Mountain Flying

[rockwoodrv9a]

I just joined the Kitfox forum. I am trying to decide what plane I want to build. One of the major concerns i have to consider is the performance at altitude. I live in Glenwood Springs CO and to go to Denver, I need to be at least 14k'. I read the specs and it shows the Kitfox has a ceiling of 16k. My questions is how is the performance at that altitude? Is there a better engine than the Rotax that would allow 14k with a full payload?

I have flown in a Kitfox years ago and enjoyed it. It was very responsive and had plenty of power - but we were at 3500' max. My friend flew his plane from Cameron Park to Idaho several times without problems, but the Rocky Mountains are quite a bit higher. Any information on how the Kitfox performs at altitude will be greatly appreciated. Also, information on how the plane travels in trips up to 500 miles. We have kids and grandkids in Boise and would like to fly to visit.

Thanks, Rockwood

[Av8r3400]

There are a few members here with 914 Rotax engines that may have the performance you need. Hopefully they will speak up...

[Dorsal]

If you put a 914 in you should be all set.

[muth]

My KITFOX IV Speedster Rotax 912UL 80hp climbs up to 14k in the Swiss alps without diffilcuties, of course no longer at high performance at this altitude.

[Monocock]

This is such a cool place to come and read each night!!

Muth - what do you do for oxygen or don't you bother? Great pics by the way.

[muth]

Just be aware of the altitude, I don't use oxygen and do not stay longer than 20 min above 10k
To cross the Swiss alps not at its highest peaks 10k is ok anyhow

[Esser]

The Rotax 914 will make 100HP at 16,000 feet. Starts to drop off there. It is a pricey engine but if you go to rotec canada they will sell you a zero timed 912 that has a brand new turbo on it for 10,000 less than a 914. It's a 912/914. Pretty much they sell 914s to the US military for the predator drone but the predator requires a different turbo and it is mounted on the opposite side. So rotec takes the 914 from austria, removes the standard turbo, and adds the predators turbo. Now they have all sorts of brand new turbos left over so they put them on their zero timed engines and sell you a 912/914 for less than a 914. WarEagle has one of these in his SS7 and I am most likely going to put one in mine. He is reporting 1800fpm climbs in it with his constant speed prop. He might pipe up soon.

[Dave F]

Had my 582 IV Kitfox at 17,200 and still climbing slowly -- I forget what rate likely about 200 or 300 fpm .

[sourdostan]

I fly my Model IV Speedster from the Denver area (5600 ft+). I have the 912ul 80 hp with over 1800 hours in ten years, landings in all states but Hawaii, landings at all public airports in Colorado (78) and a total of over 120 airports/strips in Colorado. I regularly fly over 14K and sometimes up to 18k. If I were to replace my engine, it would be with another 80 hp 912ul (low octane mo gas and under 4 gph gives me 115 mph). No x-country is too long for me. Nuf said?

[Av8r3400]

Columbine is definitely a legendary airplane for all of us, Stan.

Thanks for being the unofficial embassitor of the Kitfox nation.