Glad it was helpful! This is just one segment from my movie "UFM2". You might like the rest of it. Go here: www.fitzvideo.com/Pages/UFM2.htm Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald - The Sky Surfer
Hello Brian, Great job on the video! The interview with Stanley was awesome, he sounds like the kind of guy I'd love to shoot the breeze with! I found myself wishing the narrative was a little longer! I built/flew a Weedhopper with the Chotia motor, early 80's...flew a Qucksilver MX a few times back then too...now a partial Sonex in the garage...wondering if it'll ever get done...ultralights starting to look pretty good! This Kolb looks very practical and fun! Mike in MA
I'm glad you liked it, Skip. By the way, I had the great fortune to visit Kerry back in the 1980's. It is quite beautiful. You might like some of my POV movies. Here is a good place to start: www.fitzvideo.com/Pages/POVs.htm Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald - The Sky Surfer
Dear Don, Thank you very much. The trip to Tennessee was a great time for me. Stanley was very knowledgeable and helpful. I have always liked the Kolb designs and if I didn't have a Quicksilver I would have a Kolb. I think you will like your Firefly a lot. Since you are getting into that type of flying you might like "Sky Surfing - The Flite Blog™". It is an on-going collection of photo journalistic stories by me recounting my "Fun Flights" across the Prairie of Kansas and Oklahoma. You can get to it from my website (fitzvideo.com). It also features excellent aviation photos from contributors all over. I will be cranking up my flight adventure stories once the weather cooperates again. It was 11 degrees yesterday... Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald
I purchased a gorgeous Firestar 2 with the 503, I've been doing some fast taxiing at about 30-35 MPH with the tail up. As Chitwood suggested. I'm able to hold it pretty straight down the runway. I'm about ready to take her up. I have many hours in the Quicksilver MXL but none in a tail dragger. I agree, it wud be nice to be able to chat with Stanly to help us newbies. There is a grass or weedy area next to runway where I may do my first few landings. I paid 10 Grand for my plane with avionics and helmet and an enclosed trailer. I wanted an electric start but It starts easily.
Dear Randy, Man, that is great! I really like the Kolb Two Seater. It is a fine plane. I can't give out Stan's number but he lived in the vicinity of the Kolb factory so maybe you can find him by using the directory service. Doing your first landings on grass is a good idea. Another is to get an experienced tailwheel flying buddy or instructor pilot to go up with you. I know some guys that did that before flying single seat tailwheel ultralights. Keep me posted! Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald - The Sky Surfer
Loved your introduction to your plane looks great would like to know how much money you’ve invest and how much in extras you look like you have great plane I would love to have one and just mite go for it also like the backyard flyer like to see someone as Meticulous as you detail it
Great video... The Firefly is a beautiful aircarft and that was a very interesting and informative walk through, Stanley. Thank you. I'm not a fixed wing pilot, I fly a paramotor, but really appreciate the beauty and functionality of this amazing flying machine. Thank you too Brian
Thanks! Since you liked Stanley's interview and airplane please check out others from UFM2 (Ultralight Flying Millennium 2) on my RU-vid Channel and pass the word. Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ ps: check out "Sky Surfing - The Flight Blog" for some Ultralight Adventures.
Dear Mike, I'm glad you liked it. I like Stan and he did a good job. Since you are considering Ultralights again, you would like "Sky Surfing - The Flite Blog™". I have been making fairly long flight adventures the last two Summers in my Quicksilver MXL and doing photo/journalism reports. You can find Sky Surfing on my website fitzvideo(dot)com. Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald
Dear Capn, Thanks again. I will be releasing some movies I did in the 1990's pretty soon. You might like them, too. You can check back often OR sign up on my RU-vid Channel OR send your email address and I'll put you on the mailing list. Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald
I just bought a Kolb Firefly kit. Hoping to put a Full Lotus Mono float on it. and perhaps a electric motor. does anyone have any experience or tips on these ideas? I live on the Champlain Islands in Lake Champlain and would love to float fly since I am surrounded by water ..
Dear Paul, The Kolb's are all good flyers. I don't know of anyone putting floats on them, though, and definitely have not heard of one with an electric motor. Let me know how it works out. Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ Brian FitzGerald - The Sky Surfer
Talked to Stanley Monday night. We talked about your interview with him. He is doing well. Still has his Firefly and tries to fly occasionally but has a sick family member and farms full time so it don't leave much time. Thanks for sharing his love for flying. Barry Speaks Somerset Kentucky.
Thanks, Barry! I like Stanley a lot. I'm glad to hear he is doing well. I have been shooting a new type of flying movie you might like that you can find here: www.fitzvideo.com/Pages/POVs.htm
I am interested in and watch all the ultralight videos, but at my age will likely not fly one. These aircraft remind me of the vehicles in the early automotive industry, as just enough "to get by". To the young adventurous types, have fun and be safe!
Sorry, I don't have his email address but regardless I couldn't give it out over the web. When I shot this in 2009 he lived in 0 0 1 2 12 FitzGerald Video 1 1 13 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Summerset KY. You can try the phone book there.
@Brian FitzGerald First of all I'd like to say this is a very entertaining & informative video!!!!!!! Secondly, my grandfather was Theo Chitwood. He was a brother to Fredrick Chitwood & the son of Hattie (Armenia) & Ray Bannon Chitwood. I'd really like to get in touch with that part of my family. I've never met any of them & I have very little information about them. I'm hoping someone out there might read this comment & help me get in touch with them. Chitwood is not a common name & I'd almost have to be related to one. I'm in London & can be reached by e-mail at yahoo
Dear JD, I checked and figure there are two ways you can go. #1. Contact Kolb Aircraft and ask them about Stanley. They are the ones who put me on to him in the first place. #2. Try sending him a letter. If you send me your email address, I will forward you the last home address I had for him. I used it to send him a copy of the movie once I had finished it. I do not have his telephone number. Later, The Sky Surfer
Hi Brian, first off I'd like to say, love the videos, really appreciate them! Would you be able to do a video like this one on the MXL? Specs, flight characteristics, handling, takeoff and landing procedures, learning to fly one looks like great fun! Trying to find a good one used myself! Thank you so much! God bless!
Dear Nathan, That's a good idea. I might do that but it will be a while. I have two other movies in the can to edit first and another idea in my mind to shoot... It's a little dated but you might like what I had to say about the MX I used to fly in the 90's. It was part of my movie "A Beginner's Guide to Ultralight Flying". Here is a link: ru-vid.com/group/PLw-1AzkBKwvMcBpo1o9R0ejjzxS9opB0z Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™ The Sky Surfer - Brian FitzGerald
Brian FitzGerald :We need this dialect just in case we have whipped out all the aboriginal species (Injuns-Navaho, Pawnee, etc.) and have another war with a non English speaking country like Canada.
I really like the description the pilot was giving I forget his name. I really want to get one of these but I would have to put it in a hanger cuz I don't have the land to make a runway.
