Kolb FireFly
ultralight aircraft, Kolb FireFly experimental aircraft, Kolb FireFly experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA)Lightsport Aircraft Pilot News
newsmagazine.
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Lightsport
Aircraft Pilot is a directory of aircraft that generally fit
into what are described as ultralight aircraft, advanced ultralight
aircraft,
light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, experimental
aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt
aircraft in the United States and Canada. These include
weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes,
powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders.
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Kolb FireFly ultralight, experimental
lightsport, amateur built aircraft.
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Manufacturer/www.kolbsport.com
Kolb FireflyThe Kolb gang sure has a way with legal
ultralights... having built several really neat little
machines that perform in a most brazen manner when asked to
strut their stuff. No shrinking violets, these Kolb flyers
are also easy to fly and very undemanding tail draggers. All
in all, Kolb builds fine airplanes.
The Firefly was yet another metal and fabric refinement
of the ultralight model, as dreamed up by the gang at Kolb.
Standing 5.7' tall and 19.5' long, the high-folding-wing
Firefly spreads its wings to 22' when fully deployed. Some
117 sq ft of wing area constitute a wing stressed to +4 and
-2 G.... and then some (I'm not telling you how I know
that). |
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The pusher-motivated Firefly
is powered by the Rotax 447 developing 40 hp. It ha a top
speed of 63 mph, a cruise of 53 mph, and a stall speed of 28
mph. It needs just 150 ft. for takeoff or landing and climbs rather
swiftly at 1000 fpm. The 5 gal fuel supply is good
lot about 130 miles of range and the bird ha a service
ceiling of 13,000'. Weighing in at 250 lbs, the Firefly
has a useful load of 300 lbs and a gross weight of 550 lbs.
The semi-open cockpit is 24" wide offers 38" of headroom and
40" of legroom.
Options include a quick-build kit BRS parachute, floats
and powder coating. Covering and painting of wings and tail
surfaces are available for the Firefly as well.
Z00M REPORT: Voted one of the 12 Best ultralights of
1996 by US Aviator magazine, you know that this has
to be a fun flyer... especially after you hear that
ultralight pioneer Homer Kolb is its father. How can you
argue with a simple folding-wing design, incredible short
takeoff and landing properties, responsive controls, and a
dynamite stability profile? We can't and that is why we like
the ship so much. Particularly forgiving in terms of ground
handling, this is a great machine for knowledgeable taildragger
drivers and is produced by an exceptional company with a
particularly notable history of
 sterling
customer service and great aircraft.
Design/Engineering: B+ Folding wing design is
spectacular.
Ground Handling: B
Flight Characteristics: B+
Kit: B+
Bang for the Buck: A- affordable, lots of performance.
Final Grade: B+ A thoroughly well designed bird. Highly
recommended. |
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Kolb FireFly ultralight -
experimental lightsport aircraft |
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