How much would you pay

[rpeters1]

I've been looking at a few different kitfox that are for sale however I am still trying to decide how much "plane" I want to buy when it comes to the power plant. There is a kitfox IV for sale on upac with a 912 TTSN 810h. As the buyer I would be taking the costs of the overhaul however the asking price for this aircraft is $29,500.

Is this a fair price for the amount of hours on the aircraft. The owner has full logs and maintenance has been done by rotax. If the engine should go to 1200hrs should I consider this aircraft?

My upper price range is $25,000 so this limits me to a kitfox II - IV models with midtime engines.

Thanks in advance.

http://upac.ca/classifieds/ads/kitfox-iv/

[ackselle]

Price seems reasonable.

Get someone with ROTAX experience to check it out. Maintasined properly, that engine should go alot longer than 1200 hours without overhaul (I'm at approx 1500 on mine, and it's still a great little engine). As an experimental (in Canada) you do not need to overhaul at the MTBO hours.

Another consideration when discussing hours.... if you fly a "normal" amount (50-100 hours per year), and you maintain the engine and airplane properly, you've should expect a lot of flying before you would expect any major expenses..... except for the inevitable upgrades you'll want.

[rpeters1]

Thanks and yes I will review the maintenance logs and definately try to have someone with rotax experience look over the engine. Is it common for the 912 to go passed the 1200hrs or is it really case by case? As long as compression is still good and engine was properly maintained I suppose it would last closer to 1500-2000hrs?

If it's $8000 to overhaul a 912 and the engine makes it to 1200hrs, my hourly cost will be pretty high since there is already 810hrs on engine. I'll need to get some reassurance that they engine will not give out anytime soon!!

[War Eagle]

Thanks and yes I will review the maintenance logs and definately try to have someone with rotax experience look over the engine. Is it common for the 912 to go passed the 1200hrs or is it really case by case? As long as compression is still good and engine was properly maintained I suppose it would last closer to 1500-2000hrs?

If it's $8000 to overhaul a 912 and the engine makes it to 1200hrs, my hourly cost will be pretty high since there is already 810hrs on engine. I'll need to get some reassurance that they engine will not give out anytime soon!!

If I am not mistaken I think that a few years back Rotax moved the TBO recommended hours for the 912 series engines from 1500 hours or 12 years to 2000 hours and 15 years.

[birddog486]

If I am not mistaken I think that a few years back Rotax moved the TBO recommended hours for the 912 series engines from 1500 hours or 12 years to 2000 hours and 15 years.

That's serial number dependent and some engines need minor parts to qualify for the increased TBO.

[N82HB]

I would offer $25,000 and enjoy a great airplane. You will not be able to get any more airplane than that in your budget. But now it could be sold fast since you pointed it out to us vultures.