Kolb Firefly
{{Short description|American ultralight airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=Kolb Firefly | image=Kolb Firefly photo 2.jpg | caption=Kolb Firefly }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type=Ultralight aircraft | national origin=United States | manufacturer=New Kolb Aircraft | designer= | first flight= | introduced=1995 | retired= | status=In production | primary user= | more users= | produced= | developed from= Kolb Firestar | variants with their own articles= }} |
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.Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 72. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-35. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 53. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851{{cite web|url = http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=74|title = Firefly - General Description|accessdate = 10 May 2010|last = The New Kolb Aircraft|authorlink = |year = 2010}}Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 123. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
The Firefly is a development of the Kolb Firestar and was designed to comply with the American FAR 103 ultralight regulations, including that category's maximum {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} empty weight.
Design and development
The Firefly was intended to be a FAR 103 legal ultralight that was powered by the heavier {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 447 engine. The {{convert|28|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 277 engine was also an option when the aircraft was first offered.
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. The wings are quick-folding for storage and ground transport.
The factory kit options include a complete cockpit enclosure, brakes, quick build option, Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute and steel tube powder coating.{{cite web|url = http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=75|title = Firefly - Price List|accessdate = 10 May 2010|last = The New Kolb Aircraft|authorlink = |year = 2010}}
Specifications (Firefly)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=19
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=22
|span in=0
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=5
|height in=10
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=117
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=253
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=500
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=5 US gallons (19 litres)
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 447
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=40
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=70
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=60
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=26
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1000
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|avionics=*none
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.aerokml.com/index.php}}
{{Kolb Aircraft}}
Category:1990s United States ultralight aircraft