Aircraft overview

The Fama Kiss 216 is a two-seat light helicopter from Fama Helicopters of Italy, developed for the European ultralight and amateur-built market rather than the conventional certified helicopter category. Publicly available records do not give a single, consistently cited first-flight date, but the type is associated with Fama’s small-helicopter production from the late 1990s and 2000s. It matters to buyers because it offers true helicopter capability in a compact, low-mass platform, with ownership costs and regulatory treatment that can differ significantly from certified piston helicopters.

Performance & specifications

The Fama Kiss 216 is typically associated with the Rotax 914 UL, a turbocharged four-cylinder piston engine widely used in light sport and ultralight aircraft. Published figures for the model commonly place cruise speed in the region of about 80 to 85 knots, with range around 180 to 200 nautical miles depending on fuel, loading and reserve assumptions. Service ceiling is often quoted at about 10,000 feet. Useful load should be checked aircraft by aircraft, because the practical payload is strongly affected by national ultralight weight limits, installed equipment, fuel quantity and any optional systems.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin is a compact two-place layout, generally with side-by-side seating under a large glazed canopy that gives good external visibility for local flying, training and private use. Controls and instrument placement are simple compared with certified touring helicopters. Buyers should expect VFR-focused avionics rather than integrated suites such as Garmin Perspective or G1000. Typical installations may include conventional flight instruments, engine monitoring, rotor and transmission indications, radio, transponder and, on upgraded aircraft, a portable or panel-mounted GPS. The exact panel standard varies widely because many examples were completed or equipped to individual owner requirements.

Buying & value

On the used market, the Fama Kiss 216 is best viewed as a specialist light helicopter for buyers comfortable with ultralight or kit-built maintenance practices and country-specific operating rules. Pre-purchase review should focus on build documentation, compliance with service information, rotor blade condition, transmission and drive-system history, engine hours, cooling system condition and evidence of regular maintenance by someone familiar with the type. Look closely at empty weight, avionics additions and any modifications, since small helicopters can lose useful payload quickly as equipment is added. Compared with certified two-seat helicopters, the Fama Kiss 216 usually occupies a lower-cost, niche position, with value driven less by total time alone and more by documentation quality, component status, storage conditions and local regulatory acceptability.