Wow, what a beautiful place you have to fly around. I love the Kolb firefly. Made right here in Kentucky. My dream is to own one some day. Thanks for the great video.
Thanks, William. Yes, this one was built by Brian and crew in London, KY. I am currently editing a long video that shows much prettier areas around here with the Firefly chase cam. Probably have to break it u p into segments. (Most people like shorter videos.) You might enjoy the fall colors videos on my channel, such as: ua-cam.com/video/Tr-dwxiRCKw/v-deo.html which is part 1 of 4 parts. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, that is a great compliment. That is what I'm aiming for. I like to watch them myself in the dead of winter when there is very little flying. Thanks for commenting!
Hello there! Sorry for delay in response. Been a busy week! Yessir, moved to Great Falls in '69. First residence was right next to the CMR museum. Then it was a log cabin type thing. The REAL mint bar was still working. Would like to say more but is there a way to get a hold of you otner than you tube? Take care.
1,LOW & SLOW is the way to GO 2,What a beautiful EARTH we live on. And we can FLY 3,How did you stabilize the chase cam? Longer wing ,more mass, much better.
Thanks for your thoughts, Albert. Yes, Slow flight in the open is flying. Big and fast is operating an airplane. Both can be fun, but low and slow is the way to go for pure enjoyment! I heartily agree, we are lucky to be able to fly and appreciate our beautiful and varied planet from above. The chase cam was quite a challenge. The problem there is not vibration, but wiggly movement. I tried several designs and towing techniques, but there was always some shake The thing that really fixed it was (unfortunately) a newer camera with better image stabilization. My Akaso V50x cameras stabilization do a good job mounted on the airframe, but the videos with a really steady view from the drogue were done with a GoPro Hero 8 Black. There are some things I very much dislike about GoPros, and they are very expensive, but the image stabilization really works in this application.
Have a look at ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html. It shows a composite view of looking back at the chase cam, and what the chase cam saw .at the same time.
I've been thinking about how to stabilize a camera on the end of a string. In this case... who knows. But somewhere I have seen a stable platform on a plane. It came to me last night while trying to get to sleep, to many coffees. Flying fuel tankers. Like you don't have enough to do. A long selfee Stick. To difficult to manage. That's all I have. Tks for the views. Yours truly A Ho
@@alberthoner304 You can see how the drogue behaves on the end of the string by watching my video ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html This was with my old Hero 5 Session with less effective Image Stabilization. You can see the drogue does not actually move much, but still makes the video shaky. With the Hero 8 Black, it is very smooth. I even tried towing an RC model airplane slope glider to see if it would make a steady camera drogue. What a disaster!😲
What a great video. Definitely will be watching this again. Would you mind briefly sharing how you learned to fly UL’s and any recommendations you may have for someone wanting to learn? With the folding wings, have you been able to trailer the Firefly to other destinations? Thank you, sir.
I started out hang gliding in the very early days.. Later started flying a Quicksilver type powered Ultralight that had weight shift control. There was no such thing as dual instruction. Nowadays it is possible to get dual in a UL type machine, but it may be hard to find. With the 3-axis UL's like a Firefly, at least get some dual in a very light two seat airplane. Although flying an Ultralight is very different from a conventional airplane. I have a trailer for the Firefly that you can see in some of my other videos, but have not traveled much with it, because I keep it at farm strip handy to my house. No reason you couldn't take the trailer to other flying sites. I bought the Firefly at Oshkosh and trailered it home to Montana.
Yes. With Ultralights you pretty much need to learn to do everything on your machine. If you are lucky enough to live where there are lots of others doing the same thing, you could probably find a friend who could help. If it ever came to major engine work involving splitting the case, etc, I would send the engine out to a rebuilder. Where are you located?@@tnewman9037
Do you ever wish you could take passengers? I have a sport pilot license for my 2 place powered parachute. Thinking about getting endorsement for fixed wing and considering the Kolb. Folding wing aircraft is my only option. Thanks.
I also have a 2-seater but usually fly solo in that as well. Yes, the list of folding wing UL's and Light Sports is pretty short. At least the ones that are quick and convenient and fold narrow enough to fit in an enclosed trailer. Kolb has several good options, and has been around a long time.
