Thinking out loud, a long and meandering post

[StrawRube]

Why a Kitfox.

I have been looking at homebuilts since 2007. I have been looking at the Kitfox and the RVs, specifically the RV9. I know, they are “different” aircraft having “different” missions. But I’m not really sure that super duper STOL performance is high on my list.

On of the biggest stoppers for me (besides the initial financial jump) has been the cost of ownership. I read somewhere that the average homebuilder only flies their aircraft around 25 hrs a year. I’ve also read somewhere else that strictly speaking dollars, if a person flies less that 125 hrs a year, its better to rent (granted, this figure is based on a certified aircraft with the owner not conducting any maintenance).

Okay, so I know that owning an aircraft does not necessarily make financial sense. So why own one? Why own a boat? The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys? I have reached a point in my life that I can put the finances together to buy the firewall back kit. I figure when all is said and done, I will have spend around $60K on my Kitfox. The price of a new SUV. This line of thinking is just going to come down to personal choices.

Okay, so I have been looking hard at the RV9. Over 6,000 RVs flying, great factory support, great builder base, “matched hole” computer punched parts, speed, good short field performance, IFR capability, etc. So why not the RV9? I guess the biggest thing is that I hate thinking about the thing sitting out at the airport, costing $$$ just to sit there. And honestly, I can see myself being one of those 25 hours a year guys. And, if I built an RV9, I would put the O-320 in it, a great engine, but I want my flying to be affordable too. With the Kitfox, I could keep the thing at home and get it out when I’m ready to fly it. Maybe I’d fly it more if I kept it affordable too, especially keeping the horsepower down at the 100HP level.

Okay, back up. How about the RV12? Nice aircraft. Removable wings. I can store this aircraft at home. That’s good. But I don’t really like its LSA limitations with gross weigh and max airspeed. I like the Kitfox’s 1550 gross weight ability. I learned to fly in Cessnas and there is something to be said about being able to stand under the wings in sun or rain. And I like that I can go back and forth from nose gear to tail gear in the Kitfox too.

How about engines? Well, I admit that the Rotex engine has done a good job proving itself. I’ve researched the NTSB database of rotex equipped aircraft accidents and have found that they are usually the pilots fault. If the cause was mechanical, it’s because of faulty maintenance. I have my A&P that I haven’t used in years and have more experience with the “old tractor” Lycoming and Continental engines. In the Kitfox, I have the option to use a “certified” engine.

What’s most important to me in the decision making process? I think the reputation of the kit manufacturer, the affordability of the aircraft after the build, and lastly the experience of the build itself.

1) Reputation of the kit manufacturer: I think Vans is #1 and Kitfox is a close #2.
2) Affordability after the build. I’m not paying tie down or hanger rental. I like the idea of keeping the engine size down to the 100HP range.
3) The experience of the build. I like the idea of the building. If I wasn’t I’d be looking at an airplane like the Cessna 172. If I could fold the wings on the Cessna, I would probably wouldn’t be looking at the Kitfox. (Why not a Bearhawk? I guess I’m chicken (back to reputation). I like Vans and Kitfox because I feel like the design is proven, there are thousands of these aircraft flying, and I will be successful with the build. There is help out there if I get stuck. And again, no folding wings. RV-10, not affordable, no folding wings.)

What do I want to use the aircraft for? Well I do know I want it to be IFR capable. Not that I want to do any hard IFR, but I live in the Sacramento Valley and in winter we can have weeks of fog. Sometimes the fog is thick and sometimes its not. On days that its not we might have a 500’ ceiling and a couple miles visibility with tops at 2000’. A few times I have departed on a day like this, popped out on top in bright sunshine and flown up to a foothill airport and enjoyed lunch in 70 degree weather. When it was time to go home, we shot an easy ILS back into the valley airport. Much safer that trying to find my way SVFR. And if you’ve ever flown down to LA, its much easier to just file IFR an let ATC worry about the airspace.

What the Kitfox like to fly IMC? I think I’d like to install a single Garmin 430 in my aircraft.

Okay, I think I’ve rambled enough. Thanks for looking.