It was
almost three years ago that SkyStar Aircraft introduced the "new"
Kitfox Lite² (Squared). Now, they are discontinuing this
popular addition to the Kitfox line of kit airplanes.
What Gives?
According to SkyStar President, Ed Downs, "The Kitfox Lite²
was our entry into the two-place, ultralight training
market. Our single-place Kitfox Lite, a true FAR 103
ultralight, had gained great popularity, prompting many requests
for a two-place ultralight trainer. SkyStar's venerable Kitfox
Classic 4 filled the bill, but it just took too long to explain how
to make the Classic 4 meet the FAR 103 trainer exemption
rules. So, we repackaged the Classic 4 into a kit that
was very prefabricated and specific to the ultralight training
rules. We offered special pricing, and it really took
off."
The repackaged Lite² was first introduced at Sun 'n Fun
2001 and got a lot of press coverage due to its applicability to
the new, proposed Sport Pilot rule. The Lite² is a
completely legal ultralight trainer that could easily convert to a
Sport Plane. With the Sport Pilot regulation due to be
announced "at any moment" (remember, this was early 2001), The
Kitfox Lite² was in the right place at the right
time. "But," according to Downs, "the timing has
changed. The Sport Pilot rule has been delayed for years, and
SkyStar has decided that the Kitfox Series 7 airframe will serve
Sport Pilots better than the Lite². We now know that the
ultralight trainers, as they are presently defined, will be
eliminated by the Sport Pilot rule and that a kit specifically
packaged for ultralight training may be at the end of its market
opportunity."
Does that mean the Kitfox Lite² is obsolete?
Downs
(right) says, "No, not at all. In fact, the Lite² fits
right into the grandfather clause, which will allow it to operate
as an ultralight trainer for another two years. It also meets
the 1% rule that will let it transition easily into the
Experimental or Sport Experimental categories. The Lite²
is simply a repackaged version of the Kitfox Classic 4, which means
it meets many foreign certification standards for Ultralight,
Advanced Ultralight and Micro Light regulations. It will live
on in the form of the Kitfox Classic 4. The Lite² package
is simply a victim of changing regulations and economic demands
that require SkyStar to optimize our production and purchasing
efficiencies."
But, what if someone REALLY wants the Lite²
package? Are they out of luck?
"No," says Downs, "we are not going cold turkey. We are set
up to build ten more Lite² kits, on a first come, first served
basis, then the production of this successful package will come to
an end."