---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 01/19/20: 9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:12 AM - Re: 2 Questions about 2 seat Kolbs (Rick Neilsen) 2. 02:07 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 3. 02:12 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 4. 02:22 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 5. 02:41 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 6. 03:19 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 7. 05:27 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 8. 06:31 PM - Kolb Kolbra.... (Nick Cassara) 9. 06:38 PM - Re: Kolb Kolbra.... (william sullivan) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:12:35 AM PST US From: Rick Neilsen Subject: Re: Kolb-List: 2 Questions about 2 seat Kolbs I fly a MKIIIC with a redrive VW. The cost is likely less than a 2 stroke and maintenance once all sorted out has been oil changes and drive belts every 200 hours. I burn 4 gallons of auto gas per hour. Power is important My direct drive VW flew like a bus but the redrive VW like a sports car. I hit gross max weight well before the plane can't handle the weight. Build it light. Kolbs are great airplanes and the ability to fold is super. My experience has proven you fly most often if you live close to a airport and keep it ready to fly in a hanger. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 4:01 PM Larry Cottrell wrote: > To continue with this line of questions, it all depends on your weight and > the weight of the passenger as well as the particular Kolb as to whether it > is fun or even safe. > > My experience is with only the Mark three with a 582 and one with an 80 HP > engine. I currently have a Firestar II with an HKS, and before that a 503- > and a 447. I generally weigh around 220. I have flown passengers up to 180 > lbs. The areas that I have flown these planes with passengers have all been > above 4000 feet. > > While my passengers might have enjoyed these flights they were not nearly > as much fun for me, as they were right at the edge of safe flight, in my > opinion. In other words it was a lot like having a passenger in a Cessna > 150. You can do it, but you are required a lot of thought, care and > planning. This is all concerning a Firestar II. The plane will do it, but > it requires careful planning, and careful flight, and performance suffers > with each additional pound of weight. > > The Mark 3 handled another passenger OK, but it was about as much fun as > driving a Bus. Just this last year I helped a fella on the list get used to > his Mark 3 with an 80 HP rotax. This was a step up from the 582, but it was > still a bus! A 100 HP engine would alleviate that feeling a lot. The 80 HP > was like a rocket ship with just him in the plane, and with my 220 in the > other seat it was a bus. > > Of course one of my problems with flying two up is the weight of the > aircraft, as well as the lard in my own butt. The other is the type of > flying I like to do as well. If your idea of a good time is to get to > altitude and go from point A to point B none of what I am writing here > weighs that heavily on the problems that I have listed here. The higher you > are the more time you have to deal with the problems of heavy flight. The > higher I am the more bored I feel. > > For whatever reason my current plane weighs in at 400 lbs. Add 60 lbs of > fuel, 220 for the pilot, and you are getting close to the gross limit as > listed by Kolb. Now if you have kept the weight of your craft down and you > are naturally a little "wormy" and desiccated, and the cutie next to you > weighs about 120, we are talking a different result. The real key is the > gross weight of it all. > > You mentioned wind and Wyoming I believe. I have flown mine with as much > as a 30 mph tail wind and I can tell you that it isn't fun even by > yourself. I have found that a 5 mph wind is about all I am capable of > enjoying. The plane can handle it with just me in it, but it is not fun. > > As I have gotten older I have discovered that it is best to buy exactly > what it is that you want the first time and to err on the side of decadence > when ever possible. > > If you are looking for a recommendation as to what you should do > concerning this matter, My recommendation to you is to is get a nice Mark > III with at least a 100 hp. The bigger engine will give you enough power > that you can pretty much carry any passenger within reason and still have > enough of a safety margin that you can relax and enjoy the flight as much > as your passenger. If you do get the urge to show up here at our fall fly > in, that is possible as well. > > Good luck! > > Larry > > > On Sat, Jan 18, 2020 at 12:57 PM Robert Laird > wrote: > >> Just as background, I've flown a Firefly, a Firestar 2, and owned a >> MkIIIC for 10+ years (recently sold). >> >> Re: question #1: Although I never flew a Twinstar, based on your >> question I'd have to say it would be the best of all your options... when >> answering just this question. >> >> Re: question #2: I flew with someone in my MkIIIC about 5% of the time, >> the rest of it was by myself. >> >> If you will only be flying 2-up on rare occasions, the Firestar 2 -- >> while a bit uncomfortable for the passenger -- would be IMO the best option >> for you, using a 503 or 582. >> >> However, if