Amphibious Firestar ultralight, Kolb Firestar on Full Lotus mono float.

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Kolb also had on display a beautiful Firestar on a single Full Lotus 1000 float on amphib gear. The plane was built for a private owner by the factory's R & D department. According to Ray Brown  head of research and development, who has been involved in a number of award winning projects,  construction took about 3 months, working part time. "No special tools are required,  just basic wrenches, sockets, a drill and drill bits." "A number of customers have put their Firestar's on floats, this was the first factory built float installation."

While most float equipped craft suffer in performance due to the extra weight and drag of a float system, according to the factory "the single place Firestar when equipped with a 503 Rotax engine gets just about the same performance as the standard land version equipped with a 447 Rotax."

The unit on display did not have flaps on it but consideration is being given to the installation of "flaperons." In addition the area normally occupied a "buddy seat" was converted to a storage area.

The factory was not able to give specifications for climb and cruise with the floats, but suggested watching Dick Rayhill take off "Dick's plane is the same plane with the same engine, he just about goes vertical on take-off."

The plane had a very unique paint job on it, done by Randy Taber, a Kolb employee, " it took nearly three weeks to complete, with all the masking and unmasking for the colours etc."

For more information contact
The New Kolb Aircraft Company
8375 Russell Dyche Hwy.
London, KY 40741 

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