Kitplanes
Kitplanes is a print and digital magazine serving homebuilt and experimental aircraft builders and enthusiasts with technical content, flight reports, buyer's guides, and event coverage. It is owned by Firecrown Media Inc., which distributes subscriptions through Flying Mag and digital editions via Zinio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersNorwalk, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Kitplanes does
Kitplanes is a print and digital magazine serving as a specialized resource for the homebuilt and experimental aircraft community, founded in 1985 and currently owned by Firecrown Media Inc. The publication's core product is the KITPLANES Magazine, supplemented by annual buyer's guides covering engines, avionics, propellers, and aircraft, plus a Homebuilder's Portal, Build Series articles, an iOS mobile app, and digital editions distributed through Zinio. Content spans flight reports, builder spotlights, technical articles, regulatory coverage (including the FAA MOSAIC framework), and event reporting at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Sun 'n Fun, and manufacturer fly-ins. The website (kitplanes.com) is the primary digital platform, complemented by Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and an email newsletter.
The business model is a consumer subscription model with three primary revenue streams: magazine subscriptions (print and digital, managed through the Flying Mag platform at subscribe.flyingmag.com), digital edition access via Zinio, and advertising across print and digital surfaces. A secondary e-commerce stream links to shop.flyingmag.com for merchandise and aviation-related products. The company operates with 1-10 employees, is headquartered in the United States (Norwalk), and is privately held. Operational scale signals include a Facebook following of 7,946, Twitter following of 1,052, and YouTube subscribers of 5,930 — consistent with a niche enthusiast brand rather than a mass-market publication.
Kitplanes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitplanes
- Legal name
- Firecrown Media Inc.
- Website
- https://kitplanes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Kitplanes is a print and digital magazine serving homebuilt and experimental aircraft builders and enthusiasts with technical content, flight reports, buyer's guides, and event coverage. It is owned by Firecrown Media Inc., which distributes subscriptions through Flying Mag and digital editions via Zinio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitplanes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Publishing
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Book Printing (2732)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE)
Keywords
Where Kitplanes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norwalk
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kitplanes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions sold through flyingmag.com platform, with annual and multi-year subscription options
- Digital Edition Access: Digital magazine access through Zinio platform and mobile app
- Advertising: Magazine and website advertising including display ads, sponsored content, and advertiser partnerships
- E-commerce Shop: Links to shop.flyingmag.com for merchandise and related aviation products
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kitplanes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitplanes publishes a print and digital magazine dedicated to homebuilt and experimental aircraft, available via subscription through the Flying Mag platform and delivered digitally through Zinio. The brand extends beyond the magazine with annual buyer's guides covering engines, avionics, propellers, and aircraft, plus a Homebuilder's Portal, Build Series content, and an iOS mobile app serving the homebuilt aviation community.
Product overview
KITPLANES is a print and digital magazine serving as the authoritative resource for homebuilt experimental aircraft enthusiasts. The core offering is the KITPLANES Magazine publication, available in both print and digital formats. The product portfolio includes specialized buyer's guides covering engines, avionics, and propellers for homebuilt aircraft. Additional resources include the Homebuilder's Portal, Build Series articles, and an iOS mobile app. Content spans flight reports, builder spotlights, technical articles, industry news, and aircraft design features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KITPLANES Magazine
- Digital Edition
- Engine Buyer's Guide
- Avionics Buyer's Guide
- Propellers Resource
- Aircraft Buyer's Guide
- Homebuilder's Portal
- Build Series
- iOS Mobile App
Companies that use Kitplanes
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kitplanes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kitplanes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Flying MagcoreKitplanes subscriptions and commerce are managed through the Flying Mag platform (shop.flyingmag.com), which handles payment processing, fulfillment, and customer service for magazine subscriptions and related products.
- ZiniosupportingDigital edition access is provided through Zinio platform, allowing subscribers to read the magazine on digital devices through the kitplanes.zinioapps.com portal.
- Aeropro CZsupportingAeropro CZ of Nitra, Slovakia is featured extensively in editorial coverage about Aerotrek aircraft. The Slovak manufacturer produces Eurofox/Aerotrek aircraft and is the subject of detailed product journalism.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kitplanes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- General Aviation News: GA-focused news publication covering aircraft, regulations, and industry developments. Comparable editorial mix and audience of active pilots, though distributed as a newspaper rather than magazine.
- AVweb: Long-running online general aviation news and editorial site. Directly comparable GA pilot audience and digital-first publishing model, often covering the same experimental aircraft market.
- Flying Magazine: Sister publication under the same Firecrown Media Inc. parent. Covers general aviation broadly with print, digital, and video — directly comparable business model and audience overlap with homebuilt pilots.
- Plane & Pilot: Long-running general aviation enthusiast magazine covering aircraft reviews, pilot gear, and buying guides. Closely comparable consumer GA publishing format and subscription-based monetization.
- EAA Sport Aviation: Official publication of the Experimental Aircraft Association — the membership organization Kitplanes' readers are heavily affiliated with. Most directly comparable audience and content focus in homebuilt/experimental aviation.
Broad incumbents
- AOPA Pilot: Flagship publication of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest GA membership organization. Broader GA audience but overlapping pilot demographic and similar print + digital publishing model.
Regional players
- Pilot Magazine: UK-published pilot magazine covering general aviation and homebuilt aircraft across Europe. Comparable editorial scope and niche focus, but serves a primarily European/UK audience rather than the US market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kitplanes social profiles
Digital presenceKitplanes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitplanes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kitplanes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitplanes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitplanes
What does Kitplanes do?
Kitplanes publishes a print and digital magazine dedicated to homebuilt and experimental aircraft, available via subscription through the Flying Mag platform and delivered digitally through Zinio. The brand extends beyond the magazine with annual buyer's guides covering engines, avionics, propellers, and aircraft, plus a Homebuilder's Portal, Build Series content, and an iOS mobile app serving the homebuilt aviation community.
Is Kitplanes a public or private company?
Kitplanes is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kitplanes founded?
Kitplanes was founded in 1985. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kitplanes based?
Kitplanes is headquartered in Norwalk, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kitplanes make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are digital Edition Access, advertising and E-commerce Shop.
Who are Kitplanes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are General Aviation News, AVweb, Flying Magazine, Plane & Pilot and EAA Sport Aviation. AOPA Pilot is listed as a broad incumbent. Pilot Magazine is listed as a regional player.
Does Kitplanes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitplanes.
What industry is Kitplanes in?
Kitplanes's product category is Aviation Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAJ, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAAAE, Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 2732.