Sport Pilot Talk

mcjon77 · Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Hi guys,

I'm looking at purchasing an LSA later this year (after I get my PPL knocked out) and I have always loved the Avid Flyer and Kitfox Homebuilts. So far, I have found 3 SLSAs that are descendants of these planes. I am wondering if you guys know any others that I may have missed.
Here they are:
Aeropro Euro Foxhttp://eurofox-usa.com/
Halley Apollo Fox http://www.apollo-fox.com/
Just Aircraft Highlander http://www.justaircraft.com/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=33

Thanks,
Jon

rsteele · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 99

You might check out the AMD Patriot. Not a strict descendent - it's all metal not tube and fabric, but a high wing low-and-slow that looks like it's going to be pretty nice.

Ron

vwvectors · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 76 Location: Florida

I wonder 10 -20 years from now what the cost of a fabric redue would be ?

eurofoxjames · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 56 Location: Atlanta, Ga

vwvectors wrote: I wonder 10 -20 years from now what the cost of a fabric redue would be ?

less then metal--I'm sure :lol:

eurofoxjames · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 56 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Actually, if you can’t hanger/shed your plane, I wouldn’t even think about a fabric plane. If you can hanger it, fabric can last forever if cared for correctly. Fabric and paints are much better today then they used to be.
James

Cub flyer · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 294

My Stinson fabric was put on in 1974. It sits outside about 60 days per year on the ramp waiting for rides.

Plain Ceconite and dope.

Still looks good and tests fine. No cracking or peeling anywhere.

The red faded to orange so we resprayed the color in 1996.

Properly done they will last 30 years +.

Waxing regularly helps a lot with any color fade or coating loss.

Plain turtle wax with cotton towels. once a year.

Trouble with most kitfox/avid clones are water leaks behind the wings where the pushrods are. It may be better on the newer airplanes with one piece turtledecks.

eurofoxjames · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 56 Location: Atlanta, Ga

One place my EF might leak may be around the doors (not good for the seats and carpet). I have a 2 pc. turtle back and I can see how that could leak. I do have drain holes in the wings in the rare case water gets in. If I had to keep mine outside I would invest in some covers for the before mentioned.
James

Chuckhhill · Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Concord, CA

There is a RANS tube and fabric aircraft that is similar, maybe better than most.

apollonorthamerica

Hi,
If you have any particular questions about Apollo Fox let me know. The ASTM compliant version is built right here in the US from skeletal structures from Halley in Europe. The mid fuselage tubing is thicker walled than what Halley generally uses and the landing gear is wider due to expanded gross weight and of course the vertical stab is significantly taller to comply with ASTM standards of positive yaw stability.
Thanks
Abid

mcjon77 wrote: Hi guys,

I'm looking at purchasing an LSA later this year (after I get my PPL knocked out) and I have always loved the Avid Flyer and Kitfox Homebuilts. So far, I have found 3 SLSAs that are descendants of these planes. I am wondering if you guys know any others that I may have missed.
Here they are:
Aeropro Euro Foxhttp://eurofox-usa.com/
Halley Apollo Fox http://www.apollo-fox.com/
Just Aircraft Highlander http://www.justaircraft.com/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=33

Thanks,
Jon