| The FIB was patented by Polaris Motor SRL, the first
Italian producer of hand gliders and ultralights, in 1986, in
collaboration with the well known RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat )
manufacturer, Lomac Nautica. The Malingri Family, owner of Polaris
with their experience and knowledge of the sea, designed a safe and
seaworthy ultralight with a very simple maintenance, easy to use from
boats or beaches.
Since 1987 more than 1000 units have been sold around the world
(Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, Red Sea, Argentina, Madagascar,
USA etc.) Toyota bought 80 FIBS, many units operate from tourist
resorts, and are on maxi yachts. The navy seals of Singapore use FIB's
for special missions.
Greenpace has two FIB's and used them during the French nuclear testing
.
Technical features
| WEIGHT BASIC UNIT: |
FIB 503 kg 198 - FIB 582 Kg 216 |
| MAX. TAKE OF WEIGHT: |
FIB 503 Kg 388 FIB 582 Kg 406 |
| STALL SPEED: |
48 Km/h |
| CRUISING SPEED: |
65/70 Km/h |
| MAX. SPEED: |
80 Km/h |
| FUEL CAPACITY: |
40 litri |
| WING SPAN: |
11.15 mt |
| WING SURFACE: |
19.6 sqmt |
| ASPECT RATIO: |
6 |
| DOUBLE SURFACE: |
35 % |
| CONFIGURATION: |
Biplace tandem - 2 Seater |
The FIB motorized with the Rotax 582 was realized not for more HP,
but to reduce drastically the noise emissions. The residue power allows
to silence the motor and install a three blade propeller. The FIB 582 is
in this way more fit for use in places were noise can be unwelcome
(Hotels, resorts etc).
FIB 582 is equipped as follows : Rotax 582 two stroke, two
cylinder, twin carburetors and twin ignition, water cooled, mechanical
reduction gear box type C or E, silencer on intake filter and on exhaust
muffler, triple blade wood propeller with special protection on leading
edge, console with radiator temperature instrument and with place for 4
more gauges, wing single surface 19.6sqmt.
Why we use a Rubber Inflatable Boat (RIB ) as a float
The FIB's is designed to fly on all water surfaces including the sea
which is the largest runway available in the world.
The pontoon's system, popular in the ultralight field, was not found
safe and seaworthy for a weight shifting machine. It's well known that a
single hull seaplane has better performances in rough sea than the
conventional pontoon's like the catamaran style .
For this reason the most popular seaplanes in the world are all single
hull : like the Catalina, the Canadair, and more .
After two years of testing Polaris Motor chose a specially made RIB
(Rigid Inflatable Boat) for floating, that permitted safe take off and
landings even in fairly rough sea.
The boat jumps from one wave to another with out any problems till it
reaches it's take of speed.
The boat also protects the whole machine (including the propeller) from
the water during take off with big waves, leaving the pilot, passenger,
and engine 100% dry. In case of very bad landings, the boat slips around
avoiding capsizing and relative damages .
Compared to a machine equipped with pontoon catamaran style, the
inflatable boat has a more naturally aerodynamic shape that reduces the
drag in the air and does not interfere negatively with the control of
the aircraft.
For this reason the FIB allows take off and landing up to sea strength
3/4 without any problems.
Without a wing FIB is a very fast airboat.
With the wheel kit the FIB can be transformed in few minutes in a land
trike to fly in land or, with ski, on ice and snow.
The fiberglass hull of the RIB is specially designed for surfing fast
with low power, this allows the FIB to reach the take-off speed in a
very short run.
It's easy to understand that the FIB is very safe while taxiing in water
to reach take off and landing areas, and has many advantages if compared
to other sea ultralights: transport on a little trailer, storage,
parking on beaches, docks etc. |
