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Firefly progress

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Richard Pike

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

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:04 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Since things are sort of slow on the list right now I thought I would do an update on the Firefly.

Got the windshield on today, the muffler and prop went on last week, and the wiring is done. David did most of the wiring; should have let him do all of it since he is much neater and better at it than I am.

Was planing to bring the wings home today but it is just too cold. Maybe Monday. Then start to put it all together. (Original Firestar wings, FSII wing struts, and a FF fuselage - what a mongrel!)

Yes, I know I am using blue urethane tubing between the carb and the fuel pump. That is so we can see if we are getting any fuel to the carb. Fortunately it is convenient to change every year. And those are the only conditions under which you should use that junk!

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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:21 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Looking really good!



do not archive

                                                      Bill Sullivan

                                                      Windsor Locks, Ct.

victorbravo(at)sbcglobal.
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:26 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Everyone knows that a mongrel can often be better than a pure-bred ! Excellent progress, keep plugging away... summer is coming soon 



Yours is exactly the same Bahama Blue color as my FS2, and I removed a lot of that same blue plastic tubing from my plane when I got it.



Bill Berle

www.ezflaphandle.com  - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft

www.grantstar.net           - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities



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

On Wed, 3/15/17, Richard Pike <thegreybaron(at)charter.net> wrote:



 Subject: Firefly progress

 To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

 Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 3:05 PM

 

 

 "Richard Pike" <thegreybaron(at)charter.net>

 

 Since things are sort of slow on the list right now I

 thought I would do an update on the Firefly.

 Got the windshield on today, the muffler and prop went on

 last week, and the wiring is done. David did most of the

 wiring; should have let him do all of it since he is much

 neater and better at it than I am.

 Was planing to bring the wings home today but it is just too

 cold. Maybe Monday. Then start to put it all together.

 (Original Firestar wings, FSII wing struts, and a FF

 fuselage - what a mongrel!)

 Yes, I know I am using blue urethane tubing between the carb

 and the fuel pump. That is so we can see if we are getting

 any fuel to the carb. Fortunately it is convenient to change

 every year. And those are the only conditions under which

 you should use that junk!

 

 --------

 Richard Pike

 Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

 Kingsport, TN 3TN0

 

 Forgiving is tough. Being forgiven is wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=467361#467361

 

 

 

 

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Herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 2:27 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Bro Pike

    Is envy a sin??    Herb

On 03/15/2017 05:05 PM, Richard Pike wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Since things are sort of slow on the list right now I thought I would do an update on the Firefly.

 Got the windshield on today, the muffler and prop went on last week, and the wiring is done. David did most of the wiring; should have let him do all of it since he is much neater and better at it than I am.

 Was planing to bring the wings home today but it is just too cold. Maybe Monday. Then start to put it all together. (Original Firestar wings, FSII wing struts, and a FF fuselage - what a mongrel!)

 Yes, I know I am using blue urethane tubing between the carb and the fuel pump. That is so we can see if we are getting any fuel to the carb. Fortunately it is convenient to change every year. And those are the only conditions under which you should use that junk!



 --------

 Richard Pike

 Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

 Kingsport, TN 3TN0



 Forgiving is tough. Being forgiven is wonderful.





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=467361#467361





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-- 

"Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyranny."



Aristotle

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

[quote="Herbgh(at)nctc.com"]Bro Pike - Is envy a sin??    Herb [quote] 



Dude - You gave me the front end of the cage and the engine mount tube, and you showed me how to make the bicycle brakes. If envy was the problem you could have just kept them! <Grin>

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

Herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 3:16 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Well Richard....very happy to see what you and your bud have 

accomplished...  so ...yes some envy comes into play...for I viewed the 

parts as a mish mush not to ever be turned into a flying device...So 

congratulations...I am happy to have been a small part of the process... 

Herb

On 03/15/2017 06:06 PM, Richard Pike wrote:

[quote] 



 [quote="Herbgh(at)nctc.com"]Bro Pike - Is envy a sin??    Herb  	  Quote: 	
		  



 Dude - You gave me the front end of the cage and the engine mount tube, and you showed me how to make the bicycle brakes. If envy was the problem you could have just kept them!



 --------

 Richard Pike

 Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

 Kingsport, TN 3TN0



 Forgiving is tough. Being forgiven is wonderful.





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=467367#467367




	


-- 

"Masculine republics give way to feminine democracies, and feminine democracies give way to tyranny."



Aristotle

stuart(at)harnerfarm.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 7:16 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Looking REALLY good!



What did you do to assure the screws will not come loose on the terminal

block mounted to the engine? Loctite or something?



You are going to have FUN with that plane!



