Flight Review: Kitfox Super Sport with Rotax's Turbo 916

KITPLANES editor at large Paul Dye took a couple of flights with Brandon Petersen in his Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport powered by the new 160-hp Rotax 916 iS. Paul and Brandon go deep into the specs and capabilities of this airplane. You want high-altitude performance? Great climb rates? Fun flying qualities? Check in and see if Paul likes what he sees.

[@tomgillotti]

In a few years when the 917 comes out and he’s ready to build another plane, I’ll happily buy this one! 😜

[@arthurtarola6848]

Beautifully constructed Kitfox. Thanks for the ride!

[@vampov]

I'm not a pilot only flown a few times but man these bush planes look like so much fun. Just being able to land almost anywhere seems a lot more appealing that a plane that requires me to go to a airport. I would love to be able to land on all those Idaho fire strips off in the mountains and camp.

[@foesfly3047]

This was fun. Thanks for bringing us along ♠️♠️

[@SilvaAdventures]

Incredible plane! Thanks for the informative and interesting running commentary.

[@damongulick4306]

Thanks!!!

[@TSLApilot]

2:42 What’s the advantage of not going FADEC? I would think computer would do a better job of adjusting mixture.

[@Captndarty]

Blue knob is propeller, not mixture🤦🏻‍♂️

[@av8tor17b]

What prop is that? I’m seeing some reports of the 916 on other airplanes, but no prop specifications are forthcoming.

[@philipritson8821]

That's one expensive engine! I want it!

[@jeremykemp3782]

Great stuff, thanks both

[@vampov]

13:05 wait 13.0 GPH is "pretty good". That's terrible that's over double the stock 5 GPH the 912 ULS uses. Does the 916 at cruise use a more reasonable fuel consumption?

[@andrewmorris3479]

The 916 at full power burns about 13.5GPH. At a cruise setting it can be anywhere from 5-8GPH.

[@serg2963]

I mean… its got a throttle.

[@vampov]

@@andrewmorris3479 Thank you. I didn't know if they were talking about full throttle or cruise. I was just listening to this while working and caught that out and looked up.

[@PatrickDuffy-u3s]

How much does this engine cost? 70k? Put a 140hp snowmobile engine and save about 60k.

[@KitplanesMagazine]

You could as long as you're willing to do all the engineering to make the FWF work.

[@andrewmorris3479]

51K.

[@flexairz]

Ever wonder why nobody ever does that?

[@6by6by6]

When the big guy sits in the middle seat.. oof..