The line goes out through a small carabiner that is hooked into a PVC bracket attached to the leading edge of the wing. I have tried locations on the wingtip and further in on the strut, and they all work fine. The line would hit the tail before hitting the prop, but it never comes close. It trails straight back with very little side motion, even during quick maneuvers. The camera in this video is a GoPro Hero 8 Black.
@@19sloper Very clever. Would you mind posting some pics of it on YT? I was thinking of something similar for my Quicksilver MXL II. But you've already solved it. Thanks.
@@michaelbishton9439 You might start by watching some of Martin Barackman's videos. He shows how to make the drogue and reel system very clearly. ua-cam.com/video/qtj13raGESk/v-deo.html I experimented with several other designs, but ended up with the soda bottle type similar to what Martin used. Also, you can look at some of my other videos with a view of mine in flight. Snoop around on my channel and you will find lots more. One example is here: ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html
@@michaelbishton9439 A lot of fun with a pop bottle and a cordless drill or screwdriver! 😎 And, if it ever came loose for some reason, it would fall slowly and not hurt anything on the ground. It is really just a big badminton birdie. I intentionally .drug one on the ground over an open field one time. I had a counterweight on it instead of a camera. It pulled the key ring open and did not break the monofilament line. Could not feel it jerk the plane at all. Thought I could find the thing afterward, but no way! 🙄
Yes. We have a lot of buttes around here, some flat top, some like this. This one is about 800 ft high. We used to hang glide off there. Nice for that, because it faces all directions and is nice and steep. For a look at a Flat Top Butte, take a look at one of my other videos "Rain Shadows." ua-cam.com/video/nNJql2YLa9E/v-deo.html
Thanks! One thing Idaho has over Montana is backcountry strips. The "Fly Idaho" Book lists something like 70 of them, and Idaho Aeronautics supports many of them. Montana has, off the top of my head, about 5. But, Montana has more of a mixture of mountains, plains, and cool geological features like buttes. Montana has a lot more wind, though. Hence the early morning Ultralight flights.
it just hangs on a drogue (looks like a big badminton birdie) that deploys on a string and is towed behind the airplane. You just reel it out in flight, and reel it in before landing. It is referred t as a Chase Cam. The camera also needs very good image stabilization to be this smooth, because the drogue wobbles around a bit.
They are not producing new ones for the time being at least. Used Fireflys can be found occasionally for perhaps between $8,000 and $15,000 or so. The FireStar model, which is very similar, with longer wings, is more commonly found for sale used.
@19sloper Thanx. I'm pretty interested in acquiring one soon. For a while I was thinking about delta wings but this little birds have much more charm for me...
@@bagoistvan3182 . I was thinking delta wing myself but I've come to the conclusion a 3 axis is really the direction I want to go. There are a few reasons but two come to mind. One, if you're in choppy air I think holding on to the control bar with all of its movement would get old after a bit. Sure, I know it can be done but a control stick just takes much less effort. Second, I want to fly distance and I think something with a somewhat enclosed cockpit would just be more pleasant. If I had 3x as much money maybe I would get a delta, but if I can only have one, then 3 axis. Got my eye on the Rans S12 model.
@@matthewhoopes7757 Hi. We are in similar boat much or less..for years i put aside money and this year with God's help i start training toward my PPL with the ultimate goal of reaching the CPL with instruments rating...if all cards fall in the right place , i even set my eyes on a beautiful Piper Tomahawk ...I had in my youth flown some gliders as cadet pilot but after a while it came the moment of decision for me and i avoided after that any deviations like deltaplanes, paragliders , RC planes etc..etc..because they have been distraction from the course at which I'm aiming. ...to fly over the Nazca plateau in my own personal aircraft....I whish you many flying hours and happy landings. Who knows ? Maybe one day I will make it over The Atlantic and fly all the way down to the South ...Best regards. 🍺🍺🍺👍😁
So the GP8Black improved the view. The fishing rod is brilliant, able to reel out and in. It appears the tip is at the wing, strut connection. I am not an aerodynamics engineer or a train engineer just a retired driver. Could clearer airflow be found? Maybe higher above wing or easier yet , lower in the airstream but when retracted not dragging on the ground.
