The Denney Kitfox is a collection of small, two-seat, side-by-side, high-wing, single-engine kit aircraft designed and originally produced by Dan Denney and his company, Denney Aerocraft of Boise, Idaho. The aircraft is not type-certified and is designed for amateur building. Over 4500 kits have been delivered to 42 different countries. The Kitfox, a descendant of the Avid Flyer, was one of the first kit planes to feature quickly-folding wings, making it easy to transport and store. The aircraft is known for its versatility, as the landing gear can be converted to floats or skis.
The first Model 1 Kitfox flew in November of 1984 from the Denney Aerocraft factory in Boise. The Model 1 was a two-seat STOL taildragger aircraft that could fly from unimproved airstrips, and it was originally intended to use a new radial engine. Although the radial engine didn’t materialize, and a Rotax two-stroke engine was adapted instead, the retro radial cowling was popular and retained on many models. The company went on to produce Models 2, 3, 4, and Classic 4. In 1992, the rights to the design were sold to SkyStar Aircraft, and the company introduced the larger, certified engine Kitfox Series 5. SkyStar introduced the Kitfox Series 6 and “Lite Squared” in 2000. The Kitfox Series 7 was introduced in 2002, and it can cruise at speeds over 150 miles per hour. The Kitfox has become a popular aircraft choice due to its ease of building, versatility, and retro style.