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Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

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Dennis Thate

Joined: 18 Nov 2010
Posts: 362

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:27 pm Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

For trip planning purposes I'm curious about what kind of fuel consumption I can expect to get with my 503 DCDI Rotax on my 2006 Kolb Firestar II.  I typically will be at gross weight and at 2000 ' msl.

Ball Park Figures

Thanks 

Dennis

_________________
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern

donaho1(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:45 am Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

Dennis, I burn between 3 and 3 1/2 gal per hour. My cruise RPM is 

5600 to 5800. Lanny  FSII  503 DCDI

Thom Riddle

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 7:38 am Post subject: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

In the range of 15-18 mpg with no winds for a 2-stroke Firestar depending upon how hard you push it.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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

Arksey(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:26 am Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

I use cruise RPM of 6000 and always use 4 gal per hour for my fuel  consumption....have not run out of fuel yet....in rough air I slow it down,  makes the ride more enjoyable and less stress on the plane.....Jim Swan

  Note: have put the plane away for the winter, was going to fly it on  good days but had change of plans,  looks like I may have them put me  in a replacement knee this winter..

  

 Do not  archive

FIRESTAR ll 503 Michigan jswan

GPS FOR MY RUNWAY N 42 deg 28.581  W084deg 44.825

ph. 517-663-8488

  [quote][b]

John Hauck

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

In the range of 15-18 mpg with no winds for a 2-stroke Firestar depending 

upon how hard you push it.



--------

Thom Riddle

Thom R/Gang:



How does the above convert to GPH?



john h

mkIII

Titus, Alabama

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

Thom Riddle

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

Depends upon how fast you are going. He was asking about TRIP PLANNING so I figured I'd give a number that would give some idea of how FAR he might get on a gallon. He did not ask about endurance which is what GPH tells us.



In any case, as you know, there are too many variables to give precise numbers for any of this.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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

John Hauck

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

I use cruise RPM of 6000 and always use 4  gal per hour for my fuel consumption....have not run out of fuel yet....in rough  air I slow it down, makes the ride more enjoyable and less stress on the  plane.....Jim Swan

  Note: have put the plane away for the winter, was going to fly it on  good days but had change of plans,  looks like I may have them put me  in a replacement knee this winter..

  

  jswan

 

  

 Jim S/Gang:

  

 Always glad to see Jim posting to the Kolb List.

  

 I am going to make a special effort to fly to Michigan this  coming year.  I have not been up that way since I met John Williamson St  Ignace Airport, Michigan, in 2003, on our way to Oshkosh.

  

 It was on that 2003 flight I flew over Rick N's old house and  airstrip, but alas, no one was home.  That night I camped out on Snuffy  Smith's airstrip a couple hundred miles NE, I think.  Alas again.   Snuffy was not home either.  The next night I spent in Gaylord,  MI, with my Army Instructor Pilot that soloed me in the TH-55 helicopter at  10.0 hours, in 1968.  This young CW2 was my hero.

  

 john h

 mkIII

 Titus, Alabama

   [quote][b]

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

John Hauck

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:45 pm Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

Depends upon how fast you are going. He was asking about TRIP PLANNING so I 

figured I'd give a number that would give some idea of how FAR he might get 

on a gallon. He did not ask about endurance which is what GPH tells us.



In any case, as you know, there are too many variables to give precise 

numbers for any of this.



--------

Thom Riddle

Thom R/Gang:



MPG in an airplane means nothing.  Works good on the ground though.



GPH and airspeed based on current winds gives me how far I can fly.



The air is seldom static.



john h

mkIII

Titus, Alabama

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

Thom Riddle

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

We can argue this all day long if you want, John. But it IS meaningful to me. 



If I know the MPG in static air and know my headwind or tailwind component I can easily determine in my head how far over the ground I can go. With GPH all we know is how long we can stay in the air. That plus knowing your ground speed and a little bit of math we can come up with the same result. Neither is meaningless. Just a different way to approach it. 



Plus it also gives you a relative efficiency number for comparing aircraft, if anyone cares to do that. In static air my normal cruise speed of 85 mph and 3.75 gph gives me about 22.5 mpg. Your MkIII at 85 mph and 5 GPH yields about 17 MPG in static air.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

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

John Hauck

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

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

We can argue this all day long if you want, John. But it IS meaningful to 

me.



