The Kitfox Is Back
Although SkyStar Aircraft closed it's doors in
October of 2005, the design has been reintroduced
under the banner of Kitfox Aircraft.
Despite the financial troubles and other difficulties with Sky
Star, former employee, John McBean teamed with four other highly
motivated pilots who decided not to let the design slip into
aviation history... by making the bold choice of backing the new
company with not only hard work... but also with their own personal
finances.
Kitfox says the good news is customers are equally enthused
about the reemergence of the design... and more importantly,
they're buying. Since April 7, Kitfox Aircraft has already shipped
three kits to eager builders as they rapidly approach their goal of
shipping three kits per month.
McBean told ANN the new
factory in Homedale, ID is completely sold out of all new ship
dates all the way through August.
For those of you not familiar with the Kitfox... it is a
workhorse brush-plane with cross-county ability, if the journey is
more important than getting to the destination quickly.
The Kitfox motto is "It's not how fast... It's how
fun."
"The Kitfox really is in a class of it's own," said McBean.
"From back-country performance to cross-country to anything you
want to do, the Kitfox is only limited by the factor of human
endurance."
John should know. With his wife, Debra... who is Kitfox
Aircraft's CFO... sitting next to him, he's personally flown the
aircraft from Idaho to Florida, and they also flew the
demo-aircraft in for the Oshkosh air show.
"We could have made Oshkosh in one day, but we were having too
much fun," McBean said.
A two-place aircraft, the Kitfox is equipped with foldable
wings, that can be towed home and kept in your own garage. One
person can take the plane from trailer to flight in under 20
minutes.
The aircraft is powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912s engine turning a
ground adjustable 72' propeller. New design factors being
introduced include an empty weight now down to 750 lbs, and a max
gross weight of 1320... with 1550 lbs gross weight option. And that
means you can now bring stuff with you on your flight.
McBean reports the aircraft will still be off the runway in
under 200 feet... and possesses solid crosswind handling
characteristics.
And with the new, "come to Homedale and build your plane with
us" option, a new builder with be in the sky in around two
weeks.