Wow, Didn't know the brand was still around. i live right down the street from where kolb started. We would always go up there to check out the ultralights and watch them fly. Mr. Kolb and his son Marcus were great. If i remember correctly Marcus still has the original hanging in the barn.
I had a M3X with a Jabaru and loved it! Flew it for 9 years and put almost 400 hits on it. Only reason I sold it was for money to have my O-320-E2D overhaul on my Skyhawk.🇺🇸👍🙋♂️🖖🏻
My neighbor had a Kolb but he didn't fly it for very long. He left it in the backyard facing the elements for many years. Despite the folding wings, an airplane should be kept at the airport or it doesn't get flown.
@@tb40ford let me help you understand since you are so obtuse. Having a plane that you can fly out of a gigantic parking lot is the same as flying from an airport. Most people don't have a ready access like a large farm or an empty street in a middle of a dessert. For most people, owning a foldable wing airplane means they must trailer their airplane to an airport and fly from an airport. The amount of work it takes just so you can fly for 1hour is why most ultralight airplanes stay grounded for years.
@@2Phast4Rocket Yes good points. I was with Kolb from 1998 through 2016. I really enjoyed the fine folks that loved Homers design My biggest customer base was retired military guys that were up in years and wanted to continue flying. What wonderful people a lot of Vietnam pilots like John Hauck would fly these little airplanes everywhere. They would fly a few hours each day and find a strip to land and spend the night. I always admired them I think it would be a lot of fun Anyway, I hope the Kolb design goes on forever I miss the people, but I do not miss the business end of it because not much profit Travis
@@2Phast4Rocket Where I live in Phoenix hanger rental is 5-10 years of waiting, and monthly price is more than $400 now even with city owned hangers. Even tie downs are now on a waiting list 1-3 years. People who don't fly anymore sublease their hanger to others make money off it even though city doesn't allow it they get around that by claiming the person using it is a friend. Lot of hangers have junk planes in them people haven't flown them for years because can't get a hanger they keep the hanger they say maybe start flying again. Not much choice if you want to fly have to use a trailer and fold the wings or drive 2 hours away to a remote airport. I suppose if your lazy and can't take 30 minutes to fold wings should find another hobby.
I bought one of the last Kolbs made in 2020 from Bryan Melborn, but determined the wind was too strong here on the mid-Atlantic coast and didn't want the limited flying, so he sold it for me without ever flying it. I went to gyros and now fly a Silverlight AR-1 gyroplane and love it. No wind worries with that baby (up to 30mph that is).
Yes great price, great performance, simplicity and folding wings… Although a couple years ago I paged through every NTSB accident report, the results were pretty chilling…. Unlike some other ultralights where there were x accidents of which a percent would be fatal, the majority of the Kolb accidents are fatal…. must be due to the relative positions of the pilot and engine….
@@PRH123 I haven't seen what you have and I'm curious. I've been in a couple of "pilot error" situations, and the Firestar saved my hide both times. Once I had it standing on it's nose, tail straight up in the air. Lucky for me, it didn't go on over. That steel cockpit isn't featured in most ultralights. A new fiberglass nose, and she's good as new.
I was going to buy and build a MKIII but I had heart trouble. I am still interested in a Kolb 103 build but I weigh 300 pounds so I guess I am wondering if there is a way to make the Kolb 103 scale up to a heavier pilot. I do like these aircraft a great deal.
@@kell4907 Well, before I had heart failure, I fully intended to build a MKIII however, I had 4 strokes and 4 hospitalizations and it's not clear what the future is. I have had a medical for about 30 years and have not applied for a new one since the onset of health issues. It seems likely to me that I will not be able to get a medical going forward but who knows. For this reason, I have been trying to figure out what Ultralight might work for me. Useful load is key.
The problem is most larger cities no hangers available at the prices people who are average income levels can rent. City rented hangers within a 60 mile radius of my area are all 10 year waiting lists. Small T-hangers are now over $350 a month as well. Even tie downs have a 2-3 year waiting list now.
