---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 12/13/05: 21 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 03:54 AM - thrust line (Ted Cowan) 2. 06:55 AM - Re: Monument Valley 2006 (c b) 3. 07:00 AM - Flat v. Conical Air Filters for the 912 (c b) 4. 07:14 AM - Re: Inspection Repairman Cert (FlyColt45@aol.com) 5. 07:18 AM - Re: Re: Monument Valley 2006 (Larry Bourne) 6. 07:39 AM - Re: Thrust line change & Yaw Correction (Jack B. Hart) 7. 07:48 AM - Re: Flat v. Conical Air Filters for the 912 (John Hauck) 8. 09:45 AM - tail boom/flaperon link bolt bushings (Christopher Armstrong) 9. 09:48 AM - Rotax 670 (flykolb) 10. 10:12 AM - Re: tail boom/flaperon link bolt bushings/prop wash and other stuff (John Hauck) 11. 01:41 PM - NORMS MK3 CRASH (chris davis) 12. 02:21 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (Ed Chmielewski) 13. 02:52 PM - Re: *** SPAM *** NORMS MK3 CRASH (Silver Fern Microlights Ltd) 14. 03:13 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (russ kinne) 15. 03:13 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (Wayne T. McCullough) 16. 04:03 PM - Chris Davis' Recovery (Christopher Armstrong) 17. 04:11 PM - kolbra012 (Paul Petty) 18. 05:02 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (dama) 19. 05:43 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (robert bean) 20. 06:02 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (N27SB@AOL.COM) 21. 07:34 PM - Re: NORMS MK3 CRASH (Don Gherardini) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 03:54:10 AM PST US From: Ted Cowan Subject: Kolb-List: thrust line --> Kolb-List message posted by: Ted Cowan Okay, gotta put my two cents in here too. I am not a tech head like some of you guys with your rulers and scales. I do know something about the Kolb Sling Shot when it comes to the engine alignment. If you mount the 582 on the SS as per the instructions, right on the rubber so to speak, you gotta real horse to ride. I mean, that thing will require so much up elevator to take off and fly you will think your arm is going to break. The obstructions used to recommend raising the rear of the engine off the mounts by some inch or something. Well, my obstructions did not. I learned this from another SS. My engine is mounted on high risers as recommended and supplied by the factory to ensure the wings can be folded. This raising the engine three inches off the saddle really magnified the problem with thrust. After some experimentation of angles, I have the rear of the engine mounted 7/8" higher than the front mounts which makes the rear mounts approx. 3" high and the front mounts 2-1/8" high. I have an extra washer on the left front to help compensate fors torque on takeoff and it makes a world of difference. It may not do much for a long tailed MkIII or FSII but when your boom is short and your wings are barely visible, it makes a world of difference. I must have done something wrong cause this bird flys virtually hands off when the electric/spring elevator trim is set -- which by the way, stays the same for take-off, high speed and low speed. I only change it for the load I am carrying, extra gas, camping equip, etc. I recon my little hick self musta done sometin wrong cause it dont never dive left or behave badly. Oh, ya, by the way, my fuel consumption dropped also by a little. Dont need to be a rocket scientist or college boy to figure out some of this stuff. My opinions. And -- this SHOULD be archived. Ted Cowan, Alabama, SS Driver. Can be seen at our Club web site at: www.homestead.com/southernflyers ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 06:55:24 AM PST US From: "c b" Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Monument Valley 2006 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "c b" All, I plan to attend. Is anyone flying there from California? Chris Banys Mk III 912UL N10FR ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:00:09 AM PST US From: "c b" Subject: Kolb-List: Flat v. Conical Air Filters for the 912 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "c b" Hey all, Anyone have any experience with both the flat & conical K&N air filters on the 912? I have the flat ones right now, they basically present a pie plate to the wind and make the air do a 2 90 degree bends before entering the carbs. The conical ones should allow for more ram air effect. But I wanted to check with you all before I spent the $75. Happy Flying, Chris Banys Mk III 912UL N10FR ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 07:14:50 AM PST US From: FlyColt45@aol.com Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Inspection Repairman Cert --> Kolb-List message posted by: FlyColt45@aol.com All, I also took the Repairman LSA Insp Rating Course here in Lantana, FL last week. Since mine is an amateur built - experimental and I'll will get the repairman's certificate for my plane, I really didn't