was there Nov. 2015. Nice!
Eddie

[Wheels]

Wow! I missed out! How many planes showed up? I would also love a group pic with names! That would be cool.
Have fun, wish I could have joined you.

[DesertFox4]

Hard to get all the folks in one place long enough to get a group photo.
Having a blast. Lots of smoke again in the back country. Went to breakfast at Sulfur Creek this morning. Paul Leedabrand led 19 Kitfoxs to 3 airstrips then all but one landed at Sulfur Creek for breakfast.
Seems like I heard there were 22 here so far not counting the factory's aircraft.

[Wheels]

Man I missed it! Thanks so much for the update. Smoke smoke smoke here at home in Clark Fork.

[DesertFox4]

Trent Palmer put his drone up for a group photo/ video. Watch for that.
35 Kitfox, 38 total aircraft. I think a new record for Kitfox attendance. What a blast.
20 Kitfox left this morning for back country flight not counting John and myself. We went direct to Sulphur Creek to await the mass arrival. Amazing job every one did and a big thanks to Paul Leadabrand and Preston for leading such a big group successfully.
Great flying, great coversation, incredible time. Thank you John and Debra. Thanks to all that made the fly in a huge success. I enjoyed every minute.
24 months and counting.

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[SkySteve]

Great pics, DF4. What a blast the fly-in was. It's a great way to put names and faces together and hear about all the building and flying adventures of other Kitfoxers. There was even an order placed for a new kit at the fly-in. The excitement was was just too much to take for an interested potential new builder! Oh, yeah, and the airshow. We were delighted by a private airshow of Kitfox flying. I'm sure pics of that will soon emerge, also.

[rosslr]

Yes, thanks for all the pics from the flyin and what a great turn up! I was interesting for me to see Paul's house and hanger as I was there when it was only just starting! Looks very nice Paul.

And I'll bite - who owns the Sti project with the 915is engine??? Paul??

I look forward to hearing about the performance figures with that engine fitted compared to the 912 and 914.

thanks again

cheers

[DesertFox4]

Scott's very clean install.
Great job Scott and really great to see you again.

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[DesertFox4]

SkySteve- watched you fly home on SPOT. So good to see you again.

[DesertFox4]

Larry and Paul just back from Johnson Creek.

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[SkySteve]

A short vid of the fly-in:
Kitfox Factory Fly-In 2017 (https://youtu.be/q5InAT1oQhw)

[DesertFox4]

Sunday evening presented a perfect opportunity to do a little Speedster flying. John generously offered the left seat to myself, Larry W. and Paul B.
Hopefully they will post their impressions of their flights when they get the opportunity.


Learning the start sequence of the Rotax fuel injected engine was first. Not at all difficult yet I found a way to slightly flood that wonderful little engine.:rolleyes: Just follow John's instuction Steve!:rolleyes:

The tailwheel felt very authoritative and responsive. Sporty one might say. I liked it. Take off was also sporty and while the Speedster stayed on the runway longer than the stock wing while carrying lots of fuel and two good sized guys in the seats, it wasn't by much. The Airmaster prop worked flawlessly and pulled strong. Very nice feature and one I first flew behind in John and Debra's personal aircraft a few years back and in Stick and Rudder's training aircraft. Each has performed perfectly. Leveling off about 1,000' agl, pulling the power off to economy cruise quickly reduced fuel flow from max take off of 6 g.p.h. back to a miserly 3.8 or so g.p.h.
I spnt a few minutes getting aquainted with the very light feeling controls in a series of turns that started out quite conservative to gradully evolving to turning aound a point. Very nimble little creature and never went over 2.8 G's. This is fun flying personified.

Climb up to altitude to do some slow flight. Slowly sneaking up on the stall I noticed 55 mph slip easily by on the Garmin screen before sensing the typical Kitfox wing stall indication of a polite well behaved bow to aerodynamic laws of physics and with the slightest release of back stick pressure, she was instantly flying again even with no application of power and never did the nose drop to the horizon. Wonderful!