Maybe just camera shy or something but some of the companies should consider maybe outsourcing the advertising or creating a face to help sell company. I saw an interview with the other owner and it was not much better. I almost think these two have spent too much time gluing fabric lol. I love the aircraft and I will get one eventually I hope they really surprise me and keep the company going strong
These are common Aircraft enthusiast not trying to make $1 trillion impression on anybody. They remind me so much of Homer Kolb I work for Homer Kolb for many years. I’m going to try to explain something to you kolb is more of a service making peoples dreams come true than they are at making profits. There has never been much profit in these kits. It’s just like the best design in the world always I always got so sick of people saying why don’t you do this why don’t you do that it’s about the enjoyment more than profit these guys are trying to keep the best design alive that’s all Homer drove a truck for UPS. He offered the kits as a kind pleasureful enjoyable hobby for aviation enthusiast You must have other income and treat this business as a fun venture. You make a little you lose a little, but you enjoy the journey Travis
Kolbs biggest selling tool is their customers flying them. While with Homer at Kolb our customers sold more than we could produce usually. Someone would see one at an airport airfield . Monday they would be calling me happened nearly every week. Travis
I bought a used ULTRAStar from a friend, believe it’s 1984 model with UL202 engine. Very nice design and build quality. Just need to find time to recover it and get to flying it
I wonder why they are putting off production of their number one selling aircraft, (Twinstar MK111) until maybe next year? Nice interview... but cant' you pump out like 5 videos a day?
The MIII series has hardly any profit I am sure. When I was there we would offer the MIII series in limited runs. I’m sure they will launch a full line of MIII kits when the catch up spell is down The MIII is a well thought of trainer that is cherished around the world Travis Travis
@@michaelspunich7273 Agreed. Years back we done a time study on producing a MIII kit and everybody in the shop was in fear of loosing their job. Even the management. I can’t even fathom what it would cost today to produce one of those kits. Unfortunately, Homers design uses the most expensive materials, steel and aluminum. You cannot sacrifice quality over lower cost. They have to be manufactured the way Homer Kolb design them to be the best and Kolb is the best. I was with the company from 98 until 2015 and I cannot tell you the engineer type X military high rank followed homers design hundreds and hundreds of them come to me for kits I really enjoyed it. I miss the people the customers, but I sure don’t miss the business end
You got that right? People think Kolb is in it for profit, Kolb is in it for the love of Homer Kolbs design and keeping it alive Forever. I was on the team for 20 years. Figured out very quickly. Homer had the best design ever introduced. Travis
@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel I thought the questions were great and you are welcome to come fly my Firestar anytime. We just missed each other at a North Georgia fly in a few years back.
I hope Kolb would get a better spoksman than Charles May........He doesn't seem prepared and he's hard to understand.....maybe the website ia a better source for info.
I see a man who wasn’t expecting a media interview and probably has no experience with a mic and camera in his face. I’ve been there. It’s not as easy as the pro’s make it look. His heart is in the right place and that’s what matters to me.
@@ryanschnitzler7771Yes Sir Homer Kolb was a simple extremely hard working man whom simply designed the strongest lite aircraft ever made. I was on the team for 20+ years many of my customers were structural design, engineers, and ex-military type they know what the Kolb is Travis
He just has a Deep South accent. Does not mean he’s ignorant. But I get it, people think people with thick accents : Southern or Northern, even Canadian- are a little slow. Not true.
He sounds to me like a very smart guy who put his money up and knows exactly what he's doing in every aspect of the business. That's way more important than superficial personality fluff stuff, that so often comes at the expense of real competency and substance.
that guy doesnt exactly inspire confidence in the product! doesnt really know the detailed stats, stretched out old tshirt and hands in his pockets on cam. not that im buying a plane anyway but they might do better hiring an actual salesman
Nice! And everyone slamming the guy because of his accent and unpolished manner…. Give it a rest. He and his partner revived a great company with great designs. The proof is in the ‘puddin’, as they say. I wish him great success, and no I don’t sound like him but I am from the south. I know plenty of brilliant people that do sound like him… and plenty of people without extreme accents that are not that intelligent. The things people complain about… 🤦♂️
Thank you. If people could understand what the Kolb design is all about. Homer was a simple man with the strongest lite aircraft ever made Homer would never get offended from anyone talking down the image. He knew his design was well thought of. Travis
No one cares about the way he talks. We care about his attitude and it's very off putting if the majority of the comments are saying that then you must be wrong
Looks like the guy needs a corkscrew to take the words out of the mouth of Kolb representative. Beautiful aircraft to be represented by such a poor attitude guy.
