---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 10/29/12: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:50 AM - Re: Newbie Questions? (Richard Pike) 2. 05:25 AM - Re: Newbie Questions? (Pat Ladd) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:50:58 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Newbie Questions? From: "Richard Pike" Never flown a Challenger, but one of the guys in our club bought one several years ago. This guy flies everything for a living, and he described it as one of the worst flying airplanes he had ever flown. Back before I got my MKIII, the wife and I went to a Challenger dealer and tried one on. Unless you are slim and agile, you don't want to be in the back seat. Getting out is a media event. Funny Home Videos media... The MKIII is not inherently stable, and requires active pilotage in all three axis at all times. Learn to fly in it and you will be good at flying anything. It will spoil you for flying other taildraggers, because it is the easiest taildragger to fly imaginable. -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) richard (at) bcchapel(dot)org Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=386182#386182 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:25:13 AM PST US From: "Pat Ladd" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Newbie Questions? Hi Jerry, Hardly anyone on this list will mention the Challenger without spitting. I disagree. I flew the Challenger with a 503 engine very happily for several years.It wandered a bit until the forward extension of the tailfin was fitted. That improved it a lot.It did everything I wanted .A selfstarter would have been nice but I could stand at the side with my left hand on the throttle and pull the cord easily. I never chocked the wheels.The flaperons worked to some extent but were more use in trimming the plane than as flaps. That didn`t matter as she would side slip as though the wings had fallen off and recover immediately on kicking off the slip.The U/c survived unscathed through some really horrific landings/takeoffs from some appalling fields.. Unlike the Kolb which will put a bend in the u/c legs if you drop it in a bit heavily.The tricycle u/c made ground handling a doddle. Unfortunately advancing age made getting in and out of the Challenger a bit difficult and I wanted a 4 stroke engine.and a bit more comfort. I had admired the lines of the Kolb for years.and bought a Mark 3 Xtra with a Jabiru. The visibility is superb and the design well tried. The side by side cockpit with a lid on looks very desirable and comfortable. I trained on a taildragger so the change back from the Challenger was not a major consideration. Macho too.`Real pilots fly taildraggers` but I wish I hadn`t bothered. Trike u/c is superior in every way. No need for toe brakes.No problems taxiing in a crosswind etc. It is nice flying side by side and certainly better for receiving instruction but if you fly mainly solo the decreased frontal area of the Challenger makes for better efficiency.If you are big the cockpit is a bit cramped. The big cockpit of the Kolb leaves plenty of room for maps, food and general storage if you intend doing extended X country trips.The doors make for easy access. Unfortunately because of back problems I can no longer do the ground handling, refuelling, maintenance etc and do not fly at all but if I was forty again I would have a Challenger with a 4 stroke engine fitted. I loved the open cockpit. If I was seventy again I would probably have a Kolb Xtra but only if available with tricyle undercart. This will probably provoke howls of disagreement on the list and will provide material for a new thread for weeks to come. Sift through the comments and you will learn a lot. Maybe even enough to make an informed decision. Stick with the Kolb list whatever you do. They are a great bunch, helpful and knowledgeable. Good luck Pat ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.