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N213RV
09-11-2016, 04:42 AM
I haven't posted many pictures of my project yet as it has been similar to most others builds. Working on paint, engine, and cowling now.....

N213RV
09-11-2016, 04:44 AM
Fuselage paint

N213RV
09-11-2016, 04:45 AM
Engine install

N213RV
09-11-2016, 04:47 AM
Cowling work

DesertFox4
09-11-2016, 08:19 AM
It looks great Mike. Congrats on the progress. Nice paint scheme and colors.
When you get it flying, be prepared for lots of attention everywhere you go with that round engine up front.:) Thanks for the pics.

PapuaPilot
09-11-2016, 11:37 AM
I second everything that DF4 said. I like the paint scheme and colors.

efwd
09-11-2016, 02:14 PM
Oh Man that is going to be beautiful!

jmodguy
09-11-2016, 02:45 PM
WAY COOL!!! Nice colors too!

jdmcbean
09-12-2016, 09:27 AM
Looks great Mike!! I see the Skis :)

Pilot4Life
09-12-2016, 09:10 PM
Very Inspiring Mike! Keep up the good work. Love the clean looking paint job!

jrevens
09-12-2016, 09:32 PM
Yes... it's beautiful Mike!

Mcgaero
09-13-2016, 03:24 AM
Love your work Mike!!!

N213RV
02-07-2017, 03:50 PM
First Engine start video...... Rotec R2800 Radial.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PL6O7PZg_5c

airlina
02-07-2017, 04:37 PM
Sweet music to my ears-love that tune, nice job Mike! Bruce N199CL

DesertFox4
02-07-2017, 06:12 PM
Congrats Mike. :). Sounds so good.

foxbait
02-08-2017, 05:12 AM
Very cool.

PapuaPilot
02-08-2017, 06:52 AM
Love the sound of a radial engine.:)

ryanmcf45
02-08-2017, 07:10 AM
Looking at the engine start video with all the snow on the ground made me wonder, can (or how) do you get cabin heat from a radial?

OliverR
02-08-2017, 03:12 PM
Awesome, lovely sound!

JohnB
02-09-2017, 04:30 PM
Now that's cool!
Looks like you'll be flying in no time.

N213RV
02-10-2017, 02:18 AM
Looking at the engine start video with all the snow on the ground made me wonder, can (or how) do you get cabin heat from a radial?

I'm going to fab some sort of muff around the exhaust collector.

N213RV
06-28-2017, 07:40 AM
Updated pictures. Finally getting the cowling painted, still have the bump cowl to finish:

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/mkraus01/KitFox/1E1B6B54-19FF-442D-B00C-EFD83DB5BBEB.jpg (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/mkraus01/media/KitFox/1E1B6B54-19FF-442D-B00C-EFD83DB5BBEB.jpg.html)

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/mkraus01/KitFox/808D1067-3623-434D-A4F4-DEE73517E0A6.jpg (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/mkraus01/media/KitFox/808D1067-3623-434D-A4F4-DEE73517E0A6.jpg.html)

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/mkraus01/KitFox/24F2ABC4-139A-4979-8CCD-F0020EBD3380.jpg (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/mkraus01/media/KitFox/24F2ABC4-139A-4979-8CCD-F0020EBD3380.jpg.html)

efwd
06-28-2017, 08:23 AM
What a beautiful ride!

Danzer1
06-28-2017, 12:50 PM
Wow, thats going to be one nice bird! Did you have to make any CG changes yet? Can't wait to see some performance stats. Thanks for the update!

Greg

rosslr
06-28-2017, 07:02 PM
That looks great Mike - also looking forward to flight test reports!

r

jrevens
06-28-2017, 09:09 PM
She's a beauty for sure, Mike!

David47
06-29-2017, 03:00 AM
That radial engine instal in the SS7 just looks fantastic. Nice airplane Mike. Congratulations.

kmach
06-29-2017, 07:36 AM
Looks awesome , drool is running

Esser
06-29-2017, 08:06 AM
Really nice work Mike. The workmanship from the pictures looks outstanding.

DesertFox4
06-29-2017, 09:12 AM
Gorgeous!
Envisioning that Kitfox on a set of amphib floats painted to match that sweet paint job.:D

bumsteer
06-29-2017, 11:05 AM
Nicely done sir!!

Rick

chefwarthog
07-06-2017, 06:03 PM
There is no sexyer Kitfox, then one with a Radial in front........ well Done very nice plane that you accomplish.

