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Firestar Versus Firefly

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russ(at)rkiphoto.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: Firestar Versus Firefly

Don G

nice job, nice video, impressive performance of a FF in  25 kn  90*  

xwind

But you fly final & land at idle power? That's what I'd do but I'v e  

heard Kolbs should be  flown  onto the runway.

Any comments?

Russ

On Mar 17, 2008, at 11:55 PM, Don G wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have always believe the FireFly was about the best little  

 airplane at handling crosswinds of anything in the 500 lb  

 class....or maybe even 600 ponders...

 If you want to see from the pilots seat how the Fly works in a 25  

 knot 90 degree wind...take a look at the video on my brothers page  

 here



 http://www.dgmodels.rchomepage.com/index.htm



 its about halfway down....past the models..



 Look close at the very begining at the windsock...standing straight  

 as a board...And the FireFly was completely predictable and no  

 sweat to control at all.



 there were 2 Firestar owners there that day...hanger mates , and  

 they both told me after I was done they would dare fly in this wind...

 And for what its worth, My Kitfox speedster is 700 lbs empty and is  

 way too much of a handful on the ground to fly comfortably in the  

 same conditions. It will do it...but its a thrill....and more risky.



 FireStar land slower, and lifts more though, so for cross  

 country...it might be a better pick. with a 503 it oughtta be  

 almost as fast as a FFly. Hard to say.

 I alway thought if I build another FireFly, I would not cut the  

 wing spar tube and leave it as shipped, which would add almost 2  

 feet of wing.( 20 inchs if I remember right ..not quite a  

 FireStar...but all you would need is to add a rib on each side and  

 you make better use of the materials sent, and The Fly would land a  

 tad slower and haul a bit more without getting mushy...sort of a  

 cross between them.......... Splitting hairs maybe....



 --------

 Don G.

 Central Illinois

 Kitfox IV Speedster

 Luscombe 8A



 http://www.geocities.com/dagger369th/my_firefly.htm





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=170554#170554

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John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:58 am Post subject: Firestar Versus Firefly

> But you fly final & land at idle power? That's what I'd do but I'v e

 	  Quote: 	
		   heard Kolbs should be  flown  onto the runway.

 Any comments?

 Russ


	




Russ:



Depends on whether or not you can fly the Kolb.



I believe Don G made his first landing in a Kolb sitting in my left seat. 

Could be wrong.  Memory is wore out.



I like to fly final with no power.  My thoughts are, if I fly final with 

power and I get used to it, when it goes away, I may come up short.



25 kt cross wind is well beyond the capabilities of my mkIII.  Probably 15 

mph would be more in the ball park for successful landings, using a shot of 

power to help power the rudder and get her straight on touch down.



25 kts and I'll land cross ways on the runway.



I have been in situations where it was impossible to align the aircraft with 

the runway at altitude flying 85 mph IAS.  No way to land at that airport, 

so find another that has a cross wind strip.



Cross wind landings on grass are a piece of cake compared to windy, gusty 

conditions on pavement.  With my wide main gear I can slide more sideways 

than roll forward.



john h

mkIII

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_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

rowedenny

Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 338
Location: Western PA

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject: Firestar Versus Firefly

Russ,

I have never landed my Mk-3 with more than idle power on short final.



Denny Rowe

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Don G

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 156
Location: Central Illinois

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Firestar Versus Firefly

I would say it it like this, when you are learning to fly a Kolb...land with power...and the more you learn the less power you will need...but then...that depends on the wind too...I didnt land at Idle every time...depends on how good I set up on final..If you get low...and set up slow..you will need power...but you can dive it in from unbelievable angles and pull level above the turf and set it right in also...because it does not float. I know this has been said befoe,,,but dang it men,,,it right,,,just FLY it to the ground,,,,dont get close to the runway and then freeze up and wait for the Bird to settle in...drive it all the way...



