I'm an OFFICIAL KITFOX OWNER!

[WWhunter]

Well, it has been delivered...MY Kitfox. I am excited, well sort of. I purchased an uncompleted 1993 KF IV-1200 from a super nice guy that had it advertised on here. He delivered it all the way up here to northern MN from IL last night. Can't say how much I appreciated dealing with Mike. We unloaded it into my hangar during heavy snowfall and in the dark. Bitter cold this morning so about all I was able to do is look at it and think of the job ahead of me to get it finished and flying.
So, who has an abbreviated list of everything that needs to be updated to a 1993 vintage Kitfox IV with a Rotax 912? Lemme see, first thing, ship the otor off to Hal for the 16xxcc upgrade...

[Av8r3400]

Congrats on the acquisition!

Suggestion List:

1. Grove Gear, wheels and brakes
2. Trim tab in the elevator
3. Molded windshield and bubble doors
4. Matco tailwheel

(I'd wait on the motor upgrade until you are ready to install it…)

[WWhunter]

Motor is already installed. It has 4 hrs. test running on it.

I do know of another Kitfox for sale that I was thinking of buying but to be honest it is really only good for parts. It has the Grove gear so maybe I could buy the whole thing and break even if I parted it out. Most of the other parts though are either dented (flapperons) or so shoddily constructed I am wondering if they would have any salvage value. The construction on it is some of the worst I have ever seen. Seriously!! I wonder who ever dared fly it.

I do have a tailwheel I removed from an S-7 RANS. WOuld it be a better TW than the Maule? It looks like a plastic wheel off a shopping cart. I removed it from the RANS due to the noise it resonated through the fuselage when landing. Darn thing made it sound like the plane was being bombarded with marbles!!

Plane is already covered so would this make it difficult to install the elevator trim?

Doors are already done and installed as is the windshield but Mike gave me another sheet of Lexan for a new windshield since the original is cracking in the upper corners. I am thinking the suggestion of a premolded might be a much better fix. Are the bubble doors something different? The doors on it already are bowed outward. Guess I need to check into that a little more.
Thanks!!

[Av8r3400]

I didn't know it was that far along…

IMO, any tailwheel is better than the Maul. A new Matco is less than $250 for a 8" pneumatic tired wheel.

Yes some covering work would be needed to add the tab to the elevator. I would still consider it… (But that's just me.)

The bubble doors add another ~2-3" of elbow room. The W/S and Doors are available through Kitfox

[DesertFox4]

Congrats WWhunter.

[Dave S]

Keith,

Any idea what kind of heater you will be using? I know the IV's have a few more open spaces; but, I found on our later model (S7) that giving some attention to blocking off as many pneumonia holes as possible for winter operation made the craft quite comfortable in cold weather flying....I ended up instaling a couple SCAT tubes to direct some warm air to the windshield from the heat exchanger.

Congratulations on your purchase....let the fun begin!

Sincerely,

Dave S
KF7 Trigear
912ULS Warp Drive
St Paul, Minnesnowta