Matronics Email Lists Forum Index Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
 
 Get Email Distribution Too!Get Email Distribution Too!    FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Early Days

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
smedley



Joined: 04 Feb 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Hatfield PA

PostPosted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:55 am    Post subject: Early Days Reply with quote

Good Morning All,
I thought since there's not a lot of posts coming in I would fill in by
posting some stuff from my earlier days.
I started flying in 1983. My father owned a tree nursery in Fort Washington
PA. One day I was out in the field digging a tree when a little plane
flew over. It wasn't a regular plane. It was all open I and could see
the pilot. The wings were different colors. He was a few hundred feet high.
I never saw such a thing and stood there thinking that is so cool. A half
hour later he came back going the other way.
I told a friend about it. He said that's one of those new Ultralight
planes. They only cost two thousand dollars. (not)

The next week we sought out a place that had them.  We found the Davis
Brothers had a place in Phoenixville  PA  that sold the Advanced Aviation
"Cobra". The Cobra was like a quicksilver but more sophisticated. It had a
35hp Cayuna engine, silver anodized tubing, double surface wing, steerable
nose gear. It was a great plane. Didn't go much over 50 mph. But it flew
like a Butterfly. The Davis's had a 2 place Cobra for training. We each went for a 20 minute ride. Before we got back I decided I had
to have one. $5,200.00 in a kit. I'll have to tell you a few stories about that plane sometime.
I flew it for 2 or 3 years.
The second year I ran into Mark Chrisman. He was flying a Kolb Twinstar out of a
field owned by Al Navarrow. A very nice man. Al had a Cessna
Cardinal. He tought a lot guys how to fly.  I ended up keeping my plane there. Marks Twinstar had a red and
white sunburst on the wings. I couldn't fly around with him his plane was
fast compared to my Cobra. One day he said "when you get tired of
flying that lawn chair with wings I should consider a real plane. Like a
Kolb."
They had just come out with the Firestar the first time I flew over to the
factory. Needless to say I was Impressed. But the thought of building it
looked beyond my ability.

My advanced Aviation Cobra at Deverys. aka. A.G.A. Farm 1984. Behind my
Cobra is a Pterodactyl and a Maxair Hummer.


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Cobra_at_Deverys_-_1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  230.39 KB
 Viewed:  7069 Time(s)

Cobra_at_Deverys_-_1.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Richard Pike



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1669
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

PostPosted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Early Days Reply with quote

Thank you for sharing about the Good Old Days!
Yeah, since there is not much going on - I started with a Quicksilver B (plans only) My wife sewed the sails on her antique Singer sewing machine in our living room when she was 8 months pregnant! It flew, but only barely.
I got a Yamaha CT-1 175cc engine and hacksawed off the crankcase until I could make it work with a big flat washer welded to the primary gear, and a 36" home made wood prop bolted to the flat washer. It flew, but would not get out of ground effect. I sold it to a guy who was dumber than I was.


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Quick.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  96.01 KB
 Viewed:  7059 Time(s)

Quick.jpg



_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Richard Pike



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1669
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

PostPosted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Early Days Reply with quote

My next fiasco: Back around 1981, Dupont sponsored some sort of contest promoting ultralight aircraft. Don't remember the specifics. But I just happened to have a couple of 8 hp engines that had been marketed for attaching to the crossbar of a hang glider to convert it into a ground launch hang glider. So I got busy.
Here is the result: it wouldn't get out of ground effect either.


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Windspear2.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  67.61 KB
 Viewed:  7051 Time(s)

Windspear2.jpg



Windspear1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  45.34 KB
 Viewed:  7051 Time(s)

Windspear1.jpg



_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
west1m



Joined: 19 Apr 2014
Posts: 155
Location: Hastings, MN

PostPosted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Early Days Reply with quote

While not the pilot you guys are I have been doing this off and on for quite a while. My flying started at around 6:30 AM in a bar after graveyard shift back in the mid 80s. My friend and i were sitting there thumbing through the throw away equivalent of craigslist. He found a hangglider and I found a Weedhopper.
The following weekend we went out to the Calif. desert and tried them out.
We never did get the hanglider to fly but after a six pack or so I was having a great time flying the Weedhopper. single cylinder and no ailerons of any kind and the desert was always windy. made turns fun sometimes!


