Hangar required?

[avidflyer]

It hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think you will get plenty of water inside the plane if it's left outside all the time. A good fabric job is supposed to last many years, but that's just one part of these planes. There have been issues with the rib tails rotting off on the earlier (before Kitfox 4) Kitfoxes and Avids as well. Weather is tough on things. Easy to fold the wings, many people do it every time they fly. JImChuk

[WWhunter]

Jim, awesome advice and another point I had forgotten about. Yes, the fact of water getting in and rotting, corroding, or causingold was definitely a problem I had also.

Av8rps...dang, that was a cool idea! Something the OP can surely think about. Was it easy to put on? Growing up on a farm and using canvas tarps, I am wondering if it was cumbersome and heavy. I do like the idea though.

[vetdrem]

I am in the "it needs to be "hangered" camp. I keep mine in a covered trailer at the airport in a tie-down spot. I leave it here in Florida year around and haven't had any ill effects caused by the elements, and have watched other planes on the field just rot away even though they are in "shade hangers". In a few years the cost of the trailer will be made up by the difference in cost of a tie-down vs hanger rent, and will definitely be cheaper than the deterioration of your plane.

If you aren't going to fly in the winter, park your trailer at home and save the tie-down fee, and free up the garage for your wife's car for the winter. that alone could add value to having the trailer.

Louie

[Kitfox Guy]

I say spend the money and put the bird in a hangar. The other commenters have posted many valid reasons why fabric covered aircraft should be stored "indoors", but I would add one of the things I really enjoy about my KF is the spontaneity of flight it affords me. Specifically, I can drive to my airport, pull my KF from the hangar, perform a preflight inspection and be wheels up in 30 minutes or less. That is great when get a whim to go flying and can do so without dealing with unfolding wings and/or trailering to the airport. To me it is worth the monthly hangar fee.

[914Driver]

Thanks guys.

There are no hangars available at the airport, there is one next to a grass strip about two miles from my house, gotta talk to the homeowner. The trailer is a good idea, wonder how many you can fit in a shipping container.

Dan

[vetdrem]

As far as I am concerned, a grass strip trumps asphalt any day.

I have often wondered if a shipping container would work. A tape measure would answer the question.

Louie

[Clark in AZ]

Standard 20' shipping container INTERIOR dimensions:

Length = 19' 3"
Width = 7' 8"
Height = 7' 9 7/8"

Door opening:
Width = 7' 8"
Height = 7' 5"

http://containersolutions.net/specifications/

[av8rps]

Av8rps...dang, that was a cool idea! Something the OP can surely think about. Was it easy to put on? Growing up on a farm and using canvas tarps, I am wondering if it was cumbersome and heavy. I do like the idea though.

The cover took about 15 minutes including the wing fold. It wss not heavy or hard to handle at all. I had it made out of medium weight sunbrella, which is a very lightweight but a very durable covering used on marine products typically. So it fit easily in a 2 ft x 3 ft deck box I kept next to the plane on beach. It was about $750 to have made (but that was quite a few years ago). Overall it was a great solution as there is no option for a building there on the waterfront.

I agree with everyone here that says a hangar is the best answer. But if not available an enclosed trailer or a cover is a good option not available to most other aircraft. I would speculate your Kitfox left at a tiedown with no cover would have about a 5 year useful life in most typical climates. Perpetual proactive maintenance to minimize weather related damage could extend the life of your Kitfox almost indefinitely, but that would probably grow old relatively quick for most.

And if none of those options are practical, put your Kitfox on a trailer and tow it back and forth between your home and the airport. Many people have done that over the years. It is actually a really practical option. And you may have one of the most well maintained aircraft at the airport as on rainy days you'll probably find yourself tinkering on the plane out in the garage, fixing, cleaning, polishing, etc, etc..

I trailered my plane from my garage to a nearby friends grass strip for the first two years I owned it and really liked doing it that way. I actually used a hitch on the tail and not a trailer because the strip was so close. I'd fuel it and preflight it in my driveway, and even warm up the engine. 10 minutes at the airstrip to fold out the wings, remove hitch, and do a last preflight checkover, and I was ready to fly. It truly did work that well.