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craddojc(at)yahoo.com
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 Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 12:10 pm Post subject: Questions about Kolbs... |
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Hi everyone,
I have been shopping for a good used UL - I am looking for a legal weight UL that is easy to trailer and assemble in the field.
I used to fly the old Teratorn Tierra, and it never was practical to trailer and assemble in the field. The Kolb Ultrastar and Firefly seem to fit the bill, but I was really interested in what Kolb owners think - I had some pretty basic questions about these:
| Quote: |
Is the Ultrastar or Firefly with a 447 really under 254 lbs dry weight?
Do they fly well? does the landing gear hold up for off-field operation?
Has anyone flown both Ultrastar and Firefly to compare how they handle?
Do you like your Kolb? Any bad things about owning one?
What is the actual dry weight of a Firestar I or II with a 447 or 503? Could it ever be 103 legal?
Thanks in advance for this info, or for any advice you may have...
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Jeff Craddock
Lakewood, CO.
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Questions about Kolbs... |
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Me & my bud are in the process of rebuilding an original 1985 Firestar into a Firefly, so cannot give you any answers at the moment. Will be posting the results of our experiment over the next few months. Our goal is to make it a gen-u-wine Part 103 U/L.
If necessary, we are looking at several Powered Paraglider engines, all of which look promising should the Rotax 447 turn out to be too heavy.
Sorry for the delay, but that's the best we can do.
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
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stuart(at)harnerfarm.net
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 5:11 pm Post subject: Questions about Kolbs... |
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For true Part 103 status the Firefly can meet the requirements with a 447 IF built very carefully. 40 HP is plenty for this little plane.
The Hirth 2702 is almost and exact replacement for the now out of production Rotax 447.
However the Hirth F-23 is about 20 pounds lighter and produces 50 HP! If I were to build another new Firefly I think the F-23 would be my choice. Especially if trying for the 254 pound weight limit. Rumor has it that no one is running around weighing Ultra-lights checking for compliance.
I have no experience with an Ultrastar, someone else will have to answer that one.
I have discovered a large flaw in my Firefly but it is not Kolb’s fault. There is WAY too little time on the tach!
Info on my FR here: Serenity
Questions always welcome.
Stuart
From: owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Craddock
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 2:09 PM
To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Questions about Kolbs...
Hi everyone,
I have been shopping for a good used UL - I am looking for a legal weight UL that is easy to trailer and assemble in the field.
I used to fly the old Teratorn Tierra, and it never was practical to trailer and assemble in the field. The Kolb Ultrastar and Firefly seem to fit the bill, but I was really interested in what Kolb owners think - I had some pretty basic questions about these:
| Quote: |
Is the Ultrastar or Firefly with a 447 really under 254 lbs dry weight?
Do they fly well? does the landing gear hold up for off-field operation?
Has anyone flown both Ultrastar and Firefly to compare how they handle?
Do you like your Kolb? Any bad things about owning one?
What is the actual dry weight of a Firestar I or II with a 447 or 503? Could it ever be 103 legal?
Thanks in advance for this info, or for any advice you may have...
|
Jeff Craddock
Lakewood, CO.
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
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Herbgh(at)nctc.com
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 6:15 pm Post subject: Questions about Kolbs... |
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Ah! North Dakota, palm trees, gentle breezes...That what you are dreaming of Stuart?? 
The Firefly built by Bryan does not get the complete Poly fiber finishing process as I recall? The 4 inch wheels certainly look lost.. Both of my builds ran near 30+ lbs over ..Full enclosure, two full coats of Poly brush and poly spray...and I kept adding color till I was satisfied.. I also used larger rims and tires and mountain bike mechanical brakes.. I also run three blade IVO props which add some extra wt...Two blade Tenn prop is necessary to meet pt 103.
I seem to recall that the early Firefly's used .028 Cro Molly tubing. and that .035 was made standard across the line when the Factory moved to Ky?
No doubt, Jack Hart is the guru when it comes to building a anorexic Firefly... Herb
On 12/30/2016 07:10 PM, Stuart Harner wrote:
| Quote: | <![endif]--> <![endif]-->
For true Part 103 status the Firefly can meet the requirements with a 447 IF built very carefully. 40 HP is plenty for this little plane.
The Hirth 2702 is almost and exact replacement for the now out of production Rotax 447.
However the Hirth F-23 is about 20 pounds lighter and produces 50 HP! If I were to build another new Firefly I think the F-23 would be my choice. Especially if trying for the 254 pound weight limit. Rumor has it that no one is running around weighing Ultra-lights checking for compliance.
I have no experience with an Ultrastar, someone else will have to answer that one.
I have discovered a large flaw in my Firefly but it is not Kolb’s fault. There is WAY too little time on the tach!
Info on my FR here: Serenity
Questions always welcome.
Stuart
From: owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-kolb-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Jeff Craddock
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 2:09 PM
To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com (kolb-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Questions about Kolbs...
Hi everyone,
I have been shopping for a good used UL - I am looking for a legal weight UL that is easy to trailer and assemble in the field.
