Transponder Antenna Mount Plate
Kitfox mounts their transponder antennas in the back of the plane but they don’t provide you with the hardware or information to do it yourself. I have made my own drawings.
The photo John McBean sent of the Kitfox 7 transponder mount plate.
Kitfox has been mounting their transponder antennas in the back of the plane recently. This is because the new ADS-B functions cause interference with the communications system. The fuselage does not have an antenna mounting plate in the back of the plane so one has to be fabricated. Apparently, Kitfox will begin selling the plate but there is no clarity on when that plate will be available. Unfortunately this is not something I want to wait on Kitfox for because it must be done before covering.
The Factory sent me a photo of the plate but not dimensions or directions. I did some measuring and came up with dimensions included here. My plate fits just right. I had the machinist make it for me on a break. I was originally going to use 1/16” 6061-T6 aluminum stock but the machinist only had the thicker material in stock. It worked out great!
WARNING! DO NOT DRILL AND RIVET THE PLATE INTO THE FUSELAGE! ONLY DRILL THE PLATE INTO THE STRINGER!
The stringer is not a structural piece of metal but the fuselage tubing is. If you drill holes in the fuselage tubing, it will weaken the structure.
Transponder mount plate side view.
Tansponder mount plate bottom view.
Transponder mount plate angle close up.
Transponder mount plate other side view.
Tow Transport Kit
The Kitfox 7 STi has the an option for a tow transport kit. The kit is great but the instructions are horrible. Here is what the factory sent me.
The Tow Transport Kit is an option that includes equipment for trailering or towing your plane with the wings folded. The instructions in the manual aren’t very helpful so I have uploaded the instructions that the factory sent me.
Telescoping Bar Instructions
The kit includes a fabric pad for the rudder and 4 braces for the wings. I think that it is a great option but the instructions are just bad. The color copy of the manual helps.
Dual Pin Door Latch
Instructions for the Dual Pin Door Latch. You probably don’t want to buy it!
Kitfox offers a dual pin door latch for their doors but there isn’t actually much information about them. Even the instructions are not in the manual. I have attached the pdf instructions here for reference.
What is the Dual Pin Door Latch? Its a system designed for an aerobatic Kitfox that keeps the doors from popping open in flight. The dual pins are more secure than the standard latch, but they are also more complicated and are much heavier.
I bought the option thinking that it would allow me to crack the doors open in flight to improve airflow through the cabin. As it turns out, the dual pin doors can’t be cracked open in flight. Kitfox was nice enough to let me return the latch in exchange for the standard latch.
Thank you Kitfox!
The latch is very secure but also complicated.