Kolb Aircraft, Kolb Firefly wing and tail folding for trailering and storage.
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Kolb owner Bryan Melborn estimates about 8,000 of the company’s various models are flying today, a strong enough figure to make the Tennessee company one of the shining lights in the field of light kit aircraft.
Homer Kolb’s first design emerged in 1970 and was marketed a few years later to enough success that a whole range of models followed.
Going Both Ways At Once
Offered after years of a tandem setup, Kolb’s FireStar II SS is a side-by-side version of the FireStar II.
More recently, the company offered a tricycle gear version, one that retains the tailwheel even if you don’t use it. This gives a landing gear versatility almost unmatched in aviation.
“You can land on three front wheels or use the tailwheel if you wish to explore this difference,” said Melborn.
This dual ability lets you try taildragger landings with greater assurance. The nosewheel remains in its stabilizing position during a landing. Another benefit is greater maneuverability in ground handling.
Bryan expounded that FireStar II delivers “great climb performance with the Hirth 3202 engine but can be fitted with the Rotax 582 engine.”
Hirth is the standard engine for the FireStar II SS mated to a 2.58:1 gear reduction drive swinging a 66″ diameter fixed pitch propeller. A potent climb performance is capped with a top speed of 80 mph.
Rotax’s 582 is a well-regarded two-stroke powerplant that the Austrian company has made for many years. It has a proven track record and 65 horsepower delivers robust performance.
Stall speed is a low 35 mph.
“It takes very little power to maintain minimum flying speed in a FireStar II SS, and slower flying is more enjoyable because engine noise and fuel consumption are at a minimum,” Melborn added.
To Melborn’s performance notes, I will add that handling Kolb aircraft is a wonderful experience.
All Kolb models use traditional cable and push-pull tube controls to yield a solid feel. Controls are light and responsive almost no matter the speed. Half-span ailerons offer good roll authority at higher speeds while still being powerful enough at lower speeds to retain roll control right through stall.
“Optional hydraulic brakes provide for sure stops so the FireStar II SS can be landed and stopped in very tight areas,” noted Melborn.
Differential braking using heel pedals allows for a tighter turning radius, which further improves excellent ground handling.
Maybe you are already one of those 8,000 Kolb owners. What about you?
Previous customers who built the older tandem configuration of FireStar are not left out.
“We use stock FireStar wings and tail feathers, so if you own a FireStar II tandem seat, you can purchase a new cage and a boom tube from Kolb Aircraft and fit your wings, tail feathers, engine, and instruments to it and convert to side by side,” Melborn explained.
Like all Kolb aircraft, the FireStar has folding wings and tail, which allow for easy storage or trailering.
The tail folds up and the wings fold back along the fuselage in about 15 minutes,” Melborn said, noting this can be accomplished by one person. “Everything stores right on the airframe.”
With gross weight of 850 pounds and slow stall speed, a two-place FireStar II is sold as an Experimental Amateur Built aircraft. It qualifies to be flown using a Sport Pilot certificate or your higher certificate exercising the privileges of Sport Pilot.
Putting It All Together
A Kolb FireStar II SS kit with covering fabric will run about $11,000. If you add the Hirth or Rotax engine for $7,000-10,000, plus basic analog instruments, paint and some interior finishing, you could get airborne for around $25,000.
It will take you approximately 350 hours to build the kit, but you can cut that in half by ordering the Factory Quick Build kit offered by Custom Air for about $5,000 more.
If you need extra guidance, Kolb offers - as do most kit makers - a builder assist program. Approved by the FAA, this allows expert help as you build, plus the use of someone else’s facility and tools.
At $25,000-$30,000 for a completed kit and not too much of your time, Kolb’s FireStar II SS (side-by-side) model qualifies as highly affordable.
That FireStar allows you to go both ways - taildragger or tri-gear - makes it an interesting choice in a recreational flying machine.
www.kolbaircraft.com
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