I don’t know why I’m here wasting my time replying to these rude humans bashing these guys whom are trying hard to keep Homers design alive I was with Kolb for 20 years and know exactly what goes into producing these kits Every piece is hand built hours and hours are put into building these kits. You guys are worried about how a guy is dressed trying to keep the design out there for the builders and Kolb enthusiast. I’m amazed. My goodness go and get a pos stamped aluminum carbon fiber fuc up that has a representative dressed in a suit spreading BS. I have to apologize for this post in memory of Mr. Homer Kolb I truly apologize and more than likely will come back and delete just had to say it Travis
Wow, Didn't know the brand was still around. i live right down the street from where kolb started. We would always go up there to check out the ultralights and watch them fly. Mr. Kolb and his son Marcus were great. If i remember correctly Marcus still has the original hanging in the barn.
Really interested in the Mark III. That's about as slick of a design as there is.
Good luck there guys, glad you're back in production.
I had a M3X with a Jabaru and loved it! Flew it for 9 years and put almost 400 hits on it. Only reason I sold it was for money to have my O-320-E2D overhaul on my Skyhawk.🇺🇸👍🙋♂️🖖🏻
Probably the first interview the man has ever given give him a break ,some very interesting changes in the aircraft shown ! Good luck Charles and Tom
As soon as they put the Slingshot back into production, I'll be BEGGING them to take my money.
Kolb aircraft are all designed very well. Hope they sell thousands of the UL's. Good to hear the company is up and running again!
Good to see someone picked up this fine product to continue, wish them all the best 👍
My neighbor had a Kolb but he didn't fly it for very long. He left it in the backyard facing the elements for many years. Despite the folding wings, an airplane should be kept at the airport or it doesn't get flown.
Does he want to cell it.
@@tb40ford let me help you understand since you are so obtuse. Having a plane that you can fly out of a gigantic parking lot is the same as flying from an airport. Most people don't have a ready access like a large farm or an empty street in a middle of a dessert. For most people, owning a foldable wing airplane means they must trailer their airplane to an airport and fly from an airport. The amount of work it takes just so you can fly for 1hour is why most ultralight airplanes stay grounded for years.
@@2Phast4Rocket Yes good points. I was with Kolb from 1998 through 2016. I really enjoyed the fine folks that loved Homers design My biggest customer base was retired military guys that were up in years and wanted to continue flying. What wonderful people a lot of Vietnam pilots like John Hauck would fly these little airplanes everywhere.
They would fly a few hours each day and find a strip to land and spend the night. I always admired them I think it would be a lot of fun
Anyway, I hope the Kolb design goes on forever I miss the people, but I do not miss the business end of it because not much profit
Travis
@@2Phast4Rocket Where I live in Phoenix hanger rental is 5-10 years of waiting, and monthly price is more than $400 now even with city owned hangers. Even tie downs are now on a waiting list 1-3 years. People who don't fly anymore sublease their hanger to others make money off it even though city doesn't allow it they get around that by claiming the person using it is a friend. Lot of hangers have junk planes in them people haven't flown them for years because can't get a hanger they keep the hanger they say maybe start flying again. Not much choice if you want to fly have to use a trailer and fold the wings or drive 2 hours away to a remote airport. I suppose if your lazy and can't take 30 minutes to fold wings should find another hobby.
I bought one of the last Kolbs made in 2020 from Bryan Melborn, but determined the wind was too strong here on the mid-Atlantic coast and didn't want the limited flying, so he sold it for me without ever flying it. I went to gyros and now fly a Silverlight AR-1 gyroplane and love it. No wind worries with that baby (up to 30mph that is).
I hear that but is it just because don't like being bounced around, or will the structure fail winds?
@@kell4907 The structure will not fail Homers design will handle any wind you could ever encounter
An old proven design.
Travis
These guys know Kolb well and they help you on the phone too
Still the best ultralight ever. Homer Kolb designed a masterpiece, changing anything would be a mistake.
Yes great price, great performance, simplicity and folding wings…
Although a couple years ago I paged through every NTSB accident report, the results were pretty chilling…. Unlike some other ultralights where there were x accidents of which a percent would be fatal, the majority of the Kolb accidents are fatal…. must be due to the relative positions of the pilot and engine….
@@PRH123
I haven't seen what you have and I'm curious.
I've been in a couple of "pilot error" situations, and the Firestar saved my hide both times.
Once I had it standing on it's nose, tail straight up in the air. Lucky for me, it didn't go on over.
