I’m limited to the sport pilot certificate due to my health history. I won’t pass an FAA medical. If MOSAIC passes as is hoped, I’ll be able to complete a sport pilot cert in the 172 as MOSAIC is anticipated to expand the definition of LSA to include the 172 and other small GA aircraft. Which is good, because I’m too big for most current LSAs. Of course money is always an issue and may keep me from completing the cert.
Yes. I remember your past medical issue. Great that you can pursue the sport pilot certificate. Whether you complete the cert or not, it will be a wonderful adventure. Fly safe.
Always cool to see folks get into ultralight/sport pilot flying. stuckinthemuck is spot on with getting flight training. (A lot of guys still try it without any, to fly ultralights... ) You will learn a lot of stuff, as you train and, it can be overwhelming at first. Take a break for a bit and come back to it. Don't want the fun factor to get overwhelmed. My only thought on fixed-wing ultralights, like the Kolb, is this type of aircraft has very little penetration, as compared to heavier cert types. My number one habit flying ULs was to add a little airspeed near the ground, in any rough wind, and always be ready to push the nose down quickly. ULs lose airspeed fast. Once you lock that in, it'll be automatic. The open type feel you get, flying ULs, is addictive... and so much fun! Good luck Brian. Looking forward to more pics as you start flying the Kolb.
Went back and watched all of your vids BrianK ... the aerobatic stuff reminded me of a few things, when considering this type of flying in ultralights. stuckinthemuck hit on it before, regarding altitude above the ground doing this kind of stuff, and how critical it is if things go wrong. While it showcases nicely, how agile they can be in the hands of a high time pilot, it brings to mind an old aviation quote ... "Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect." While you're working on the ULs you have, feel free to PM with any questions you might have. I have assembled more than a few fixed wing and parawing ULs ... and you're new hobby reminds me how enjoyable that part of flying ULs was. Here's a RANS S-12 we built, pre-sport pilot. Wish I still had it.
Used to have a guy who had a strip a few miles from where I grew up that would always fly over the house. Not sure what happened but he must have gotten out of it after a few years. Always liked seeing him and waving when he flew over! Seems like a fun hobby! Keep posting
You’ll probably be hearing from me soon lol! I got my first lesson in what NOT to do when taking the Kolb off the trailer. The ultralight trailer I received with this Ultrastar tows the aircraft backwards, and when I was pulling it off the trailer the tail wheel fell off its ramp. The rudder crunched down on the edge of the trailer and got bent. Part of its frame may have broke at the top of this bent area: So I’m going to have to learn basic repairs like this sooner than I thought. I did order the Stewart fabric repair kit but the instructions are complicated and call for a paint gun, something I do not have and have never used. So I haven’t cut open and peeled back the fabric over the bent part of the rudder yet. I’m not even certain of where and how to cut it open, or how that part of the aluminum rudder frame should be repaired.
Bummer. Yeah, covering airframes with fabric is quite a process. Here's a Wick's walk thru on the what's and hows... it should help you figure out what to do. https://www.wicksaircraft.com/wp-co...DGAS2IAaIJH0230IQNFQUzUdmAQ8T8hbCcgfGcS5q96BH My first UL, a 100 years ago, was an N3-Pup. It had the ceconite fabric cover too. I did a re-cover on one of the ailerons, and learned a little about that process. Interesting but time consuming. Is your buddy, with the JD Kolb (like the colors), close enough to help you with the repair?
Thanks! Yes, just under three hours north of me. He has a spare rudder in his trailer that he offered if I decide not to attempt to repair mine (assuming it fits).
. Any chance he could get down to your place, to give your Kolb a serious inspection? And, maybe he's already seen it? I was very lucky to have a good friend who taught me literally everything, as I first got into assembling & flying ULs. He built the N3-Pup I ended up with, along with many Mirage and Phantom ULs. Later, he built a beautiful Kitfox. I learned so many safety tips and tricks along the way. Can't say enough about how much an experienced UL owner helping, might make things more enjoyable. It has a way of building confidence too, as you work on the aircraft that will carry you into the air.
I’ve already taken it up to the farm in Lancaster Country PA he flies his “John Deere” Kolb Ultrastar out of. Mine has a Kawasaki 440 and had not been run since 2012. He changed out all the fuel lines, fuel filter and rebuilt the Mikuni fuel pump, removed the old stiff squeeze bulb fuel primer and had it running fairly quickly, once some pulls on the engine starter rope got fuel to the carb: I have a trailer for it that came with it so I can trailer it up to him any time. He’ll be doing the first test flight for me. He bought his over two years ago and it was just a pile of aluminum wing and empennage frames and the chromoly cage. It took him two years to rebuild it and get it airworthy. He did the John Deere paint scheme using Latex exterior paint. Fortunately he knows Ultrastars inside and out as a result. I’ve already changed things on mine as a result of his input, like ordering one set of larger phenolic pulleys for two control cables. The originals were too small in diameter for the 90 degree turn of the cable they were used for.
All really good stuff Brian. So good he has engine experience. He's right on the larger cable pulleys too. Makes the controls a lot smoother. I still have a small spool of 3/32" control cable here if you needed some, along with some thimbles and crimp sleeves. Have some 1/8" & 3/16" av cable too. You're in good hands for sure. Have fun!
My Kolb Ultrastar came with the air cooled Kawasaki 2 stroke 440. These make 35 to 38hp. I also have an “extra” engine, an air cooled 2 stroke Rotax 447 with electric start if I feel I “need” a couple more hp in the future on my Kolb. It’s rated at 40 to 42hp. My gyroplane has a liquid cooled 2 stroke Rotax 582. It’s rated at 65 hp. I guess I could put that on the Kolb ultralight if I wanted to have a fun little STOL.
"My gyroplane has a liquid cooled 2 stroke Rotax 582. It’s rated at 65 hp. I guess I could put that on the Kolb ultralight if I wanted to have a fun little STOL" If your Kolb airframe is rated to handle the 582, I'd do it in a heart beat. Might even consider an in-flight adj pitch Ivo prop along with it. End result... you'd have more take off power and a quieter cruise experience (you'll be able to dial the throttle back using the Ivo adjusted to take a bigger bite, with that extra power available.) You'd end up, imo, with a most enjoyable, quiet and reliable fun UL. See what your buddy thinks on this.
Unfortunately it would be way over the FAA part 103 weight limit with the 582, and it’s cruise speed would also likely exceed part 103 limits. If I ever completed my sport pilot certificate I could get the Kolb registered (E-AB?) and fly it that way.
I’ve talked to a lot of ultralight Facebook group and ultralight forum moderators. The dirty secret is that the majority of “ultralights” currently being flown in the US are “fat.” And a large percentage of them carry more fuel. Within reason, both of these situations actually increase the safety margin of ultralights. So the FAA, which has bigger fish to fry, takes the attitude that “if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck (and has only one seat, no tail number, and doesn’t make a nuisance of itself!) then it’s a duck.”
