Is Kolb the best choice
led...@excite.com
Thanking you for all the help in the past with my 83 Flightstar, and now I
am thinking about a purchase of a new Ultralight. The flightstar has served
me well but it is just too damn cold during the winter months and shaking
from the cold while flying is not a vision of fun. So, what am I looking
for?
1. A plane which I can enclose for the cold months, with a heater, and I
can be in relative comfort. I am in Lancaster PA.
2. A plane which has more then needed power and can cruise at 75 easy.
3. A plane that handles like a plane should
4. A plane that has a passenger seat, side by side and not feel cramped
5. A plane that won't take me forever to build
6. A plane with a proven dependable engine
7. A plane which the company is on firm ground, and offers great help thru
the building process, and the plane will retain its worth.
So far, I am looking at the Kolb Mark III Xtra, (with the 912 should I
decide to sell the Vette - one toy for another, but I'm 100 X's safer in the
plane lol...) I know it has to be a fine plane, but boy, it is really
getting costly (I would require the quick build and some options) So I've
come to you all for feedback to help with the decision. As always, I thank
you all for your input and look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards, and safe flying,
Bob Hazen
led...@excite.com
Richard Carlisle
unpredictable stall characteristics and very sloppy flying characteristics.
It had a very unstable feeling to it, almost like it was always on the verge
of a stall. The cockpit was a shoehorn fit for two 200lb guys. Very
uncomfortable flying with a passenger.
I ended up scrapping the plane and using the parts on other projects. This
is the only plane I was ever uncomfortable selling, which is why I scrapped
it.
I've talked to some people who love them, some like me who wouldn't waste
the water to put one out it was on fire and some who would not buy another
one, but eventually got used to the odd flying characteristics.
You should fly before you buy. If you have lots of time in other planes and
are used to the conventional flight characteristics that most planes share,
you may not like the Kolb.
I also didn't care for the "hardware store" pop rivet construction. We
nicknamed it "The Hardware Store Special".
There is also the SP/LSA issue. By the time you fly this plane, the trainer
exemption will be gone, unless by some miracle OMB shoots it down. not that
it would qualify anyway with a 912. In order to fly the plane, you'll need
at least an SP ticket and the plane will need to be registered ELSA. I
mention this because in your post you mentioned purchasing a new
"Ultralight"
Ross
one @home.com Ron
characteristics. I hated the way it flew (Original Firestar), and mentioned
it on the Kolb-List. They nearly kicked me off the list, saying I was
wrong. Just in case, I bought another (Mark-lll) and it flew just as
badly. I had no choice but to think that 'they' had never flown a good
handling plane, so didn't know the difference.
I'm glad to see that I am not alone!
Ron
"Richard Carlisle" <rrc62remov...@nhvt.net> wrote in message
news:BC21D6BB.130C%rrc62remov...@nhvt.net...
oxygenrich
At least one of them - There are several excelient birds out there.
MK III with 912s is excelient!!! for side by side seating.
BIG Difference between a TWINSTAR 503 designed 25 years ago and The
new Kolb Mk III with a 912!!!
Check out Kolb the list http://www.matronics.com/kolb-list - many
times guys are able to visit with some one in there area to see a Bird
1st hand. Lots of MK III Info avalible.
I fly a Firestar II regularly on cross crountys and fly all winter
with full encloser. Cruse with 503 at 75mph. Very pridictible stall.
Very responsive with excelient power. I mountain fly so it a real plus
here crossing the ranges.
My bird flys with in reason like the other 3 axis light planes Ive
flown. Actually much better than most in humble opnion! More
maneuverable and better power. That sweet light ultralite feel - GA is
boring........
Ive personally owned Original Firestar 377, Firestar KXP 503 and
Firestar II 503 enclosed cockpits. Every one was an excelient flyers.
Hands off machines. - All flew very nicely with no bad habits.
Each to his own though. Very personal chioce.
I dont like the Twinstar much. Friend had one for a while.
Have a good day, Matt
Richard Carlisle <rrc62remov...@nhvt.net> wrote in message news:<BC21D6BB.130C%rrc62remov...@nhvt.net>...
XT
to other pilots. They are good airplanes.
http://home.comcast.net/~kolbrapilot/
Richard Carlisle
> BIG Difference between a TWINSTAR 503 designed 25 years ago and The
> new Kolb Mk III with a 912!!!
There is a difference, but not a huge difference. I flew a MarkIII with a
582 and MarkIII Xtra with a 912. They were better than the 503 Twinstar,
but not what I would call a good flying plane.
Ross
Richard Carlisle
> And I thought I was the only Kolber who didn't care for the flight
> characteristics. I hated the way it flew (Original Firestar), and mentioned
> it on the Kolb-List. They nearly kicked me off the list, saying I was
> wrong. Just in case, I bought another (Mark-lll) and it flew just as
> badly. I had no choice but to think that 'they' had never flown a good
> handling plane, so didn't know the difference.
>
> I'm glad to see that I am not alone!
>
I got kicked off the list also. They told me my plane was assembled
improperly and the Kolb was the best plane flying. They also told me that
if I had more flight experience, I would like the Kolb. They told me this
not knowing that at the time I had over 2000 hours in everything from
ultralights to heavy twins.
I would still advise the original poster to get some stick time. The Kolb
is not a plane you want to buy without flying first. It's a big investment
just to find out you'd rather walk than spend one more minute in the plane.
For some reason, there are people who like them, but I know just as many who
feel as we do.
The bad thing about any context specific list, like the Kolb list, is that
you will very rarely hear bad things. Those post are usually deleted and
the poster is usually banned. This gives a false impression that everyone
loves the plane. Even in an open forum like this, people are reluctant to
post a negative comment for fear of starting a pissing contest.
Ross
XT
Robert Dorsey
Ross,
You are being less than honest if you are stating you were kicked off
the list due to your opinions. I haven't searched the archives nor
does the matter mean enough to me to waste my time doing so, but I
have been a member of a few of Matt's lists for years. The only way
you get removed is by being extremely beligerant.
Nothing is edited out either. I have from time to time posted opinions
that didn't conform to the mainstream. If you can state you opinion
with respect, you get respect in return.
You must have a chip on your shoulder about something or just enjoy
trolliing by spreading mistruths.
If you feel you have been insulted about the flight time issue, 2000
hrs in anything other than a Kolb does not translate well. Could it be
that the flight time issue was directed at your Kolb time? I have
found flying "heavy" aircraft hurts my abilities in UL flying.
I guess the only thing I see as being valid in your post is the
obvious, fly one and decide for yourself.
For the original question:
I have a Kolb that I built and enjoy flying. Many others feel the same
way. Some feel that they are a bit twitchy. May be a bit too
responsive for someone with much time in something larger.
Homer designed a good, safe and responsive ultralight. What sold me is
the chromally cage.
Robert
On 08 Jan 2004 10:21:35 EST, Richard Carlisle
Richard Carlisle
emails stating that the Kolb was the best thing flying and the fact that it
flew like crap was all my fault. I was not removed from the list, but it
was very clear that those guys had no intention of letting someone say
anything bad about Kolb. I'm also pretty sure that a few posts were
deleted.
It wasn't worth my time either, so I just never went back.
Ross
Kathi Jo
KJ http://www.eaa.org/benefits/experimenter/index.html
<led...@excite.com> wrote in message
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