you really want something that will go the distance in terms >> of fun to fly, will handle 2-up easily, and last many, many years, I'd say >> a MkIII with an 80hp Rotax 4-cycle engine would be the best combination. >> >> -- Robert >> >> >> On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 9:47 PM jaydub wrote: >> >>> >>> I have 2 questions for those of you that have flown various Kolb >>> models. I'm looking into many different brands/types of planes but the >>> Kolb folding wing/tail is genius and the thought of keeping it at home >>> without hangar rent is ideal. I'm looking to buy a used Kolb but not sure >>> on the model so I have 2 questions: >>> >>> 1. Which 2 seater with the air cooled smaller rotaxs (447 or 503) work >>> best for low and slow flying with 2 people? I'm not looking at the Kolbra, >>> Markiii series because their powerplants make them a lot more money in the >>> used market and are bit costlier to run and maintain (at least in my mind). >>> >>> 2. I've owned a 2 seat Piper Colt and I found I mostly flew alone 90% of >>> the time. If you have a 2 seat Kolb, how often do you fly with another >>> person? >>> >>> I may be wrong but it seems the Firestar II would be cramped with 2 >>> people. The Twinstar Mkii might work better. I would like to enclose >>> whichever I go with. I might just forget 2 seats and go with a used >>> Firefly and keep it part 103 legal. I'm just looking for thoughts. I do >>> live in windy WY and it looks like all the Kolbs handle wind pretty well. >>> >>> About me, I have over 400 hours experience in a CGS Hawk taildragger >>> with a 447 I built in 91 and sold in 97. I also have about 2400 hours in >>> different GA planes. My Hawk "UL" weighed in fat at 305lbs but was a >>> rocketship with the 447 and loads of fun because it was fairly lightly >>> loaded. I have flown very heavy CGS Hawks (503 and 582 powered) and didn't >>> care for them as they didn't flit and float well and just felt sluggish due >>> to the added weight. I don't mind the aircooled Rotaxs other than they are >>> noisy (and parts will get harder to find now that they stopped making them) >>> but my 447 with a 60x40 Culver wood prop burned 1.5 gph at a slow 55mph >>> cruise. Been too many years to remember the RPMs. I'm looking to regain >>> that type of flying of low, slow, flitting around barely sipping gas, but >>> with the folding wings/tail of the Kolb. >>> >>> Any thoughts are welcome for those of you that have flown many models of >>> the Kolbs. Also, if you know of any project planes (not finished or need >>> refurbished) I'm all ears. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Read this topic online here: >>> >>> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=494243#494243 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ========== >>> br> fts!) >>> r> > rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> >>> http://www.matronics.com/contribution >>> -Matt Dralle, List Admin. >>> ========== >>> -List" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> >>> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List >>> ========== >>> FORUMS - >>> eferrer" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com >>> ========== >>> WIKI - >>> errer" target="_blank">http://wiki.matronics.com >>> ========== >>> b Site - >>> -Matt Dralle, List Admin. >>> rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution >>> ========== >>> >>> >>> >>> > > -- > *The older I get, the less tolerant I am of those who are intolerant of > others.* > > *If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email > address before sending.* > ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 02:07:59 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 02:12:14 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 02:22:17 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 02:41:01 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 03:19:45 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 05:27:23 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 06:31:59 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I dont know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids and adults first flight experiences. I think he has a 100hp, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Kolbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lot of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 06:38:00 PM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kolb Kolbra.... Nick- Your postings are coming through in triplicate. do not archive Bill Sullivan On Sunday, January 19, 2020, 9:32:04 PM EST, Nick Cassara wrote: Kolb Listers, The Kolb Kolbra is the tandem plane for two adults. I don=99t know in Ralph is watching the list right now, but his Mark German built Kolbra is about as nice as they get. Ralph is active in volunteering to giving kids a nd adults =9Cfirst flight=9D experiences. I think he has a 100h p, on his Kolbra. Unfortunately, Kolb did not get chance to produce many Ko lbra kits before the most recent sale of the company, so there are not a lo t of Kolbras in exsistance. Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska Kolbra prototype 607AK =C2- =C2- =C2- =C2- =C2- -Matt Dralle, List Admin. S - WIKI - - =C2- =C2- =C2- =C2- =C2- -Matt Dralle, List Admin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.