FK-12 Comet c/n 2 D-MVML

I would like to thank pilot and owner Johannes Seidl for the following information about the history of his Comet D-MVML c/n 2 ( who can tell me please the fate of Comet c/n 1 D-MPLI ?? )

D-MVML started life as a B&F factory supplied kit - the kit was built in 1998 and was fully assembled by 1999. The first flight of this aircraft took place in May 2000 at Dankern.

Johannes bought the Comet secondhand in 2006 from a flight training school - at the time of purchase this aircraft had some minor damage to the wing tips and the bottom of the rudder. He decided to install a new Jabiru 3330 engine into the airframe and also replaced the undercarriage with a wider span undercarriage supplied by the aircraft manufacturing firm Extra. Test flying started in May 2007.

Johannes had the aircraft completely overhauled by B&F Protech at Krosno in Poland between November 2008 and April 2009 - the photo below shows the aircraft after the overhaul with the Jabiru engine and wider undercarriage span. 

So far this aircraft has now flown approximatley 250 flight hours with almost 100 flight hours on the Jabiru engine. The aircraft operates from an airfield near Cologne.

Johannes says   " The Jabiru is a fantastic engine with the characteristics and sound of a "big" biplane. The torque is very high and the rpm is much lower than a Rotax. Cruising with 2600 Rpm is very relaxed flying (About 98 kt/ 18L per minute fuelconsumption). "

A new more aerodynamic cockpit windscreen will be fitted later in 2010.


D-MVML features in the Youtube video link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpIa25IyIoI&feature=related


Thanks Johannes for sharing the life story of your FK-12 Comet.


Steve

FK-12 Comet with Jabiru 3300 engine

FK-12 Comet with Jabiru 3300 engine

Aerokurier Magazine of June 2006 ( ! ) reported the following relating to Comet D-MOBS.

""Andreras Lehmacher has equipped his FK 12 Comet with the six-cylinder Jabiru 3300 (120hp/88kW). The air sports aircraft office of the Deutscher Aero Club has awarded a Provisional Airworthiness Certification to the re-build, and the flight trials have been running for several weeks. It was clear after the first hours in the air that the Australian engine was a good fit for the agile biplane. It now climbs at 1,500ft/min at 120km/h, and at 2,400 rpm it advances at 155km/h."" with thanks to Aerokurier magazine.

UPDATE 1.9.09 - Andreras Lehmacer has contacted me and confirmed the above news item and also that two other Comets have now modified with Jabiru 3300 engines, these are D-MUZZ and D-MVML - Thanks to Andreras.