Kolb Flyer

Last updated

Kolb Flyer
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Kolb Aircraft
Designer Homer Kolb
First flight1970
Introduction1980
StatusProduction complete
Produced1980-82

The Kolb Flyer is an American single seat, high wing, strut-braced, twin-engine, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced in kit form by Kolb Aircraft of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and intended for amateur construction. [1] [2]

Contents

The Flyer was the first design produced by Kolb Aircraft. Based on the Flyer's success, the company and its successor, New Kolb Aircraft, have gone on to produce over 3000 aircraft as of 2010. [2]

Design and development

The Flyer was a very early ultralight design that first flew in 1970. The first aircraft designed by Homer Kolb, it was ahead of its time and was not produced commercially until 1980, when the ultralight boom hit North America. [1] [2]

The Flyer is a very light and simple aircraft with a standard empty weight of only 185 lb (84 kg). It features a completely open cockpit with the pilot exposed to the slipstream. Unusually for this period in aircraft history when most ultralights had two-axis control, the Flyer has standard three-axis controls, including half span ailerons. [1]

When the Flyer was designed there were no suitable lightweight engines available, so the prototype aircraft first fitted Chrysler powerplants. Later these were exchanged for Solo 209 engines producing 11.5 hp (9 kW) each. The small Solo engines make the Flyer a very quiet aircraft in flight. [1]

The design features a forward fuselage of welded 4130 steel tubing, mated to an aluminum tailboom. The horizontal stabilizer, tail fin and wings are also constructed of riveted aluminum tubing with all flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. [1] [2]

The conventional landing gear consists of sprung steel tubing for the main gear, with a sprung tail skid. [1]

The Flyer was later improved and developed into a single engine aircraft, the Kolb Ultrastar, which succeeded it in production in 1982. [1]

Specifications (Flyer)

Data from Cliche [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

The Beaujon Enduro is a single-seat, American high-wing, pusher configuration ultralight aircraft. The Enduro was introduced in 1978 and remains available as plans from Beaujon Aircraft of Ardmore, Oklahoma.

The Capella Javelin is a family of American open cockpit, high wing, tractor configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that were produced in kit form by Capella Aircraft of Austin, Texas and intended for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolb Firefly</span> American ultralight airplane

The Kolb Firefly is an American open cockpit, single seat, high wing, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction. The aircraft was designed in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolb Firestar</span> Type of aircraft

The Kolb Firestar is a family of American open cockpit, high wing, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced in kit form by Kolb Aircraft of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and intended for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolb Mark III</span> Type of aircraft

The Kolb Mark III is a family of American side-by-side two seater, high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky, and intended for amateur construction.

The Kolb Slingshot is an American tandem two seat, high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft, that was produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction.

The Kolb Kolbra and King Kolbra are a family of American tandem two seater, high wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that are produced in kit form by New Kolb Aircraft of London, Kentucky and intended for amateur construction.

The Kolb Ultrastar is an American single seat, high wing, strut-braced, single engine, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced in kit form by Kolb Aircraft of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and intended for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultravia Pelican</span> Type of aircraft

The Ultravia Pelican is the name given to two series of high-wing, single-engine, tractor configuration ultralight aircraft that were designed by Jean Rene Lepage and produced in kit form for amateur construction by Ultravia Aero International of Mascouche, Quebec and later Gatineau, Quebec.

The Brock Avion is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Ken Brock Manufacturing, a company usually noted for its gyroplanes. The Avion was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Aircore Cadet is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Jim Scott and produced by Aircore Industries in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hovey Delta Bird</span> American ultralight airplane

The Hovey Delta Bird is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Hovey in 1982 and supplied as plans for amateur construction.

The Gemini Hummingbird is a family of American single-seat, twin-engined ultralight aircraft. Designed in 1979 and introduced in 1980, the Hummingbird was created by Ed Sweeney and produced by Gemini International. The aircraft was supplied either assembled and ready to fly, or as a kit for amateur construction.

The Ultra-Efficient Products Invader is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Nick Leighty and Rick Berstling, produced by Ultra-Efficient Products and introduced in 1982.

The Worldwide Ultralite Spitfire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Fred Bell and manufactured by Worldwide Ultralite Industries and later by Don Ecker and Air Magic Ultralights of Houston, Texas. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Ultra-Fab Sundowner, also called the Sundowner Convertible, is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Leinen and produced by Ultra-Fab. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Thor T/A is a Canadian ultralight aircraft that was designed by Thorsten B. Strenger and produced by Thor Air of Weston, Ontario. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Pinaire Ultra-Aire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Pinaire Engineering. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Greenwood Witch is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Marvin Greenwood. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Ultralite Soaring Wizard is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Ultralite Soaring Inc. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-20. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 The New Kolb Aircraft (2010). "30 Years of Distinguished Service!" . Retrieved May 19, 2010.