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lucien
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM
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 Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:52 am Post subject: Re: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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| John Hauck wrote: |
I find most of your comments on the Kolb List are information you pick up
from other sources, and not necessarily your own personal, hands on
experience. Some of it is good, and some of it is not so good. You come
across as a fair weather flyer, rather than a well rounded all weather VFR
pilot.
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It's unfortunate that you feel that way, but like I said when I rejoined the list, you're nobody that I need to impress as a "well-rounded" anything. So I'm unconcerned about your feelings in this matter and hold them in no regard. Sorry.
I'd suggest talking your worries over with a good friend, mentor or spiritual advisor if they're really keeping you up at night.
As for my comments, I offer what experience I do have a a pilot and owner/op freely; you and anyone else are free to verify anything I say.
In fact, I would suggest that's probably a good idea with not just my offerings, but anything one hears on the Kolb list. Nothing given here should be taken "on faith" as frequently safety is an issue with the topics that are typically under discussion. All our comments, including those from you "well rounded, all weather VFR" types, are worth what we're paying for them. So care is always warranted.
If anything I do offer is verified as wrong, I welcome, and actually want, to be corrected. Unlike you "well rounded VFR" folks with perhaps little or nothing left to learn, I'm always learning - practically every time I go out to the airport, or crawl into my plane - and hold nothing I know about flying and our airplanes as sacred.
As for my commentary on this particular topic, I made it clear my Kolb experience is only with the FS II and may not be completely applicable to the Mark III.
To the OP, yes training in type is probably the #1 best idea. Either way, you'll love the plane. Did I ever mention that I miss my FSII? 
PS: I would suggest that working out your resentments here is starting to get off the topic of flying Kolb aircraft. If you want to continue with this with me for whatever reason, please take it to PM. I'll be more than happy to discuss it there, but let's keep the extraneous stuff off-list. Thanks.
LS
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LS
Titan II SS |
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Dennis.Kirby(at)kirtland.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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<< My question is, Is it easy to learn to fly your Kolb? Mike Welch MkIII >>
Hi, Mike -
I think the general answer is “Yes,” learning to fly a Kolb is easy.
But the necessary caveat is, beware of the unique performance & handling aspects of such a light aircraft, especially in the landing phase of flight. Here’s my experience:
I was the first-flight test pilot of my Mark-3. Like you, I had about 500 hours’ total flight time experience under my belt at the time – all of it in general aviation planes, such as Cherokees, Cessnas, Citabiras and TriPacers. I thought this experience was sufficient. I was wrong.
On my very first landing, I made the mistake of pulling the power to idle on short final, knowing that I had the runway made. I expected the momentum to carry me through a gradual decent for the last 20 feet of altitude, as I was accustomed to in the heavier aircraft I had been flying. Instead, my airspeed bled off very rapidly, and my Mark-3 slowed to its stall speed while still about 8 feet above the runway. Plop. (Though I adamantly refuse to use the term “Kolb quit.” A stall is a stall, no matter what airplane you get too slow in!) Bent both gear legs on that landing. Very embarrassing.
So, within a month, I visited the New Kolb factory in London, KY and spent a weekend getting some dual in the factory Mark-III Xtra with Bryan Milborn and Norm Labhart. I received 3 hours of instruction that weekend, doing just patterns and landings. Absolutely worth the trip!
Dennis Kirby
Mark-III, 912ul, Powerfin-72
Sandia Park, NM
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lcottrell
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:09 am Post subject: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address.
[quote] ---
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mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.co
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:36 am Post subject: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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On my very first landing C I made the mistake of pulling the power to idle on short final C knowing that I had the runway made.
Dennis Kirby
Mark-III C 912ul C Powerfin-72
Sandia Park C NM
Dennis C
Thanks for pointing out this landing tendency. You are in agreement with John H. C as he also says to fly the plane all the way to landing it. Evidently "Kolb quit" should be more aptly named "pilot quit" C since the plane is only going to fly as long as the pilot asks it to.
If the pilot stops flying the plane at a slow airspeed C obviously it C too C will stop flying.
I think I'll head out to my shop and work on mounting the wings. That would be a nice project to get done today. 6" of snow here in Missouri. I'm looking forward to April!!!
Thanks again C Dennis.
Mike Welch
MkIII ---final assembly time
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. [quote][b]
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albertakolbmk3
Joined: 13 Jun 2009
Posts: 69
Location: Innisfail, AB
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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Guys,
I just had to put in my experience because I am a LOW time pilot flying a MKIII. 20 years ago started my Private Pilots license, had 15 hrs including soloing in a cessna 150. Unfortunately things changed and that is as far as I got. Fast-forward to today... I have approx. 15 hrs in ultralights. Started my instruction in a beaver rx550. I did approx. 5 hrs in that, then went to my MKIII which I have the remainder in. I had 5 hrs in the mkIII when I soloed. My instructor even commented on how nice the Kolb flies. My only problem that I encountered with the Kolb (tail-dragger) is landing runout on pavement. I have to really work to keep it on the line, from inexperience I'm sure. Other then that, I really enjoy flying it. I find that landing it is fairly straightforward. I have the standard gear and tire size and find that I usually touch down on the mains but the tail wheel isn't far behind. I've also done a few three point landings. As I mentioned above my, biggest problem is keeping it straight down the line. Not that it's squirrelly just that I overcompensate I guess. I find I always do a fairly steep approach sometimes with flaps sometimes without (I've used as much as 20 deg. ...still getting a feel for it). I'm usually around 55mph over the fence, I flare and with the help of ground affects it settles in nicely. I touchdown around 35 to 40 mph. Hope this helps.
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Tony B.
Kolb MKIII C
Rotax 582
C Gearbox 3.00:1
WD 66" 3 Blade Prop |
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John Hauck
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)
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| Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:01 am Post subject: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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As I mentioned above my, biggest problem i!
| Quote: | s keeping it straight down the line. Not that it's squirrelly just that I
overcompensate I guess. >
--------
Tony B.
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Tony/Gang:
Your problem with rolling out could be caused by weak tail wheel springs. I
have flown a lot of Kolbs that had this problem. I have also seen a lot of
the Kolb kits supplied with tail wheel springs that are not stiff enough.
This would give you a fit on pavement. Effectively, you have very little
tail wheel steering if the tail wheel springs are weak.
Another problem I have encountered when flying off pavement in Kolbs is a
stiff and/or sticking tail wheel pivot. This can give the pilot serious
problems taking off and landing on pavement, especially when flying a Kolb
like mine that has a lot of weight on the tail wheel.
john hauck - Still learning about Kolbs and people.
mkIII
Titus, Alabama
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John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama |
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lucien
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM
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| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Learning to fly a Kolb |
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| mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.co wrote: | On my very first landing C I made the mistake of pulling the power to idle on short final C knowing that I had the runway made.�
Dennis Kirby
Mark-III C 912ul C Powerfin-72
Sandia Park C NM
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I did this a few times in my FS II also... with the predictable results. Don't know about the MarkIII, but the FS II runs out of energy and fast when you pull the power back in the flare (perhaps on mine that was aided by the windmilling prop too).
In calm conditions the very short "hang time" was manageable but when it was windy or lumpy, I found it better to fly it onto the ground and wheel land it. When practicing engine-out landings, I'd do pretty much the same thing but carrying a little extra energy (like the sailplane guys do when it's windy)....
LS
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LS
Titan II SS |
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