You probably can purchase through Kitfox. I was just curious after flying 12 hours with one at Stick & Rudder. I was surfing the net while John and Debra were likely asleep.
As for the friends airplane, the fixed pitch props were probably cruise props and comparing cruise setting on the CS to a fixed cruise prop you would not expect to flind an advantage. Try comparing take off and climb settings of the CS to that fixed prop. I bet its no comparison. These Airmasters are sweet.
Eddie