That steel cockpit isn't featured in most ultralights. A new fiberglass nose, and she's good as new.
Interview prep would have been a great idea
Here's to great success in the future.
Brian, you ask great questions, thanks for your videos!
That’s my firefly cooool
I’m pretty sure the questions you asked hadn’t been thought of. Perhaps if you interview this company every couple of months they will make it 😂
Good luck So the best to move forward with other options in motors, safty, and reliability...
Had me worried for a minute when he said Rotax went out of business, then I looked up he ment the 2 stroke engines.
Same! I was like, "there's no way Rotax is out-of-business"! Thanks for double-checking.
I was going to buy and build a MKIII but I had heart trouble. I am still interested in a Kolb 103 build but I weigh 300 pounds so I guess I am wondering if there is a way to make the Kolb 103 scale up to a heavier pilot. I do like these aircraft a great deal.
If you get any answers please let me know. I have the same problem.
@@garyoverholser2351 Tanks Gary, at the moment, it seems like the Aerolite 103 is one of the few options.
Why would owning a mark 3 or 103 make any difference? Did you get denied a medical?
lose the weight bro, or you wont enjoy your money for very long.
@@kell4907 Well, before I had heart failure, I fully intended to build a MKIII however, I had 4 strokes and 4 hospitalizations and it's not clear what the future is. I have had a medical for about 30 years and have not applied for a new one since the onset of health issues. It seems likely to me that I will not be able to get a medical going forward but who knows. For this reason, I have been trying to figure out what Ultralight might work for me. Useful load is key.
🤗
The problem is most larger cities no hangers available at the prices people who are average income levels can rent. City rented hangers within a 60 mile radius of my area are all 10 year waiting lists. Small T-hangers are now over $350 a month as well. Even tie downs have a 2-3 year waiting list now.
speeds mentioned in the video are very different to those quoted on the website
I sold my firestar 2 and have regretted it every since.
ROTAX engines are available. Just not from factory
Yep, Rotax Rick in Florida.
Kolb is a good aircraft with a solid history. This is probably not the guy who should be representing the company, though...
Not very confidence inspiring for sure.
I agree....
Yea what a doof!!
Right! Nice guy but not educated or prepared to answer simple questions about the company.
Earthstar UL barnstormers
Maybe just camera shy or something but some of the companies should consider maybe outsourcing the advertising or creating a face to help sell company.
I saw an interview with the other owner and it was not much better. I almost think these two have spent too much time gluing fabric lol.
I love the aircraft and I will get one eventually I hope they really surprise me and keep the company going strong
These are common Aircraft enthusiast not trying to make $1 trillion impression on anybody. They remind me so much of Homer Kolb I work for Homer Kolb for many years.
I’m going to try to explain something to you kolb is more of a service making peoples dreams come true than they are at making profits. There has never been much profit in these kits. It’s just like the best design in the world always I always got so sick of people saying why don’t you do this why don’t you do that it’s about the enjoyment more than profit these guys are trying to keep the best design alive that’s all
Homer drove a truck for UPS. He offered the kits as a kind pleasureful enjoyable hobby for aviation enthusiast
You must have other income and treat this business as a fun venture. You make a little you lose a little, but you enjoy the journey
Travis
Kolbs biggest selling tool is their customers flying them. While with Homer at Kolb our customers sold more than we could produce usually.
Someone would see one at an airport airfield . Monday they would be calling me happened nearly every week.
Travis
I bought a used ULTRAStar from a friend, believe it’s 1984 model with UL202 engine. Very nice design and build quality. Just need to find time to recover it and get to flying it
Boy, they need a sales representative to do the interview. He put me off a bit. You had to work that interview.😮
Van's had big problems with laser cut parts. Just saying
I wonder why they are putting off production of their number one selling aircraft, (Twinstar MK111) until maybe next year? Nice interview... but cant' you pump out like 5 videos a day?
The MIII series has hardly any profit I am sure. When I was there we would offer the MIII series in limited runs. I’m sure they will launch a full line of MIII kits when the catch up spell is down
The MIII is a well thought of trainer that is cherished around the world
Travis
Travis
@@tb40ford Thanks for the reply. They need to make it profitable. It is a hot seller.
@@michaelspunich7273 Agreed. Years back we done a time study on producing a MIII kit and everybody in the shop was in fear of loosing their job. Even the management. I can’t even fathom what it would cost today to produce one of those kits. Unfortunately, Homers design uses the most expensive materials, steel and aluminum.