need this course but wanted to know as much as possible about the inspection side of things. In that regard the course was great for me - since I knew little about good and bad welds, good and bad wood and even found out why Aero thane is much better than auto paint with clear coat. The discourse with the instructors, (Jerry Stradtmiller and Lisa Turner), between and after classes were "gold". I even passed the test! If you are going the LSA route for your Kolb - its a great course to take. Now - on to the Rotax 912 course : ) Jim PA/FL ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:18:26 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Monument Valley 2006 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" Not so far.......I'll be driving from Palm Springs. Do not Archive. Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Building Kolb Mk III N78LB Vamoose www.gogittum.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "c b" Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Monument Valley 2006 > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "c b" > > All, > > I plan to attend. Is anyone flying there from California? > > Chris Banys > Mk III 912UL > N10FR > > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:39:54 AM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Thrust line change & Yaw Correction --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Jack B. Hart" >Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:03:11 -0600 >To: kolb-list@matronics.com >From: Ron Hoyt >Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Thrust line change >Sender: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com >Reply-To: kolb-list@matronics.com >X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at onlyinternet.net > >--> Kolb-List message posted by: Ron Hoyt > >I have been reading the thread with great interest since my mark III >requires a large rudder tab that I dislike. I have been mulling over >the impact of rotating the 912 a couple of degrees in azimuth to >mitigate the yaw that the rudder tab corrects. I tried flexing the >vertical stabilizer to effect a change but it was not noticeable in >flight. Christopher's line of reasoning implies that the moment arm >is small and a substantive change is not likely. Is there any >experience out there with this trimming. > Ron, & Kolbers, I do not know if this is possible with the Mark III, but I rotated my reduction drive assembly off to one side to correct for yaw on my FireFly. This gives an increased moment arm that Chris A. talks about. One other thing, that I have discovered (more like stumbled on) with the FireFly. When I was taking the play out of the aileron control system, I discovered part of the problem was caused by the saddle arrangement that comes down from the bolt through the main tube that exits at the rear of the fuselage. The holes drilled through the saddle arms are too large. This lets the saddle rock from side to side as the stick is displaced from side to side. The only way I could think of to solve this problem was to re drill and ream the holes through the saddle ends and insert bronze flange oil-lite bearings so that the play could be removed. Then I thought, the holes through the fuselage through which the main bolt pass are also oversized. With a loose through bolt, a long tail tube and the tail assembly, their relationship to the wing can change during flight. The saddle arms must rotate on this through bolt, so if one completely tightens the nut the flaperons become fixed. As an experiment, I tightened the nut and went on a test flight. Just by tightening the nut the ball moved a half a diameter toward the center. This indicates a small change up by the fuselage can make a fairly large change in yaw. This is reasonable when one thinks about the relative distances from the cg. It may be useful to place a shim washer or two in between the tube and the inside of the fuselage to shift the position of the tail relative to the wing, etc. Seems low risk, inexpensive, and a fairly simple experiment to do. I purchased some flanged oil-lite bronze bushings to put over the bolt so that I could tightened the through bolt nut completely. But moving has gotten in the way. The bushings are lost in a box and will remain lost until, I can get my shop put together. