If you’re interested in purchasing a Kit Fox, you’re not alone. This popular aircraft is known for its short takeoff and landing distances, making it a great option for those who want to fly in and out of small spaces. However, finding one for sale can be a challenge, and building one from a kit can take over a year.
Once you do acquire a Kit Fox, ownership costs can add up. Insurance, hangar rental, and maintenance expenses can be high, but there are ways to reduce costs. In this article, we’ll explore the costs associated with owning a Kit Fox and provide some tips for keeping those costs down.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Kit Foxes are known for their short takeoff and landing distances, making them a popular choice for flying in and out of small spaces.
- Ownership costs for a Kit Fox can be high, but there are ways to reduce expenses such as finding a good deal on a hangar or doing maintenance yourself.
- Despite the costs, many Kit Fox owners find the aircraft to be well worth the investment for its affordability and fun flying experience.
Kit Fox Overview
Performance Review
If you’re interested in Kit Foxes, you’re probably curious about their short takeoff and landing distances, which can be less than 200 feet. The useful load of this plane is 800 pounds, while it only weighs 750 pounds empty. This means that if you could fit it in there, you could actually carry a second Kit Fox.
Short Takeoff and Landing Distances
Kit Foxes are known for their impressive short takeoff and landing distances, which can be less than 200 feet.
Useful Load
The useful load of a Kit Fox is 800 pounds, while it only weighs 750 pounds empty. This means that if you could fit it in there, you could actually carry a second Kit Fox.
Purchasing a Kit Fox
Price Range
If you are looking to purchase a Kit Fox, you should know that they are not always readily available for sale. However, if you do manage to find one for sale, the price range can vary greatly. Amateur-built planes can be priced anywhere from $65,000 to $160,000.
Variety of Engines and Avionics
Since Kit Fox planes are amateur-built, they can come with a variety of engines and avionics. This means that prices will vary depending on the specifications of the plane.
Building Time
If you decide to build a Kit Fox, it is important to note that it can take several years to complete. Additionally, you will have to wait over a year for the kit to be delivered.
Overall, owning a Kit Fox can be an affordable option for those interested in short takeoff and landing distances. However, there are some additional costs to keep in mind such as insurance, hangar fees, and maintenance. It is recommended that you store your Kit Fox in a hangar to protect it from the elements. Annual inspections are required, but if you built the plane yourself, you can perform the inspection yourself. The plane burns about 5 gallons of fuel per hour and engine reserves for a Rotax 912 are about $6 per hour. The overhaul cost for the engine is around $12,000 and there is an additional cost of $5 per hour for miscellaneous maintenance.
If you have access to empty space where you can take off and land and some sort of garage or barn where you can store your Kit Fox, the costs can be dramatically reduced. Overall, owning a Kit Fox can be a fun and affordable option for those interested in flying.
Ownership Costs
Insurance
Insurance for a Kit Fox can be quite high due to its experimental and tail wheel nature, which can result in landing off-field.
Hangar Requirement
A hangar is necessary for a Kit Fox to avoid storing it outside, which is not recommended for fabric planes. However, you may be able to find a good deal on a hangar since the wings can be folded.
Annual Inspection
Annual inspections for experimentals are typically condition inspections and not as expensive as annual inspections for certified planes. If you built the plane yourself, you can even do the inspection yourself.
Fuel Consumption
The Kit Fox burns about 5 gallons of fuel per hour, which is not too expensive since it can burn car gas.
Engine Reserves
For a Rotax 912 engine, engine reserves are around six dollars per hour, and the overhaul costs around twelve thousand dollars. It is also recommended to set aside an additional five dollars per hour for miscellaneous maintenance.
Maintenance
Miscellaneous maintenance costs can add up to around five dollars per hour.
Overall, the cost per hour, cost per mile, and total cost per year are quite affordable for a Kit Fox, especially if you have access to empty space in the country where you can take off and land and store your plane in a barn or garage. However, if you need to pay for a hangar, insurance, and maintenance, the costs can add up.
Cost Analysis
Cost per Hour
Owning a Kit Fox is affordable, but there are still costs to consider. The plane burns about 5 gallons of fuel per hour, which can be car gas, making it less expensive. The engine reserves for a Rotax 912 cost around $6 per hour, and the overhaul costs about $12,000. Additionally, it’s recommended to set aside another $5 per hour for miscellaneous maintenance.
Cost per Mile
The cost per mile is dependent on the distance traveled and the fuel consumption rate. Assuming a fuel consumption rate of 5 gallons per hour and an average speed of 100 mph, the cost per mile would be around $1.50.
Total Annual Cost
The total annual cost of owning a Kit Fox includes insurance, hangar rental, and maintenance. Insurance costs are high due to the plane’s experimental and tail wheel nature, which can lead to off-field landings. Hangar rental is strongly recommended to protect the fabric exterior of the plane. Annual inspections are required, but if you built the plane, you can perform the inspection yourself. Overall, the total annual cost of owning a Kit Fox ranges from $10,000 to $15,000.
In conclusion, owning a Kit Fox is an affordable option for aviation enthusiasts. While there are costs to consider, they are manageable and worth it for the fun and unique flying experience the Kit Fox provides.
Affordability
If you’re interested in purchasing a Kit Fox, you may have to wait a while to find one for sale. At the time of this writing, none are listed for sale, and if you want to build one, you’ll have to wait over a year for the kit to arrive.
Assuming you manage to track one down, the cost of ownership can vary widely depending on whether you buy or build the plane. If you buy one, prices can range from $65,000 to $160,000, depending on the engine and avionics. If you choose to build one, it will cost less, but it will take several years, and you’ll still have to wait over a year for the kit to be delivered.
Once you own a Kit Fox, you can expect certain costs to arise. Insurance for a plane this size can be expensive, especially since it’s a tail wheel and experimental, which can increase the risk of off-field landings. A hangar is also necessary, as fabric planes should not be stored outside. However, you may be able to find a good deal on a hangar since the wings can be folded.
Annual inspections for experimentals are usually not too expensive since they only require a condition inspection, and if you built the plane yourself, you can do it yourself. The Kit Fox burns about 5 gallons of fuel per hour, but it can burn car gas, which is cheaper. Engine reserves for a rotax 912 are about $6 per hour, and the overhaul costs about $12,000. You should also budget about $5 per hour for miscellaneous maintenance.
Overall, the cost per hour, mile, and year are fairly affordable, especially if you can find a space to take off and land and store your Kit Fox without a hangar. While they may be hard to come by used, it’s our opinion that the cost is well worth it for the fun and enjoyment you’ll get from flying a Kit Fox.
Conclusion
In summary, owning a Kit Fox can be a great experience, but it comes with its own set of costs and considerations. If you’re interested in purchasing one, you may have to wait a while and pay anywhere from $65,000 to $160,000, depending on the engine and avionics. Once you own a Kit Fox, you can expect high insurance costs due to its experimental and tail wheel nature, and the fact that it tends to land off-field. A hangar is also necessary to protect the fabric plane from the elements. However, annual inspections are not too expensive, and if you built the plane yourself, you can do it yourself. The plane burns about 5 gallons of fuel per hour, and engine reserves for a Rotax 912 are about six dollars an hour, with an overhaul cost of about $12,000. Miscellaneous maintenance costs about five dollars an hour. Overall, the cost per hour, mile, and year is quite affordable, especially if you have access to empty space in the country. Kit Fox is a fun and affordable airplane to fly, and if you manage to find one, it’s definitely worth the cost.
