From Reunion to France - Comet #49

This week I received an interesting email from Sébastien in France - he has just taken delivery of Comet #49 and this is now part of his fleet at SkyOuest base at the airfield at Ploermal-Loyat a few miles to the west of Rennes.

FK-12 Comet #49 F-JMBS back in France 2012

This Comet was originally built in 2002 and delivered to Papangue ULM based on the Reunion Isles ( Dept 974 ) far away in the Indian ocean.  The Comet was painted in a yellow and blue colour scheme and registered locally as "974-GJ" operating scenic flights over the volcanoes and tropical beaches of Renuion.

 FK-12 Comet #49 974-GJ in sunny Reunion 

In 2012 the Comet returned to France and as been renovated and repainted by the French FK dealer Innov'Air  

To contact SkyOuest use the link below


SkyOuest Website 





Steve

New FK-12 Comet registered in the USA

Two new Comets were imported into the USA earlier this year. The first of these c/n 102 has now been registered by Renegade Light Sport N647RL - Both aircraft are being fitted with the new Lycoming IO-233-LSA engine by Renegade at their Montana facility, this engine is designed for LSA aerobatic flight.

The photos above show the Lycoming engine installation on the FK-12 Comet  - once FAA paperwork is complete the aircraft will progress to flight trails.

More info on the web link below


Renegade Light Sports


Steve

Aero 2012 Friedrichshafen - FK-12 Comet exhibit

Europes largest general aviation trade show "Aero 2012" took place last week at Friedrichshafen, Germany.

FK Lightplanes exhibited their range of varied aircraft, the FK-9, FK-14 and the FK-12 Comet biplane.

The Comet exhibited at Aero 2012 is a brand new build Comet S2 model registered D-MFKJ painted in an attractive yellow/white/black colour scheme with construction number 098.

FK Lightplanes recently delivered the 100th Comet.



Steve

Comet #100 - Something Special

Back in March 1997 the very first FK-12 Comet D-MPLI took to the air for the first flight of this new design.  Now FK Lightplanes can celebrate the delivery of Comet #100.

Comet #100 and #101 have been sold to France and they are unlike any previous Comet !

Comet #100

These two FK-12 Comets are operated by Les Ailes de Pegase Experience from the airfield at Saint Estephe, just north of Pauillac ( which is just north of Bordeaux ).  Both aircraft were delivered in a basic white colour scheme but have now been repainted grey with sharksmouths under the engine cowling. Grey Sharks - Fierce Comets !

Ailes de Pegase offer FK-12 Air Combat Experience - both aircraft air fitted with laser guns and smoke systems. This is your chance to try aerial combat over the skies above the Gironde. Shoot well and the laser will trigger the release of smoke from the "enemy" Comet. The range of the laser is approx 200m.

Comet #101

The company has several ex military fast jet pilots who will fly with you to teach you the skills of close formation flying and aerial dog-fighting - it sounds great fun !

I'd like to thank Laurent Pons for this very interesting Comet news.

More details about Ailes de Pegase can be found on their website link below

Link to Ailes de Pegase website


Steve

New colour scheme for Comet OO-F67

Belgian Comet OO-F67 has now been repainted into a new colour scheme. This FK-12 Comet is c/n 20 and was delivered new in 1999 in the then standard yellow/blue colours with the side code "12".  The aircraft was originally delivered to a German customer as D-MPHM.

Comet OO-F67 in the original colour scheme

In 2007 this Comet was sold to a new owner in Belgium and based at the airfield at Hannut/Avernas-le-Bauduin.  The aircraft has recently ( Winter 2011/2012 ) been repainted in an attractive new yellow/white/black colour scheme with "Comet 12" side markings.

I'd like to thank Arthur for this FK-12 Comet news.


Steve

FK-12 Comet - Video Review by Hansen Air Group

Hansen Air Group of USA have just uploaded a 14 minute video about the FK-12 Comet - take a look via the link below

Steve

Fly In - Bullingen 2012

This years Bullingen Fly In will take place over the weekend of 30th June / 1st July 2012 at the Bullingen airfield in Belgium.

