The Flyer was the second of three company aircraft to bear the same name, after the 1970 Kolb Flyer and followed by the 2008 production Kolb Flyer Super Sport, a version of the Canadian Ultravia Pelican. Introduced about 2001, The powered parachute was a break from previous Kolb designs, which were otherwise all fixed wing aircraft and was embarked upon to give the company a foothold in the then-expanding North American powered parachute market.[1] [2] [3]
The Flyer complies with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 4500NaN0. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 4230NaN0. It could also qualify as a US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules two-seat trainer. It features a 540square feet parachute-style wing, two-seats-in-tandem accommodation, tricycle landing gear and a single 640NaN0 Rotax 582 liquid-cooled engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft carriage is built from bolted metal tubing. In-flight steering is accomplished via foot pedals that actuate the canopy brakes, creating roll and yaw. On the ground the aircraft has lever-controlled nosewheel steering. The main landing gear incorporates spring rod suspension.[1]
The aircraft has an empty weight of 2870NaN0 and a gross weight of 9330NaN0, giving a useful load of 6460NaN0. With full fuel of the payload for crew and baggage is 5860NaN0.[1]
In July 2015 one example was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration as an experimental aircraft.[4]