If I know the MPG in static air and know my headwind or tailwind component I 

can easily determine in my head how far over the ground I can go. With GPH 

all we know is how long we can stay in the air. That plus knowing your 

ground speed and a little bit of math we can come up with the same result. 

Neither is meaningless. Just a different way to approach it.



Plus it also gives you a relative efficiency number for comparing aircraft, 

if anyone cares to do that. In static air my normal cruise speed of 85 mph 

and 3.75 gph gives me about 22.5 mpg. Your MkIII at 85 mph and 5 GPH yields 

about 17 MPG in static air.



--------

Thom Riddle

Thom R/Gang:



I am sure your system of mpg works for you, but not for me.  I never heard 

the term mpg in military or civilian flight training I have attended.  It 

has been a long time since I have been to school, so maybe current aviation 

is not using GPH, but MPG now.



Let me know when you find some static air.  



Most of us are flying with GPS now days.  Mine is an old Garmin 196, but it 

does give me constantly updated info like "time to my next waypoint", etc. 

Much better system than the old E6B.  I don't need to know wind speed or 

direction, at my altitude, and where I am located.  Knowing my accurate fuel 

burn, I know immediately how much fuel and time it will take me to get to my 

next.



MPG is for automobiles.  GPH is for aircraft.



john h

mkIII

Titus, Alabama

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

zharvey(at)bentoncountyca
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:54 am Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

John, not to beat a dead horse to death but after 40 odd years being around 

airplanes  in Alaska and other out of the way places, I too have never seen 

MPH associated with airplanes.  I couldn't imagine  planning a trip using 

MPH.  What you had better think about is TIME you can stay airborn.

 I'm still looking for that static air.

Gene



--------------------------------------------------

From: "John Hauck" <jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com>

Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 4:19 PM

To: <kolb-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 We can argue this all day long if you want, John. But it IS meaningful to

 me.



 If I know the MPG in static air and know my headwind or tailwind component 

 I

 can easily determine in my head how far over the ground I can go. With GPH

 all we know is how long we can stay in the air. That plus knowing your

 ground speed and a little bit of math we can come up with the same result.

 Neither is meaningless. Just a different way to approach it.



 Plus it also gives you a relative efficiency number for comparing 

 aircraft,

 if anyone cares to do that. In static air my normal cruise speed of 85 mph

 and 3.75 gph gives me about 22.5 mpg. Your MkIII at 85 mph and 5 GPH 

 yields

 about 17 MPG in static air.



 --------

 Thom Riddle

 Thom R/Gang:



 I am sure your system of mpg works for you, but not for me.  I never heard

 the term mpg in military or civilian flight training I have attended.  It

 has been a long time since I have been to school, so maybe current 

 aviation

 is not using GPH, but MPG now.



 Let me know when you find some static air.  



 Most of us are flying with GPS now days.  Mine is an old Garmin 196, but 

 it

 does give me constantly updated info like "time to my next waypoint", etc.

 Much better system than the old E6B.  I don't need to know wind speed or

 direction, at my altitude, and where I am located.  Knowing my accurate 

 fuel

 burn, I know immediately how much fuel and time it will take me to get to 

 my

 next.



 MPG is for automobiles.  GPH is for aircraft.



 john h

 mkIII

 Titus, Alabama

gpabruce(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:09 am Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

Semantics!  To each his own. The challenge is to not let the earth smite thine ass before one reaches point "B" how ever that may be done. If one can flap his wings or pull gas from the clouds, who cares?

   

 



 

 On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 5:51 AM, Gene & Tammy <zharvey(at)bentoncountycable.net (zharvey(at)bentoncountycable.net)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Gene & Tammy" <zharvey(at)bentoncountycable.net (zharvey(at)bentoncountycable.net)>

 

John, not to beat a dead horse to death but after 40 odd years being around airplanes  in Alaska and other out of the way places, I too have never seen MPH associated with airplanes.  I couldn't imagine  planning a trip using MPH.  What you had better think about is TIME you can stay airborn.