N213RV
07-17-2017, 08:04 PM
So I realized I'm a few months behind on posting here..... Here is my first flight video from a few months ago:

https://youtu.be/ZrkqJClWAp8

I now have the 40 hours flown off and the cowling finished up just in time for Oshkosh.

Hope to see many of you there!

DesertFox4
07-17-2017, 08:57 PM
Congrats Mike!!

You should be very proud of that Kitfox.
As I recall early Kitfox history, they all were originally meant to host a radial engine up front.
Happy to see more of them reaching airworthiness status. The Rotec is quite an engine.
Enjoy the extra attention your Kitfox will attract. You've earned it. Now, more videos please.:D

David47
07-18-2017, 06:38 AM
Can't beat the sound of round. Your airplane will be a crowd puller, no doubt about it. Congrats on a very nice job.

SilverFox5
04-22-2018, 06:45 PM
Hi Mike
My brother and I are building a kitfox 5 and are looking very hard at the Rotec.
The cool and wow factor are hard to pass up.
Earlier in this thread CG was mentioned. Did you need to mount the battery in the tail?
We are at the point that we would need to look at installing a battery box in the tail now.
Also you mentioned adding cabin heat. Have you or others come up with a solution for this? We're from Wisconsin.
And oh yeah, we hope ours turns out even half as good as yours!
HOLY WOW!!

Joe

rosslr
04-23-2018, 05:31 PM
Hoe,

the owners of the Rotec engine in Australia have a Kitfox themselves. Paul Cherkinoff - it would be good to chat with them too.

cheers

r

N213RV
04-24-2018, 08:26 PM
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the kind words. I have a SS7 and I mounted the battery in the fuselage just behind the baggage area. Yea, the further back the better. I also bought an Alaskan Bush tailwheel which is beefier and helped with the cg. In addition, I mounted the ELT as far back as possible as well as the Dynon Transponder, ADSB module, and radio module.

I still do not have a solution for heat, but once I get around to it I plan to make a muff to go around the collector ring.

Let me know if you have any further questions. Sorry for the delay in responding.

SilverFox5
04-29-2018, 06:23 AM
Hi to all you radial builders.

I am only ever going be a Sport Pilot and need to license my Kitfox 5 that I am building as a LSA and I am not a small person. So I want to keep my build as lite as possible, but I REALLY want the Rotec radial. Is it possible to use this engine and keep the final weight under 850 Lbs. I would love to here from some of you as to what your final weights came to. Please feel free to IM me if you to keep that info private.
Hope to hear from some of you.
Thanks,

Joe

efwd
04-29-2018, 08:10 AM
I hope your not going to be disappointed. I really wanted to build with the Rotec but the factory informed me that Rotec motors are the heaviest motor they have installed. Im small, 140#, I was told I would be needing to fly alone if I filled the tanks. And if you find out here that its doable, I will be the one who is disappointed. ;) Im interested in the numbers as well. I may have to build another one cuz this plane with a Rotec is absolutely awesome. Hell, I may just have to fly my second KF alone. LOL
Eddie

Esser
04-29-2018, 08:14 AM
I’m kind of in the opinion that planes are function over form always. If you NEED an LSA but you WANT a rotech, the choice kind of works itself out.

N213RV
11-26-2020, 12:22 PM
Well, its been a fun few weeks flying my KitFox SS7 on Zenair 1450A Amphib floats. I have all the bugs worked out, and ready for some serious float flying in the spring!!


Check out the quick video I made:
https://youtu.be/LCmju0Dk9hE

alexM
11-26-2020, 02:02 PM
Awesome. Thanks for sharing. I've been looking for other people who have installed radial engines.

PapuaPilot
11-26-2020, 02:58 PM
Love the video. You have a beautiful plane!

It looks like you got off the water in about 10 seconds, which is great performance. Would you mind posting some of your numbers? I would like to know your previous and new EW and EWCG.

I would love to do a amphibious float upgrade someday. I have almost 3000 hours of float time, mostly in amphibious planes and really miss it at times.

26237 26238

Av8r3400
11-26-2020, 06:38 PM
A-Maze-Ing!

More beautiful than ever!

DesertFox4
11-26-2020, 07:26 PM
Make room on your mantel for another Oshkosh Gold Lindy Mike.👍
Beautiful job on the floats! Great video.

efwd
11-27-2020, 07:13 AM
Beautiful! I would have one like that if CA had water we could land on.