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 12

Thread: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

  1. #1
    Senior Member jdmcbean's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Homedale, ID
    Posts
    536

    Default Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Although the Kitfox CarbonTech hub caps are HALF the weight of the aluminum, it's only 1 oz per hub cap. So these are more about the eye catching pop of carbon fiber. Upgrade your 6" wheel to CarbonTech.
    Only $55.00 per set.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    John McBean
    www.kitfoxaircraft.com
    208.337.5111

    "The Sky is not the Limit... It's a Playground"

  2. #2
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Yorba Linda, CA
    Posts
    2,817

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Will the Seat Pan be next? Cowl and Pan could be an interesting 10# savings in the future. That could get me from 24# to 34# of baggage with full tanks and my girlfriend. Not bad. And I did find the cowl work some of the most gratifying work on the build. Could be that all this could be in my future.
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  3. #3
    Senior Member aviator79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Los Alamos, NM
    Posts
    913

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    I would think that seat pans and glareshields would sell well to owners with flying airplanes. Those are a lot quicker to fit than cowls, and would look gooood in the cockpit unupholstered.
    --Brian
    Flying - S7SS

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Granada Hills, CA
    Posts
    56

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Quote Originally Posted by efwd View Post
    Will the Seat Pan be next? Cowl and Pan could be an interesting 10# savings in the future. That could get me from 24# to 34# of baggage with full tanks and my girlfriend. Not bad. And I did find the cowl work some of the most gratifying work on the build. Could be that all this could be in my future.
    I believe Trent Palmer got a carbon fiber beefed up seat pan, perhaps a prototype, for his short STOL landings that were snapping zip ties when he and the wife went flying? I think that's a great idea, along with the center "tunnel" an dash between the seats that houses all the levers for brakes, flaperons, etc. Trent also got some metal tabs added welded, to his 5 SS to bolt the seat pan to, so it's quite beefy now for rough landings with big tires and shocks to absorb the impact. Good for rental KitFoxes too that students are learning in, and making not the most gentle of landings while learning what NOT to do.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Nampa, ID
    Posts
    100

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Hi Brian and Eddie! Many things to come. We are working these items as time and mold availability permit. Currently we are testing wing tips with the landing light option, expect some info on those before year end. We are also currently doing a carbon panel. More to come there. The glare shield and floor boards we have done. There is no weight savings on the glare shield but it looks really good!! The only thing to consider is the possible interference (or total blockage) of antenne signal from anything being mounted under the glare shield.
    The floor boards are a push weightwise with varnished wood. So we are probably not going to even offer those as they would just be expensive floor boards.

    Next priority will be the seat pan. Our plan, to get the lightest possible seat, is to offer a seat WITHOUT the under seat toolbox feature with carbon/ Kevlar and targeting a weight of 2.5 pounds, compared to a standard seat in the 6.5-7 lb range. Significant weight savings if we can get to our target.

    We are having a great time making these awesome features for the Kitfox! We appreciate the positive feedback and support!!!!
    Last edited by Brandon Petersen; 12-12-2018 at 06:15 PM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Yorba Linda, CA
    Posts
    2,817

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Brandon, you said exactly what I was thinking. No storage under the seat for a Carbon Fiber version. That is a pretty nice wt savings you are reporting on the pan.
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  7. #7
    Senior Member jrevens's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Arvada, CO
    Posts
    2,146

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    I love the carbon fiber look, strength, & weight savings. A carbon fiber seat pan would be very appealing to me. I’d buy one of those. As far as the cowls go, that doesn’t appeal quite as much for a couple of reasons. First, I really don’t need to loose any weight ahead of my CG. It might be a different story if I had a heavier prop like the Airmaster, or a heavier engine. I have the ground adjustable Whirlwind with a 912 ULS. Other than decreasing my total empty weight, which is 819# now, my CG situation would actually be better with more weight in the nose. I can’t even come close to the forward limit as it is now. My loading options are good as it is, but it would be even better with more weight up front. Also, I would hope that the fit & finish of the carbon fiber units is better than my fiberglass one was, and if someone wanted to show off their carbon cowl, they wouldn’t have to do the amount of filling and sanding that was necessary on my fiberglass. I’m not sure what you would use to fill the carbon fiber, but I assume it could mess up the looks. No problem if it’s going to be painted of course. How UV resistant are the carbon fiber parts?
    John Evens
    Arvada, CO
    Kitfox SS7 N27JE
    EAA Lifetime
    Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime

  8. #8
    Senior Member jmodguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Carmel, IN
    Posts
    744

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    John, Brandon,
    Are the seat pan and cowls bagged or wet layup?
    Jeff
    KF 5
    340KF

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Nampa, ID
    Posts
    100

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    Hi Jeff!!
    Currently they are wet layup. Any new moulds we make are being set up for the option of vacuum.

    Brandon

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Nampa, ID
    Posts
    100

    Default Re: Kitfox CarbonTech Hub Caps

    John Evens... Since bringing the composites in house we have worked really hard to clean up and even in some cases, replaced the moulds. I don't know that we'll ever get to a point of a "ready to bolt together" composite, but I do feel good about what we are presenting to the builder today. That's been the biggest benefit of bringing them under our own roof is the quality control, despite the massive undertaking and expense, it's been worth it!

    I agree that you would have little reward of saving weight up front with your package. The primary benefit will be to those with a heavier install such as the 914/ 915iS or those who want to swap the weight of the cowls for a constant speed prop.

    All of our CarbonTech parts, with the exception of the seats, are being made with a UV gel coat so they can be left exposed. If someone wants to leave the seat parts exposed they will need to spray a UV blocking clear coat.

Posting Permissions

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