| 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 .
The strength of the FIB is given by his simplicity: in
only 10 hours of flight lesson you are perfectly capable
of flying in safety.
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 |
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.
FIB 503 is equipped as follows : Rotax 503 two
stroke, two cylinder, air cooled, twin ignition, twin or
single carburetor, two blade wood propeller with special
protection on leading edge, 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.
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