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Joining the Club

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Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:59 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Hi All,

Recently I purchased a Kolb MkIII Classic from John Bickham.  Many of you have seen this plane and/or the videos and blogs he has posted.  He did a great job on the plane and when I got in the market for a Kolb, friends pointed me towards his as one of the best around.  He is chest deep in another plane building project at this time.  Although in my younger days I had flown quite a bit and owned a Stinson 108-2, I had not owned or flown a plane for about 28 years.  When I got the bug again I begin to research the kind of plane I wanted and to take some lessons in a Citabria and then in a Cub to see if I could still do it.  I settled on the Kolb MKIII and began looking for a good one while getting some flight time in at the same time.  John and I came to an agreement and he flew the plane down to where I live, here south of Houston.



I had hoped to get some dual in the Kolb or some type of ultralight but finding anyone to provide that proved to be frustrating.  John had given me all the tips he could and I had spend many hours pouring over the many posts here in the lists, reading and viewing the videos.   John had recommended I get several hours in just sitting in the Kolb and getting used to the visual and then doing quite a bit of taxing.  I did that over the course of a week or so, gradually working up to some fairly high speed taxis with the tail up.  Last Thursday I went up in the Cub again and did about 10 landings just to get my confidence up and then Friday morning I went out to my hanger with the idea that if it felt good I would go for it.  It did and I did.  There was no wind and the takeoff was uneventful.  Climbed out at about 55-60 knots, 912 sounding good.  Climbed to 2500' just circling the airfield (no traffic on this little 2000' grass strip).  Settled into cruise to get a good idea of the visual horizon at level flight.  Did some turns and trim adjustments for various speeds and rpm settings.  Worked on descent speeds and practiced leveling out and then went down to 1000' agl and did some turns around a point.    I then returned to the field and did a practice approach with the idea of simulating the landing at a couple of hundred feet.  That went pretty well so I decided to try one for real.  I flew the last part of the pattern at about 50 knots adjusting my descent rate with the throttle.  About 3400rpm seemed to be giving me the gentle descent I wanted for this first attempt.  Turned final and I could see I was a little high.  I came on down a bit and since I was about half way down the field I throttled up and climbed out again after getting down to about 10 feet or so.  Climbed back up into the pattern to try again.  Same basic approach but pulled the throttle off and kept the nose down to hold 50knots.   As I approached  my touchdown point I eased the nose up and added a bit of throttle, felt the wheels touch (probably doing about 40knots here) and pushed the nose forward a bit to keep her down and closed the throttle.  Pulled the tail down after we slowed and we were home.  Not a 'KOLB' landing but I felt pretty good anyway.  I did a little more flying that day and over the weekend and now that I have a few hours and several landings I can say that I enjoy flying this plane more than I have any other.  It seems very forgiving and although I like the Cub it feels very 'loosey goosey' compared to this MKIII.  Ground handling is great and so far (knock on wood) it has been very forgiving of my ham handed efforts.  I will say that I now know what nervous means.  After not soloing anything for almost 30 years and never flying an ultralight of any kind I was definitely there but the Kolb didn't let me down.  Thanks for all the input I got from you guys that helped make this (so far) a successful and fun experience.  



Thanks,

Allan Garvin



Kolb MKIII N308JB

Last edited by Larlaeb on Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:10 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Great write-up, and welcome to the forum.

 

do not archive



                                            Bill Sullivan

                                            Windsor Locks,  Ct.

                                            FS 447



--- On Mon, 6/17/13, Larlaeb <larlaeb(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

From: Larlaeb <larlaeb(at)gmail.com>

Subject: Kolb-List: Joining the Club

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, June 17, 2013, 12:59 PM



--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larlaeb" <[url=/mc/compose?to=larlaeb(at)gmail.com]larlaeb(at)gmail.com[/url]>



Hi All,

Recently I purchased a Kolb MkIII Classic from John Bickham.  Many of you have seen this plane and/or the videos and blogs he has posted.  He  did a great job on the plane and when I got in the market for a Kolb, friends pointed me towards his as one of the best around.  He is chest deep in another plane building project at this time.  Although in my younger days I had flown quite a bit and owned a Stinson 108-2, I had not owned or flown a plane for about 28 years.  When I got the bug again I begin to research the kind of plane I wanted and to take some lessons in a Citabria and then in a Cub to see if I could still do it.  I settled on the Kolb MKIII and began looking for a good one while getting some flight time in at the same time.  John and I came to an agreement and he flew the plane down to where I live, here south of Houston.