@@alberthoner304 I have tried a few different places to mount the pulley (Actually just a clip from a dog leash. It can be seen clearly at about 10:18 in the video.) I tried it on the strut, on the wingtip, and here it is mounted on the leading edge. Didn't seem to make much difference. I also tried reeling the thing WAY out so it was further back and further below. Doesn't seem to matter much as long as it is not close behind the wing. The fishing line is wound on a spool which is attached to a cordless screwdriver. Some folks have used a cordless drill. ua-cam.com/video/qtj13raGESk/v-deo.html is a video by Martin Barackman which shows how one version of the drogue and reel is made. Mine are a bit different. I tried quite a few different drogues, but settled on the pop bottle type with the camera mounted higher than Martin's.
Love these videos. I can turn my couch into a Firefly! Got my helmet an goggles I'm ready to go.!!
😎
Beautiful scenery and great images. Thanks for the virtual flight 👍🇦🇺
Glad you enjoyed it. I like to watch them myself during these long winters with no flying. 🥶
Wow, what a beautiful place you have to fly around. I love the Kolb firefly. Made right here in Kentucky. My dream is to own one some day. Thanks for the great video.
Thanks, William. Yes, this one was built by Brian and crew in London, KY. I am currently editing a long video that shows much prettier areas around here with the Firefly chase cam. Probably have to break it u p into segments. (Most people like shorter videos.) You might enjoy the fall colors videos on my channel, such as: ua-cam.com/video/Tr-dwxiRCKw/v-deo.html which is part 1 of 4 parts. Thanks for commenting!
Красиво сел .
Beautiful scenery you’re flying over!
Yes! It does not need to be spectacular, like Glacier Park or the Alps to be very pretty. Glad you liked it.
I love watching these, they really capture what it's like to be up there better than anything else I've seen!
Wow, that is a great compliment. That is what I'm aiming for. I like to watch them myself in the dead of winter when there is very little flying. Thanks for commenting!
Fantastic view from your camera. Well done 👍
Thanks. Fun way to fly formation with yourself. 😏
Muy buenafilmacion a esa hora del día !!! Gracias por compartir !!!
Thanks, Jose. I'm glad people are enjoying it.
interesting camera drag. works very well.
Took a lot of experimenting. But that is fun, too.
what a dream!!
Hello there! Sorry for delay in response. Been a busy week! Yessir, moved to Great Falls in '69. First residence was right next to the CMR museum. Then it was a log cabin type thing. The REAL mint bar was still working. Would like to say more but is there a way to get a hold of you otner than you tube? Take care.
Go here: www.youtube.com/@19sloper/about and you should find a button down the page that says 'view email address.'
This place is like something out of a dream. Where is it ?
Just plain ol' North Central Montana.
The scenery is awesome. And you did all of that on 5 gallons of fuel?
The whole flight was about an hour, so less than 3 gallons.
1,LOW & SLOW is the way to GO
2,What a beautiful EARTH we live on. And we can FLY
3,How did you stabilize the chase cam? Longer wing ,more mass, much better.
Thanks for your thoughts, Albert. Yes, Slow flight in the open is flying. Big and fast is operating an airplane. Both can be fun, but low and slow is the way to go for pure enjoyment! I heartily agree, we are lucky to be able to fly and appreciate our beautiful and varied planet from above.
The chase cam was quite a challenge. The problem there is not vibration, but wiggly movement. I tried several designs and towing techniques, but there was always some shake The thing that really fixed it was (unfortunately) a newer camera with better image stabilization. My Akaso V50x cameras stabilization do a good job mounted on the airframe, but the videos with a really steady view from the drogue were done with a GoPro Hero 8 Black. There are some things I very much dislike about GoPros, and they are very expensive, but the image stabilization really works in this application.
Have a look at ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html. It shows a composite view of looking back at the chase cam, and what the chase cam saw .at the same time.
I've been thinking about how to stabilize a camera on the end of a string. In this case... who knows.
But somewhere I have seen a stable platform on a plane. It came to me last night while trying to get to sleep, to many coffees.
Flying fuel tankers. Like you don't have enough to do. A long selfee
Stick. To difficult to manage. That's all I have.