I used to fly the old Teratorn Tierra, and it never was practical to trailer and assemble in the field. The Kolb Ultrastar and Firefly seem to fit the bill, but I was really interested in what Kolb owners think - I had some pretty basic questions about these:
| Quote: |
Is the Ultrastar or Firefly with a 447 really under 254 lbs dry weight?
Do they fly well? does the landing gear hold up for off-field operation?
Has anyone flown both Ultrastar and Firefly to compare how they handle?
Do you like your Kolb? Any bad things about owning one?
What is the actual dry weight of a Firestar I or II with a 447 or 503? Could it ever be 103 legal?
Thanks in advance for this info, or for any advice you may have...
|
Jeff Craddock
Lakewood, CO.
--
"Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyranny."
Aristotle
"Daddy, tell me...why are you going to the pig farm for a reeducation and what does it mean "A basket of deplorables"? "Are you unreedemable"? And" who is Stalin and Mao Zedong"? Mark Twain's GGgranddaughter...
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| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
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johngilpin
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Posts: 93
Location: 004
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| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:20 pm Post subject: Questions about Kolbs... |
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I've flown and trailered both a FireFly and a FireStar fairly extensively, so have a direct comparison. They both fly really well, and fold/unfold easily.
I trailered and flew the FireFly from 48 airfields in 14 states in 9 months. The story is at http://jgwalkaboutusa.blogspot.com.au/
Then trailered and flew the FireStar from about 100 airfields over three summers. The stories at
http://jgflyingroadtrip2013.blogspot.com.au/
http://jgflyingroadtrip2014.blogspot.com.au/
http://jgflyingroadtrip2015.blogspot.com.au/
These were wonderful adventures, only made possible by the easy folding/trailering features of the Kolbs. I don't know why we don't hear more about other Kolb owners really travelling around with their aircraft. The Kolbs are so easy to fold/unfold and load into a trailer. Took me 25 minutes to fold and load, and same to unfold and ready to fly, always without any help. Did it three times from three different airfields on some days. Much better than travelling around in a larger fixed wing aircraft, cause can travel long distance without the risk of being caught by weather, and when arrived at an airfield have wheels and a dry bed for the night. And doesn't cost much to travel that way, just fuel cost. There are so many fantastic places to fly, as you will see by the photos in the blogs.
There's no way to really make the FireFly 103 legal with a 447. I only know of one, and that was using the additions allowed with floats and stretching the rule for ballistic chute allowance, and having no pod and absolutely minimum everything....
I much preferred the FireStar for an aircraft to fly and land, especially from rough strips. The FireFly, with it's short wings, is like a little sports car, great sporty feel, but doesn't hold off and land as slow as the FireStar. Of course the FireStar doesn't come near the weight for 103, with a 503 weighs probably closer to 340lbs. And it sure is worth having the dual ignition 503 if you're flying 'bush'. As long as it wasn't going to be 103 compliant anyhow, I added a 12 gal fuel tank to get some reasonable range. Also Carlisle turf tires make landings on rough or soft ground much easier on the landing gear. Those mods made it into a really useful and capable aircraft for exploring the country, as you will see.
I resent the 254 lb limit of the 103 rule, cause all it does is allow a very marginal flying machine, just ideal for getting up in the air high enough to get hurt..... The 95.10 ultralight category in Australia allows a generous empty weight of 200kg (440 lbs), which would easily include the FireStar, and makes for a really substantial aircraft. Of course we need a Light Sport license to fly it, but that's also a very sensible requirement for safety.
So as far I was concerned, in my travels with the FireStar without numbers, "If it looks like an ultralight, sounds like an ultralight, and flies like an ultralight, so let it be an ultralight". I flew from about 150 airfields and never was really challenged. One sour old bugger in N Dakota asked a lot of doubting questions and took lots of photos, then when he went home for lunch and probably to check on the internet, I loaded up and disappeared.... Whenever I rolled into an airfield that was occupied, I approached and asked if it was OK to fly my 'ultralight' from there. The answers were nearly always welcoming, "Hey that's cool what you're doin', if you need anything just come and ask...." Only twice was I denied access, once at a private glider strip near Durango with no reason specified, and at Sturgis ND when the big motorcycle rally was on, and he was very apologetic, saying that there were so many fast aircraft ferrying passengers in for the rally that it was too congested for a slow ultralight, and he was correct, I didn't want to fly in that traffic anyhow. And I certainly wasn't the only non compliant 'ultralight' flying in the US, lots of them.... Just carefully follow the air rules and keep out of the way, and don't cause an incident that would trigger an investigation.....
I mostly hunted out the quietest unoccupied airfields that I could find. Before I started out I spotted them on a Google Map like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?msa=0&mid=1M3r-k35k5fYqbOwxanex3pa2m1c&ll=35.50755579512139%2C-105.40188799999999&z=4
Those quiet airfields also made for ideal camping spots, with basic facilities, and peaceful and safe. Vandals seem to avoid airfields.
So, by all means get a Kolb and a trailer and have an adventure!
Cheers,
JG
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
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