Kolb Flyer

The Kolb Flyer is an American single seat, high wing, strut-braced, twin-engine, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that was produced in kit form by Kolb Aircraft of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and intended for amateur construction.[1][2]

This article is about the 1970 era single seat ultralight aircraft. For the 2008 Kolb Flyer SS two seat light sport aircraft, see Ultravia Pelican.
Kolb Flyer
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Kolb Aircraft
Designer Homer Kolb
First flight 1970
Introduction 1980
Status Production complete
Produced 1980-82

The Flyer was the first design produced by Kolb Aircraft. Based on the Flyer's success, the company and its successor, New Kolb Aircraft, have gone on to produce over 3000 aircraft as of 2010.[2]

Design and development

The Flyer was a very early ultralight design that first flew in 1970. The first aircraft designed by Homer Kolb, it was ahead of its time and was not produced commercially until 1980, when the ultralight boom hit North America.[1][2]

The Flyer is a very light and simple aircraft with a standard empty weight of only 185 lb (84 kg). It features a completely open cockpit with the pilot exposed to the slipstream. Unusually for this period in aircraft history when most ultralights had two-axis control, the Flyer has standard three-axis controls, including half span ailerons.[1]

When the Flyer was designed there were no suitable lightweight engines available, so the prototype aircraft first fitted Chrysler powerplants. Later these were exchanged for Solo 209 engines producing 11.5 hp (9 kW) each. The small Solo engines make the Flyer a very quiet aircraft in flight.[1]

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.[1][2]

The conventional landing gear consists of sprung steel tubing for the main gear, with a sprung tail skid.[1]

The Flyer was later improved and developed into a single engine aircraft, the Kolb Ultrastar, which succeeded it in production in 1982.[1]

Specifications (Flyer)

Data from Cliche[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
  • Wing area: 160 sq ft (15 m2)
  • Empty weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
  • Gross weight: 392 lb (178 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 1.7 US gallons (6.5 litres)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Solo 209 single cylinder, two-stroke engine, 11.5 hp (8.6 kW) each

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Stall speed: 20 mph (32 km/h, 17 kn)
  • Range: 35 mi (56 km, 30 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,850 ft (2,090 m)
  • g limits: +4/-2.5
  • Maximum glide ratio: 10.8:1 at 27 mph
  • Rate of climb: 250 ft/min (1.3 m/s)

Avionics

  • none
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See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-20. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  2. The New Kolb Aircraft (2010). "30 Years of Distinguished Service!". Retrieved 19 May 2010.
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