{{Short description|American ultralight aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}} <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = Kolb Ultrastar | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[United States]] | manufacturer = [[Kolb Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = [[Homer Kolb]] | builder = | issuer = | status = Production complete | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1982 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Kolb Flyer]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}
The '''Kolb Ultrastar''' is an American single seat, high wing, [[Strut|strut-braced]], single engine, [[pusher configuration]], [[conventional landing gear]]-equipped [[ultralight aircraft]] that was produced in kit form by [[Kolb Aircraft]] of [[Phoenixville, Pennsylvania]] and intended for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]].<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-21. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref>
The Ultrastar was the second design produced by [[Kolb Aircraft]], was a redesigned and improved [[Kolb Flyer]] and succeeded the Flyer in production.<ref name="Cliche" />
==Design and development== The Ultrastar features a completely open cockpit with the pilot exposed to the slipstream. Unusually for this period in aircraft history when most ultralights had two-axis control, the Ultrastar has standard three-axis controls, including full span [[aileron]]s.<ref name="Cliche" />
When the original Flyer was designed there were no suitable lightweight engines available, so the Flyer first fitted two [[Chrysler]] powerplants and later two {{convert|11.5|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Solo 209]] engines. With the advent of better engines the Ultrastar moved to a single [[Cuyuna 430]] engine producing {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cliche" />
The design features a forward [[fuselage]] of welded [[4130 steel]] tubing, mated to an [[aluminum]] tailboom. The [[horizontal stabilizer]], [[Vertical stabilizer|tail fin]] and wings are also constructed of riveted aluminum tubing with all flying surfaces covered in doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The Ultrastar introduced the trademark folding wings and tail that became a feature of future Kolb designs.<ref name="Cliche" />
Like the Flyer, the Ultrastar's conventional landing gear consists of sprung steel tubing for the main gear but replaced the Flyer's sprung tail skid with a steerable sprung tail wheel instead.<ref name="Cliche" /> <!-- ==Operational history== -->
==Variants== ;Ultrastar :Original model<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Ultrastar KX430 :Improved model with simplified steel tubular pilot cage and main landing gear tubular spring suspension<ref name="Cliche" />
==Specifications (Ultrastar) == {{Aircraft specs |ref= Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=27 |span in=6 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=150 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=235 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=470 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|5|u.s.gal}} |more general=
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Cuyuna 430]] |eng1 type=in-line twin-cylinder, [[two-stroke]], single ignition, aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=35 |eng1 note= |power original=
|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=63 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=40 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=20 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1000 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|avionics=*none }}
==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related= *[[Kolb Flyer]] |similar aircraft= *[[Eipper Quicksilver]] *[[Ultraflight Lazair]] *[[Zenair Zipper]] |lists=<!-- related lists --> }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707215642/http://www.bdaeroworks.com/img576.jpg Photo of Kolb Ultrastar] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082921/http://www.frugalbee.com/Kolb_Ultrastar/taxi4874.JPG Photo of Kolb Ultrastar] *https://www.kolbaircraft.com/ {{Kolb Aircraft}}
[[Category:Kolb aircraft|Ultrastar]] [[Category:1980s United States ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]