I had hoped to get some dual in the Kolb or some type of ultralight but finding anyone to provide that proved to be frustrating.  John had given me all the tips he could and I had spend many hours pouring over the many posts  here in the lists, reading and viewing the videos.   John had recommended I get several hours in just sitting in the Kolb and getting used to the visual and then doing quite a bit of taxing.  I did that over the course of a week or so, gradually working up to some fairly high speed taxis with the tail up.  Last Thursday I went up in the Cub again and did about 10 landings just to get my confidence up and then Friday morning I went out to my hanger with the idea that if it felt good I would go for it.  It did and I did.  There was no wind and the takeoff was uneventful.  Climbed out at about 55-60 knots, 912 sounding good.  Climbed to 2500' just circling the airfield (no traffic on this little 2000' grass strip).  Settled into cruise to get a good idea of!

  the visual horizon at level flight.  Did some turns and trim adjustments for various speeds and rpm settings.  Worked on decent  speeds and practiced leveling out and then went down to 1000' agl and did some turns around a point.    I then returned to the field and did a practice approach with the idea of simulating the landing at a couple of hundred feed.  That went pretty well so I decided to try one for real.  I flew the last part of the pattern at about 50 knots adjusting my decent rate with the throttle.  About 3400rpm seemed to be giving me the gentle decent I wanted for this first attempt.  Turned final and I could see I was a little high.  I came on down a bit and since I was about half way down the field I throttled up and climbed out again after getting down to about 10 feet or so.  Climbed back up into the pattern to try again.  Same basic approach but pulled the throttle off and kept the nose down to hold 50knots.   As I approached  my touchdown point I eased th!

 e nose up and added a bit of  throttle, felt the wheels touch (!

 probably



 doing about 40knots here) and pushed the nose forward a bit to keep her down and closed the throttle.  Pulled the tail down after we slowed and we were home.  Not a 'KOLB' landing but I felt pretty good anyway.  I did a little more flying that day and over the weekend and now that I have a few hours and several landings I can say that I enjoy flying this plane more than I have any other.  It seems very forgiving and although I like the Cub it feels very 'loosey goosey' compared to this MKIII.  Ground handling is great and so far (knock on wood) it has been very forgiving of my ham handed efforts.  I will say that I now know what nervous means.  After not soloing anything for almost 30 years and never flying an ultralight of any kind I was definitely there but the Kolb didn't let me down.  Thanks for all the input I got from you guys that helped make this (so  far) a successful and fun experience.  



Thanks,

Allan Garvin



Kolb MKIII N308JB





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=402878#cs.com/Navigator?Kolb-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navi            a href="http://forums.matronics.com" target="_blank">http://forums.matr            - List Contribution Web Site;                     &nb; http:========================





	
 [quote][b]

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:14 am Post subject: Joining the Club

I know that you will like the plane, it has been to my house and did quite well, although the guy flying it was a bit nervous.  Take the landings slowly, and let yourself get used to it, and things will be more fun than you have ever had. Welcome, 

Larry Cottrell



On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 10:59 AM, Larlaeb <larlaeb(at)gmail.com (larlaeb(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larlaeb" <larlaeb(at)gmail.com (larlaeb(at)gmail.com)>

  

 Hi All,

 Recently I purchased a Kolb MkIII Classic from John Bickham.  Many of you have seen this plane and/or the videos and blogs he has posted.  He did a great job on the plane and when I got in the market for a Kolb, friends pointed me towards his as one of the best around.  He is chest deep in another plane building project at this time.  Although in my younger days I had flown quite a bit and owned a Stinson 108-2, I had not owned or flown a plane for about 28 years.  When I got the bug again I begin to research the kind of plane I wanted and to take some lessons in a Citabria and then in a Cub to see if I could still do it.  I settled on the Kolb MKIII and began looking for a good one while getting some flight time in at the same time.  John and I came to an agreement and he flew the plane down to where I live, here south of Houston.

  

 I had hoped to get some dual in the Kolb or some type of ultralight but finding anyone to provide that proved to be frustrating.  John had given me all the tips he could and I had spend many hours pouring over the many posts here in the lists, reading and viewing the videos.   John had recommended I get several hours in just sitting in the Kolb and getting used to the visual and then doing quite a bit of taxing.  I did that over the course of a week or so, gradually working up to some fairly high speed taxis with the tail up.  Last Thursday I went up in the Cub again and did about 10 landings just to get my confidence up and then Friday morning I went out to my hanger with the idea that if it felt good I would go for it.  It did and I did.  There was no wind and the takeoff was uneventful.  Climbed out at about 55-60 knots, 912 sounding good.  Climbed to 2500' just circling the airfield (no traffic on this little 2000' grass strip).  Settled into cruise to get a good idea of!

