Freedom Fox!

[Av8r3400]

Trent is trying for 10k subscribers this year. Let's help him out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCWuLMzu0s

[DesertFox4]

Done. Add one more.
Love Trent's videos.
He is a talented videographer.
He's a good ambassador for the Kitfox design and community. I've enjoyed watching him learn the aircraft and all it offers.

Enjoyed meeting up with him at Field's Station and the flight to the dry lake bed on the way back to the 2017 Kitfox Aircraft Factory Fly-In.
That was a fun flight Larry. :)


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[WWhunter]

Funny this was posted. I am visiting my son for the Christmas holiday's and of course our main discussions revolve around airplanes and flying. He has been watching Trent's videos and had me check them out also. Not much of a youtuber...but I will say that I was impressed. Good videos with some good info.

[Kahle76]

Great videos and congrats on the photo of the Mangy Fox in the latest issue of Sport Aviation.

[Av8r3400]

Yes, Steve, it was an awesome experience that I hope to repeat many more times!

Thank you Kahle. I still haven't gotten my copy of SA for January. I've seen it online, but not in print, yet.

[Kahle76]

I just received mine today. I'm also the guy who visited with you at Osh while you were guarding you plane during the 5K.

[Av8r3400]

Okay, I remember you. :D.

Here's half of the Mangy's centerfold... :eek:

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[Ramos]

Well, Trent now has one additional subscriber. I have seen several of his videos and enjoy his style. Will he be sending out dividend checks after youtube makes him filthy/rotten rich? :D

[ColdFusion]

Trent is in a perfect spot right now for maximizing and controlling his brand and his youtube future.

He is young, having a ton of fun, clearly passionate and talented with video and story telling and successfully building the Trent Palmer bad ass bush plane & epic adventure brand one awesome back country experience at a time.

Trent is without question a great ambassador for the entire experimental aircraft movement and more specific, currently kitfox bush planes. He has inspired more people, young and old, than he will ever know and this magnetic Mayberry connection is growing daily. Other media forms, primarily aviation print will pick up on Trent’s momentum and further expand his reach with even more exposure and followers. YouTube subscribers and views will ultimately determine Trent’s brand value. Then the race for sponsors and product placement explodes, but is already in motion.

Other brands are eying Trents talents and loyal following with envy and the reality is clear, Trent’s momentum will soon position him to enjoy free everything from tires to shocks to props to electronics to engines to planes, and this is where things start to get fuzzy for kitfox.

Trent is flying a kitfox now because that is what he can afford, remember his comment that a Carbon Cub was the gold standard, and cost as much as a house and he was not at a point in his life to financially consider it. A free or gifted Carbon Cub changes that entry barrier and this should be a huge concern for kitfox. Trent’s YouTube success is the biggest marketing benefit and also the biggest marketing threat to kitfox. The bigger Trent’s youtube value gets, the more other brands like Rans or Carbon Cub want him. If kitfox does not move soon with a new S7 and lock up a Trent Palmer / kitfox ambassador partnership the kitfox brand will suffer with a spotlight shift to another platform brand, unless Trent wants to maintain full control without Corp pressures and influence and stick with the V model. Free is never free.

Trent can further increase his YouTube views with incorporating product flight test comparison in some episodes, along with added casual back country flight safety training commentary, leeward downdraft caution etc. Everyone wins here. The public likes and trust this guy a lot and brands want his endorsement. Companies will eagerly send product to Trent for free evaluation with the winner most likely wanting Trent to just keep their product in exchange for the massive future YouTube exposure and promotion.

There is an identical Cinderella story in the sailing world right now with “la Vegabond” (youtube search it). An oil rig worker saves his money, quits his job, buys a small used budget sail boat in Italy, sets off with zero sailing hours to see the world, meets a hot chic who has a camera and a YouTube account and no commitments and 350,000 subscribers later they are cruising the world in a million dollar multi hull cat that a factory in France made available to them at no charge. The new boat is promoted by default in every global adventures posted on their YouTube channel - brilliant. These sailors sold out to the Corp world which did remove the unknown romantic survival element, but they are certainly enjoying the awesome new boat much more and their subscribers have exploded which results in nice product placement deals and a monthly deposit.

Trent, keep up the awesome work. If you are ever in park city Utah skiing or biking look me up. Or even better, if you ever want to do a lake Powell segment reach out to me, I have a houseboat down there that can be a good basecamp for a few days. Flying at Powell is beyond measure!

[efwd]

And so it begins...
A free house boat on Lake Powell.

[Ramos]

If the timing is right, I could be interested in his Kitfox when his 'gift plane' is ready.

I really have to say, that at this point in time Trent strikes me as a really down-to-Earth type of young man. I am going to assume that that won't change if/when fame and fortune catches up with him. Of course, that is really up to him.

See how it works, Trent? Just a teeny, tiny bit of fame and we already have you under the microscope!!!

