Polaris FIB

{{Short description|Italian ultralight trike}} {{distinguish|Polaris AM-FIB}} {{COI|date=March 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use British English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = AM-FIB | logo = | logo_size = | image = Polaris Flying Inflatable Boat 01.jpg | alt = | caption = Polaris FIB hull and motor on display at [[Sun 'n Fun]] 2004 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight trike]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Italy]] | manufacturer = [[Polaris Motor]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = In production (2013) | 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 = mid-1980s | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = [[Polaris AM-FIB]] | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Polaris FIB''' ("Flying Inflatable Boat") is an Italian [[flying boat]] [[ultralight trike]], designed and produced by [[Polaris Motor]] of [[Gubbio]]. The aircraft was introduced in the mid-1980s and remains in production. It is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 218. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref><ref name="WDLA04">Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 107. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

==Design and development== The FIB complies with the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] [[microlight]] category, including the category's maximum gross weight of {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The FIB has a maximum gross weight of {{convert|406|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA04" />

The aircraft features a [[Flying wires|cable-braced]] [[hang glider]]-style [[high-wing]], weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-[[tandem]] open cockpit, an [[inflatable boat]] hull and a single engine in [[pusher configuration]]. The FIB has no wheeled [[landing gear]], but as a result of customer demand it was later developed into the amphibious [[Polaris AM-FIB]].<ref name="WDLA11" />

The FIB's single surface wing is made from bolted-together [[aluminum]] tubing and covered in [[Dacron]] sailcloth. The {{convert|11.15|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing is supported by a single tube-type [[kingpost]] and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two-stroke]], [[dual-ignition]] {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]] engine.<ref name="WDLA11" />

The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|216|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|406|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|190|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|40|l}} the payload is {{convert|161|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA04" />

The company continues to develop the design and in 2010 introduced a new hull shape to increase performance in the water and in the air.<ref name="WDLA11" />

Dimitri Delemarie, writing in ''The World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', said of the design, "It will never win any speed records, but if there were an award for fun, it would be right up there at the top."<ref name="WDLA11" />

Since 1986 Polaris Motor has sold an average of 80-100 trikes and 200 wings per year. Naturally all Polaris wings can be easily installed in other brands of trikes, with the possibility of personalization.

==Operational history== The FIB is used by a number of government operators, including police and coastguards.<ref name="WDLA04" />

==Variants== In the early 2000s the company offered a version with the same wing, but without a boat hull, using a conventional minimalist trike frame mounted on wheeled [[landing gear]] or optionally [[ski]]s. Even though it did not have a boat hull it was still marketed under the FIB name.<ref name="WDLA04" />

==Specifications (FIB) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Bayerl<ref name="WDLA11" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=11.15 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=19.6 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=216 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=406 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|40|l}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [[two stroke]] [[aircraft engine]] |eng1 kw=48 |eng1 hp=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=80 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=70 |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=48 |stall speed mph= |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=4.5 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=20.7 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==References== {{Commons category|Polaris FIB}} {{reflist}}

[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Ultralight trikes]]