It was almost three years ago that SkyStar Aircraft introduced the "new" Kitfox Lite² (Squared).  Now, they are discontinuing this popular addition to the Kitfox line of kit airplanes. 

What Gives? 

According to SkyStar President, Ed Downs, "The Kitfox Lite² was our entry into the two-place, ultralight training market. Our single-place Kitfox Lite, a true FAR 103 ultralight, had gained great popularity, prompting many requests for a two-place ultralight trainer. SkyStar's venerable Kitfox Classic 4 filled the bill, but it just took too long to explain how to make the Classic 4 meet the FAR 103 trainer exemption rules. So, we repackaged the Classic 4 into a kit that was very prefabricated and specific to the ultralight training rules. We offered special pricing, and it really took off."

The repackaged Lite² was first introduced at Sun 'n Fun 2001 and got a lot of press coverage due to its applicability to the new, proposed Sport Pilot rule. The Lite² is a completely legal ultralight trainer that could easily convert to a Sport Plane. With the Sport Pilot regulation due to be announced "at any moment" (remember, this was early 2001), The Kitfox Lite² was in the right place at the right time. "But," according to Downs, "the timing has changed. The Sport Pilot rule has been delayed for years, and SkyStar has decided that the Kitfox Series 7 airframe will serve Sport Pilots better than the Lite². We now know that the ultralight trainers, as they are presently defined, will be eliminated by the Sport Pilot rule and that a kit specifically packaged for ultralight training may be at the end of its market opportunity."

Does that mean the Kitfox Lite² is obsolete?

Downs (right) says, "No, not at all. In fact, the Lite² fits right into the grandfather clause, which will allow it to operate as an ultralight trainer for another two years. It also meets the 1% rule that will let it transition easily into the Experimental or Sport Experimental categories. The Lite² is simply a repackaged version of the Kitfox Classic 4, which means it meets many foreign certification standards for Ultralight, Advanced Ultralight and Micro Light regulations. It will live on in the form of the Kitfox Classic 4. The Lite² package is simply a victim of changing regulations and economic demands that require SkyStar to optimize our production and purchasing efficiencies."

But, what if someone REALLY wants the Lite² package? Are they out of luck? 

"No," says Downs, "we are not going cold turkey. We are set up to build ten more Lite² kits, on a first come, first served basis, then the production of this successful package will come to an end."

FMI: www.skystar.com