Kolb Firestar, Kolb Firestar ultralight aircraft, Kolb Firestar ultra lite plane, Ultralight News newsmagazine.
Single place Part 103 ultralights in the United States are defined as single place ultralight aircraft that weigh 254 lbs or less, have a stall speed not more than 24 knots, a top speed of 55 knots, and carry no more than 5 gallons of fuel. To fly a legal Part 103 ultralight aircraft in the United States the pilot does not require a pilot license. Single place aircraft weighing more than 254 lbs. in the U.S. require a pilots license and must be built as experimental, amateur built, homebuilt aircraft. These include weight shift aircraft, more commonly known as trikes, powered parachutes, and powered para-gliders. Single place ultralights in Canada can weigh up to 1200 lbs. and an ultralight pilots license is required to fly them.

 
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Kolb Firestar Index

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Kolb Firestar ultralight, Kolb Firestar ultralight aircraft, Kolb Firestar ultra lite plane, experimental amateur built aircraft.

This baby is one of our favorites! How can you go wrong with excellent (360°) visibility, awesome takeoff and landing performance, and folding wings?

Using the 41-hp Rotax 447 and a two-blade wood prop, the Firestar will launch in a mere 125'—a grass strip is no problem—and will climb at 1000 fpm. Landing requires just 150'. Cruise is listed at 60 mph, top speed is 70 mph. Kolb advertises a sedate 29-mph stall.

Its dimensions are as follows: wingspan, 27'8"; length, 20'3"; and height 5'8". The doors are removable for comfortable flying in the summer.

Kolb also brags that it only takes one person to take it from trailer to the air in ten minutes, no tools necessary. Assembling the kit for the first time will take about 400 hours.

The Firestar is a docile bird with a heart and soul that begs to play... really superior ground handling couples with excellent tailwheel authority to produce one of the best boony-bashing STOL ultralights ever produced. It has a very good control arrangement accessed by a single center-positioned control stick and rudder pedals. The rudder is quite dominant in this aircraft though the ailerons are plagued only moderately by adverse yaw.

The Firestar has a simple stall, little propensity to spinning, and a very docile recovery mode if forced into it. Excellent in-flight visibility makes this a particularly pleasant machine to play with, and in the hands of a somewhat skilled aviator, can be flown quite aggressively.

Still, it's an easy flyer for new ultralight jocks and the bird has few if any known surprises for an unprepared pilot. Oh yes, this bird loves short grass strips... that's where the original design was developed. A very pleasant machine, with pretty mild stability demands.

Kolb Firestar

ZOOM REPORT: The combination of a simple folding wing, excellent STOL capabilities, responsive controls, and a dynamite stability profile make the Firestar one of the best deals in ultralight aviation. By the way, this is a very sweet taildragger that is not at all taxing to those who are still learning the art and craft of conventional gear. It's a great aircraft by any standard. 

USA Aircraft Ratings: Kolb Firestar

  • Design/Engineering: B+. Folding-wing design is spectacular.
  • Ground Handling: B-.
  • Flight Characteristics: B+. A real climber!
  • Company Profile: A-. Very responsible, well-known company.
  • Kit/Plans: B+.
  • Bang for the Buck: A-. Very affordable, lots of performance.
  • Risk Factor: 3.
  • Final Grade: B+. A thoroughly well-designed bird. Highly Recommended.
    The above courtesy of:     http://www.av8r.net/issues/march96/top12.htm 

The Firestar was first introduced in 1993. It features a welded steel fuselage, folding wings, steerable tailwheel, spring steel landing gear, 5 gallon fuel tank and 2 blade wood prop. 

Options include the 503 Rotax engine, brakes, full enclosure, ballistic parachute, instrument, composite prop, strobe light. The craft is available in several quick build kits, partial kits and fully assembled. 

Kolb Firestar on Full Lotus Mono Float

Kolb Firestar ultralight, Kolb Firestar ultralight aircraft,
Kolb Firestar ultra lite plane, experimental amateur built aircraft.

BRS ballistic parachutes systems for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

IVOPROP propellers for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

Rotax 447 engine, sales, service, parts and accessories for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

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Single strobe lights, dual strobe lights, triple strobe lights for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

Stream lined strut fairing for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

K & N airfilters, K and N air filters, K&N air filters

Aircraft brakes, ultralight aircraft brakes, light sport aircraft brakes, hydraulic ultralight and light sport aircraft brakes.

Rotax 582 engine, sales, service, parts and accessories for ultralight and light sport aircraft.

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