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 07:48:26 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flat v. Conical Air Filters for the 912 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "John Hauck" | The conical ones should allow for more ram air effect. | | Chris Banys Hi Chris/Gang: The 912 engine was designed as a tractor, rather than a pusher engine. Thus the carbs are actually on the wrong end of the engine for the pusher configuration. Check out an old BMW twin motorcycle. The Bing carb was designed to operate 180 deg from the way we use them on our pushers. The Bing gets its info to adjust the piston and fuel needle up and down from two static pressure sources: 1- One is the float bowl vent tube 2- The other is a port on the lip of the carb In order to do its job correctly, the two static sources need to be reading off the same sheet of music. On the flat air filters there is a plug that can be popped our so you can insert the float bowl vent tube into the air filter. This will have both ports reading same static pressure. Ram air into conical filters is not good, in my opinion. I use some conical fiber glass covers on my conical filters with the flat chamber vent tube inserted into the cover. Works good for me and I do not get the ram air effect to upset the Bing's mind. I had a problem with fuel vapor standoff being blown out of the flat filter on the right side. This kept the right carb a nice brown color from the auto fuel. The covers on the conical filters correct this. The problem is not the same on all installations on Kolbs. It is a matter of how the air flows over the engine. My system was aggrevated by its particular air flow. john h MKIII/912ULS hauck's holler, alabama ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 09:45:05 AM PST US From: "Christopher Armstrong" Subject: Kolb-List: tail boom/flaperon link bolt bushings --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Christopher Armstrong" That is something that bothers me about my Firestar II flaperon arrangement, which is similar to the Firefly's. My plane's flaperons were added custom for me by Dennis S. in 1990. I think the firefly flaperon mechanism was adapted to my plane, or maybe my plane was a rough draft for the firefly. Using some bushings should stiffen the whole flap mechanism and hold the tail boom that much tighter. Certainly getting the tail aligned straight both side to side and vertical twist wise is probably one of the most important parts to trimming up a Kolb. Topher Do not archive ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 09:48:26 AM PST US From: "flykolb" Subject: Kolb-List: Rotax 670 2.32 DATE_IN_FUTURE_12_24 Date: is 12 to 24 hours after Received: date --> Kolb-List message posted by: "flykolb" Kolbers, Does anyone on the list have experience with a rotax 670 on a Mark III? Jim Mark III Michigan ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 10:12:29 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: tail boom/flaperon link bolt bushings/prop wash and other stuff --> Kolb-List message posted by: "John Hauck" | both side to side and vertical twist wise is probably one of the most | important parts to trimming up a Kolb. | | Topher Hi Topher/Gang: Surely you know me well enough now to know I know diddily squat about formulas, graphs, charts, etc. However, have done a little flying over the years in our little Kolbs. No matter how well be build our little airplanes, how well we insure they are as true and correct as possible, we are going to have a couple inherent problems, especially with the MKIII. I believe it has to do with the way the prop wash hits one side of the tail section. Don't even have to see this to understand it. One can feel it. Stand behind a MKIII with the engine running. On one side of the vertical stabilizer it will blow you down. On the other, very little prop blast. To back this up, on long flights especially, the left side of the vertical stab and rudder will have oil and fuel residue spatters coming from the oil tank vent. Also the top of the left horizontal stabilizer. I believe when prop wash is not hitting the tail section uniformly, we are going to have yaw, primarily, and maybe some pitch problems. Not talking about all aircraft, only my MKIII. Thus, the large rudder trim tab to center the trim ball. john h MKIII/912ULS hauck's holler, alabama ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 01:41:12 PM PST US From: "chris davis" Subject: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "chris davis" HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with Norm at the Kolb factory. Rest his soul, I was in the hospital til July 15 2005. I had a tour of the factory in the morn then donnys ears perked up and hr said" here comes our demo pilot" I had just bought a beautiful MK3From Bob Broucis, the day before and sold my firestar KXP two weeks before after 10 years of flying and dreams of the FAA light sport aircraft filling my mind and my heart. I had an excellent year commercial fishing and had been searching for a flyin community for 10 years. I found one and bought a 4 acre site and a new singlewide big enough for my my 85 year old ex pilot Dad and my step mom my wife and myself in O'Brien Florida thats on the Suwannee river in NW Florida , So taking a demo flight in the factories two place seem like a good idea , my last flight in a MK3 was in the late 80s at Sun and Fun with JOHN