S7 Super Sport Firewall Forward Engine Options

The Kitfox S7 Super Sport is one of the most flexible and versatile aircraft for factory supported engine packages.  Basically if it is 150hp or less it has probably been on the front of a Kitfox.  Engine choices are entirely up to the builder/owner and is one of items that makes the experimental amateur built rules so dynamic and exciting.

Kitfox is always keeping an eye on future developments and how they may apply to the Kitfox. There are current builders opting to install Corvairs, BushKing, VW, etc...

Performance: Cruise, Climb and Stall speeds are all variable and will depend on propeller choice, propeller pitch settings and weight.  The lightest install and most popular being the Rotax 912ULS.  Averages: stall in the low 40's, climbs of 1000± fpm and cruise of 120± mph.  We have seen stalls in the 30's and cruise speeds in the 150's TAS at 15000 MSL, climbs at over 1500 fpm and have been up in the flight levels at FL250.      

Kitfox Aircraft currently has firewall forward packages for a great variety of popular engine choices.

Rotax 912 (80hp), 912S (100 hp) and 914 Turbo (115 hp)

Round Cowling or Smooth Cowling

Tail Wheel or Tri-Gear

Rotax started in 1920 and in 2001 delivered it's 5 millionth engine from 2 strokes to 4 strokes in the recreational market.  The Rotax 9 series engines were designed for aircraft purposes by Bombardier and are horizontally opposed 4 cylinder 4 stroke engines that were type certified in 1989.  They are manufactured in Austria and is the lightest of the engine choices offering stunning performance and is by far the most widely used.  Rotax currently have 2000 hour to be overhauled (TBO) limits which matches or exceeds many of the commonly known aircraft engines.

    Rotec Radial R2800

Tail Wheel Only

The Rotec Radial R2800 engines are 7 cylinder 4 stroke engines that were introduced in 2000.  There has been over 700 delivered and many being operated.  Of course the Kitfox is the most popular choice for the Radial engine.  In the early 80's the Kitfox was attempting to support a little 2 stroke radial engine called a Dragon and a round "Bump" style cowling was developed for that engine.  The engine never survived but the "Round Cowling" or "Bump Cowling" became a Kitfox trademark.  In 2010, an agreement was made with Rotec Engineering of Australia and Kitfox Aircraft developed a firewall forward package for this engine.  It was introduced at Oshkosh 2010.

Lycoming O-235 - O-233 - IO-233

Smooth Cowling only

Tail Wheel or Tri-Gear

Lycoming Engines started in 1907 and has been one of the most common aircraft engines with a wide support network and parts availability. The Lycoming engines are horizontally opposed 4 cylinder 4 stroke engines.  The O-235 was installed in many aircraft and is a very popular engine with a 2400 hour to be overhauled (TBO) and 115 to 135 hp. In 2008 Lycoming introduced the IO-233-LSA with Roller Tappet technology and CDI Electronic ignition.  It is a light weight variant of the venerable O-235 designed for the Light Sport market. 

Continental O-200 (100 hp) or IO-240 (125 hp)   

Smooth Cowling only

Tail Wheel or Tri-Gear

Continental Motors started in 1905 and has been one of the most common aircraft engines with a wide support network and parts availability. The Continental engines are horizontally opposed 4 cylinder 4 stroke engines.  The O-200 was introduced in the 1950's and was installed in many aircraft, the most popular being the Cessna 150. The O-200 is a very popular engine with a 1800 hour to be overhauled (TBO) and has been reborn in 2009 with the O-200 "D" light weight version for the Light Sport market.  The IO-240 introduced in 1985 and delivers 125 hp.

Jabiru 3300

Smooth Cowling only

Tail Wheel or Tri-Gear

The Jabiru engines are horizontally opposed 4 and 6 cylinder 4 stroke engines.  The 2200 (4 cylinder) was introduced in 1995 and the 3300 (6 cylinder) introduced around 2000.