Hopeful Kitfox Owner

[mstaley48]

Thanks for the reply! That's really the basis of why I put this out there...most IV and V's I have seen online are in the mid to upper 50k range and I know I would like to make changes to them (i.e. more expense).

[efwd]

I think Josh's numbers are right on.
Eddie

[aviator79]

At this point I'm just looking for some experience from members on a realistic and cost effective approach to owning my own aircraft.

While the Kitfox market is tight right now (Thanks Trent Palmer and Kyle Franklin), the answer to this question as you've stated it is to buy a used experimental.

The cost to build seems hazy because it is. I would guess that Josh's $85 number is close to the median for what someone spends. That would include a bunch of the popular options, but may not include all the nickels and dimes spent on small tools and consumables. If you're patient, and ready to make a move on a sale quickly when the right plane comes along, you could spend a lot less than that on a nice IV, and could even score a nice 5, 6, or 7 for that price or less. So you really won't save much money by building. You build because you want to build. You buy because you want to own.

[mstaley48]

That's honestly where my mind was at but you summed it up perfect. I'll be patient as I continue to learn on my aeroclub planes and keep my eyes peeled for a nice used aircraft. I'm a FF/Paramedic and my wife is an ER nurse, so while we don't do too bad on our income, $85,000 would be the definite high end of the budget for an aircraft. Thanks!

[jiott]

In figuring costs, don't forget one of the big long term advantages to building is that you become the repairman for that airplane and can do and sign off any repair or annual condition inspection. This can save thousands over the years to come.

[avidflyer]

You don't need the repairman's cert to do repairs on an experimental, but it will allow you to do the conditional inspection on the particular aircraft.

[jiott]

That's right, I should have clarified that.

[efwd]

while we are on this topic, Does "work on" also include making major modifications like engine or wing changes?
Eddie

[jiott]

The longer wait time for the Kitfox tells you a lot.
Kitfox empty weight is realistically about 800+ lbs. Realistic cruise with fixed prop is 100-110 mph at 4 gph.

[Meyer]

The $62K number is interesting. If you haven't already, I would get on Kitfox's site and build a detailed spreadsheet behind that. Kit, options, avionics, engine, prop, paint. You could do it for $62K, but it would have to be steam gauges or some used parts. If you are patient you can get an unfinished kit, low time engine maybe.

Good luck on your journey, there is alot of support here.

A friend ordered an S21 recently. He is underwhelmed with the support on that side.