S



--

japowell

Joined: 02 Dec 2016
Posts: 34
Location: Ohio

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 1:51 am Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Looking good Richard. Can't wait to see it all together.

_________________
Jim P
WAR EAGLE

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 4:55 am Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

 	  stuart(at)harnerfarm.net wrote: 	
		  Looking REALLY good!



What did you do to assure the screws will not come loose on the terminal

block mounted to the engine? Loctite or something?



You are going to have FUN with that plane!



S



-- 	


Hm.. Glad you asked. Since they have been there since Bucky & Carl built it back in 1985, it hadn't occurred to me to wonder what is keeping them in. I'll check it out today. Thanks.

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

Mcabbage

Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Posts: 41
Location: MA.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Looks great thank you for sharing

_________________
2007 Firestar 2 503 N203SD
Moster 185 Flattop PPG/Sky K2 Paraglider
Trike Buggy Soaring Trike & Northwing Stratus XP

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Great day to be outside working on an airplane with your bud.

Replaced the one bent wing strut attachment tang yesterday, today we rolled it out and trial fitted the wings. Mostly pretty good, one alignment problem, tomorrow I can call Bryan at the factory and promise to send him money, and he will invent and send me the part I need to fix it. 

Drug out the scales, maybe we might just barely be able to make Part 103. Right now it looks too close to call. Anybody got a good Hirth F-33 with redrive and electric start you want to trade for a good 447 with gearbox & prop?

Here is what a Firefly looks like when you build it out of 3 separate airplanes:

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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

japowell

Joined: 02 Dec 2016
Posts: 34
Location: Ohio

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 1:21 am Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Looking good Richard.  What did it weigh?  I'm headed to Kolb this afternoon to pick up the parts for my project.  Hopefully I can start assembling and fitting everything together next week. 



Question...what is the position of the horizontal stabilizer to the boom tube?  Drawing says 3/8" above tube.  What is yours?

_________________
Jim P
WAR EAGLE

williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:57 am Post subject: Firefly progress

Looking very good.  Looks about like what I ended up with on my original 5 rib Firestar.  No photos- I had to let it go.  But you are right about weight- everything has to be trimmed and weighed.  And mine had a main tube that was one foot shorter than standard.  Speaking of which, has anyone heard from Jack Hart?  He is the current master of that.



                                                             Bill Sullivan

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

 	  japowell wrote: 	
		  Looking good Richard.  What did it weigh?  I'm headed to Kolb this afternoon to pick up the parts for my project.  Hopefully I can start assembling and fitting everything together next week. 



Question...what is the position of the horizontal stabilizer to the boom tube?  Drawing says 3/8" above tube.  What is yours? 	




It weighs 274 on a very uncooperative and unreliable bathroom scale. Looks like we will be relying on that hand deployed parachute to make weight, even if it is no good for anything else. And the tail is 3/8" of an inch above the boom, because it is a recycled FSII tail and boom.

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

japowell

Joined: 02 Dec 2016
Posts: 34
Location: Ohio

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Thanks Richard.  From the pics, it looked more than 3/8".  Picked up the new nose cone, tail brackets and fuel tanks today.  Bryan and Helen were great to visit with.  Saw some nice planes and ask a lot of questions, hopefully I can remember all of the answers.

_________________
Jim P
WAR EAGLE

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

Now it is officially a FireFly. With a Shout Out to Andy who did it!

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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

George Alexander

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 245
Location: SW Florida

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

 	  Richard Pike wrote: 	
		  Now it is officially a FireFly. With a Shout Out to Andy who did it! 	




Very creative nose art Bro Pike!

_________________
George Alexander
FS II R503
E-LSA N709FS
http://www.oh2fly.net

japowell

Joined: 02 Dec 2016
Posts: 34
Location: Ohio

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

I like.  That really set off the color.  Caught a lot of 'lightning bugs' in my day.    When will you test fly it?  Waiting on flight report eagerly.  



Enjoy,

Jim P.

_________________
Jim P
WAR EAGLE

lcottrell

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

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 5:22 pm Post subject: Firefly progress

Did you put VG's on it yet? I will be interested in the number with

that wing and the VG's

Larry

_________________
do not archive

Richard Pike

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

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Firefly progress

 	  lcottrell wrote: 	
		  Did you put VG's on it yet? I will be interested in the number with

that wing and the VG's

Larry 	


The plan is to fly it and see how it does. Assuming that all is good, then we pull the wings back off and recover them with Oratex. The wings have been closed up since they were originally built in 1985, and they need to be opened up and examined. 

Assuming that all is good and we are planning to keep this bird, they get recovered in Oratex and then the VG's go on. After we have flown it w/o them. Will be interesting to see how it does with fresh covering, and then again with vg's to boot.

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

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