Tks for the views. Yours truly
A Ho
@@alberthoner304 You can see how the drogue behaves on the end of the string by watching my video ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html
This was with my old Hero 5 Session with less effective Image Stabilization. You can see the drogue does not actually move much, but still makes the video shaky. With the Hero 8 Black, it is very smooth. I even tried towing an RC model airplane slope glider to see if it would make a steady camera drogue. What a disaster!😲
I've got to get my FireStar out of mothballs and go flying!
Where are you located? It looks like a beautiful area - Wyoming?
Central Montana. About 60 miles from the East Slopes of the Rockies. I know of no place in Wyoming this nice. Yeah, get that Firestar in the air!
What a great video. Definitely will be watching this again. Would you mind briefly sharing how you learned to fly UL’s and any recommendations you may have for someone wanting to learn? With the folding wings, have you been able to trailer the Firefly to other destinations? Thank you, sir.
I started out hang gliding in the very early days.. Later started flying a Quicksilver type powered Ultralight that had weight shift control. There was no such thing as dual instruction. Nowadays it is possible to get dual in a UL type machine, but it may be hard to find. With the 3-axis UL's like a Firefly, at least get some dual in a very light two seat airplane. Although flying an Ultralight is very different from a conventional airplane. I have a trailer for the Firefly that you can see in some of my other videos, but have not traveled much with it, because I keep it at farm strip handy to my house. No reason you couldn't take the trailer to other flying sites. I bought the Firefly at Oshkosh and trailered it home to Montana.
Thank you for the quick response. One last question if I may: Do you service the engine yourself?
Yes. With Ultralights you pretty much need to learn to do everything on your machine. If you are lucky enough to live where there are lots of others doing the same thing, you could probably find a friend who could help. If it ever came to major engine work involving splitting the case, etc, I would send the engine out to a rebuilder. Where are you located?@@tnewman9037
@@19sloper I live in Orlando, FL.
Do you ever wish you could take passengers? I have a sport pilot license for my 2 place powered parachute. Thinking about getting endorsement for fixed wing and considering the Kolb. Folding wing aircraft is my only option. Thanks.
I also have a 2-seater but usually fly solo in that as well. Yes, the list of folding wing UL's and Light Sports is pretty short. At least the ones that are quick and convenient and fold narrow enough to fit in an enclosed trailer. Kolb has several good options, and has been around a long time.
@@19sloper
I would love to have a phone conversation with a Kolb pilot. Is that a possibility? I can provide my phone number if so. Thank you.
Sure Greg. I'd be happy to visit with you.@@greggschachterleppc2769
Great plane. Beautiful view. But how did you rig the camera on that line to be sure it won't go in the prop? What kind of camera?
The line goes out through a small carabiner that is hooked into a PVC bracket attached to the leading edge of the wing. I have tried locations on the wingtip and further in on the strut, and they all work fine. The line would hit the tail before hitting the prop, but it never comes close. It trails straight back with very little side motion, even during quick maneuvers. The camera in this video is a GoPro Hero 8 Black.
@@19sloper Very clever. Would you mind posting some pics of it on YT? I was thinking of something similar for my Quicksilver MXL II. But you've already solved it. Thanks.
@@michaelbishton9439 You might start by watching some of Martin Barackman's videos. He shows how to make the drogue and reel system very clearly. ua-cam.com/video/qtj13raGESk/v-deo.html
I experimented with several other designs, but ended up with the soda bottle type similar to what Martin used. Also, you can look at some of my other videos with a view of mine in flight. Snoop around on my channel and you will find lots more. One example is here: ua-cam.com/video/VvPoMXlC6O0/v-deo.html
@@19sloper Perfect! Thank you kindly for your prompt reply point the way. This is great!
@@michaelbishton9439 A lot of fun with a pop bottle and a cordless drill or screwdriver! 😎 And, if it ever came loose for some reason, it would fall slowly and not hurt anything on the ground. It is really just a big badminton birdie. I intentionally .drug one on the ground over an open field one time. I had a counterweight on it instead of a camera. It pulled the key ring open and did not break the monofilament line. Could not feel it jerk the plane at all. Thought I could find the thing afterward, but no way! 🙄
nice place nice vue nice plane
Thanks, Marco. I'm lucky to have a great place to fly. Glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful way to see the country side. WY? MT?