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Weedhopper.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  36.77 KB
 Viewed:  7041 Time(s)

Weedhopper.jpg



_________________
West1m
Hastings, MN
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest





PostPosted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 6:33 am    Post subject: Early Days Reply with quote

I love these old stories! More!

Bill Sullivan
do not archive

On Sunday, April 26, 2020, 10:55:35 PM EDT, Richard Pike <thegreybaron(at)charter.net> wrote:




--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Pike" <thegreybaron(at)charter.net (thegreybaron(at)charter.net)>

My next fiasco: Back around 1981, Dupont sponsored some sort of contest promoting ultralight aircraft. Don't remember the specifics. But I just happened to have a couple of 8 hp engines that had been marketed for attaching to the crossbar of a hang glider to convert it into a ground launch hang glider. So I got busy.

Here is the result: it wouldn't get out of ground effect either.

--------

Richard Pike

Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

Kolb Firefly Part 103 legal

Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=496057#496057

Attachments:

http://forums.matronics.com//files/windspear2_113.jpg

http://forums.matronics.com//files/windspear1_185.jpg

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-Lisnbsp; - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -

http://forums.matronics.; - NEW MATRONICS LIST WIKI -

http://www.matronics.com/contribution<=====================


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List
Back to top
west1m



Joined: 19 Apr 2014
Posts: 155
Location: Hastings, MN

PostPosted: Mon Apr 27, 2020 11:19 am    Post subject: Re: Early Days Reply with quote

Of course you have to introduce your kid to flyin'
note the two coils duct taped to the main tube. No mag. just a 6V lantern battery under the seat and an alligator clipped wire hanging on the batt for power.


- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



WeedhopperAlex.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  260.18 KB
 Viewed:  7010 Time(s)

WeedhopperAlex.jpg



_________________
West1m
Hastings, MN
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
smedley



Joined: 04 Feb 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Hatfield PA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:23 pm    Post subject: Early Days Reply with quote

I used to carry a 35mm around a lot including flying. Here are a few more. The fist photo is the same place as the last. I probably took it the same day. Im flying around the pattern. The Pteradactyl is in the pattern opposite me. This is at A.G.A. Farm. I think it's still on a sectional. NE of Pennridge airport in PA. The other is at the Kolb Camp at Sun & Fun. I don't know what year. The maroon Firestar is a later version than mine.

- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Deverys_from_above_2_-_1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  175.24 KB
 Viewed:  6979 Time(s)

Deverys_from_above_2_-_1.jpg



Sun-Fun_1_-_1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  232.45 KB
 Viewed:  6979 Time(s)

Sun-Fun_1_-_1.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
smedley



Joined: 04 Feb 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Hatfield PA

PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:18 am    Post subject: Early Days Reply with quote

Let me try this again. It looks like the photos didn't come through. Maybe one at a time. This is Deverys. aka - AGA Farm. about 1984. The runway down there used to be the Vargo Drag Strip. 2800 feet paved. Taken from my Cobra,  You can see Kim Jacksons Pterdactyl in the pattern.

- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Deverys_from_above_2_-_1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  175.24 KB
 Viewed:  6950 Time(s)

Deverys_from_above_2_-_1.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
smedley



Joined: 04 Feb 2020
Posts: 18
Location: Hatfield PA

PostPosted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:28 am    Post subject: Early Days Reply with quote

Here a photo of the Kolb Camp at Sun/Fun. I think around around 1987. The Maroon Firestar is a later version than mine. The red low wing is the Kolb Lazer

- The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List



Sun-Fun_1_-_1.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  232.45 KB
 Viewed:  6950 Time(s)

Sun-Fun_1_-_1.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group