    the visual horizon at level flight.  Did some turns and trim adjustments for various speeds and rpm settings.  Worked on decent speeds and practiced leveling out and then went down to 1000' agl and did some turns around a point.    I then returned to the field and did a practice approach with the idea of simulating the landing at a couple of hundred feed.  That went pretty well so I decided to try one for real.  I flew the last part of the pattern at about 50 knots adjusting my decent rate with the throttle.  About 3400rpm seemed to be giving me the gentle decent I wanted for this first attempt.  Turned final and I could see I was a little high.  I came on down a bit and since I was about half way down the field I throttled up and climbed out again after getting down to about 10 feet or so.  Climbed back up into the pattern to try again.  Same basic approach but pulled the throttle off and kept the nose down to hold 50knots.   As I approached  my touchdown point I eased th!

   e nose up and added a bit of throttle, felt the wheels touch (!

  probably

 

  doing about 40knots here) and pushed the nose forward a bit to keep her down and closed the throttle.  Pulled the tail down after we slowed and we were home.  Not a 'KOLB' landing but I felt pretty good anyway.  I did a little more flying that day and over the weekend and now that I have a few hours and several landings I can say that I enjoy flying this plane more than I have any other.  It seems very forgiving and although I like the Cub it feels very 'loosey goosey' compared to this MKIII.  Ground handling is great and so far (knock on wood) it has been very forgiving of my ham handed efforts.  I will say that I now know what nervous means.  After not soloing anything for almost 30 years and never flying an ultralight of any kind I was definitely there but the Kolb didn't let me down.  Thanks for all the input I got from you guys that helped make this (so far) a successful and fun experience.

  

 Thanks,

 Allan Garvin

 

 Kolb MKIII N308JB

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=402878#402878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

 ===========

 http://forums.matronics.com

 ===========

 le, List Admin.

 ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

 ===========

 

 

 

 	




-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 

 

  [quote][b]

_________________
do not archive

Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Joining the Club

Not my best but a record of an early attempt.



https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxdXwdWJkFExSlR5UkhGZmJFN2M/edit

capedavis(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:29 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Lar, great video , it just so happens that I hear that song in my head every time I fly!! Thank you for great video , audio compilation Chris



 

Chris Davis

KXP 503 492 hrs

Glider Pilot

Disabled from crash building Firefly



[quote]     

   From: Larlaeb <larlaeb(at)gmail.com>

 To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com 

 Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 12:00 PM

 Subject: Re: Joining the Club

  

 

--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larlaeb" <larlaeb(at)gmail.com (larlaeb(at)gmail.com)>



Not my best but a record of an early attempt.



https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxdXwdWJkFExSlR5UkhGZmJFN2M/edit





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=402947#402========================http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-Li>

russk50(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:30 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Larlaeb, no need for excuses on that one! It was great. Thanx for sharing



Russ K



do not archive

On Jun 18, 2013, at 12:00 PM, Larlaeb wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Not my best but a record of an early attempt.

 

 https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxdXwdWJkFExSlR5UkhGZmJFN2M/edit

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=402947#402947

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:51 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Nice pics but with all the music in the world to  choose from why use that awful row?.

  

 Flying is a gentle, smooth and quiet experience.  Some Mozart or Puccini, a  Waltz perhaps. Look what 2001 did with The Blue  Danube as the soundtrack to the approach to the Space Station.

 Your soundtrack would be a good backing for a  wrestling match.

  

 I can always tune the sound out I  suppose

  

 More pictures please

  

 Nit picking Old Git

  

 Pat 

   [quote][b]

Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Joining the Club

Well, music is always a matter of taste and I certainly appreciate the good classical selections you propose however I don't agree that flying is 'always' a gentle and quiet experience and I selected something that I thought might help convey the nervous anxiety of my first solo in almost 30 years.   I promise if I do more of these I'll be using some more melodious background stuff.

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:57 am Post subject: Joining the Club

I don't think I would worry about it all that much. Use what you would like and what it means to you. There is no way to please everyone in this crowd.  Like he says there are two buttons on everyone's computer, mute and delete, one of which should make it tolerable. 



I am interested in what you used for a camera and where you mounted it.

 Larry



On Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 6:41 AM, Larlaeb <larlaeb(at)gmail.com (larlaeb(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larlaeb" <larlaeb(at)gmail.com (larlaeb(at)gmail.com)>

  

 Well, music is always a matter of taste and I certainly appreciate the good classical selections you propose however I don't agree that flying is 'always' a gentle and quiet experience and I selected something that I thought might help convey the nervous anxiety of my first solo in almost 30 years.   I promise if I do more of these I'll be using some more melodious background stuff.    

  

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=402982#402982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ===========

 arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

 ===========

 http://forums.matronics.com

 ===========

 le, List Admin.

 ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

 ===========

 

 

 

 	




-- 

If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.