HAUCK well this decision was the last thing I remember until Jan 5, 2005. I dont remember Norm or the walkaround he did or the check ride and another walkaround that he and I did but my wife does !she was on the ground taking pictures and hoping for a great uneventful flight .I don't remember the fact that we did a touch and go and on the next flight my wife says " she heard and saw us take off and then we went behind the hanger and she thought " we left the area because she couldn't hear the Rotax" but is smart enough to know it was a quiet 4stroke Rotax not like my 503 but the she saw us come around the hanger with the engine out and crash into the end of the runway she was there right after Donny and he said "there both alive " as he ran to the phone , My wife Becky is an R.N.and ran to the planeopen the door and I sat up saying " my back" Norm wasn't moving , she gave him mouth to mouth and he turned from blue to pink as the EMTs arrived got me out and said" he is gone" about Norm. What a great bunch of rescue people they have in London Kentucky, They put me in a helicopter and had me at University of Kentucky Hospital in a matter of minutes I was busted up pretty bad . Six broken ribs broken sternum a crushed ,80% spine my pelvis was broken into 9 pieces .which are now bolted together with 2 seven inch stainless lag bolts I've got two 3\8 stainless rods going down my spine and there is a spot above my tailbone that the two ss rods are boxed together to freeze the place where my spinal cord was crushed I say was because I am learning to walk, I can lift my body which weighed 148 lbs when I got out of the Hosp after 9months ,but now weighs alittle over 190ibs most of it is muscle University of Kentucky Hosp. is a wondrous place , They did a great job on me and they let my wife live in there waiting room for two weeks ,because she didn't want to be away from me ,I was in such bad shape .She is quite a woman 91\2 months in the hosp. she was by my side every day accept one there was 8ft of snow in the driveway caused her to miss a day!The reason am writing is That I had some really excellent lawyers that my wife Hired when they thought I was going to be a quadriplegic or worse they considered suing everyone ,ROTA,KOLB , THE PILOT I said no to them all Rota? we all know the 4 strokes run and the NTSB took the engine to Florida hooked it up to pure fuel and ran it for hours ran like a dream ,KOLB we all know that Kolb's are so well designed that if I had been in another ultrslight type aircraft we would both probly be dead ,crome moly cockpit and all , the PILOT I didn't want to hurt his family , then the insurance company that held the Liability policy that Norm had paid for for years told my lawyers there would be no argument .he paid for it and they would pay me ! no harm to his wife or kids and I am going to make a deposit in the Labhart children's fund after all in htis KOLB family we are all -- brothers& sisters are we not ? one more thing I would like to say the reason I think you all know why I didn't sue KOLB is I still want to build a MKIII and I believe I will . first I need to build a shop and hanger in O'Brien the get a kit and work my way through it . in 3or4or5 years maybe I will fly , MY wife says she won't stop me , WHAT A WIFE she is the reason I live . Thanks for all the good will you all wished us back in November Norm was lucky to have you all for friends . Sorry about the long story vie haven't had a computer fo a while . it would be great to hear from any of you any time . a KOLBER forever Chris davis cape cod ma.& O'Brien Fl. ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 02:21:24 PM PST US From: "Ed Chmielewski" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Ed Chmielewski" Chris, Good to see you're on the road to recovery. "I said no to them all (snip) I am going to make a deposit in the Labhart children's fund" You, sir, are a class act. The best to you and your wife and family!! Ed in JXN MkII/503 ----- Original Message ----- From: "chris davis" Subject: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "chris davis" > > HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with > Norm at > the Kolb factory. ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 02:52:30 PM PST US From: "Silver Fern Microlights Ltd" Subject: Re: *** SPAM *** Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Silver Fern Microlights Ltd" Hey Chris, Great you are doing well. Good to read your story, shame there is not more people around like you, seems like sueing has become a world sport nowdays. I too am lucky to have an understanding wife, I was lucky to survive a serious paragliding accident but she supports me in everything I do. I know what the risks are everytime I leave the ground. I hope you achieve your ambition of building your new Kolb, I have flown dozens of types, and I am a microlight instructor and the Kolb still puts a smile on my face everytime I fly it. All the best brother Kolber Kind Regards Mike Moulai UK/European Kolb Distributor ----- Original Message ----- From: "chris davis" Subject: *** SPAM *** Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "chris davis" > > HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with > Norm at > the Kolb factory. Rest his soul, I was in the hospital til July 15 2005. > I had > a tour of the factory in the morn then donnys ears perked up and hr said" > here > comes our demo pilot" I had just bought a beautiful MK3From Bob Broucis, > the > day before and sold my firestar KXP two weeks before after 10 years of > flying > and dreams of the FAA light sport aircraft filling my mind and my heart. > I had > an excellent year commercial fishing and had been searching for a flyin > community for 10 years. I found one and bought a 4 acre site and a new > singlewide big enough for my my 85 year old ex pilot Dad and my step mom > my wife > and myself in O'Brien Florida thats on the Suwannee river in NW Florida , > So > taking a demo flight in the factories two place seem like a good idea , my > last > flight in a MK3 was in the late 80s at Sun and Fun with JOHN HAUCK well > this > decision was the last thing I remember until Jan 5, 2005. I dont remember > Norm > or the walkaround he did or the check ride and another walkaround that he > and I > did but my wife does !she was on the ground taking pictures and hoping for > a > great uneventful flight .I don't remember the fact that we did a touch > and go > and on the next flight my wife says " she heard and saw us take off and > then we > went behind the hanger and she thought " we left the area because she > couldn't > hear the Rotax" but is smart enough to know it was a quiet 4stroke Rotax > not > like my 503 but the she saw us come around the hanger with the engine out > and > crash into the end of the runway she was there right after Donny and he > said > "there both alive " as he ran to the phone , My wife Becky is an R.N.and > ran to > the planeopen the door and I sat up saying " my back" Norm wasn't > moving , > she gave him mouth to mouth and he turned from blue to pink as the EMTs > arrived > got me out and said" he is gone" about Norm. What a great bunch of rescue > people they have in London Kentucky, They put me in a helicopter and had > me at > University of Kentucky Hospital in a matter of minutes I was busted up > pretty > bad . Six broken ribs broken sternum a crushed ,80% spine my pelvis was > broken > into 9 pieces .which are now bolted together with 2 seven inch > stainless lag > bolts I've got two 3\8 stainless rods going down my spine and there is a > spot > above my tailbone that the two ss rods are boxed together to freeze the > place > where my spinal cord was crushed I say was because I am learning to walk, > I can > lift my body which weighed 148 lbs when I got out of the Hosp after > 9months ,but > now weighs alittle over 190ibs most of it is muscle University of Kentucky > Hosp. is a wondrous place , They did a great job on me and they let my > wife live > in there waiting room for two weeks ,because she didn't want to be away > from me > ,I was in such bad shape .She is quite a woman 91\2 months in the hosp. > she was > by my side every day accept one there was 8ft of snow in the driveway > caused her > to miss a day!The reason am writing is That I had some really excellent > lawyers > that my wife Hired when they thought I was going to be a quadriplegic or > worse > they considered suing everyone ,ROTA,KOLB , THE PILOT I said no to > them all > Rota? we all know the 4 strokes run and the NTSB took the engine to > Florida > hooked it up to pure fuel and ran it for hours ran like a dream ,KOLB we > all > know that Kolb's are so well designed that if I had been in another > ultrslight > type aircraft we would both probly be dead ,crome moly cockpit and all , > the > PILOT I didn't want to hurt his family , then the insurance company that > held > the Liability policy that Norm had paid for for years told my lawyers > there > would be no argument .he paid for it and they would pay me ! no harm to > his wife > or kids and I am going to make a deposit in the Labhart children's fund > after > all in htis KOLB family we are all -- brothers& sisters are we not ? one > more > thing I would like to say the reason I think you all know why I didn't > sue KOLB > is I still want to build a MKIII and I believe I will . first I need to > build > a shop and hanger in O'Brien the get a kit and work my way through it . in > 3or4or5 years maybe I will fly , MY wife says she won't stop me , WHAT A > WIFE > she is the reason I live . Thanks for all the good will you all wished > us back > in November Norm was lucky to have you all for friends . Sorry about the > long > story vie haven't had a computer fo a while . it would be great to hear > from > any of you any time . a KOLBER forever Chris davis cape cod ma.