Carbon Fox.........

[SSFoxBuilder]

Fortunately we have a great friend who also happens to be a world class windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surf board builder. He works with a lot of carbon fiber and mentioned wanting to help with the build, so this is what we've come up with so far. We have many other ideas in the works, but for now the floorboards are great and work out to be lighter and stronger than what comes in the kit.

[ackselle]

Looks good.... so what's next? Carbon Fiber cowl? Doors?

[ClickClickBoom]

Schweet!
You know what really screams out for a carbon fiber treatment? The seat, it's a fairly large piece and a carbon fiber/Kevlar layup would light, strong and incredibly tough replacement!
Any plans to sell a kit like what you already have fabbed?
Eric

[jrevens]

Be careful with the carbon fiber next to the aluminum center console side panels (or any aluminum parts)... it can be a real corrosion issue if the two materials touch without an adequate surface barrier between them.

[SSFoxBuilder]

@ ackselle - We are currently working on a CF center console & panel. A seat pan, cowlings, rib closeouts, glare shield, & fuselage stringers are all on the "to-do" list.

@ ClickClickBoom - We HAVE discussed the possibility of putting out a CF kit for the SS7, all depending on how this plane is received with the new components. Any and all ideas, thoughts, and pointers are greatly appreciated!

@ jrevens - Thank you for the heads up on the potential corrosion issue. The floorboards all have an epoxy resin coating which should prevent any corrosion between them and the side panels. We will also be brushing and clear coating the side panels, further protecting them.

[ackselle]

Thanks SSFoxBuilder..... keep us posted!

[jdmcbean]

Or you could just get one from the factory.....

We haven't announce yet for a variety of reasons.....

Yes the seat has been done and needs to be load tested... and wing tips and instrument panel, glare shield, NACA duct.... and more....

and yes.. there is a weight savings on both the airplane and the wallet

[DesertFox4]

Not to burst your carbon fiber bubble but I flew a beautiful new Kitfox with an all carbon cowlings, seat pan, baggage area, center console and instrument panel too, over a year ago. The all carbon fiber cowlings were actually developed and tested at Kitfox "South" here in Phoenix over 2 years ago. I can attest that they are incredibly light weight and very very nice. The whole idea of all of this was to build an incredibly light Kitfox and all those goals were met and exceeded.
All carbon fiber doors were also done several years ago on a model 4 Rotec radial Kitfox here in Phoenix.

We HAVE discussed the possibility of putting out a CF kit for the SS7, all depending on how this plane is received with the new components

This had already been developed by the factory. In fact I've just got the OK from John and Phil to let the carbon cat out of the bag and say that a brand new S-LSA factory built Kitfox, the first with all carbon cowlings, will be delivered very soon to its new owner.


P.S. John types faster than I do so he beat me to the news.