4 Seater KITFOX

[1 Task]

Not sure if this is blasphemy but airplanes arent cheap and a 4 seater kitfox would fit the bill better. Wasnt sure if there was anything in the works or its just a “look elsewhere” situation...love the kitfox and as we all know airplanes are nothing but compromises but it would be cool to know if kitfox was thinking about one and if there was any interest in it.

Thoughts?

[Hockeystud87]

I think it moves away from the whole ideology of the KitFox. It would be like having a 4 place Cub. It's just not a Cub anymore it's a completely different plane.

What a 4 place KF is, is a Hi-performance 2000+ gross plane. You're essentially wanting a Maule or 180/5.

I'll agree with the move to the model 5-7 but if they do make a 4 place KF it will just be one in name nothing else.

[aviator79]

Agree with the above. You can't take a Kitfox (or really any other 2-place light airplane) and just add a couple seats. The Glasair Sportsman came the closest, but the additional seats are barely usable for full size people, and that airplane is easily a quarter million.


Also, you give up a lot to go to 4 seats. There are very few experimentals with 4 seats, and they don't come cheap. You can go certified, but anything with 4 seats that is certified and reasonably affordable is yawn-inducing. I have a family of 4, but we seldom all fly together. I'm not giving up much by not having those two extra seats. If I really need them, I'll go rent a 172.

[44Runner]

The Bearhawk 4 Place is a pretty sweet plane if you need a 4 seater. That would probably be the top of my list if I wanted a 4 seater plane.

[Esser]

Ditto the Bearhawk comment. There are lots of people out there who think the Kitfox 5-7 are a departure from Kitfox's roots.

I would rather see Kitfox stay lean and keep coming out with innovative products that are bolt on for existing owners such as the STi and shock gear. Be great at one thing than good at many things.

[avidflyer]

Someone was just saying on one of the other threads how at way higher weights their Kifox turns into a slug or words to that effect. The wing area is not real high on a Kifox. It didn't need to be when the plane was real light. Double the weight, and that same wing will perform way different. Maybe go from very good to very bad. Just my thoughts on it. A completely up sized Kifox would be something else of course. Just my two cents worth. JImChuk

[jonstark]

Not sure if this is blasphemy but airplanes arent cheap and a 4 seater kitfox would fit the bill better. Wasnt sure if there was anything in the works or its just a “look elsewhere” situation...love the kitfox and as we all know airplanes are nothing but compromises but it would be cool to know if kitfox was thinking about one and if there was any interest in it.

Thoughts?

I say again...
A guy needs a fleet of airplanes and an understanding wife.

[rv9ralph]

So, here's one to consider. Over on Vans Air Force forums, on the front page is a survey on whether Van's should build a back country super cub type version RV.

As stated before, the Return On Investment for Kitfox to design a 4 place, IMHO, would not be there.

The Kitfox does what it does very well, because it is what it is.

To add 2 seats is not just enlarge the cabin, then you have to reinforce the fuselage, then you need more wing to carry the increased weight, then you have to add more HP to carry the increased... it just keeps snowballing without the results you want.

Ralph

[jiott]

Unless things have changed recently, I don't believe Kitfox has any engineers on staff. So a brand new 4 seat design would mean farming out the design work or adding engineers to the staff. Van's has always had engineers on staff to create their many different models. Kitfox is mainly a manufacturing company, and a good one at that, so I don't see drastic new models coming out, just small incremental improvements.

[kitfoxkat]

I love our Kitfox SuperSport7 but REALLY want to fly a 4-seater Kitfox! We need more room for our dogs... among other things! :-))