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phactor9
Joined: 16 Jun 2011
Posts: 78
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 Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: Firefly: new build? |
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I'm planning my future Firefly build (within a year, hopefully) and wonder if anyone knows:
1. What is the weight of a Firefly newly assembled from the two kits, sans instruments, lighting, covering and engine?
2. What is the minimum HP required for a "safe-feeling" climb rate and 150' liftoff with a 200lb pilot? Will 30HP do it (CRE MZ-34 or Simonini Mini 2S)? What about 33HP / 36HP (Simonini Mini 2 Evo or Mini 3)?
3. What advantages does a 2-blade ground-adjustable prop have over 3-blades? My previous Twinstar of 22 years ago had the 66" wooden 2-blade. So far I've been told "less vibration".
4. How much does the nose cone weigh and what is it made of? As you can see, my Twinstar had no nose, canopy or windshield (pic taken in 1988):
http://phactor.com/i/FredFlintstoneBrakes.jpg
Thx!
Phil H.
[quote][b]
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kolbaircraft
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Posts: 48
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 4:33 am Post subject: Re: Firefly: new build? |
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Phil
The empty weight of the Fire Fly will be 254lbs if built according to the plans.
Kolb always ran the 447 Rotax on the Fire Fly. I would stay with close to 40 HP.
I would recommend the 3 blade IVO ground adjustable prop on the Fire Fly.
The weight of the nose cone could vary a bit as they are hand laid glass.
Travis
Kolb CO.
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jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: Firefly: new build? |
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Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:47:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: Phil <phactor9(at)yahoo.com>
| Quote: | 1. What is the weight of a Firefly newly assembled from the two kits, sans
instruments, lighting, covering and
engine?
|
Rotax 447 (79 hrs) -> 248 pounds
Simonini Victor 1+ (187 hrs) -> 252 pounds
MZ 34 (48 min) -> 213 pounds
| Quote: | 2. What is the minimum HP required for a "safe-feeling" climb rate and 150'
liftoff with a 200lb pilot? Will 30HP do it (CRE MZ-34 or Simonini Mini 2S)?
What about 33HP / 36HP (Simonini Mini 2 Evo or Mini 3)?
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| Quote: | From my flight log: "November 8, 2010 - Flight 749, 18 minutes - 268:13 tt,
MZ 00:48. Just flew around the airport, 52 inch high pitch IVO mounted, top
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rpm was 5,700 or 24 hp. Engine running rich at 1,150 degrees F EGT. Ran
the engine wide open for most of the flight. Burned 0.8 gallons with an
average burn rate of 3.0 gph. Conditions were perfect for a test flight.
New runway is very smooth, long and wide. Very comfortable quiet flight.
Climb out varied between 300 to 500 fpm. Wide open level flight at 5,700
rpm gave 60 mph, Throttled back to 5,000 rpm and the FireFly could maintain
level flight with no problem."
This flight convinced me to boost the belt reduction ratio from 2.34 up to
2.60. One thing I would like to mention here. With this engine running
flat out, I experienced the smoothest and quietest powered flight in the
FireFly. The double engine isolation mounting may be part of the reason.
There was no straining or twitching of the airframe while in flight.
I have just completed the wing brace repairs and will be mounting the new
belt reduction pulley. This may take a few days. The reducer tightening
pivots on a large 20, or so threaded boss. I expect I will have to make
shims to ensure good belt to pulley alignment when the belt is under working
tension.
| Quote: | 3. What advantages does a 2-blade ground-adjustable prop have over 3-blades?
My previous Twinstar of 22 years ago had the 66" wooden 2-blade. So far I've
been told "less vibration".
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I have always used IVO propellers and have run two and three blade
propellers. Three blade IVO was a little quieter than the two blade. I do
not recommend the ultralight IVO propeller, as it appears to be a much less
efficient propeller than the medium IVO for the 55 - 60 mph range.
With the MZ 34 I flew both the ultralight and medium propellers cut close to
the same size and the medium IVO won hands down. The ultralight IVO could
be pitch adjusted to get the MZ 34 up to 6,300 rpm (27hp), but the FireFly
cruise speed was about 40 mph. As shown above, the over pitched medium IVO
adsorbing 24hp pushed the FireFly right along.
Off to the airport.
Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN
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