Kolb List@Matronics
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Opened for Business - 1st Flight 07/25/99
Side Airscoops-They really work! Well sort of, - they can be shut off in the winter. Mostly I just thought they looked cool. Still climbs like a bat, even when it's July.
Fuselodge covered with some extra curves - just for "looks".
Wings covered, working on how to make the cage come together, got flat sides on front like a Firestar and rounded "rear cage". Thus the "air scoops" were born.
Had to build a jig and weld the front half of cage to fit back half and also: seat, custom gas tank, etc. It's 4 inches wider that a stock Firestar...that's nice-got elbow room!
"Snap-on adjustable" seat - pops out in one so you can get to the wires and cables underneath and "behind" it. Actually office chair from "Office Depot" cut down to fit.
Aileron modification with wrap around ribs and trailing edge material from Aircraft Spruce. Also the infamous X-Hinges that "center" them on the wings. Still got the standard kolb ribs-"need the lift" - wingspan only 27 feet 2 inches, ribs carried out almost to wing tips.
What are "X-Hinges"
Covers with no "bumps" this way. Also have an extra 2 inches of throw in the "bell crank", so when you think "turn left" you have already turned. Have counter balance weights and 2 inch narrower airlerons all the way down.
Adjustable horizontal and vertical stabilizers = no trim tabs; no stick pressure; hands off controls at 5400 RPM. "Nice" on trips, my old one would dive for the ground if I let go of the stick at anything over 4500 RPM. Got lucky, found the right hole the first time!
Tail modification - same as aileron ribs with trailing edge material. Bend radius on tail sections are not the same as plans.
Machine swaged tail wires with "1/2 turnbuckle" swaged in the ends - not as expensive as you think. Got to get the lengths about right the first time, but still adjustable about an inch per side.
BRS-750 standard "boom tube" installation. Don't like the chute shock cords going through the prop. Kevlar bridal will usually take the hit, "I'm told", don't want to find out, in fact never want to even see what color my chute is.
Slide on aluminum gap seal, on and off in two minutes - got to unscrew 2 screws. Takes a while to build the slides though.
Instrument panel, brakes (used push pull cable-no slop on brakes), trottle with choke, remote EIS "red" buttons, key start, etc.
Modified rear frame, with 503, dual carb.
"Rubber Duck antenna" works fine with Delcom radio and doesn't break off if you make one of "those" landing.
Modified tail wheel assembly. Took this picture before I went flying -second flight and it fell-off in the air some where? You might notice that the axle has already slipped half out of the bracket (I didn't). Forgot the cotter pins. No harm done-grass strip. There goes another "grocery cart" wheel and a $20 set of bearings.
My Old Firestar. Born 1989, died June 22, 1997 of spark plug failure. Wrong time, wrong place; RIP. But I saved the nose-cone AND the stick.
In the Fall we go duck hunting!
In the Spring we go "Trike" hunting, they're more fun because they run when they see you coming; besides they fly slower than the ducks and are easier to hit.
Us Possums are ready for the next Yugoslavia.
But we don't get no respect, no respect at all.