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Firefly full enclosure

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bob.kravis(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:54 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

Does anybody have information about or experience with the full windscreen on a Firefly?  Here in Maine it might make a difference 8 months of the year.  I wrote to Travis and he told me that it is a hingeless installation.  He said you can just lift it and slip into the cockpit - "like lifting the sheet and getting into bed."  That seems odd and a bit awkward.  I would has suspected a hinge along the left edge of the cockpit but what do I know?  From what few pictures I have found on the web, and the YouTube video of the AmeriFly (great paint!) I can't tell very much.  BTW Travis said adds 10 lbs.  Bob

  [quote][b]

herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:02 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

Yep....just attach the .0625 lexan to the left side of the fuselage 

and let it fold over the nose and the rear hoop...  Works very 

well..  On the Right side ...attach a 1//4 inch or so rod that is 

aligned to go through a hole in the tab that the nose cone attaches 

to...that holds/secures  the lexan over the nose cone...Make  some 

sort of latch to batten down the right  rear  side...  On the rear 

hoop...attach the lexan  to the hoop about  three 8ths of the way 

up... on the nose cone end attach the lexan  about 3/4 ths the  way 

up the left side..  Make some sort of of  cable stop to prevent the 

lexan from being blown over the left side... while allowing it to 

come up high enough for entry...Install a prop to hold the windscreen 

open for entering... You will need to attach  aluminum angle on both 

sides running up the left side to prevent the lexan from 

bowing...same for right side.. These should be long enough to just 

fit the nose cone to bow attach point..



   Clear as mud I know...but   my tele prompter is broken....  Herb

At 05:51 PM 2/22/2010, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Does anybody have information about or experience with the full 

windscreen on a Firefly?  Here in Maine it might make a difference 8 

months of the year.  I wrote to Travis and he told me that it is a 

hingeless installation.  He said you can just lift it and slip into 

the cockpit - "like lifting the sheet and getting into bed."  That 

seems odd and a bit awkward.  I would has suspected a hinge along 

the left edge of the cockpit but what do I know?  From what few 

pictures I have found on the web, and the YouTube video of the 

AmeriFly (great paint!) I can't tell very much.  BTW Travis said adds 10 lbs.

Bob

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1490
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:04 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

I got a full enclosure from Kolb for my Firestar and it  included the metal hardware to attach to the top of the cage, a full sheet of  lexan and a alum tube. Basically you cut the lexan to fit over this  hardware  and the nose cone in one piece and is secured on the other side  of the cage. In essence the lexan is secured on the left side of the cage, then  to the alum tube in the middle of the wind screen. You can lift the right side  to get in. I am still using the metal parts that they supplied even though I  have redesigned the lexan to a bit differently. I did not use the alum piece in  the center, even though you will eventually get used to it.

  

 You can manufacture and install a heat collector on the  shroud of the two strokes and pipe the heat into the cage for heat. Check  the archives

 Larry

   

 Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history,  which includes my email address.

 [quote]   ---

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elleryweld(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

I have built a full encloser for a firestar1 & firestar 2  That will not be a problem I have a welding / Machine shop and I am willing to help you out all you have to do is buy the material  

 

     Ellery Batchelder Jr.

 

 

 

   --

herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:50 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

I think all the attachment tabs were on my fuselage... Herb 



 

 At 10:08 PM 2/22/2010, you wrote:

 [quote]I have built a full encloser for a firestar1 & firestar 2  That will not be a problem I have a welding / Machine shop and I am willing to help you out all you have to do is buy the material  



 Ellery Batchelder Jr.

 



 --

Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1669
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

There is a picture of the FSII one piece windshield and rear latch mechanism here:

http://www.bcchapel.org/pages/0003/Latch.html



Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

bob.kravis(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 5:42 am Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

Richard,Thanks for the link.  I had never seen your site.  There's a lot of information there and I look forward to reading every bit of it.

Bob



On Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 8:28 AM, Richard Pike <richard(at)bcchapel.org (richard(at)bcchapel.org)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Pike" <richard(at)bcchapel.org (richard(at)bcchapel.org)>

  

 There is a picture of the FSII one piece windshield and rear latch mechanism here:

 http://www.bcchapel.org/pages/0003/Latch.html

 

 Richard Pike

 MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=287780#287780

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 [b]

joepilot503

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Location: wyoming

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:00 am Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

Here is how I built my enclosure for a original firestar.   I can take both doors off in seconds.  It also has hand holds to grab above head to make easier to get in,  I'm 215 lbs so I need all the help I can get    I attached some pics, hope it helps.  Brian

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John Hauck

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

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

Here is how I built my enclosure for a original firestar.

***************



The original Firestar top  longeron was straight from one end to the other.



I noticed yours is drooped in the front, similar to the FSII.



john hauck

mkIII

Titus, Alabama

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

joepilot503

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Location: wyoming

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

Yes it is, I lowered the sides when I restored it for easier entry.  Also did the wing mods with the alum angle/.035 LE & TE/wing tip mod/lateral bracing.  Here is my site with photos of rebuild you can see all the the mods I did.   www.brianskolbfirestar.comlu.com

John Hauck

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

Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

Yes it is, I lowered the sides when I restored it for easier entry.  Also 

did the wing mods with the alum angle/.035 LE & TE/wing tip mod/lateral 

bracing.  Here is my site with photos of rebuild you can see all the the 

mods I did.   www.brianskolbfirestar.comlu.com



Brian/Gang:



Wish I had had those mods on my FS wings 20 years ago next month.  I might 

still be flying it if I had.



They look good.



john hauck

mkIII

Titus, Alabama

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

rowedenny

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

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:11 am Post subject: Firefly full enclosure

----- 

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 Brian/Gang:



 Wish I had had those mods on my FS wings 20 years ago next month.  I might

 still be flying it if I had.



 They look good.



 john hauck

 mkIII

 Titus, Alabama



 Brian,

That does look like first class work on your Firestar, always a pleasure to 
	


see the work of real craftsman.



Denny Rowe, Mk-3, PA

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

Very nice work and worthwhile mods.



I'm curious about your fuel tank. What are the dimensions and capacity?

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

joepilot503

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Location: wyoming

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

Thanks guys for the compliments.  Thom as far as the dimensions of the tank I would guess about 13 x 16,  It's 8 gal.   Let me know if you need exact dimensions I'll measure it.

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Firefly full enclosure

Exact dimensions not required by me. Just curious how much you could carry in a drum tank.



do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

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