 I'm still looking for that static air.

Gene



--------------------------------------------------

From: "John Hauck" <jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com (jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com)>

 Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 4:19 PM

To: <kolb-list(at)matronics.com (kolb-list(at)matronics.com)>

Subject: Re: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption



 [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "John Hauck" <jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com (jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com)>

 



We can argue this all day long if you want, John. But it IS meaningful to

me.



If I know the MPG in static air and know my headwind or tailwind component I

can easily determine in my head how far over the ground I can go. With GPH

 all we know is how long we can stay in the air. That plus knowing your

ground speed and a little bit of math we can come up with the same result.

Neither is meaningless. Just a different way to approach it.



Plus it also gives you a relative efficiency number for comparing aircraft,

 if anyone cares to do that. In static air my normal cruise speed of 85 mph

and 3.75 gph gives me about 22.5 mpg. Your MkIII at 85 mph and 5 GPH yields

about 17 MPG in static air.



--------

Thom Riddle



 

Thom R/Gang:



I am sure your system of mpg works for you, but not for me.  I never heard

the term mpg in military or civilian flight training I have attended.  It

has been a long time since I have been to school, so maybe current aviation

 is not using GPH, but MPG now.



Let me know when you find some static air.  



Most of us are flying with GPS now days.  Mine is an old Garmin 196, but it

does give me constantly updated info like "time to my next waypoint", etc.

 Much better system than the old E6B.  I don't need to know wind speed or

direction, at my altitude, and where I am located.  Knowing my accurate fuel

burn, I know immediately how much fuel and time it will take me to get to my

 next.



MPG is for automobiles.  GPH is for aircraft.



john hhttp://www.matronics.com/contribution

                              -Matt Dralle, Li    - The Kolb-List Email Forum -

 :

 b-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List<    - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -

 =   --> h

 

[b]

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:13 am Post subject: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

cheee, I know mine's not fast but I sure would like at least some MPH   

BB



On 2, Dec 2010, at 8:51 AM, Gene & Tammy wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 John, not to beat a dead horse to death but after 40 odd years being around airplanes  in Alaska and other out of the way places, I too have never seen MPH associated with airplanes.  I couldn't imagine  planning a trip using MPH.  What you had better think about is TIME you can stay airborn.

 I'm still looking for that static air.

 Gene

 

 --------------------------------------------------

 From: "John Hauck" <jhauck(at)elmore.rr.com>

 Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 4:19 PM

 To: <kolb-list(at)matronics.com>

 Subject: Re: Re: Kolb Firestar Fuel consumption

 

> 

> 

> 

> We can argue this all day long if you want, John. But it IS meaningful to

> me.

> 

> If I know the MPG in static air and know my headwind or tailwind component I

> can easily determine in my head how far over the ground I can go. With GPH

> all we know is how long we can stay in the air. That plus knowing your

> ground speed and a little bit of math we can come up with the same result.

> Neither is meaningless. Just a different way to approach it.

> 

> Plus it also gives you a relative efficiency number for comparing aircraft,

> if anyone cares to do that. In static air my normal cruise speed of 85 mph

> and 3.75 gph gives me about 22.5 mpg. Your MkIII at 85 mph and 5 GPH yields

> about 17 MPG in static air.

> 

> --------

> Thom Riddle

> 

> 

> Thom R/Gang:

> 

> I am sure your system of mpg works for you, but not for me.  I never heard

> the term mpg in military or civilian flight training I have attended.  It

> has been a long time since I have been to school, so maybe current aviation

> is not using GPH, but MPG now.

> 

> Let me know when you find some static air.  

> 

> Most of us are flying with GPS now days.  Mine is an old Garmin 196, but it

> does give me constantly updated info like "time to my next waypoint", etc.

> Much better system than the old E6B.  I don't need to know wind speed or

> direction, at my altitude, and where I am located.  Knowing my accurate fuel

> burn, I know immediately how much fuel and time it will take me to get to my

> next.

> 

> MPG is for automobiles.  GPH is for aircraft.

> 

> john h

> mkIII

> Titus, Alabama

> 

> 

> 

> 

>

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