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The New Kolb Aircraft Company of has a history of innovative aircraft
designs. It was one of the first companies to purposely design an
aircraft that met all of the Part 103 criteria, the FireFly.
This unique little single place isn't just a stripped down, bare
bones aircraft. It comes with flaps, a Rotax 447 engine, folding wings,
and a performance envelope that has to seen to be believed.
The New Kolb Aircraft Company has taken the same approach to the new
Lightsport Aircraft category. For nearly five years now they have
quietly been working to produce a plane to specifically to meet the LSA
requirements.
In 2006 with the purchase of the assets of Canadian Aircraft
Manufacturer Ultravia, they shifted their focus. Using the Ultravia
Pelican as a platform they began design of their latest aircraft the
Kolb Flyer SS which made it's public debut at Airventure 2007.
The Flyer SS features an all composite airframe, with metal wings,
with flaps and standard dual stick and rudder style of controls. With
the elevator operated by a push pull tube, rudder via cables and the
ailerons using a combination of cables and tubes. It has a 48 inch wide
cabin, with very comfortable seats.
According to Izek Therrien "we have considerably reduced the
drag of the Flyer SS compared to the Pelican, which should gives a
normal cruise speed of 110 knots." The 28 gallon fuel tanks should give
just over 5 hours of flight time.
Other major changes from the Pelican design are that the lift strut
has been moved to the rear of the doors, and the doors enlarged for
easier entrance and exit. The flaps have been changed over to Fowler
flaps to provide a more conventional feel to the aircraft when flaps are
deployed.
Smaller changes include the addition of a cargo door allowing easy
access to the area behind the seats, from outside of the plane.
The aircraft on display was the first of the production line and will
be used to prove compliance will the LSA requirements, with flight
testing beginning in early August. While the plane is going through the
program kit production will begin with the first production Kolb Flyer
SS expected to be available in October 2007.
The factory began the paperwork for entrance to the LSA program over
a year and a half ago and expects to have approval by September 2007.
According to Izek Therrien the Flyer SS will only be offered as a ready
to fly aero plane. The reason is that going from the production line kit
to a fly away aircraft is only a day at the factory!
The craft is currently powered by the Rotax 912 S 100 HP, 4 cylinder,
4 stroke engine, but the factory indicates that within a year or so they
are looking at making the Continental line of engines available to
buyers.
For more information contact:
The New Kolb Aircraft Company
8375 Russell Dyche Hwy.
London, KY 40741
606-862-9692
http://www.tnkolbaircraft.com |
