Denney Kitfox

Kitfox
Denney Kitfox Model 2
Role	Kit aircraft
National origin	USA
Manufacturer	Denney Aerocraft SkyStar Aircraft Kitfox Aircraft
Designer	Dan Denney
First flight	November 1984
Introduction	1984
Produced	1984-present
Number built	4500+ kits delivered[1]
Unit cost	US$$15,995 (2009 cost, Classic IV, airframe only)[2]
Variants	Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner

Denney Kitfox Model 2, built in 1992

Denney Kitfox Model 3, built in 1991

A Skystar Kitfox Model 4 registered as a Canadian Advanced Ultra-light Aeroplane.

Kitfox Lite²

A Skystar Kitfox Lite² at Oshkosh 2001

SkyStar Kitfox Series 6

SkyStar Kitfox Series 7, built in 2004

A Belite ultralight

The Denney Kitfox is a series of small personal kit aircraft with folding wings that was originally designed and manufactured by Dan Denney and his company Denney Aerocraft of Boise, Idaho.^[3]

The Kitfox is unique in that it was one of the first designs to make popular a quickly folding wing that greatly eased transportation and storage. The aircraft is amateur-built and not type certified and was originally designed to accommodate a Rotax engine.

The large appeal of the aircraft was in large part due to the fact it could be built by any handyman in a two car garage and then towed to the airport with the wings folded. The design allowed for easy conversion to floats or skis. Over 4500 kits have been delivered in 42 different countries.^[1]

Development

When it was first flown in November 1984 from the Denney Aerocraft factory in Boise, Idaho, the first Kitfox was a two-seat short take off and landing STOL aircraft designed to fly from unimproved strips. The Model 1 Kitfox features folding wings and was intended to be towed home from the airport and stored in a garage. Originally the design was intended to use a new radial engine and the early Kitfoxes had round cowls to accommodate this. The engine did not work out and the design moved to using Rotax engines instead, but the popular style radial cowling was retained on many models. In 1984 a total of six Model 1 Kitfoxes were delivered and then the model range was expanded to include the improved Models 2, 3, 4, and Classic 4.^[3][4]

In June 1992 Denney Aerocraft sold the rights to the design to SkyStar Aircraft. Skystar started work on a new aircraft, the Kitfox Series 5. This aircraft was designed to be larger, with an increased useful load, cabin and cargo space. It was also intended to use certified aircraft engines. The Series 5 was produced as a conventional landing gear-equipped aircraft with the names Outback and Safari and also as a tricycle landing gear equipped aircraft, the Vixen and Voyager. An employee group took over SkyStar Aircraft in January 2000. The reorganized company launched the new Kitfox Series 6. Later in 2000 the company also introduced the Kitfox Lite Squared, a lightened version of the Kitfox Classic 4, as a two seat ultralight trainer for the single seat ultralight Kitfox Lite.^[3]

In 2002, SkyStar introduced the Kitfox Series 7. This aircraft featured cruise speeds of up to 160 miles per hour (257 km/h) and a service ceiling above 25,000 feet (7,620 m). The new Series 7 fit the then-proposed Federal Aviation Administration Light Sport Aircraft category better than the Lite Squared and became the company's model for this market. As the LSA rules were further developed and gross weights increased, it became evident that a special version of the Kitfox Series 7, to be known as the Kitfox Sport, would not be needed and that all three Kitfoxes then in production - the Lite, Classic 4 and Series 7 would meet the revised the LSA category definition.^[3]

In late 2005 SkyStar Aircraft filed for bankruptcy. In April 2006, the assets of Skystar were purchased by Kitfox Aircraft, a newly formed company owned by John and Debra McBean. John McBean is a former SkyStar employee, having left the company in 2003.^[3][4]

Variants

Model 1

Original 1984 model with radial engine cowl and 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 532 as the standard engine. A total of 257 kits were produced.^[5]

Model 2

The larger, wider Kitfox Model 2 was introduced in 1989 and available with the 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine. The gross weight was increased to 950 lb (431 kg). 490 were produced.^[6]

Model 3

The Kitfox Model 3 features structural changes that were designed to improve flight characteristics and provide a better platform for more powerful engines including the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912. A total of 466 were produced.^[7]

Model 4-1050

The Kitfox Model 4 was a new design introduced in 1991. It incorporated a laminar flow airfoil, new flaperon design, metal flaperon attach brackets and a new 2:1 differential aileron control system. The gross weight of the Kitfox Model 4-1050 was the same as the Model 3, 1,050 lb (476 kg). The Model 4 standard engines include the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 and the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912S. 322 were built.^[8]

Model 4-1200 (Classic IV)

The Kitfox Model 4-1200, also known as the Classic 4, is the final version of the original 1984 Denney Kitfox. Introduced in 1991, the Classic 4 has stronger lift struts, gear legs, and fuselage carry-through tubes, which allow a gross weight of 1,200 lb (544 kg). The vertical stabilizer and rudder height was increased by 10 inches (25 cm), and the rudder width was increased by 2 inches (5 cm).^[8]

Model 4 Speedster

A variant of the Classic 4 with a shorter wing for a higher cruise speed and roll rate.^[8]

Kitfox XL

A light-weight variant of the Classic 4 introduced in 1994, with the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 is the standard power plant. The aircraft was intended as an ultralight trainer, but did not sell well.^[8]

Kitfox Lite

Single seat ultralight design for the US market by Skystar Aircraft. The Lite features similar styling to larger Kitfoxes, including the radial-style cowling, folding wings and Junkers flaperons. Original engine was a special model of the 2si 460-F35 two-cylinder, two-stroke powerplant converted to free-air cooling and direct drive, producing 28 hp (21 kW)^[9]

