Kitfox V history ?

[peanut]

Going to look at a Kitfox V unassembled soon. Guy says it’s 20 years old. Confirmed it is a KF 5 with all manuals etc. I didn’t know they made it that long. It is powder coated for what it’s worth. Were there any updates along the 5 production that I should know about ? Thanks all

[kmach]

There used to be a history page on the Kitfox LLC site, I don't see one on their current website. ( eyes to top Left)

I am going off of memory now so I may not be totally accurate.

The original Model 5 series were sold as a trigear or a taildragger and had a gross weight of 1400lbs . I think these models of the 5 came out in 1995. They had specific names, Vixen for the trigear and Safari for the taildragger.

I am not sure what year they made the change but the model 5 series had a gross weight increase to 1550lbs. Their names switched to the Outback for the taildragger and Voyager for the trigear.

I have a 1998 Skystar catalog that lists the Outback and Voyager in it and their specifications.

I own an Outback it was a 1998 kit.

[jmodguy]

Look at the spars. If they are .062" walls they are the 1550 GW.
There were updates from the 5 to 6 to swap from conventional to tricycle and there is an elevator push tube change that happened somewhere, but the 5, 6, and 7 are basically the same airframe.
I picked up a 20 yr old Series 5 tail dragger and am glad I did! Saved over half the cost of a new 7. (Sorry John...)

[PapuaPilot]

I can't find the history page at the Kitfox website anymore. Here is a link to the Kitfox history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denny_Kitfox

Around 1994 to 1995 they increased the gross weight of the model 5 from 1400 to 1550 pounds. The names of the planes changed as well as the spar thickness.

I have a 1999 Outback (tailwheel only). FYI the serial number contains the year and month that the airframe was produced.

[MNsnowy1]

And mine is a 94 safari with short wing: 1200 GW

I recently purchased the quick change wing extension kit from Kitfox, which will bring GW up to 1400 on mine.

[Rocketman]

Going to look at a Kitfox V unassembled soon. Guy says it’s 20 years old. Confirmed it is a KF 5 with all manuals etc. I didn’t know they made it that long. It is powder coated for what it’s worth. Were there any updates along the 5 production that I should know about ? Thanks all

I own a Series V Speedster - it's serial number 1. I bought the kit in 1995 from SkyStar Aircraft, which at the time was owned by Phil Reed. It was completed in 2009 and I now have over 100 hours on it with the 912ULS. It was certified as an E-LSA so I didn't care about the gross weight, although the first few Series V's had a 1400 lbs gross, the later versions around 1996 went to a beefier spar and the gross went up to 1550. The series 6 and 7 are pretty much the same as the 5 with many more improvements. John McBean has done a stellar job of advancing the Kitfox line of aircraft. It continues to be a great flying machine! Hope that helps.

[peanut]

Almost positive one I looked at would fall into the Skystar era. Anything to be afraid of here? Thanks.

[PapuaPilot]

I would say no, the earlier models are fully supported by Kitfox. My 1999 model 5 was from Skystar and I did not have any problems. You can upgrade almost everything to be like the model 7SS if you want to, other than changing the landing gear from nose to tailwheel.

[Rocketman]

Almost positive one I looked at would fall into the Skystar era. Anything to be afraid of here? Thanks.

I don't think you have anything to be concerned about regarding that. Kitfox, LLC is an excellent company and I believe supports the entire line of Kitfox aircraft regardless of age. With due respect to Mr. Nelson's post, I recall John McBean, President of Kitfox telling me I could change the aircraft from tailwheel to nose wheel, or vice versa. So I guess the current company can do it all. Pull the trigger, go fly!

[mtcicon]

I have an early model V at 1400 gross. One major change between them not mentioned so far is the cargo area is much smaller due to a cross member in the fuselage where the seven cargo would normally be. This was changed quickly on later models but mine has cargo very similar to a IV.