# Polaris FIB > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polaris_FIB > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polaris_FIB.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaris_FIB > Source revision: 1321155468 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Italian ultralight trike Not to be confused with [Polaris AM-FIB](/source/Polaris_AM-FIB). A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. See our advice if the article is about you and read our scam warning in case someone asks for money to edit this article. (March 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) AM-FIB Polaris FIB hull and motor on display at Sun 'n Fun 2004 General information Type Ultralight trike National origin Italy Manufacturer Polaris Motor Status In production (2013) History Introduction date mid-1980s Variant Polaris AM-FIB The **Polaris FIB** ("Flying Inflatable Boat") is an Italian [flying boat](/source/Flying_boat) [ultralight trike](/source/Ultralight_trike), designed and produced by [Polaris Motor](/source/Polaris_Motor) of [Gubbio](/source/Gubbio). The aircraft was introduced in the mid-1980s and remains in production. It is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.[1][2] ## Design and development The FIB complies with the [Fédération Aéronautique Internationale](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_A%C3%A9ronautique_Internationale) [microlight](/source/Microlight) category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The FIB has a maximum gross weight of 406 kg (895 lb).[1][2] The aircraft features a [cable-braced](/source/Flying_wires) [hang glider](/source/Hang_glider)-style [high-wing](/source/High-wing), weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-[tandem](/source/Tandem) open cockpit, an [inflatable boat](/source/Inflatable_boat) hull and a single engine in [pusher configuration](/source/Pusher_configuration). The FIB has no wheeled [landing gear](/source/Landing_gear), but as a result of customer demand it was later developed into the amphibious [Polaris AM-FIB](/source/Polaris_AM-FIB).[1] The FIB's single surface wing is made from bolted-together [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) tubing and covered in [Dacron](/source/Dacron) sailcloth. The 11.15 m (36.6 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type [kingpost](/source/Kingpost) and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [two-stroke](/source/Two-stroke), [dual-ignition](/source/Dual-ignition) 64 hp (48 kW) [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) engine.[1] The aircraft has an empty weight of 216 kg (476 lb) and a gross weight of 406 kg (895 lb), giving a useful load of 190 kg (419 lb). With full fuel of 40 litres (8.8 imp gal; 11 US gal) the payload is 161 kg (355 lb).[1][2] 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.[1] 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."[1] 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.[2] ## 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](/source/Landing_gear) or optionally [skis](/source/Ski). Even though it did not have a boat hull it was still marketed under the FIB name.[2] ## Specifications (FIB) *Data from* Bayerl[1] **General characteristics** - **Crew:** one - **Capacity:** one passenger - **Wingspan:** 11.15 m (36 ft 7 in) - **Wing area:** 19.6 m2 (211 sq ft) - **Empty weight:** 216 kg (476 lb) - **Gross weight:** 406 kg (895 lb) - **Fuel capacity:** 40 litres (8.8 imp gal; 11 US gal) - **Powerplant:** 1 × [Rotax 582](/source/Rotax_582) twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, [two stroke](/source/Two_stroke) [aircraft engine](/source/Aircraft_engine), 48 kW (64 hp) - **Propellers:** 3-bladed composite **Performance** - **Maximum speed:** 80 km/h (50 mph, 43 kn) - **Cruise speed:** 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn) - **Stall speed:** 48 km/h (30 mph, 26 kn) - **Rate of climb:** 4.5 m/s (890 ft/min) - **Wing loading:** 20.7 kg/m2 (4.2 lb/sq ft) ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Polaris FIB](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Polaris_FIB). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-WDLA11_1-7) Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12*, page 218. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WDLA04_2-4) Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: *World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04*, page 107. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Polaris FIB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaris_FIB) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaris_FIB?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.