---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 12/18/13: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 03:17 PM - Re: Tee wagon (Rick Lewis) 2. 05:27 PM - Firefly/introduction (Stuart Harner) 3. 09:06 PM - Re: Firefly/introduction (Larry Cottrell) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 03:17:13 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Tee wagon From: "Rick Lewis" I like it, good job, thanks for the picture.... -------- Rick Lewis (VW Watercooled Engine) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=415831#415831 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:27:35 PM PST US From: "Stuart Harner" Subject: Kolb-List: Firefly/introduction Hello Everyone, My Firefly quick build kit arrived today. Partain Transportation delivered it from the factory. I must say, I don't think there was any way to get it here for less money and less hassle. The kit is excellent in workmanship and there is no way I could have done it as quickly or as well as the factory did. For me the quick build option is definitely the way to go. I would be most interested in hearing from other Firefly owners on any subject from the kit, covering, painting, or engine selection to flying characteristics. A little about me: I learned to fly in an Aeronca LB-65 Pre-War Chief as a teenager. I owned and flew a '63 Piper Cherokee 180 for a little over ten years and loved that airplane! Alas, it became too expensive to keep when my flying habits changed and cross country travel became a thing of the past. I flew the Chief for a few years, but life changes made that more difficult and the cost of owning a hanger and plane kept climbing, although my yearly logbook entries kept shrinking. I finally sold the Chief this spring and started looking for an ulta-light that I could keep and fly nearby. The hangar is gone too, so storage in a trailer was one of my prime requirements. Initially I was very intrigued by the BackYard Flyer. I contacted the company and was very excited to visit with them at Oshkosh, fully prepared to order one while there. I was greatly disappointed by the fact that they did not even bring a partially build unit to show off at Oshkosh. It seemed as though I was intruding on their family vacation by asking questions. I liked the design and the price, but wanted to see one fly and get a good firsthand look at the product. Delivery time was quoted at over a year and there were no versions near me to look at. I left my contact information with the company with promises to put me in touch with other owners so that I may find out more. I never heard a word from them. While walking the booths at Oshkosh, I found Kolb. I knew of them, but not about them. When I discovered they folded up, I got very interested. Visiting with Bryan and Travis was like a breath of fresh air, with a hint of used car salesman thrown in. But what the heck, that is their job. I found them to be friendly, and straight forward. I did not commit at Oshkosh, but thought about the Firefly all the way home and spent an entire day on the internet researching the plane and the company. I could not find any disparaging remarks AT ALL! I bit the bullet and ordered my kit. Kolb has been a delight to work with, and I expect to be in much closer contact with them as I get into the process of finishing the Firefly. Based on my experiences so far, I expect this is going to be fairly easy and lots of fun. I have no worries about getting support from the factory. I have not made an engine decision yet, but will be ordering the covering kit soon. I helped a friend cover and paint his Fisher Classic with Polyfiber products several years ago and was so impressed, I don't think I will use anything else. Anyone want to try and persuade me differently? Please let me hear from you. I am leaning towards the Hirth 2702 with a Warp Drive 3 blade, but again, I want to hear from others. One last note, I really liked the delivery service by Partain. I had not heard of them, but Travis at Kolb made all the arrangements. I could not have gotten the kit here by any other means for less $ and it was hassle free. I would definitely use them again. Thanks to Tony Partain and driver Michael! I have perused the forums and am hoping to start quite a lot of conversation about the Firefly. Thanks for your consideration. Stuart Harner Central North Dakota P.S. Anyone want a partially completed Loehle 5151 Kit? I certainly don't need it anymore, I have a FIREFLY!!! ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:06:33 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Firefly/introduction From: Larry Cottrell It appears that all the experts are busy, so I will at least acknowledge that your question was seen at least by one. First congratulations on your smart choice. I believe that you will love the little bird. However unless there has been some serious changes with Hirth I would do a lot of checking before I committed to it. I have no solid evidence against them, other than the experiences of a couple of friends, which were not all that good. Good luck, Larry On Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 6:27 PM, Stuart Harner wrote : > Hello Everyone, > > > My Firefly quick build kit arrived today. Partain Transportation > delivered it from the factory. I must say, I don=92t think there was any way > to get it here for less money and less hassle. The kit is excellent in > workmanship and there is no way I could have done it as quickly or as wel l > as the factory did. For me the quick build option is definitely the way to > go. > > > I would be most interested in hearing from other Firefly owners on any > subject from the kit, covering, painting, or engine selection to flying > characteristics. > > > A little about me: > > > I learned to fly in an Aeronca LB-65 Pre-War Chief as a teenager. I owne d > and flew a =9263 Piper Cherokee 180 for a little over ten years and loved > that airplane! Alas, it became too expensive to keep when my flying habi ts > changed and cross country travel became a thing of the past. I flew the > Chief for a few years, but life changes made that more difficult and the > cost of owning a hanger and plane kept climbing, although my yearly logbo ok > entries kept shrinking. I finally sold the Chief this spring and started > looking for an ulta-light that I could keep and fly nearby. The hangar i s > gone too, so storage in a trailer was one of my prime requirements. > > > Initially I was very intrigued by the BackYard Flyer. I contacted the > company and was very excited to visit with them at Oshkosh, fully prepare d > to order one while there. I was greatly disappointed by the fact that th ey > did not even bring a partially build unit to show off at Oshkosh. It > seemed as though I was intruding on their family vacation by asking > questions. I liked the design and the price, but wanted to see one fly a nd > get a good firsthand look at the product. Delivery time was quoted at ov er > a year and there were no versions near me to look at. I left my contact > information with the company with promises to put me in touch with other > owners so that I may find out more. I never heard a word from them. > > > While walking the booths at Oshkosh, I found Kolb. I knew of them, but > not about them. When I discovered they folded up, I got very interested. > Visiting with Bryan and Travis was like a breath of fresh air, with a hin t > of used car salesman thrown in. But what the heck, that is their job. I > found them to be friendly, and straight forward. I did not commit at > Oshkosh, but thought about the Firefly all the way home and spent an enti re > day on the internet researching the plane and the company. I could not > find any disparaging remarks AT ALL! I bit the bullet and ordered my kit .. > > > Kolb has been a delight to work with, and I expect to be in much closer > contact with them as I get into the process of finishing the Firefly. > Based on my experiences so far, I expect this is going to be fairly easy > and lots of fun. I have no worries about getting support from the factor y. > > > I have not made an engine decision yet, but will be ordering the covering > kit soon. I helped a friend cover and paint his Fisher Classic with > Polyfiber products several years ago and was so impressed, I don=92t thin k I > will use anything else. Anyone want to try and persuade me differently? > Please let me hear from you. > > > I am leaning towards the Hirth 2702 with a Warp Drive 3 blade, but again, > I want to hear from others. > > > One last note, I really liked the delivery service by Partain. I had not > heard of them, but Travis at Kolb made all the arrangements. I could not > have gotten the kit here by any other means for less $ and it was hassle > free. I would definitely use them again. Thanks to Tony Partain and > driver Michael! > > > I have perused the forums and am hoping to start quite a lot of > conversation about the Firefly. > > > Thanks for your consideration. > > > Stuart Harner > > Central North Dakota > > > P.S. Anyone want a partially completed Loehle 5151 Kit? I certainly > don=92t need it anymore, I have a FIREFLY!!! > > > * > =========== m> ldersbooks.com> .com> com> om/contribution> =========== onics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List> =========== =========== > * > > -- *If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.