& O'Brien > Fl. > > > ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 03:13:30 PM PST US From: russ kinne Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: russ kinne I for one have seldom met, or even heard of, anyone as downright decent, and as fine a person as Chris Davis. The very best of everything to him and his most amazing wife Fair winds to you both Russ Kinne On Nov 13, 2005, at 4:42 PM, chris davis wrote: > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "chris davis" > > HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with > Norm at > the Kolb factory. Rest his soul, I was in the hospital til July 15 > 2005. I had > a tour of the factory in the morn then donnys ears perked up and hr > said" here > comes our demo pilot" I had just bought a beautiful MK3From Bob > Broucis, the > day before and sold my firestar KXP two weeks before after 10 years of > flying > and dreams of the FAA light sport aircraft filling my mind and my > heart. I had > an excellent year commercial fishing and had been searching for a > flyin > community for 10 years. I found one and bought a 4 acre site and a new > singlewide big enough for my my 85 year old ex pilot Dad and my step > mom my wife > and myself in O'Brien Florida thats on the Suwannee river in NW > Florida , So > taking a demo flight in the factories two place seem like a good idea > , my last > flight in a MK3 was in the late 80s at Sun and Fun with JOHN HAUCK > well this > decision was the last thing I remember until Jan 5, 2005. I dont > remember Norm > or the walkaround he did or the check ride and another walkaround that > he and I > did but my wife does !she was on the ground taking pictures and hoping > for a > great uneventful flight .I don't remember the fact that we did a > touch and go > and on the next flight my wife says " she heard and saw us take off > and then we > went behind the hanger and she thought " we left the area because she > couldn't > hear the Rotax" but is smart enough to know it was a quiet 4stroke > Rotax not > like my 503 but the she saw us come around the hanger with the engine > out and > crash into the end of the runway she was there right after Donny and > he said > "there both alive " as he ran to the phone , My wife Becky is an > R.N.and ran to > the planeopen the door and I sat up saying " my back" Norm wasn't > moving , > she gave him mouth to mouth and he turned from blue to pink as the > EMTs arrived > got me out and said" he is gone" about Norm. What a great bunch of > rescue > people they have in London Kentucky, They put me in a helicopter and > had me at > University of Kentucky Hospital in a matter of minutes I was busted > up pretty > bad . Six broken ribs broken sternum a crushed ,80% spine my pelvis > was broken > into 9 pieces .which are now bolted together with 2 seven inch > stainless lag > bolts I've got two 3\8 stainless rods going down my spine and there > is a spot > above my tailbone that the two ss rods are boxed together to freeze > the place > where my spinal cord was crushed I say was because I am learning to > walk, I can > lift my body which weighed 148 lbs when I got out of the Hosp after > 9months ,but > now weighs alittle over 190ibs most of it is muscle University of > Kentucky > Hosp. is a wondrous place , They did a great job on me and they let my > wife live > in there waiting room for two weeks ,because she didn't want to be > away from me > ,I was in such bad shape .She is quite a woman 91\2 months in the > hosp. she was > by my side every day accept one there was 8ft of snow in the driveway > caused her > to miss a day!The reason am writing is That I had some really > excellent lawyers > that my wife Hired when they thought I was going to be a quadriplegic > or worse > they considered suing everyone ,ROTA,KOLB , THE PILOT I said no to > them all > Rota? we all know the 4 strokes run and the NTSB took the engine to > Florida > hooked it up to pure fuel and ran it for hours ran like a dream ,KOLB > we all > know that Kolb's are so well designed that if I had been in another > ultrslight > type aircraft we would both probly be dead ,crome moly cockpit and all > , the > PILOT I didn't want to hurt his family , then the insurance company > that held > the Liability policy that Norm had paid for for years told my lawyers > there > would be no argument .he paid for it and they would pay me ! no harm > to his wife > or kids and I am going to make a deposit in the Labhart children's > fund after > all in htis KOLB family we are all -- brothers& sisters are we not ? > one more > thing I would like to say the reason I think you all know why I > didn't sue KOLB > is I still want to build a MKIII and I believe I will . first I need > to build > a shop and hanger in O'Brien the get a kit and work my way through it > . in > 3or4or5 years maybe I will fly , MY wife says she won't stop me , WHAT > A WIFE > she is the reason I live . Thanks for all the good will you all > wished us back > in November Norm was lucky to have you all for friends . Sorry about > the long > story vie haven't had a computer fo a while . it would be great to > hear from > any of you any time . a KOLBER forever Chris davis cape cod ma.