Polaris AM-FIB
{{Short description|Italian amphibious ultralight trike}}
{{confused|Polaris FIB}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = AM-FIB | image = Polaris AM-FIB 03.jpg | caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type = Ultralight trike | national origin = Italy | manufacturer = Polaris Motor | designer = | first flight = | introduced = 2003 | retired = | status = temporarily suspended | primary user = | more users = | produced = | number built = | developed from = Polaris FIB | variants with their own articles = }} |
File:Polaris AM-FIB 02.jpg 2004]]
File:Polaris AM-FIB 04.jpg 2004]]
File:Polaris AM-FIB 05.jpg 2004]]
The Polaris AM-FIB ("Amphibious Flying Inflatable Boat") is an Italian amphibious flying boat ultralight trike, that was designed and produced by Polaris Motor of Gubbio. The aircraft was introduced in 2003 and was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 218. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485XBertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 106. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
Design and development
The AM-FIB was developed from the Polaris FIB as a result of customer demand. It was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|406|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, retractable tricycle landing gear mounted to its inflatable boat hull and a single engine in pusher configuration.
The aircraft's single surface wing is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and covered in Dacron sailcloth. The {{convert|11.15|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 582 engine. The main landing gear is extended and retracted with a manual crank, while the nose gear uses a catch-and-rope mechanism.
The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|239|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|406|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|167|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|40|L}} the payload is {{convert|138|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.
Specifications (AM-FIB)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=met
|genhide=
|crew=one
|capacity=one passenger
|length m=
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=11.15
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=19.6
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=239
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=406
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|40|L}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Rotax 582
|eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine
|eng1 kw=48
|eng1 hp=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=composite
|prop dia m=
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|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=80
|max speed mph=
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|cruise speed kmh=70
|cruise speed mph=
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|stall speed kmh=48
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|never exceed speed kmh=
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|ceiling m=
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|climb rate ms=4.5
|climb rate ftmin=
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|wing loading kg/m2=20.7
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}}
References
{{reflist}}