| The New Kolb Aircraft Company of has a history of innovative aircraft designs. It was one of the first companies to purposely design an aircraft that met all of the Part 103 criteria, the FireFly. This unique little single place isn't just a stripped down, bare bones aircraft. It comes with flaps, a Rotax 447 engine, folding wings, and a performance envelope that has to seen to be believed. The New Kolb Aircraft Company has taken the same approach to the new Lightsport Aircraft category. For nearly five years now they have quietly been working to produce a plane to specifically to meet the LSA requirements. In 2006 with the purchase of the assets of Canadian Aircraft Manufacturer Ultravia, they shifted their focus. Using the Ultravia Pelican as a platform they began design of their latest aircraft the Kolb Flyer SS which made it's public debut at Airventure 2007. The Flyer SS features an all composite airframe, with metal wings, with flaps and standard dual stick and rudder style of controls. With the elevator operated by a push pull tube, rudder via cables and the ailerons using a combination of cables and tubes. It has a 48 inch wide cabin, with very comfortable seats. According to Izek Therrien "we have considerably reduced the drag of the Flyer SS compared to the Pelican, which should gives a normal cruise speed of 110 knots." The 28 gallon fuel tanks should give just over 5 hours of flight time. Other major changes from the Pelican design are that the lift strut has been moved to the rear of the doors, and the doors enlarged for easier entrance and exit. The flaps have been changed over to Fowler flaps to provide a more conventional feel to the aircraft when flaps are deployed. Smaller changes include the addition of a cargo door allowing easy access to the area behind the seats, from outside of the plane. The aircraft on display was the first of the production line and will be used to prove compliance will the LSA requirements, with flight testing beginning in early August. While the plane is going through the program kit production will begin with the first production Kolb Flyer SS expected to be available in October 2007. The factory began the paperwork for entrance to the LSA program over a year and a half ago and expects to have approval by September 2007. According to Izek Therrien the Flyer SS will only be offered as a ready to fly aero plane. The reason is that going from the production line kit to a fly away aircraft is only a day at the factory! The craft is currently powered by the Rotax 912 S 100 HP, 4 cylinder, 4 stroke engine, but the factory indicates that within a year or so they are looking at making the Continental line of engines available to buyers. For more information contact: | 
