Flying a Homebuilt Kitfox

Flying a Homebuilt Kitfox: From Garage Build to Backcountry Grass Strips

Ever wonder what it feels like to fly into remote grass strips in an airplane you built yourself?

That exact question kicked off my journey with the Kitfox Series 7 Super Sport. And yes, that’s the homebuilt Kitfox I put together in my garage. Over on my YouTube channel (@jeremydrobeck), I bring you directly inside the cockpit to experience true backcountry STOL flying.

Powered by the turbocharged Rotax 916iS, this experimental tailwheel bush plane is built to explore places conventional aircraft simply cannot reach. From island camping on remote runways to dialling in short field landings, every video shows the raw reality of homebuilt aviation.

Grass Strip Gathering

Mortgage Master. 🏡 Airplane Builder. ✈️ Pilot at 17.

I spent 10 months and 1,200 hours documenting my Kitfox build, but I realized the best part of aviation isn't the hardware—it's the community. This channel is moving from the garage to the grass.

I’m renaming this channel to focus on the stories hidden in the small-town grass strips across Michigan and beyond. As a Mortgage Master with 20+ years of experience, I’ve built my career on helping people find their place on the map. Now, I’m using my plane to find the stories that bring us together. On this channel, we explore the heartbeat of the aviation community—the grass strips and the people who fly them.

Looking for a first-time buyer program, an investment loan, or even a way to finance your own airplane build? I’ve got you covered.

Blue skies and clear closings.

- Jeremy Drobeck N1003T
🔗 www.1stClassMortgageService.com

After 365 days of flights, grass strips, and cold garage nights, this Kitfox faces the real test. See what broke, what worked, and what would change in a one-year review.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/L2BJklZMnjY

#Kitfox #BackcountryFlying #AircraftMaintenance #Aviation

Kitfox Review After One Year: Dream Plane or Maintenance Headache? #shorts

What builds a top 1% business?

The Marine Corps didn't teach me how to fly an airplane.

They didn't teach me how to close mortgages.

They taught me what matters.

Skills can be trained.

Grit, discipline, and standard of excellence are forged.

Happy 251st Birthday to the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi.

Drop a 🦅 below if you honor the standard.

Sponsor: http://www.1stClassMortgageService.com

Marines didn't teach me how to fly - Happy 251st Marines!

A pilot and friends cross Lake Michigan in a Kit Fox for a memorable landing on remote North Fox Island—and a fun weekend together.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#KitFox #NorthFoxIsland #LakeMichigan #Aviation #IslandLanding

We Flew to a Remote Island With No Cell Service #shorts

Strong crosswinds and limited experience change the plan: the Mackinac Island flight is canceled. Breakfast comes first, followed by practice crosswind landings.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#AviationSafety #CrosswindLanding #PilotTraining #MackinacIsland

I Canceled Our Flight Over Strong Crosswinds—Safety First

Is building an experimental aircraft actually worth the investment, or does the real work only begin after you finish Phase 1?

In this video, I am sharing an honest, unfiltered one-year review of owning and flying my Kitfox Series 7. Exactly 365 days ago, I rolled this airplane out of my garage after hundreds of hours of building. Now that the initial excitement has settled, I am breaking down what ownership looks like in the real world once you are flying regularly off grass strips, taking cross-country trips, and managing ongoing maintenance.

If you watched the original build recap, you saw what went into putting this aircraft together. Today, we are looking at whether the numbers on paper match reality in the air.

WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO:

Flight Performance: Comparing real cruise speeds, fuel burn, and takeoff distances against factory book specs.

Maintenance & Repairs: The parts, fittings, and systems that needed attention, leaked, or loosened over the first year.

Wing Comparison: Breaking down the flight characteristics of the standard Series 7 Super Sport wing versus the STi wing.

Total Cost Reality: A realistic look at builder-assist and out-the-door costs comparing the Kitfox to the American Legend Cub and Carbon Cub.

Engine Operation: Practical takeaways from running the turbocharged Rotax 916 iS.

The Mission Fit: How the plane handles airplane camping, short fields, and loading gear.

The Bottom Line: If I had to start from scratch today, would I build the exact same airplane?

Whether you are currently building, considering placing a kit order, or simply researching backcountry aircraft, this breakdown will give you practical numbers and insight to plan your own build.

Sponsor: http://www.1stClassMortgageService.com

Kitfox Series 7: 1 Year Review (Was Building It a Dream or Disaster?)

A year after the Kit Fox’s maiden flight, Jeremy reflects on building the aircraft and the adventures that began when it first took to the sky.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#KitFox #FirstFlight #AircraftBuild #Aviation

I Built This Plane for 10 Months—Then Took Its First Flight

A first airplane-camping trip meets strong winds. After a warning sends the pilot back to Prairie, the journey’s lasting memories come from the people along the way.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#Aviation #AirplaneCamping #PilotLife #TravelStories

Brutal Winds Nearly Derailed My First Airplane Camping Trip

After 1,200 hours building his own aircraft, Jeremy takes it on its first flight and explores new places throughout its first year in the air.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#HomebuiltAircraft #FirstFlight #Aviation #FlightAdventure

He Built His Own Plane—Then Flew to Places Most Pilots Only Dream About

A steady warning light interrupts a reflective flight. The pilot checks the checklist, turns back, and heads to Prairie for a safe landing.

🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/FznAp0cl9CQ

#Aviation #PilotLife #FlightSafety #AviationStories

A Warning Light Forced This Pilot to Turn Back Immediately

What You Will See On The Channel:

Real Backcountry Flying: Grass strip operations, cross-country trips, and off-the-grid destinations.
Rotax 916iS Performance: Real numbers on climb rates, fuel burn, and high-altitude cruise speeds.
Modern Glass Cockpits: Practical navigation tips using dual EFIS screens and IFR-capable avionics.
Community: The aviation community is amazing. The adventures and friends along the may are what make it so special.

If you are dreaming about owning a bush plane, researching experimental aircraft kits, or just love the freedom of general aviation, you are in the right spot.

WATCH THE LATEST FLIGHT ON YOUTUBE NOW

Latest Blog Post

GOT REPAIRS?

Thursday, 05 November 2026

GOT REPAIRS? HOW TO FINANCE HOME FIXES ACROSS EVERY MAJOR MORTGAGE PROGRAM IN KALAMAZOO!

Did you fall in love with a home in Kalamazoo, Portage, or Texas Township, only to find an aging roof, peeling paint, a failing furnace, or an outdated kitchen standing between you and the closing table?

Yesterday afternoon, a local Realtor called my office in Portage with a deal on the verge of falling apart.

Their buyer went under contract on a 1950s brick ranch near Alamo Township. The home inspection and appraisal flagged three major issues: a worn-out asphalt shingle roof, a 30-year-old furnace, and chipped paint on the exterior trim.

Visit Jeremy's Blog