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| Wednesday, April 23, 2008 |
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The first production unit flies!
By FlyingNews @ 12:50 PM :: 552 Views ::
0 Comments :: Sport Aviation, Small Aircraft Manufacturers
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After completing all the static load tests to confirm ASTM/LSA compliance, The New Kolb Aircraft Co. and Flyer Industria Aeronautica LTDA have past another important milestone. The first production unit was completed early last week and the aircraft has made its maiden flight on April 3, 2008. The aircraft will be sent to London, Kentucky where it will recieve its paint stripes and markings.
In the meantime, the prototype continues its flight test program in Americana, Brazil. The final flight test report is expected to be released in the first week of June, 2008 and the first production unit should receive its S-LSA certificate soon after. The first deliveries should start in the first quarter of September.
According the Marcos Nunes, lead engineer at Flyer Aeronautica, the static load tests results exceeded our expectations. The wings were loaded to 7g for more than 15 minutes with no apparent permanent deformation.
Started at the end of 2004, the development program of the Kolb Flyer SS took little over 3 years. “It was a great challenge that each of our team members took with pride!” Flyer has a long history of aircraft manufacturing and when asked to Claudio Gonçalves, general director of Flyer Aeronautica, if the Kolb Flyer project was the corner stone that would set a new path for future development programs in his company, he answered by the following: “The Kolb Flyer project required the mobilization of an important amount of capital, but beyond the financing aspect of the project, the company had to manage its growth in personnel, implement a efficient quality control system, produce material and manufacturing processes, implement a computerized part’s traceability system and not the less, change the entire enterprise’s culture. Looking at it now, this project allowed us to reinvent our company with new bases and a solid foundation that will allow us to undertake bigger projects.”
Since the introduction of the prototype at Oshkosh 2007, the Kolb Flyer SS has an interesting new feature: Electric adjustable seats. The seats are moving forward and rearward with the press of a button located on the center console like you would expect it in a luxury car. Also, the electric flap motor is now located inside the left wing and allow a larger baggage volume behind the seats.
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