John gave me a breif demonstration of the Garmin auto pilot capabilities. I may have to revisit my prejudices towards auto pilots on Kitfoxs. I could see the benefits of that install on long cross country trips.

Speaking of Gamin, the glass panel in the Speedster was very easy to pull information from at a glance. Seemed very familiar after flying Garmin portable gps units for decades. Sorry I didn't snap a photo of the panel while in flight. Too busy enjoying the flying characteristics to reach in back for my iPad.

Return for landing and setting flaps and trim up for 65 mph with flaps seemed to work very well on short final. Flair had excess of elevator authority and my touch down was very soft if I may brag just a little. Very rewarding to still be able to squeek a first landing in a new tailwheel aircraft after hundreds of hours in a tri-gear. Tracking on roll out was very easy to keep on centerline with the Grove streamlined gear, wheels and brakes and reaponsive tailwheel. All in all, as Kyle Franklin exclaimed in a video interview, it was 10 time more than I expected.

Congratulations to John and Debra and all who had a hand in getting this sweet flying Kitfox to market. Will everyone want one? You will if you fly one so be warned. Now for a few photos. By the way. That Kitfox grin is completely unavoidable. I look forward with happy anticipation to another flight in the Speedster somewhere in the near future I hope. It's just plane good for the soul.
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[Av8r_Sed]

Boy, if my flying buddies are sold on the Speedster, I'll really have a time keeping up in my 582 Model III.

[HighWing]

Going through some photos and thought I would share this one first. I shows what the Fly-out Saturday looked like from the air. I flew as a guest of Guy Buchannan

[Slyfox]

some pics that I have.

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[DesertFox4]

Thanks for the pics SlyFox. Great to visit with you again. Sorry you had to leave early.

Lowell- good to see you again and your photo shows the more clear area of the backcountry tour.

[AirFox]

Here is one of my favorite from the trip. There wasn't as much smoke on the way.

Scott
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[SCOOBY]

Here's another great photo I got of Scott's Fox.

[SCOOBY]

Took this beautiful picture at Saturday's breakfast.

[Av8r3400]

Almost VFR on top at 10,000. Bozeman pass.

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[Av8r3400]

Smokey Prop?

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[DesertFox4]

Had the same residue on mine when I got back to Arizona.

[SkySteve]

FYI, I heard yesterday that there was a plane that crashed close to Sulphur Creek. Not one of ours. Also, yesterday Sulphur Creek was closed and evacuated as the Honey Creek fire was within 1.5 miles of them.

[offroute]

Webcam today:
https://www.eye-n-sky.com/webcam/SulphurCreek/SulphurCreek-East-normal.jpg


FYI, I heard yesterday that there was a plane that crashed close to Sulphur Creek. Not one of ours. Also, yesterday Sulphur Creek was closed and evacuated as the Honey Creek fire was within 1.5 miles of them.

[Slyfox]

Every year this happens, the fires. I propose this solution. we change this fly in to the first part of July. I think the weekend of Arlington or there abouts. John does not go to Arlington, he stopped that a long time ago. The grass is green. the airfields are free from fire and smoke. In fact, I read that after July the back country is yuk. So why not? If it's the planning and such being a burden because of OSH coming up. I'm sure a lot of us would pitch in. just saying this time of year is just plain bad.

[HighWing]

Thanks Steve. The following are some more pictures on the way and returning from Sulfur Creek. The last while leaving Cameron Park on the way home.

[Guy Buchanan]

All,

My Fly-in picture are posted here:

https://b-and-n.smugmug.com/Flying/Kitfox-Fly-in-2017/ (https://b-and-n.smugmug.com/Flying/Kitfox-Fly-in-2017/)

Enjoy!

[neville]

is there a link to the group photo? I saw it on the forum a couple of days ago but cannot locate it today.

[DesertFox4]

Neville, Trent put his drone up and got a group photo. Not sure when or where that will get posted but stay tune as I'm sure it will appear soon.