# Kolb Firefly

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American ultralight airplane

Kolb Firefly Kolb Firefly General information Type Ultralight aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer New Kolb Aircraft Status In production Number built 500 (Dec 2011)[1] History Introduction date 1995 Developed from Kolb Firestar

The **Kolb Firefly** is an American open cockpit, single seat, high wing, [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration), [conventional landing gear](/source/Conventional_landing_gear)-equipped [ultralight aircraft](/source/Ultralight_aircraft) that is produced in kit form by [New Kolb Aircraft](/source/New_Kolb_Aircraft) of [London, Kentucky](/source/London%2C_Kentucky) and intended for [amateur construction](/source/Homebuilt_aircraft). The aircraft was designed in 1995.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Firefly is a development of the [Kolb Firestar](/source/Kolb_Firestar) and was designed to comply with the American [FAR 103 ultralight regulations](/source/Ultralight_aircraft_(United_States)), including that category's maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight.[2][3]

## Design and development

The Firefly was intended to be a *FAR 103* legal ultralight that was powered by the heavier 40 hp (30 kW) [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447) engine. The 28 hp (21 kW) [Rotax 277](/source/Rotax_277) engine was also an option when the aircraft was first offered.[2][3][4]

The design features a forward [fuselage](/source/Fuselage) of welded [4130 steel](/source/4130_steel) tubing, mated to an [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) tailboom. The [horizontal stabilizer](/source/Horizontal_stabilizer), [tail fin](/source/Vertical_stabilizer) and wings are also constructed of riveted aluminum tubing with all flying surfaces covered in doped [aircraft fabric](/source/Aircraft_fabric). The wings are quick-folding for storage and ground transport.[2]

The factory kit options include a complete cockpit enclosure, brakes, quick build option, [Ballistic Recovery Systems](/source/Ballistic_Recovery_Systems) parachute and steel tube [powder coating](/source/Powder_coating).[6]

## Specifications (Firefly)

*Data from* Cliche and Kitplanes[2][3]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Length:** 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)

- **Wingspan:** 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)

- **Height:** 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

- **Wing area:** 117 sq ft (10.9 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 253 lb (115 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 500 lb (227 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 5 US gallons (19 litres)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 447](/source/Rotax_447) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) aircraft engine, 40 hp (30 kW)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 26 mph (42 km/h, 23 kn)

- **Rate of climb:** 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

**Avionics**

- none

## See also

**Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era**

- [Capella Javelin](/source/Capella_Javelin)

- [TEAM Airbike](/source/TEAM_Airbike)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec2011_1-1) Vandermeullen, Richard: *2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide*, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 72. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_2-4) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page B-35. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9680628-1-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9680628-1-4)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_3-3) Downey, Julia: *1999 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 53. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Description_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Description_4-1) The New Kolb Aircraft (2010). ["Firefly - General Description"](http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=74). Retrieved May 10, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WDLA11_5-0)** Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12*, page 123. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Prices_6-0)** The New Kolb Aircraft (2010). ["Firefly - Price List"](http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=75). Retrieved May 10, 2010.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kolb Firefly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kolb_Firefly).

- [Official website](http://www.aerokml.com/index.php)

v t e Kolb and New Kolb aircraft Ultralight airplanes Firefly Firestar Flyer Flyer Super Sport King Kolbra Kolbra Mark III Mark III Xtra Pelican Slingshot Ultrastar Powered parachutes Flyer Powered Parachute

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kolb Firefly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb_Firefly) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb_Firefly?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.