 
This event includes a gathering of FK-12 Comet  - in previous years 10 or more Comets have flown into this event to meet and party ( search this Blog for Bullingen to see reports from previous years events ).

For more details please contact Guido Quetsch via email   quetschguido "at" gmx.net


Steve

Another new Comet

FK Lightplanes recently delivered this new FK-12 Comet to a customer in Germany - registered as D-MDMC this Comet was exhibited ( with no registration markings ) at the Aero 2011 trade show earlier in 2011.

After the show the aircraft returned to the FK factory at Krosno, Poland for final completion.  Note the revised wingtips. This photo shows the Comet at the FK delivery centre at Speyer, Germany.

With thanks to the marketing team at FK.

Steve

Comet "Big Beautiful Doll" - now in France

FK-12 Comet "Big Beautiful Doll" ( previously D-MYVO c/n 017 ) was sold in Summer 2011 - this aircraft was previously based in Italy.

The aircraft has moved to the Cannes area of the south of France - The new owner Pierre is a former 747 commercial airline pilot and he hopes to add an inverted oil system and fuel injection to the engine in the future.

Thanks for the news Pierre - Enjoy your Comet

Steve

Two more FK-12 Comets for the US - New engine too

Hi


Good news from Hansen Air Group of  Georgia, USA - they confirm that they have two new build FK-12 Comets on order for delivery to the US in late 2011.

These two aircraft will be fitted with the brand new Lycoming IO-233 engine ( rather than the normal Rotax 912 ) - the new engine will be installed by Renegade Light Sport - this will allow the FK-12 Comet to operate as an aerobatic Light Sports Aircraft ( LSA ) in the US.

More info on the new Lycoming IO-233 engine here -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoming_IO-233

http://www.lycoming.com/news-and-events/pdfs/233-engine.pdf


UPDATE 16th Nov 2011 - More info with thanks to Tony

http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/11/14/renegade-light-sport-developing-acro-engine-for-lsa/#more-53612



Steve

FK-12 Comet - Destination Beer !

FK-12 Comet pilot Richard has sent me some photos of his Comet registration 60-RJ construction number 043.


This Comet was built in 2001 and originally registered in Germany as D-MOVE. In 2010 this Comet was sold to a new owner in France.

 

It is now registered as 60-RJ and operates from an airfield near Paris - the new owner has modified the colour scheme by adding the name "Destination Beer" onto the tail rudder and by the addition of 12 beer logos beside the cockpit, sounds a great idea to me  - Cheers Richard !


Steve

FK-12 Comet Fly In at Wendelsheim

On the weekend of the 10th & 11th September a group of Comet pilots held their second annual "Fly In"  - this year the airfield location was at Wendelsheim in the Alzey-Worms district of Rhineland.

This year 9 Comets visited the event,

OO-F77, D-MFKD, D-MNAZ, D-MOJE, D-MSLK, D-MSLP, D-MSSS, D-MWEW, D-MYLG, 


Among the FK-12 Comets that visited the Fly In at Wendelsheim were,

D-MFKD c/n 060 - this Comet now has a new colour scheme - it was originally all yellow with a large "60" - the new colours feature a "flaming Comet rock" on the engine cowling - very nice.

D-MXIL c/n 088 - this Comet was delivered in 2010 - the colour scheme is virtually identical to Comet D-MVCW

D-MSSS c/n 029  - this Comet was built in 2001 and is flown by pilot Peter Kranz  - I think this colour scheme is one of the most attractive I've seen on a FK-12 Comet.






Steve

Comet Truck !

I recently received the photo below from Christoph Bruehl, the owner and pilot of FK-12 Comet D-MTBT.  His Comet usually lives in a hangar at the airfield but Christoph has adapted this truck to carry his Comet by road - handy for taking the Comet home to his workshop.

