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SOURDOSTAN(at)aol.com
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 Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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The third signature on the Laramie photo is Pat Redikar (sp?). He was Skystar's demo pilot in the mid '90s until he bought a Cassutt and went off air racing. The second signator, Skip Cedarquist, was an A&P and left Skystar to run an FBO, in northern Idaho I seem to remember. Both real nice guys. Skip showed up at Oshkosh a few years later to help with the Kitfox booth.
I happened to run into Dean Wilson this past summer in Northway, Alaska. I had seen this white high wing four-place homebuilt aircraft in Whitehorse, YT, earlier in the day (we'd all overnighted there). I looked on the data plate and it said the name was "Wilson Special" or something as such. It was obviously a homebuilt but it looked like it had been assembled from Piper parts (PA 15, 16, 20 types). So when it pulled into Northway, we were in the restaurant and one of the three fellas came inside. I asked him if he was Dean Wilson, and he said no, but Dean was his brother. We chatted awhile about Dean, and then he came inside. We had the nicest talk about Avids, Kitfoxes, other designs, and his latest creation. He confirmed that the plane had Piper wings and a modified fuselage. After some time I asked Dean point blank if he had hard feelings about folks taking his designs and running away with them. He replied that he was too old and life was too short to think about stuff like that. I didn't pursue the conversation any further, but we continued to talk for some time until their food arrived. One of the nicest conversations I've ever had!!
Stan Specht
Kitfox Model IV Speedster "Columbine"
Denver, Colorado
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
[quote][b]
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john(at)leptron.com
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Stan,
I had it backwards then, thanks for the info, it really is fun to relieve the fox past and present.
John Oakley
Fox 4 speedster 912 cap
From: owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of SOURDOSTAN(at)aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:06 PM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Re: Kitfox an Avid copy?
The third signature on the Laramie photo is Pat Redikar (sp?). He was Skystar's demo pilot in the mid '90s until he bought a Cassutt and went off air racing. The second signator, Skip Cedarquist, was an A&P and left Skystar to run an FBO, in northern Idaho I seem to remember. Both real nice guys. Skip showed up at Oshkosh a few years later to help with the Kitfox booth.
I happened to run into Dean Wilson this past summer in Northway, Alaska. I had seen this white high wing four-place homebuilt aircraft in Whitehorse, YT, earlier in the day (we'd all overnighted there). I looked on the data plate and it said the name was "Wilson Special" or something as such. It was obviously a homebuilt but it looked like it had been assembled from Piper parts (PA 15, 16, 20 types). So when it pulled into Northway, we were in the restaurant and one of the three fellas came inside. I asked him if he was Dean Wilson, and he said no, but Dean was his brother. We chatted awhile about Dean, and then he came inside. We had the nicest talk about Avids, Kitfoxes, other designs, and his latest creation. He confirmed that the plane had Piper wings and a modified fuselage. After some time I asked Dean point blank if he had hard feelings about folks taking his designs and running away with them. He replied that he was too old and life was too short to think about stuff like that. I didn't pursue the conversation any further, but we continued to talk for some time until their food arrived. One of the nicest conversations I've ever had!!
Stan Specht
Kitfox Model IV Speedster "Columbine"
Denver, Colorado
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
| Quote: | | http://www.matronics.com/contribution |
012345678901234
[quote][b]
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MichaelGibbs(at)cox.net
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:43 pm Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Paul sez:
| Quote: | ...all Dan Denney did is ask Dean if he'd be interested in building
an ultralight they could sell. His input was limited to the idea of
building an ultralight.
Dan's involvement at best was just being the catalyst that got Dean thinking.
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Several of the articles you posted suggest otherwise. Wilson
mentioned in one that their partnership fell apart, indicating that
he and Denney had a business relationship. Another article describes
both men performing demonstration flights and wowing the crowds at
Oshkosh.
Wilson was clearly the designer, but Denney was not an outsider on a
mission to copy the Flyer. I have not heard Denney's side of the
story and perhaps he did double-cross Wilson by competing against him
but, to my mind, that still leaves the Avid Flyer and Kitfox siblings.
Mike G.
N728KF
Phoenix, AZ
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Lynn Matteson
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Thanks, Stan and John, for putting those names with personalities for
me...and others. I'd still like to know what "Thanks for all your
help!" refers to. Maybe it's gonna turn out to be another "Rosebud"....
Hey Stan, sounds like you got Alaska checked off your list (or had
you before Oshkosh?)....so the only one left is Hawaii?
Lynn Matteson
Grass Lake, Michigan
Kitfox IV Speedster w/Jabiru 2200
flying w/440+ hrs
On Dec 15, 2007, at 10:06 PM, SOURDOSTAN(at)aol.com wrote:
| Quote: | The third signature on the Laramie photo is Pat Redikar (sp?). He
was Skystar's demo pilot in the mid '90s until he bought a Cassutt
and went off air racing. The second signator, Skip Cedarquist, was
an A&P and left Skystar to run an FBO, in northern Idaho I seem to
remember. Both real nice guys. Skip showed up at Oshkosh a few
years later to help with the Kitfox booth.
