Help determine my serial number

[Eric Page]

I just purchased a neglected Series 5 project. The original builder lost his bill of sale from SkyStar, as well as the Series 5 build manual so I've had to determine the serial number via other means. We found a single piece of paper (a packing list from SkyStar) with the number written on it, but I can't say for certain what the first couple of characters are. The first one might be a five (5), or it might be an "s". The second character appears to be a slash ( / ), but maybe it's a one (1).

I'm hoping that someone with a Series 5 can take a look at this, compare it to their serial number, and tell me what my project's serial number is likely to be.

Thank you!

[Dave S]

Eric,

The aircraft serial number the kit was assigned should be imprinted on the fuselage - that would carry more weight than a piece of paper anyway. On the S5 it should be stamped into the upper seat belt harness anchor, a small triangular piece of metal welded to the frame behind the seat. If I recall, it should be on the anchor behind the pilots seat. I could be wrong on the location (port vs starboard anchor bracket) but I believe that is correct.

[Eric Page]

The aircraft serial number the kit was assigned should be imprinted on the fuselage... On the S5 it should be stamped into the upper seat belt harness anchor, a small triangular piece of metal welded to the frame behind the seat.

Thanks for the reply, Dave. I just looked, and my airframe doesn't have the numbers in that location. I removed both sets of shoulder harnesses, but the mounting tabs welded to the fuselage have no markings. The fuselage is powder coated, but there's not even a hint of anything under the coating.

The previous owner told me that he was about to buy a Model IV, but was encouraged by SkyStar to wait a bit and get the soon-to-be-released Series 5, which he did. So, I believe this is a very early Series 5. Perhaps they didn't start marking them the way you described until later, or maybe this is something that was started with the current company?

[Dave S]

Eric,

Sorry I sent you on a wild-goose-chase. I think you are correct that it may be in a different location if it is a real early S5 - they may have used a location like was used on the last of the IV's. Have to admit not being too familiar with the IV's possibly someone who is may have an idea. I do think the numbers back then were 8 digits which would agree with the number of characters on the paper.

[Eric Page]

No, you weren't wrong; I'm blind. I was, as the ladies like to say, "looking like a man." I went back with a flashlight and found the serial number stamped on the co-pilot side shoulder harness bracket. It took some doing, but I managed to get a readable photo of it, and it bears no relation whatsoever to the number on that packing list, above.

It would appear that I own Kitfox Series 5 serial number S95040118.

Thank you again, Dave. Much appreciated!

Now, anyone who cares to give an opinion on my reading of this photo, please feel free to chime in.

[alexM]

You got it! Nice

[PapuaPilot]

Do you have a Vixen? All the s/n listed in that SB are for Vixens.

The number S95040118 you found on your plane is your serial number.

I have a 1999 Outback and the s/n is S99120255. The paperwork and airframe all agree on mine. I believe the serial number breakdown is "99" = 1999, "12" = Dec. and "0255" = the 225th airframe in 1999.

[Eric Page]

Do you have a Vixen? All the s/n listed in that SB are for Vixens.

No, mine's an early Safari. I thought it unlikely that the factory had two completely different numbering schemes for the taildragger and tricycle airplanes, but apparently they did.

The number S95040118 you found on your plane is your serial number.

I have a 1999 Outback and the s/n is S99120255. The paperwork and airframe all agree on mine. I believe the serial number breakdown is "99" = 1999, "12" = Dec. and "0255" = the 225th airframe in 1999.

OK, thanks for confirming that for me!

The decoding of these numbers seems to be subject to some debate. Everyone apparently agrees that the first two digits are the year of manufacture, but from there it falls apart. I can think of four possible interpretations:

1. As you suggested, the first two digits are the year, the next two are the month, and the last four are the serial portion, which reset yearly. In the case of your plane, this would require that SkyStar averaged more than 21 Safari/Outback airframes per month during 1999, in addition to all of the Vixen/Voyager, Speedster, Classic IV, XL and Lite airframes they produced. Were they really that busy?
2. An alternative would be that the third pair of digits was the day production started. This would mean my plane was started on Apr 1st, 1995 (a Sat) and was the 18th airframe produced that year, and that yours was started on Dec 2nd, 1999 (a Thu) and was the 55th of that year. In both cases, that works out to 4.5 airframes per month, which seems more plausible.
3. A third possibility is that the serial numbers didn't reset, but ran consecutively throughout the Safari/Outback's life. This would make my plane either the 18th or 118th example, and yours, four years later, either the 55th or 255th. Either way the spread between our planes seems reasonable, however... I don't know when in 1994 the Series 5 went on sale, but 118 airframes by Apr '95 seems unlikely, especially knowing that the first owner of mine had planned to order a Model IV but waited to get one of the first Series 5s.
4. Finally, perhaps serial numbers were assigned when an order was received, and bore no direct correlation to production date.

Maybe John McBean wlll see this thread and can offer some clarity.