Kitfox Aircraft Stick and Rudder Stein Air Grove Aircraft TCW Technologies Dynon Avionics AeroLED MGL Avionics Leading Edge Airfoils Desser EarthX Batteries Garmin G3X Touch
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: kitfox 3 vs 4

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    1

    Smile kitfox 3 vs 4

    What are the differences between a 3 and 4?

    I'm interested in getting a Kitfox, used. I was told the one I'm looking at is a 4. Now it's a 3. So I'd like to know the difference. Thanks much.
    Jim

  2. #2
    Administrator DesertFox4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    3,562

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Jim, The model 3 had a different wing and flapperons than the 4. The 3 wing has undercamber to the bottom side of the wing for more lift but is a slower speed wing. The 3 has a shorter rudder than most 4's although the earliest model 4 has a shorter rudder too. The gross weight on a 3 is 1050 lbs. The shorter ruddered model 4 also carries the 1050 lbs gross weight. If it has a 1200 lbs gross weight and tall rudder , and no undercamber to the wing it's a 4. Also the control mixers are different for the 3 . If it's a model 3 (more complicated) you won't have to disconnect the flapperon control rods to fold the wings. There are other small diffs. but these are the most apparent. Both the 3 and 4 used Rotax 912 four stroke and 582 two stroke engines so the engine it has or is set up for will not help much.

    Model 3
    1. Under-cambered wing. (Slower cruise speeds but high lift wing)
    2. Shorter vertical stabilizer/rudder
    3. Gross weight of 1050 lbs.
    4. More complicated control mixer/ no disconnecting flapperon control rods to fold wings.
    5. VNE of 100 mph or less (mine was 98 mph)
    6. Airfoil shaped flapperons(models 1,2 & 3)

    Model 4
    1. Flat bottomed wing. (faster cruise speeds with this wing)
    2. Early 4's have shorter rudder. Later 4's have taller rudder.
    3. Early 4's 1050 lbs. gross weight later 4's with tall rudders 1200 lbs.
    4. Simpler control mixer. Must disconnect flapperon control rods to fold wings.
    5. VNE of 120 mph or faster depending on Speedster mods and windshield thickness.
    6. Symmetrical flapperons.

    Jim, if I've forgotten any major easily spotted differences someone will respond.


    DesertFox4
    Admin.
    7 Super Sport
    912 ULS Tri-gear


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    paul
    Posts
    62

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Not bad Desertsfox I give you an 8/10 for Kitfox Model knowledge.

    The Model three also had wooden Aileron hinge attachment points these were a continuation of the actual wing rib. The Model 4 and onwards departed from this method and employed separate metal fittings which attached to the ends of wood ribs to serve the same function.

    I also understand that the later model 4 had thicker carry through tubes for the wings attachment and thus the heavy load capability. The struts on the Model 3 and 4 are the same and attached at the same point along the wings spars. The 3 and 4 are very similar in structure almost the same.
    Aerodynamics and the flaperon mixer were the main differences.

    I'll be happy with a 5/10

  4. #4
    Administrator DesertFox4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    3,562

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    some of the 3's were retrofitted with metal reinforcements on the wing rib/flapperon attach points so that may not be a definitive item for qualification of a 4 over a 3 unless the buyer knows what a 4 bracket looks like and a repaired 3. That was a recommended repair procedure for any flapperon attach point that was broken in an accident. The carry throughs may not be apparently bigger to a novice so I was keying in on very apparent differences but your points are spot on if the buyer is really up on his Kitfox models.
    I do think though that the struts were beefed up also on the later 4's. 3/4" to 1" struts maybe. I could be remembering wrong. I am getting old.

    Jim - other things to consider if deciding between a 3 or a 4 are what kind of flying you intend to do. If you want to fly with other Kitfox's and they are 4's , 5's - 7 SuperSport then the 3 will have a tougher time keeping up with them even with the 912 Rotax and a controllable prop. The model 4 will do pretty much everything the 3 can do and fly quite a bit faster in cruise. The 3 will cruise at 80 to 90 mph real well and the 4 will do 110mph pretty easily. I'm comparing with a 912 installed. The 582 will be slower on both models. The 3 gets off extremely quick with the 912 but the 4 will probably climb as quickly. I loved my model 3 but the the 4 was quite an improvement in speed with little or no sacrifice in climb and can carry more load.
    Last edited by DesertFox4; 11-07-2008 at 11:16 PM.