About the worst thing I can think of about a FireFly is...it handles and preforms so well, it will seriously tempt you to do thing you should NOT do in it.

I cannot speak for other models than the FireFly however...



and Your memory ain't that bad John....my first ride in a Kolb was in yours pard...

Built the plane and had never had even a ride, till you came by showed me the ropes and as I look back, the conversations we had were of more value then the actual ride. (Even the ones about Kolb flight charactistics)



What I will speak of as to the FireFly...it does not take long for that little bird to just become a part of you...and you can do things with it by just "feel". The FireFly has no bad habits...its super predictable..

After a fella figgers out just how fast it gonna drop in and at what speed....just make sure your wheels are really close to the turf when you arrive at that speed...weather you have power or not.



I have flown a ton of different part 103 birds...going all the way back to the begining..late 70's and my first...a weedhopper..

But absolutely none compare with a FireFly. It may be 103 compliant by weight...but it really stand head and shoulders above the rest.  Like the difference between a 175cc moped and a 175cc motocrosser...it just handles real well and performs... Learn it, and you can do things the others cant even dream about. 



Now...I didnt learn the complete envelope without making mistakes...but I never bent more than one gear leg at a time!



I'll tell you something else about learning to fly the FireFly. Before I had mine done...I stood down at Sun-N-Fun the year when  the "other Flagfly" won grandchampion ultralite...(the one that inspired my paintjob) and I watched a fella fly that thing all day long. I said to myself...jeez...that guy must live in that airplane...he is the smoothest stick I have ever seen. I had seen other Kolbs fly locally, and alot of em ploppin em in...staggering them up in the air..but this guy...I just knew he had must have lived in that pretty bird. I watched him real careful and learned an awful lot...I watched the elevators and listened to the engine..watched him shoot dozens and dozens or takeoffs and landings.



WEll..I found out the airplane wasn't even his!...nope..he drove one a those big old MK3 hogs with that huge engine...hmmm...must be something to this I thought..Never did get to talk to him that day though..



about 3 months later...that fella was kind enough to stop by Shelby County airport on his way from OshKosh home...and he gave me a Kolb ride to help me get up the nerve to test fly my just about complete plane.

He stood in my shed and talked over the FireFly and just shared what he knew about these Kolbs. Showed me things on the craft I oughtta know..

I took his advice...because he explained this airplane to me straight forward...no pussy-footing wit the terms..he Just TOLD me how to fly the FireFly..He told me what it would do and how I oughtta handle it. The best advice he gave me...and he didnt just say it passively or non-chalontley, he looked me in the eye..made sure I was paying attention and he said: "Just Fly it to the turf...dont ride it".. I knew exactly what he meant.

That first flight was perfect...so was the next and the next and the next...

And after wearing out one engine on that airplane..I can tell you he was right on everything he said..I was lucky to have had him stop and give me a prep. That day I met John Hauck for the first time.



Did I ever thank you for that day John? I will always be grateful as heck you know...God Bless ya!

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_________________
Don G.
Central Illinois
Kitfox IV Speedster
Luscombe 8A
RV9A

WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:31 am Post subject: Firestar Versus Firefly

Don G.,

  

 Nice post you had there.  This part of your story made me  laugh.  Kinda like comparing a lightweight motorcycle vs. a HOG  (Harley).

   

 Bill  Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon NJ

Do Not  Archive



  

  In a message dated 3/20/2008 11:10:47 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  donghe(at)one-eleven.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  WEll..I    found out the airplane wasn't even his!...nope..he drove one a those big old    MK3 hogs with that huge engine.     

	




Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.

  [quote][b]

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Don G

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 156
Location: Central Illinois

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: Re: Firestar Versus Firefly

Bill...Glad you got a chuckle...

I actually meant It was like comparing a little moped...something that will just barely take you along..(Like many 103 birds)..to a well handling dirtbike that will really perform!

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_________________
Don G.
Central Illinois
Kitfox IV Speedster
Luscombe 8A
RV9A

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