Kitfox Lite²

An upgraded variant of the Kitfox XL, introduced in 2001. Powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, the Lite² also features the popular radial-style cowling , flaperons and a welded steel tube fuselage, all covered in Stits Polyfibre aircraft fabric. The aircraft was a success and sold well as both a complete aircraft and as a kit plane.^[8][10]

Series 5 (Safari, Vixen, Outback, Voyager)

Intended to use Continental and Lycoming certified engines in addition to the Rotax 912 engines, the Series 5 was introduced in 1994. The tailwheel version was named the Safari and the tricycle gear version was named the Vixen. The Vixen incorporated a swept tail, which was a cosmetic change that did not affect performance. Gross weight was initially 1,400 lb (635 kg), increased in 1995 to 1,550 lb (703 kg). In 1998, the marketing name of the Safari was changed to Outback and the Vixen to Voyager.^[11]

Series 5 Speedster

A variant of the Series 5 with a shorter wing for a higher cruise speed.^[11]

Series 6

Introduced in 2000, the Series 6 has a useful load of up to 800 lb (363 kg), a range of over 700 miles (1,127 km) and cruising speeds of over 120 mph (193 km/h). The aircraft can be converted from tricycle gear to tailwheel and back again.^[12]

Series 7

The Series 7 introduced a number of refinements including a cruise speed of over 150 mph (241 km/h), a 700 miles (1,127 km) range and carry a useful load of 700 lb (318 kg). When equipped with the Rotax 914 turbo-charged engine, the aircraft has a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Other engines available include Continental, Lycoming, Rotax 912S, Rotec R2800, and the Jabiru 3300 engine^[13][14]

Derivative designs

Since early 2009, Belite Aircraft, a new company based in Wichita, Kansas has produced the Belite Aircraft Superlite derivative of the Kitfox Lite single-seat ultralight design. Belite extensively redesigned the aircraft to incorporate carbon fibre wings, struts, spars and ribs, lowering the empty weight to 245 lb (111 kg).^[15][16][17]

Belite Aircraft "...has acquired the production rights to a previously designed aircraft, the Kitfox Lite" and that they "...acquired the tooling, existing parts and manufacturing rights to the aircraft in March of 2009. As a condition of the transaction, they agreed to re-brand the airplane to prevent any confusion with the larger, two-place light sport Kitfox".^[15][17]

In Europe, the Halley Apollo Fox and Aeropro Eurofox are based upon the Kitfox, with their Junkers flaps and folding wings. Both are Rotax-powered, side-by-side two-seaters, and are available either as taildraggers or with tricycle gear.^{[citation needed]}

Specifications (Kitfox Classic IV)

Data from Kitfox Aircraft Website^[18]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 18 ft 5 in (5.6 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft (9.76 m)
• Height: 5 ft 8 in (tailwheel) (1.73 m)
• Wing area: 132 ft² (12.28 m²)
• Empty weight: 650 lb (295 kg)
• Loaded weight: 1200 lb (544 kg)
• Useful load: 550 lbs (250 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912, 80 hp (60 kW)
• Propellers: 1 propeller, 1 per engine

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 125 mph (203)
• Maximum speed: 117 mph (190 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 110 mph (178 km/h)
• Stall speed: 37 mph (60 km/h)
• Range: 785 miles (1272 km)
• Rate of climb: 1200 fpm (6.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 9.09 lb/ft² (44.3 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 15 lb/hp (0.11 kW/kg)

See also

Related development

• Flying K Sky Raider
• Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Aero-Works Aerolite 103
• Avid Champion
• Beaujon Enduro
• Birdman Chinook
• Carlson Sparrow
• Dart Skycycle
• Fisher Dakota Hawk
• Fisher FP-606 Sky Baby
• Lockwood Drifter
• Spectrum Beaver
• Wings of Freedom Flitplane
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "New to Kitfox". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/NewToKitfox.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
2. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Kitfox Classic IV Pricing Information". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/c4pricinginfo.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Kitfox History". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/KitfoxHistory.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Bushplanes.com (undated). "Kitfox". http://www.bush-planes.com/Kitfox.html. Retrieved 2009-07-04. 
5. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Model I". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Model%20I.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
6. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Model II". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Model%20II.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
7. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Model III". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Model%20III.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Model IV". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Model%20IV.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
9. ^ Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-34. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
10. ^ Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-86. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
11. ^ ^{a b} Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Series 5 (Safari, Vixen, Outback, Voyager)". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Series%205.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
12. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Series 6". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Series%206.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
13. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Series 7". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Series%207.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30. 
14. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Kitfox S7 Super Sport". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/kitfox_kits.htm. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
15. ^ ^{a b} Grady, Mary (July 2009). "Former Kitfox-Lite Model Re-launches As Belite Ultralight". http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FormerKitFoxLiteModelRelaunchesAsBeliteUltralight_200650-1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
16. ^ Grady, Mary (July 2009). "First Flight For Belite Ultralight". http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FirstFlightForBeliteUltralight_200731-1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-16. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Belite Aircraft (June 2009). "Wichita Entrepreneurs Acquire Kitfox Lite Ultralight Aircraft Manufacturing Rights, Plan Reintroduction, Weight Savings and Improvements". http://www.beliteaircraft.com/news_media/press_release.php?id=1. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
18. ^ Kitfox Aircraft LLC (2006). "Kitfox Classic IV Specifications and Performance". http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/c4specs.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-25. 

External links

• Kitfox Aircraft LLC