[jmodguy]

Personally I don't give a rats behind about branding. I bought a Kitfox because they have a high safety rating, sporty reputation and can be built inexpensively.
I bought a 5 project because it is basically the same as a 7 but waaaaaayyyy less $$. Basically the same reason Trent did. Trent has however spent a lot of $$$$$$ on upgrades and mods.
If he moves away from Kitfox - he will lose some followers but gain others. Everyone has their price...
I'm hoping to finish mine in '18 and meet up with Trent somewhere to see how my Model 5 340 BossFox performs next to his Freedom Fox! :cool:

[av8rps]

I've shown a few of Trent's videos to non aviation types and they think his Freedom Fox is cool compared to the other planes in his videos.

I think his round cowled Model 5 Kitfox STI actually does a better job of representing the Kitfox brand than a new Kitfox would because that cute little round cowl identifies the brand better because it is more unique than the cowl designs used on most all other aircraft, and of course is what early on gave the Kitfox brand it's image. I know everyone doesn't like the round cowl, but the public sure does based on what I've experienced. I get constant compliments from people when they see my little round cowled Model 4 floatplane.

Not that I don't like the new Kitfox SS, but the Freedom Fox STI is really a great cross of the old and new, making it the quintessential Kitfox overall. And then there is that patriotic stars and stripes paint schene,,, If someone gifts him with a Carbon Cub it is unlikely to have the stage presence of his Kitfox, and from what I see it wouldn't be much of a move up, if at all.

[Esser]

I think Steve Henry does a great job for the SuperStol. I think no matter what, if you have a unique channel, it will get attention for the brand. What really sets Trent apart from everyone else is his cinematic skills and eye for shots. It’s not 30 min of the same GoPro angle. It also helps that he is young.

[rosslr]

"It also helps that he is young." ...... Stirring up us old farts again Josh?!

:)

r

[airlina]

"It also helps that he is young." ...... Stirring up us old farts again Josh?!

:)

r

Rossir , from what I've seen of your adventures, Trent has nothing on you! signed, another old guy

[efwd]

Yeah Ross. If you recall, Your posts have inspired me to go back in the garage too.
Eddie

[av8rps]

I'm kinda hoping if anyone "Gifts" Trent anthing it is Rotax giving him a 915is for his Freedom Fox so he can show the world what a Kitfox can really do!

But then again, his Freedom Fox as it is performs very well and is excellent for showing newcomers that you don't need a 250 to 300k bushplane to have a blast!! Personally, I think that is the real value of his videos.

I could see Kitfox company making a special Freedom Fox tribute model of a Super Sport STI Model 7 but with a round bump cowl. I think there is already a market...;)

[rosslr]

Very nice of you Eddie ad Bruce ...but I think Josh is right - Trent brings a vitality to his flying adventures that is inspiring. Plus his technical ability with video coupled with his considerable presenter talents make his contributions second to none. Love his videos!

No pressure Josh ... we just expect you and Trent and Ben to keep us oldies young!!!

cheers

r

[fathom]

I’ll be one of the first to openly admit that Trent was a huge reason we purchased a Kitfox kit.

About a year ago my fiancée and I stumbled on his videos while I was working through my private pilot cert and thought they were awesome but didn’t think much further about it. Fast forward to July, we saw his plane sitting in Oshkosh while we were riding the tram (“hey that’s that sweet red white and blue plane that has the awesome back country videos!”).

Jump to November, my CFI called me and mentioned his buddy was selling a Kitfox IV kit for a good price. A few phone calls and a visit later, and back to YouTube for Trent’s videos and it was a done deal. Very excited for this new adventure and Trent’s videos are a huge motivator!

[David47]

Very nice of you Eddie ad Bruce ...but I think Josh is right - Trent brings a vitality to his flying adventures that is inspiring. Plus his technical ability with video coupled with his considerable presenter talents make his contributions second to none. Love his videos!

No pressure Josh ... we just expect you and Trent and Ben to keep us oldies young!!!

cheers

r

Re Trent's video's: Well said Ross. Totally agree.

Looking forward to your first vid Josh. :D

[Av8r3400]

With everyone's help Trent did make his goal of 10,000 subscribers (https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/trentpalmer1/realtime) to his YouTube Channel by the end of 2017!

Congratulations Trent!!


Now we'll get him to 100,000... :cool:




I can honestly say many of us have benefited from Trent's flying and his videos! There are now several very good Kitfox video makers out there on YouTube. In the long run we will all benefit from their efforts in bringing the Kitfox brand and our chosen type of flying out into the public view!

Let's all keep it going! :D



(Now I have to get to work with Steve and figure out how to embed videos on this forum...)

[Esser]

No slight intended on older pilots! I think it’s just good to show that people can their 20s and 30s can do it too

[DesertFox4]

(Now I have to get to work with Steve and figure out how to embed videos on this forum...)

Larry, this is one of the changes we'll work on for 2018.

[David47]

No slight intended on older pilots! I think it’s just good to show that people can their 20s and 30s can do it too

We're just taking the Mickey Josh..... We older pilots look to you younger guys to carry the passion forward before we're too old and cranky to fly anymore. Like you though, I hope to have cameras installed on my plane most of the time for a number of reasons, one of which includes sharing on the forum.