Amphib realistic takeoff/landing distance

[Ryandl0]

Hello - new member here. I'm looking at purchasing a Kitfox on floats or amphibs soon. Just started looking. What are realistic takeoff/landing distance for a Model IV with a C90 or 0-235 or 912UL or ULS? The lake i am on is in WI so elevation about 800'. Distance is anywhere from 3400 - 4000 depending on which direction. Everything i read is like 1200' plus or minus over a 50' obstacle. Are those realistic numbers?

Thanks

Ryan

[WWhunter]

Have a friend up here in northern MN with a Kitfox V on Full Lotus floats. Plane is powered by a Yamaha RX-1 snowmobile engine. Awesome performer. He lands at my place in the winter on the floats in the snow. He takes off and lands very short, but I can't give you exact numbers. My strip is 1600'+ and he barely uses 1/4 of it.
Not sure if he is on this sight or not, but he is on a couple of Facebook pages. If you're on FB a couple of one's to check are: Full Lotus Float Flyers and Yamaha Aircraft Conversions. Then search for this poster: Yamma Fox Anatoli

There are a couple of specific Kitfox groups also. Just search for Kitfox. There's bound to be someone on one of those pages that can help you.

Paging Jim Chuk!!!

[Newkid]

I have Czech 1250 Amphibs (same as Zenair 1150s) on my 105hp Rotax 912 powered IV. My Empty weight is 820 on the floats. It will operate out of a puddle. I can get 6 second takeoff runs when I'm light which is about 300ft. The longest I've ever seen it use was around 1200ft, but that was up at 6,000ft elevation in the summer with two of 200lb men and nearly full fuel. With a C-90 or O-235 performance is not going to be great. The IV really suffers with anything bigger than a 912

[Ryandl0]

I have Czech 1250 Amphibs (same as Zenair 1150s) on my 105hp Rotax 912 powered IV. My Empty weight is 820 on the floats. It will operate out of a puddle. I can get 6 second takeoff runs when I'm light which is about 300ft. The longest I've ever seen it use was around 1200ft, but that was up at 6,000ft elevation in the summer with two of 200lb men and nearly full fuel. With a C-90 or O-235 performance is not going to be great. The IV really suffers with anything bigger than a 912

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. How about a V with an 0-235 on Lotus floats? What kind of performance do you think that would have? I'm just in the info gatherinng phase still of my search. I would love to get a V with amphibs soon if anyone knows of any for sale.

Thanks again.

[WWhunter]

Darn it! wrote a response and lost it! Basically I said, there was a Model V with an O-235 in central MN for sale a couple of years ago on aluminum floats, which actually weighed less than the Full Lotus amphibs. It was a marginal performer in my opinion. I passed on it due to it being heavy for a KF.

Had a 7AC-CONV Champ with an O-235 that was a fun plane. It was on straight floats though.

I have a RANS S-7 on Full Lotus Amphibs that I have contemplated selling but haven't made up my mind yet. Rotax 912 with the 105HP Zipper kit.

Also have a Murphy Rebel with straight floats that I will list eventually.

[Ryandl0]

Darn it! wrote a response and lost it! Basically I said, there was a Model V with an O-235 in central MN for sale a couple of years ago on aluminum floats, which actually weighed less than the Full Lotus amphibs. It was a marginal performer in my opinion. I passed on it due to it being heavy for a KF.

Had a 7AC-CONV Champ with an O-235 that was a fun plane. It was on straight floats though.

I have a RANS S-7 on Full Lotus Amphibs that I have contemplated selling but haven't made up my mind yet. Rotax 912 with the 105HP Zipper kit.

Also have a Murphy Rebel with straight floats that I will list eventually.

I'm in MN. There is one for sale now with the full lotus floats. The 0-235 is heavy so I was thinking it might be kind of a dog with 2 people in it....

[WWhunter]

Wait a month or two and the lakes will open up. Have the guy take you up for a ride and make your decision. It might be a great performer, but depending on it's GW capabilities, might have very limited useful load. I know of several floatplanes that are 'legally' one seaters with much more than half tanks of fuel. More so with a set of amphibs mounted.

If I remember correctly the Champ I had on straight floats had a 409 lb. useful load. Me at 170 left 239 for fuel/passenger. Plane had 39 gallon fuel capacity (240 lbs.) so zero capacity with full fuel other than me. I am only mentioning this in case you are wanting to get your SES. Hard to find a DPE that will have a blind eye to letting you train in it. I had this issue. I was lucky that mine was less weight than me so I wasn't able to put much fuel on to be 'legal'.