ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

I sold my VMax, I was wondering if anyone has had a Kitfox lite, or the variant it became called the Belite or the ever newer version called Badland UL.  I am interested in this type and true 103 legal. I seen a orange and white one on YouTube for sale but the guy never got back to me and it looks like the video was posted about a year ago now... if you know of any for sale pass the information to me and thank you much. James Glass (also, if anyone has had one of these, is there any issues I would want to know, just by appearance and design I question the strength of the landing gear) I wonder if this ever has had any problems. Thank you, James

I'm sure those planes will fly OK as long as they are adequately powered.  The guy in the next hangar had a Belite with the small Hirth engine/redrive.  That plane stalled and crashed twice due to lack of climb performance.  The first time the pilot wasn't injured.  The second time he was seriously hurt.  Here is the report on the first incident:  https://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/crashing-a-belite-airplane/

The plane was rebuilt and continued to be flown by the owner.  One day he actually had to fly under a power line located a half mile from the airport because he couldn't climb over it.  The second accident was the result of a low altitude stall, incipient spin, and collision with a tree.  Pilot ended up in the ER.

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