I happened to run into Dean Wilson this past summer in Northway,
Alaska. I had seen this white high wing four-place homebuilt
aircraft in Whitehorse, YT, earlier in the day (we'd all
overnighted there). I looked on the data plate and it said the name
was "Wilson Special" or something as such. It was obviously a
homebuilt but it looked like it had been assembled from Piper parts
(PA 15, 16, 20 types). So when it pulled into Northway, we were in
the restaurant and one of the three fellas came inside. I asked
him if he was Dean Wilson, and he said no, but Dean was his
brother. We chatted awhile about Dean, and then he came inside. We
had the nicest talk about Avids, Kitfoxes, other designs, and his
latest creation. He confirmed that the plane had Piper wings and a
modified fuselage. After some time I asked Dean point blank if he
had hard feelings about folks taking his designs and running away
with them. He replied that he was too old and life was too short to
think about stuff like that. I didn't pursue the conversation any
further, but we continued to talk for some time until their food
arrived. One of the nicest conversations I've ever had!!
Stan Specht
Kitfox Model IV Speedster "Columbine"
Denver, Colorado
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List _-
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| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM |
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SkySteve
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT
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| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Hello. I have not participated in this board before, but I do review it daily. Relative to the current discussion of the history of the Kitfox, I own 85DD. It is currently hangered in Morgan, Utah. I have attached photos of 85DD as she looked when I purchased her, and as she looks today. Also attached are photos of two Kitfox promotional posters showing 85DD as well as other Kitfoxes.
I purchased 85DD in April, 2006 from Jim Duffy. Jim is an AP located in Ogden, Utah and has his business at Ogden Hinkley airport. Jim purchased 85DD from Dan Denney. 85DD has undergone several mods since I purchased her, with more to come later. She is powered by a 912A Rotax, which was once used on a Kitfox Biplane (I believe). She is registered at 1050#. Here are the mods so far: Grove main gear designed and installed so that you can convert between nosewheel and tailwheel configurations; Grove 6" wheels; Grove brakes; dual brake controls for left & right seats; 600-6 tires; custom tuned exhaust and mufflers; Kitfox factory nosewheel; Maule tailwheel; custom bubble doors (not shown in photo); model IV rudder; vertical stabilizer redesigned to fit model IV rudder; starting primer added; and 65" carbon fiber Warp Drive propeller. We plan on having 85DD at the 2008 Kitfox factory fly-in to show her off.
Much of the encouragement to continue on this project has come from a long-time member of your community, John Oakley. John has become a good friend and mentor of mine during this project. Thank you, John, for your encouragement and advice.
The two posters are as follows:
The poster with a flying Kitfox is 89DD. 89DD is also shown on the bottom left on skis, then 85DD in the bottom center, 84DD next to the right, and 85DD again on the right with floats.
The poster with a Kitfox on floats is 88DD. 89DD is on the bottom left with skis, then 85DD in the center, 91KF is next to the right and 88DD to the far right with wings folded.
Thought you might be interested in this little bit of Kitfox history.
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Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel |
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john(at)leptron.com
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:14 am Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Steve,
Great input, and the posters bring back memories as they are what I had
hanging in my shop for mental support for those 5 years it took to put mine
together.
John Oakley
Speedster 4 912ul cap
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kitfoxjunky(at)decisionla
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av8rps(at)tznet.com
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Hey Gary, that was me back when I was in my 20's.....geez, how time flies!
Oshkosh next year for a bunch of you? COOOOOL! Would love to see you guys show up at the seaplane base! And yes, I'd be happy to buy a beer. The more the merrier you know. Check out our website at www.oshkoshseaplanebase.com for more info and pics if you haven't already.
Oh yeah, here's a Christmas card for all my Kitfox pals here on the net. (and now Gary can see how I've aged if he compares it against the photo in the earlier post) Smile 
Merry Christmas everyone!
Paul Seehafer
Central Wisconsin
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| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
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kitfoxjunky(at)decisionla
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:53 am Post subject: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Bunk. Should have been "bunch" of seaplane guys. No matter how many times I visually spell check these posts I always seem to mess something up. Sigh.
So far we have one Kitfox on anphibs, a very old cub on straight floats, Stinson 108 on straight floats, Murphy Rebel on anphibs. Will probably have some additions and substractions by the time Oshkosh rolls around.
Thanks for the Christmas Photo Paul. That left front nose wheel looks familiar.
"Paul Seehafer" <av8rps(at)tznet.com>
Sent by: owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com
12/23/2007 03:34 PM
Please respond to kitfox-list
To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>
cc:
Subject: Re: Re: Kitfox an Avid copy?
Hey Gary, that was me back when I was in my 20's.....geez, how time flies!
Oshkosh next year for a bunch of you? COOOOOL! Would love to see you guys show up at the seaplane base! And yes, I'd be happy to buy a beer. The more the merrier you know. Check out our website at [url=Arial]www.oshkoshseaplanebase.com[/url] for more info and pics if you haven't already.
Oh yeah, here's a Christmas card for all my Kitfox pals here on the net. (and now Gary can see how I've aged if he compares it against the photo in the earlier post) Smile
Merry Christmas everyone!
Paul Seehafer
Central Wisconsin
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| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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kfleisch
Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Posts: 1
Location: Boise, Idaho
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| Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:28 am Post subject: Re: Kitfox an Avid copy? |
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Reading the letter from Paul Seehafer, I'd like to add that I'm the one who wrote the UPI story about the Avid Flyer in 1983, and the hostility Dan showed toward Dean was evident even at that time.
When the story was sent out on the wires and ran worldwide, Dan was angry that all of the quotes in the story were from Dean. I asked him how I could have quoted him when he wouldn't even talk with me.
He did call me when he introduced the Kitfox, but I was no longer at the wire service at that time, so that story had much less coverage.
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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_________________
Kitty Fleischman
idahomagazine.com |
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