& > O'Brien Fl. > > ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 03:13:30 PM PST US From: "Wayne T. McCullough" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Wayne T. McCullough" Chris, You do not know me...but to say you are a class act doesn't even come close....I wish you a speedy recovery.....and may God's grace go with with you and your entire family.........Aviators are a special breed of people anyway...... You my friend have always been in our prayers and will continue to do so......maybe I can meet you someday.... Wayne McCullough Kolbra 004 ----- Original Message ----- From: "chris davis" Subject: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "chris davis" > > HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with > Norm at > the Kolb factory. Rest his soul, I was in the hospital til July 15 2005. > I had > a tour of the factory in the morn then donnys ears perked up and hr said" > here > comes our demo pilot" I had just bought a beautiful MK3From Bob Broucis, > the > day before and sold my firestar KXP two weeks before after 10 years of > flying > and dreams of the FAA light sport aircraft filling my mind and my heart. > I had > an excellent year commercial fishing and had been searching for a flyin > community for 10 years. I found one and bought a 4 acre site and a new > singlewide big enough for my my 85 year old ex pilot Dad and my step mom > my wife > and myself in O'Brien Florida thats on the Suwannee river in NW Florida , > So > taking a demo flight in the factories two place seem like a good idea , my > last > flight in a MK3 was in the late 80s at Sun and Fun with JOHN HAUCK well > this > decision was the last thing I remember until Jan 5, 2005. I dont remember > Norm > or the walkaround he did or the check ride and another walkaround that he > and I > did but my wife does !she was on the ground taking pictures and hoping for > a > great uneventful flight .I don't remember the fact that we did a touch > and go > and on the next flight my wife says " she heard and saw us take off and > then we > went behind the hanger and she thought " we left the area because she > couldn't > hear the Rotax" but is smart enough to know it was a quiet 4stroke Rotax > not > like my 503 but the she saw us come around the hanger with the engine out > and > crash into the end of the runway she was there right after Donny and he > said > "there both alive " as he ran to the phone , My wife Becky is an R.N.and > ran to > the planeopen the door and I sat up saying " my back" Norm wasn't > moving , > she gave him mouth to mouth and he turned from blue to pink as the EMTs > arrived > got me out and said" he is gone" about Norm. What a great bunch of rescue > people they have in London Kentucky, They put me in a helicopter and had > me at > University of Kentucky Hospital in a matter of minutes I was busted up > pretty > bad . Six broken ribs broken sternum a crushed ,80% spine my pelvis was > broken > into 9 pieces .which are now bolted together with 2 seven inch > stainless lag > bolts I've got two 3\8 stainless rods going down my spine and there is a > spot > above my tailbone that the two ss rods are boxed together to freeze the > place > where my spinal cord was crushed I say was because I am learning to walk, > I can > lift my body which weighed 148 lbs when I got out of the Hosp after > 9months ,but > now weighs alittle over 190ibs most of it is muscle University of Kentucky > Hosp. is a wondrous place , They did a great job on me and they let my > wife live > in there waiting room for two weeks ,because she didn't want to be away > from me > ,I was in such bad shape .She is quite a woman 91\2 months in the hosp. > she was > by my side every day accept one there was 8ft of snow in the driveway > caused her > to miss a day!The reason am writing is That I had some really excellent > lawyers > that my wife Hired when they thought I was going to be a quadriplegic or > worse > they considered suing everyone ,ROTA,KOLB , THE PILOT I said no to > them all > Rota? we all know the 4 strokes run and the NTSB took the engine to > Florida > hooked it up to pure fuel and ran it for hours ran like a dream ,KOLB we > all > know that Kolb's are so well designed that if I had been in another > ultrslight > type aircraft we would both probly be dead ,crome moly cockpit and all , > the > PILOT I didn't want to hurt his family , then the insurance company that > held > the Liability policy