North Central Montana. Sort of a Trailbike of the Big Sky. 😎
That pointy hill looks like a pyramid pile .
Yes. We have a lot of buttes around here, some flat top, some like this. This one is about 800 ft high. We used to hang glide off there. Nice for that, because it faces all directions and is nice and steep. For a look at a Flat Top Butte, take a look at one of my other videos "Rain Shadows." ua-cam.com/video/nNJql2YLa9E/v-deo.html
Nice!
Great angle/rig, central Montana looks good, why does everybody go to Idaho?!
Thanks!
One thing Idaho has over Montana is backcountry strips. The "Fly Idaho" Book lists something like 70 of them, and Idaho Aeronautics supports many of them. Montana has, off the top of my head, about 5. But, Montana has more of a mixture of mountains, plains, and cool geological features like buttes. Montana has a lot more wind, though. Hence the early morning Ultralight flights.
@@19sloper Thanks, never knew Montana was more windy!
no camera vibration at all. How did you attach the camera?
it just hangs on a drogue (looks like a big badminton birdie) that deploys on a string and is towed behind the airplane. You just reel it out in flight, and reel it in before landing. It is referred t as a Chase Cam. The camera also needs very good image stabilization to be this smooth, because the drogue wobbles around a bit.
what engine are you running?
447.
Hi . How much money costs this little bird ?
They are not producing new ones for the time being at least. Used Fireflys can be found occasionally for perhaps between $8,000 and $15,000 or so. The FireStar model, which is very similar, with longer wings, is more commonly found for sale used.
@19sloper Thanx. I'm pretty interested in acquiring one soon. For a while I was thinking about delta wings but this little birds have much more charm for me...
@@bagoistvan3182 . I was thinking delta wing myself but I've come to the conclusion a 3 axis is really the direction I want to go. There are a few reasons but two come to mind. One, if you're in choppy air I think holding on to the control bar with all of its movement would get old after a bit. Sure, I know it can be done but a control stick just takes much less effort. Second, I want to fly distance and I think something with a somewhat enclosed cockpit would just be more pleasant. If I had 3x as much money maybe I would get a delta, but if I can only have one, then 3 axis. Got my eye on the Rans S12 model.
@@matthewhoopes7757 Hi. We are in similar boat much or less..for years i put aside money and this year with God's help i start training toward my PPL with the ultimate goal of reaching the CPL with instruments rating...if all cards fall in the right place , i even set my eyes on a beautiful Piper Tomahawk ...I had in my youth flown some gliders as cadet pilot but after a while it came the moment of decision for me and i avoided after that any deviations like deltaplanes, paragliders , RC planes etc..etc..because they have been distraction from the course at which I'm aiming. ...to fly over the Nazca plateau in my own personal aircraft....I whish you many flying hours and happy landings. Who knows ? Maybe one day I will make it over The Atlantic and fly all the way down to the South ...Best regards. 🍺🍺🍺👍😁
A.m. is best
For sure! Flying is the only thing I'm happy to get up early for. 😏
Is it a different cam?
Firefly X Lite Il ?
Yes, it is a GoPro Hero 8 Black.
@@alberthoner304 Not sure what you mean. There was a Firestar II, but I think only one model of the FireFly.
So the GP8Black improved the view. The fishing rod is brilliant, able to reel out and in. It appears the tip is at the wing, strut connection.
I am not an aerodynamics engineer or a train engineer just a retired driver.
Could clearer airflow be found? Maybe higher above wing or easier yet , lower in the airstream but when retracted not dragging on the ground.
@@alberthoner304 I have tried a few different places to mount the pulley (Actually just a clip from a dog leash. It can be seen clearly at about 10:18 in the video.) I tried it on the strut, on the wingtip, and here it is mounted on the leading edge. Didn't seem to make much difference. I also tried reeling the thing WAY out so it was further back and further below. Doesn't seem to matter much as long as it is not close behind the wing.
The fishing line is wound on a spool which is attached to a cordless screwdriver. Some folks have used a cordless drill. ua-cam.com/video/qtj13raGESk/v-deo.html is a video by Martin Barackman which shows how one version of the drogue and reel is made. Mine are a bit different. I tried quite a few different drogues, but settled on the pop bottle type with the camera mounted higher than Martin's.