# Kolb Mark III

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Kolb Mark III Kolb Mark III General information Type Ultralight aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer New Kolb Aircraft Status In production Number built 100 (Dec 2011)[1] History Variant Precision Tech Fergy

The **Kolb Mark III** is a family of [American](/source/United_States) side-by-side two seater, high wing, [strut-braced](/source/Strut), [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).[1][2][3][4][5]

## Design and development

The Mark III's standard engine was originally the 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine, but the current engines offered are the 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912UL) or the 100 hp (75 kW) [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912ULS). In its home country the aircraft is normally licensed in the *Experimental - amateur-built* category.[2][3][4][5]

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 and horizontal tail are quick-folding for storage and ground transport. The original Mark III can be made ready to fly from trailering in eight minutes by one person without the use of tools, while the newer M3X variant is rated at 15 minutes to assemble for flight.[2][3][4][5]

The landing gear is sprung tubing for the main gear, with a steerable sprung tailwheel and the cabin is 45 in (114 cm) in width.[3][4]

Factory options include brakes, [Ballistic Recovery Systems](/source/Ballistic_Recovery_Systems) airframe parachute and [powder coating](/source/Powder_coating) of the steel parts. The manufacturer describes the aircraft as [STOL](/source/STOL), with a 200 ft (61 m) take-off run.[6][5]

## Operational history

In reviewing the aircraft Andre Cliche said:

The Twinstar Mk III is a very clean and aerodynamic design. lt looks fast and flies fast. With standard dual controls, it can be used as a trainer, but it is most often used as a cross-country cruiser. It is especially desirable for its folding wings.[3]

## Variants

**Mark III**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration, high wing ultralight, powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) [Rotax 503](/source/Rotax_503), 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582), 74 hp (55 kW) [Rotax 618](/source/Rotax_618) or 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912UL) engine. Variously marketed at different times as the *Mark III*, *Twinstar* and *Mark III Classic*.[2][3][4]

**Mark III Xtra**
- Two seats in side-by-side configuration, high wing ultralight, powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) [Rotax 912UL](/source/Rotax_912UL) engine, the 100 hp (75 kW) [Rotax 912ULS](/source/Rotax_912ULS) or the 85 hp (63 kW) [Jabiru 2200](/source/Jabiru_2200). The Xtra underwent an aerodynamic cleanup by aerodynamicist [Barnaby Wainfan](/source/Barnaby_Wainfan) and was introduced in 1999. Variously marketed as the *Mark III Xtra* and the *M3X*.[5][7]

## Specifications (Mark III)

*Data from* Kitplanes, Cliche and Purdy[2][3][4]

**General characteristics**

- **Crew:** one

- **Capacity:** one passenger

- **Length:** 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)

- **Wingspan:** 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)

- **Height:** 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

- **Wing area:** 160 sq ft (15 m2)

- **Empty weight:** 450 lb (204 kg)

- **Gross weight:** 1,000 lb (454 kg)

- **Fuel capacity:** 10 US gallons (38 litres)

- **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin cylinder, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke) aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)

**Performance**

- **Maximum speed:** 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)

- **Cruise speed:** 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)

- **Stall speed:** 33 mph (53 km/h, 29 kn)

- **[Never exceed speed](/source/V_speeds#VNE):** 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)

- **Range:** 130 mi (210 km, 110 nmi)

- **Rate of climb:** 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)

**Avionics**

- none

## See also

**Related development**

- [Precision Tech Fergy](/source/Precision_Tech_Fergy)

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

- [Quad City Challenger II](/source/Quad_City_Challenger_II)

## 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-KitplanesDec1998_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-KitplanesDec1998_2-4) Downey, Julia: *1999 Kit Aircraft Directory*, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 53. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Cliche_3-6) Cliche, Andre: *Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide* 8th Edition, page B-88. 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-Aerocrafter_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Aerocrafter_4-5) Purdy, Don: *AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook*, page 188. BAI Communications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9636409-4-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9636409-4-1)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-M3X_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-M3X_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-M3X_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-M3X_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-M3X_5-4) The New Kolb Aircraft (May 2010). ["The M3X - General Description"](http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=76). Retrieved 13 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Price_6-0)** The New Kolb Aircraft (May 2010). ["The M3X - Price List"](http://www.aerokml.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=77). Retrieved 13 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WDLA11_7-0)** Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12*, page 124. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

## External links

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

- [Official website](http://www.kolbaircraft.com/)

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 Mark III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb_Mark_III) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb_Mark_III?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.