    DesertFox4
    Admin.
    7 Super Sport
    912 ULS Tri-gear


  5. #5
    Senior Member Mnflyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    West Central MN
    Posts
    213

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Hi, my model III Had the metal aileron brackets attached at the time of construction, I thought it was a factory upgrade. I wouldn't have an aircraft with out them.
    GB
    Flying a HKS Kitfox III and a Champ

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    HI
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Hello the group,
    I had one of the early to mid Model IIIs.
    SN 1951 I think. ( Shamefully not finished yet ).

    There were two variants of the Model III.
    As I said, I had one of the early ones It was a Model III.
    This model was later re-designated the Model III-1050 when the Model III-1200 was introduced.

    I have two Model IIIs hanging in my hangar.
    One is a Model III-1050 and the other is a Model III-1200
    The -1050 is mine, the 1200 is an orphan. ( mostly mine - don't ask )

    Flaperon attach points:
    My -1050 had the AL flaperon brackets right off, these were not retrofits for me.

    The Model III-1200 had two main differences:
    1) Various reinforcements to allow for an increased GW ( 1200 lbs of course )
    and
    2) A thicker windshield so that the higher cruise would not cave in the lexan.

    Under chamber:
    Note: I can not speak of the Model IV, but the III-1200 also had the under cambered wing. You could get either the droop tips or the "Speedster" tips.
    I got the "speedster" tips with mine.


    Spar:
    I do not know and have not measured the thickness of the spare tube material, but the diameter is the same as far as I can tell.

    Spar "I" beam at the strut attach points:
    My recollection, based on the rivet pattern, is that the reinforcements are about the same length between the 1050 and the 1200.
    However I can not speak of the thickness of the "I" beam or the basic spar tube.

    Lift Struts:
    The III-1200 struts are significantly beefier than the III-1050.
    I seem to recall that the threaded element on the ends of the struts are the next stud size up as well.

    Carry throughs:
    The cabin carry throughs are were beefier to allow for the higher GW.
    These included the spar carry throughs on top as well as some of the tubes in the floor at the attach points for the struts and landing gear. The ODs of the tubing do not seem any different, so the differences must be in the gauges of the tubing walls. Makes it tough to tell which it might be.

    Which one is it, a 1050 or a 1200???
    The surest way is to look at the lift struts, if they are side by side, there is no missing the larger "look & feel" of the 1200 struts.

    Assuming that all Model-IVs were -1200s ( I can't imagine anything else ), then from one of the earlier posts, it seems that the the easiest way to tell a -III for the -IV would be the under chambered wing.

    Happy flying.
    Kevin

  7. #7
    Super Moderator Av8r3400's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Merrill, WI
    Posts
    3,044

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Kitfox never offered a III-1200. History

    The 1200 didn't appear until the model IV, and then it was the later variation.
    Av8r3400
    Kitfox Model IV
    The Mangy Fox
    912UL 105hp Zipper
    YouTube Videos

  8. #8
    Senior Member Av8r_Sed's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    10C Greenwood, IL
    Posts
    671

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    Hi Kevin,
    Your III's are most certainly Model IV's, one 1050 and the other 1200 gross.

    The Model IV wing is more desireable than the undercambered III wing. You'll probably want to update your sale posting and put up some pics to go with it.
    -- Paul S
    Model III SN910
    582 IVO Med

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    HI
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    I Humbly stand corrected.
    Chalk it up to age and that it has been to many years since I have spent any time working on it. Sometimes it is nice to be just flat wrong. In this case, I have a IV-1050 instead of a -III. Not a bad way to be wrong.

    I also concede on the "under cambered" wing.
    I have not worked with other wings and there is a "slight" (1/2" ) of under camber in the wings I have. ( Along with the plastic nose extension ). But it clearly is not deeply under cambered like many of the Avids that I have seen.

    Thanks for the corrections,
    Sincerely,
    Kevin Hanna

    P.S. Thanks Av8r-Sed for the corrections.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, AZ
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: kitfox 3 vs 4

    I have N505KF which was built in 1993. It says it is a Kitfox 3 but has the Kitfox 4 flat bottomed wings and has the shaped (not flat)horizontal stabilizers in the tail feathers. I hear talk of short and tall rudders. I will measure mine tomorrow but meanwhile can somebody give me the dimensions of "Tall and Short'? Do I have a 1050 gross or 1200? A Kitfox 3.5?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •