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    I'm seriously considering re-registering my 100hp Aerotrek as ELSA and making that my dedicated float plane. Unfortunately, the Aerotrek empty weight is simply too much for my Aerocet 1100 amphibs so I'll need larger floats. Therein lies the reason for this 'testing the waters post'.

    The Background:

    Aerocet 1100A composite amphib floats were offered as a genuine Skystar Aircraft factory option and produced by Stoddard-Hamilton (the Glastar composite aircraft manufacturer experts). They were priced over $10k new with rigging. The original owner of my set put less than 10 wet hrs on the floats then sold his KF4. Second owner immediately removed the floats and stuck them in his hangar. There they sat for several years, until I got word of them and eventually pried them away. I've owned them since 2007, stored under cover indoors.

    The Details:

    These floats are structurally sound with no damage history and remain as originally purchased from Skystar, never modified or painted.. As one would expect with only a few hours use, they are in excellent shape with no dings, dents, dock rash, cracks or any appreciable cosmetic scratches to the textured top or shiny white side gel coats. They have a few minor scratches and chips on the bottoms (I got them this way), an easy touch up if so inclined. I even have a can of gel coat that came with the floats, though I have no idea if shelf life has expired. The retractable main gear utilizes dual Matco hyd. brakes and the nose wheels retract into covered bays with full doors. Very clean floats aerodynamically, all gear and rudder control cables are routed internally to the floats or struts with no wheels or gear mechanisms hanging out in the wind. Each float has partitioned pump outs plus large quick access lockers for lots of gear storage or fuel containers. Try THAT with the little aluminum floats! I have all parts for KF 3/4 mounting - streamlined spreader and Z-struts, upper fitting blocks to fuse brackets, oem Bull wheel, Johnson bar for manual retract with push/pull rods, Teleflex and SS cables, brackets, turnbuckles, x-wire bracings, manual water rudder retract setup etc., plus all factory part and installation instruction manuals. Also includes a set of pneumatic nose wheels and pre-cut stainless steel main gear reinforcing plates (a common modification to beef up the gear) ready for welding.

    The Disclaimer:

    I bought these floats to put under my KF3 but bent the plane before I got them mounted. Therefore, I can offer no actual personal operating experience with them. The main and nose gear test cycle just fine, over center locks and all float mechanicals appear to be in good working order and tires have no age related checking or cracks last I looked. The only issue I am aware of is the thru-hull rubber bellows/bushing for the rudder cable has deteriorated and will need replacement. I believe it would take very little effort, time and additional expense to put these floats back into service.

    The Pitch:

    Absolutely perfect for a KF3 and Avid C or D model STOL or Heavy Hauler w/ 582, IMHO. Same plane w/ 912 = wet dream! Excellent choice for a KF4-1050 w/ 582 or KF4-1200 w/ 912ul. Lightweight KF4 w/ 912uls = wet dream w/ Jessica Alba in the right seat working the stick! If you want hard side amphib floats for your Avid/Kitfox and have done any research at all, you know it ain't a cheap or easy proposition. The pickin's are incredibly slim at best and buying new or moving up to the next displacement size floats will easily run you $15k-25k or more for composites with rigging. It is what it is, but my Aerocets will get you in the game for thou$ands less. AND, if you are or considering flying under a Sport Pilot Cert., these amphib floats meet the Light Sport Aircraft Final Ruling on repositionable landing gear for an aircraft intended for operation on water. If you have a KF3 or KF4-1050, I will include one new, unused Skystar fuselage brace (required) for free.

    The Close:

    If you are serious about owning these amphib floats, PM me for a chat before I put them on Barnstormers or the auction sites. Since I bought them, I've seen/heard of only (5) other sets for sale and NONE as nice. I can bring them to Oshkosh for no charge if you want to pick them up during AirVenture this year, would save $500+ in shipping.

    Thanks for looking.