You cannot sacrifice quality over lower cost. They have to be manufactured the way Homer Kolb design them to be the best and Kolb is the best.
I was with the company from 98 until 2015 and I cannot tell you the engineer type X military high rank followed homers design hundreds and hundreds of them come to me for kits I really enjoyed it. I miss the people the customers, but I sure don’t miss the business end
Give the guy a break. Hes doing kolb builders a service. Being sllick is the last thing you need
You got that right? People think Kolb is in it for profit, Kolb is in it for the love of Homer Kolbs design and keeping it alive Forever. I was on the team for 20 years. Figured out very quickly. Homer had the best design ever introduced.
Travis
If you're trying to sell somebody a product the least you could do is have a good attitude. It's very off putting
Kolb would gain more interest if they let Dave Johnson do that interview. 😬
Nice! (That would be DAN Johnson by the way).And he is retiring soon. Thanks for your support. See you NEXT TIME! :-)
@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel I thought the questions were great and you are welcome to come fly my Firestar anytime. We just missed each other at a North Georgia fly in a few years back.
Richard is your name... how appropriate!
@@michaelspunich7273 LOL
Experimental Aircraft Channel works for me. Dan Johnson is a legacy legend but things change with time.
They need a better spokesperson for the company. He doesn't fill me with confidence.
I hope Kolb would get a better spoksman than Charles May........He doesn't seem prepared and he's hard to understand.....maybe the website ia a better source for info.
The website is terrible, right out of the 1990s. Will hopefully be refreshed by the new ownership.
Agree with that !!!
I see a man who wasn’t expecting a media interview and probably has no experience with a mic and camera in his face. I’ve been there. It’s not as easy as the pro’s make it look. His heart is in the right place and that’s what matters to me.
@@ryanschnitzler7771Yes Sir
Homer Kolb was a simple extremely hard working man whom simply designed the strongest lite aircraft ever made. I was on the team for 20+ years many of my customers were structural design, engineers, and ex-military type they know what the Kolb is
Travis
Is it just me but does this guy sound just like Forrest Gump ?
He just has a Deep South accent. Does not mean he’s ignorant. But I get it, people think people with thick accents : Southern or Northern, even Canadian- are a little slow. Not true.
Life is like a box of chocolates....
He sounds to me like a very smart guy who put his money up and knows exactly what he's doing in every aspect of the business. That's way more important than superficial personality fluff stuff, that so often comes at the expense of real competency and substance.
Definitely sounds like forest gump and definitely is off putting
that guy doesnt exactly inspire confidence in the product! doesnt really know the detailed stats, stretched out old tshirt and hands in his pockets on cam. not that im buying a plane anyway but they might do better hiring an actual salesman
Nice! And everyone slamming the guy because of his accent and unpolished manner…. Give it a rest. He and his partner revived a great company with great designs. The proof is in the ‘puddin’, as they say. I wish him great success, and no I don’t sound like him but I am from the south. I know plenty of brilliant people that do sound like him… and plenty of people without extreme accents that are not that intelligent.
The things people complain about… 🤦♂️
Thank you. If people could understand what the Kolb design is all about. Homer was a simple man with the strongest lite aircraft ever made
Homer would never get offended from anyone talking down the image. He knew his design was well thought of.
Travis
The people complaining are mostly clueless. That guy knows more than they ever will.
No one cares about the way he talks. We care about his attitude and it's very off putting if the majority of the comments are saying that then you must be wrong
Looks like the guy needs a corkscrew to take the words out of the mouth of Kolb representative. Beautiful aircraft to be represented by such a poor attitude guy.
I don’t know why I’m here wasting my time replying to these rude humans bashing these guys whom are trying hard to keep Homers design alive
I was with Kolb for 20 years and know exactly what goes into producing these kits
Every piece is hand built hours and hours are put into building these kits.
You guys are worried about how a guy is dressed trying to keep the design out there for the builders and Kolb enthusiast. I’m amazed.
My goodness go and get a pos stamped aluminum carbon fiber fuc up that has a representative dressed in a suit spreading BS.
I have to apologize for this post in memory of Mr. Homer Kolb
I truly apologize and more than likely will come back and delete just had to say it
Travis
I'll take solid substance over slick fast-talking fluff any day of the week.
@@122436Joe 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