that Norm had paid for for years told my lawyers > there > would be no argument .he paid for it and they would pay me ! no harm to > his wife > or kids and I am going to make a deposit in the Labhart children's fund > after > all in htis KOLB family we are all -- brothers& sisters are we not ? one > more > thing I would like to say the reason I think you all know why I didn't > sue KOLB > is I still want to build a MKIII and I believe I will . first I need to > build > a shop and hanger in O'Brien the get a kit and work my way through it . in > 3or4or5 years maybe I will fly , MY wife says she won't stop me , WHAT A > WIFE > she is the reason I live . Thanks for all the good will you all wished > us back > in November Norm was lucky to have you all for friends . Sorry about the > long > story vie haven't had a computer fo a while . it would be great to hear > from > any of you any time . a KOLBER forever Chris davis cape cod ma.& O'Brien > Fl. > > > ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 04:03:45 PM PST US From: "Christopher Armstrong" Subject: Kolb-List: Chris Davis' Recovery --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Christopher Armstrong" I rarely read anything that inspiring. A real merry Christmas story that was. I wish your demo ride would not have gone wrong but I am very glad to hear that after what must have been a real tough year you are going to be able to get on with your life. And great job on the wife selection... bless her! I swear there is no greater thing then to have the love of a good spouse. Topher ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 04:11:19 PM PST US From: "Paul Petty" Subject: Kolb-List: kolbra012 required 4.6, BAYES_44 -0.00, HTML_MESSAGE 0.25) --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Paul Petty" Hi Kolbers, I second everyone in the hats off to Chris. Class act for sure. Bruce Chestnut is also a class act and I'm sure that he has been there although you rarely hear his name. Rather proud to get the "Hot Box" mounted thanks to Mark German for the bracket. http://www.c-gate.net/~ppetty/photos/PC110002.JPG Also Mark made me really nice brackets for the radiator. Fit perfect! http://www.c-gate.net/~ppetty/photos/PC110005.JPG http://www.c-gate.net/~ppetty/photos/PC110004.JPG Anyone have a photo of the part that connects the throttle cable to the Kolb quadrant? I ordered two from Travis today. Also ordered the cables and few remaining parts from Ronnie at South MS light aircraft. Getting Close gang! Paul Petty Building Ms. Dixie Kolbra/912UL/Warp I.L.D.S. ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 05:02:35 PM PST US From: "dama" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "dama" Thanks for sharing, Chris. We are all behind you and look forward to sharing some airspace with you someday... Kip Atlanta FSII ----- Original Message ----- From: "chris davis" Subject: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 05:43:35 PM PST US From: robert bean Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: robert bean Chris, thanks for the update. Many of us were wondering about your progress. Better check and see if all that stainless doesn't swing a compass. -some's magnetic, some's not :) -BB > > ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 06:02:40 PM PST US From: N27SB@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: N27SB@aol.com In a message dated 12/13/2005 4:43:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, scrounge69@comcast.net writes: > HI LIsters its been a year and a month since I was the passenger with Norm > at > the Kolb factory. Rest his soul, Chris, I would like to thank you for your attitude and your decision in regard to Norm and his family. I worked closely with Norm for a short period of time on a few projects and grew to love him very quickly. He helped so many people over that dangerous hurdle of transition from airplane to UL including myself that nobody really knows the total. I cherish the times that I flew with Norm and will remember them forever. Steve Boetto ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 07:34:57 PM PST US From: "Don Gherardini" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: NORMS MK3 CRASH --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Don Gherardini" Mr. Davis, You sir have my utmost respect. Generally because you have not succombed to the worldly ways of trying to hurt others after you yourself have been hurt. You will recieve your reward for this kind and brotherly attitude I am positive, and likely it will be a crown. Thank you so very much for the update, and the truely inspireing story, and thanks double for a good example set of how we all should live our lives when under the assault of rough going. God Bless you and yours Chris Davis. Don Gherardini FireFly 098 http://www.geocities.com/dagger369th/my_firefly.htm DO NOT ARCHIVE