 

 

  [quote][b]

_________________
do not archive

Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Joining the Club

The camera and mount I inherited from John who was experimenting with the best mount and location.  The camera is a Tachyon XC which is fairly old (for this type of technology) but seems to work well and I know they have newer versions available with more bells and whistles.  The mount is on the upper part of the windshield which I probably would not have done but from a camera location perspective is pretty good.  There is a wireless remote that can start and stop the video from inside.  He has four bolts through the windshield with foam padding on both sides of a metal plate and the camera mounts to the plate.  A safety wire passes through the camera latch to hopefully keep the thing out of the prop on a hard landing.  I attached a picture that shows the location.  I can take a closeup and submit it later if you are interested.



Thanks,

Allan

Kolb with 912.JPG

Description:

Notice the camera mount in upper center of the windshield.

Filesize:

412.07 KB

Viewed:

11006 Time(s)

rowedenny

Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 338
Location: Western PA

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:27 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Where are the jury struts on that fine specimen of a Mk3?



Dennis Rowe

Mk 3, N616DR

690L-70, Powerfin

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/kolb_with_912_175.jpg

byoungplumbing(at)gmail.c
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:34 am Post subject: Joining the Club

I donâ€™t know about the plane in the photo....  but my kit bought in 98  had 

stiffer lift struts,  and did not require jury struts.



boyd young

mkiii

do not archive



--

Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:45 am Post subject: Re: Joining the Club

They may have fallen off on my first few landing attempts....   

However I don't recall seeing any on a MKIII other than the one owned by John Hauck.

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:15 am Post subject: Joining the Club

They may have fallen off on my first few landing

attempts....  [Embarassed] However I don't recall seeing any

on a MKIII other than the one owned by John Hauck.

 

Kolbers:



In 1991, jury struts were included in the plans for the

MKIII.



Homer Kolb asked me to put jury struts on my MKIII when we

were building it at the factory in Feb 1991.  Gave me some

4130 stream lined material to make them.  Figured if I put

them on my MKIII that others would follow suit.  It didn't

work.



john h

mkIII

Rock House, Burns Junction, Oregon

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

rowedenny

Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 338
Location: Western PA

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:14 am Post subject: Joining the Club

Okay, I thought they all had them.y kit was a 91 kit that I bought half built in 97, and completed in 03.

I have the streamlined aluminum struts, wouldn't feel comfortable doing pushovers without the jury struts.



Dennis "Skid" Rowe

Mk3, 690L-70, Leechburg, PA



On Jun 19, 2013, at 2:15 PM, "John Hauck" <jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 

 They may have fallen off on my first few landing

 attempts....  [Embarassed] However I don't recall seeing any

 on a MKIII other than the one owned by John Hauck.

 

 

 

 Kolbers:

 

 In 1991, jury struts were included in the plans for the

 MKIII.

 

 Homer Kolb asked me to put jury struts on my MKIII when we

 were building it at the factory in Feb 1991.  Gave me some

 4130 stream lined material to make them.  Figured if I put

 them on my MKIII that others would follow suit.  It didn't

 work.

 

 john h

 mkIII

 Rock House, Burns Junction, Oregon

ceengland7(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:31 am Post subject: Joining the Club

On 06/19/2013 04:50 AM, Pat Ladd wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                              Nice pics but with all the music           in the world to choose from why use that awful row?.

        

       Flying is a gentle, smooth and           quiet experience. Some Mozart or Puccini, a  Waltz perhaps.           Look what 2001 did with The Blue Danube as the soundtrack to           the approach to the Space Station.

       Your soundtrack would be a good           backing for a wrestling match.

        

       I can always tune the sound out I           suppose

        

       More pictures please

        

       Nit picking Old Git

        

       Pat 

       

     	
     So, Pat, if it's got to be classical, what             do you think about Stravinsky?  Ya gotta be careful about dissing another's taste in music (especially if it's by a good-ole-boy rising from                       Mississippi roots). Next thing you                         know, you'll have to defend your choice of                         airplanes, too. A lot of the pilots I know won't                         fly in an experimental, much less some 'ultralite', but if if I had to fly their                               planes, I'd stay home on the couch. I'm pretty sure                                   that the same would apply to musical                                   tastes.

                                   

                                   Charlie

                                     (come on down & visit us at                                     Slobovia Outernational, a                                       45 minute flight from Leland)

                                   

               

                   [quote][b]

pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:58 pm Post subject: Joining the Club

I thought might help convey the nervous anxiety of my first solo in almost 

30 years.>>



It certainly did that.



Congrats on your flight



I look forward to more videos optically and aurally



Cheers



Pat

Larlaeb

Joined: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 75
Location: League City, Texas United States

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Joining the Club

I promise not to keep doing these until I get something more impressive to look at but I went out and did a few more landings this morning and made this to address Pat's concerns (and cause I like it).    



https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxdXwdWJkFExT0VjNkE1M0NIdms/edit

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