Note the rail underneath the Comet to help slide the aircraft in and out of the vehicle. 

Just make sure you don't forget to fold the wings first !

Thanks to Christoph for sharing this photo.


Steve

New Comet - D-MNAZ

I would like to thank Natze Altekemper of FK Service Center, Senden, Germany for the news about Comet #095 recently delivered in a lovely white and red colour scheme registered as D-MNAZ.

This new aircraft features a Fly Map LD moving map display.


Steve

FK-12 Comet For Sale - c/n 061 D-MSKH - Now SOLD

The owner of Comet D-MSKH c/n 061 has recently put his Comet up for sale.

Please view the link below for more details.


http://www.planecheck.com/?ent=da&id=16194

Please note that I am not responsible for the content of external web sites - if you have any questions about this aircraft please contact the seller directly.

UPDATE JULY 2011 - this aircraft is now SOLD

Steve

Comet #048 now in France

FK-12 Comet c/n 048 was built by the FK factory in 2002 and delivered new to a German owner registered as D-MRJD. The Comet was painted white & red.



In 2009 the aircraft was advertised for sale with approx 320 flight hours - by July 2009 the aircraft had been sold to a new owner in France registered as "86-IA" with radio callsign F-JRBC.

This Comet has also received some additions to its paint scheme - it is now marked "48" on the rear fuselage and the rudder now has a red & white pattern.

Thanks to "F-JRBC" for sending me this FK-12 Comet news update.


Steve

D-MYLG - Comet c/n 010 - a brief history

I have recently received a very interesting short history of FK-12 Comet D-MYLG from Rick the proud owner. 

This Comet was supplied in May 1998 as a B&F Technik factory built kit, 80% complete.

Rick and his brother spent almost 1,200 hours assembling the aircraft and by October 1999 the Comet was complete.  The weather was not good and Rick had to wait until a calm day in January 2000 to make the maiden flight lasting 20 minutes.
Rick had started his flying career with gliders and then motorgliders before learning to flying ultralight aircraft. 

The Comet is powered by a Rotax 912 UL 80 HP engine - the original 40 litre fuel tank has been replaced by a larger 58 litre tank.  Rick's airplane is open cockpit, he has no cosy canopy.

Rick is the only pilot to have flown D-MYLG and over the past 10 years this aircraft has flown approximatley 260 flight hours. This Comet operates from an airfield in the Ulm region.

Comet D-MYLG has factory supplied undercarriage leg covers something rarely seen on the FK-12.

Being a former glider pilot Rick has added a FLARM ( Flight Alarm ) warning indicator to his aircraft- this equipment is commonly fitted to gliders. The FLARM device will detect and warn the pilot of any other FLARM equipped aircraft or gliders in his vicinity and give a simple position indicator - Comet D-MYLG is based in an area with a lot of glider activity and Rick finds this equipment can be a useful flight safety aid.

 

Another interesting feature is the tail wheel and tow bar - this makes moving the aircraft on the ground much easier for one person.

The joy of flying with an open cockpit  - enjoy your flight "Biggles".

FK Lightplanes are once again offering the FK-12 Comet as a factory supplied kit - see link below


Link to FK Lightplanes FK-12 Comet "kit" for 2010


Steve

1,000+ hour Comet and Comet pilot

I have recently been in email contact with Comet pilot Wigbert Rippert - Wigbert is the owner of FK-12 Comet D-MOJE construction number ( werknummer ) 004.

This Comet aircraft was originally purchased as a kit from B&F - after assembly the first flight took place in June 1998. Wigbert bought the aircraft from a previous owner in 2000 when the aircraft had flown just 35 flight hours. He started his flying career flying gliders before flying and competing with hang gliders and later  flying motorised hang gliders.

Wigbert has now flown more than 1,000 flight hours in his Comet - congratulations on this great achievement.

Comet D-MOJE is based in the Bayern region and is painted in a distinctive blue and yellow USAAC type colour scheme.

Are they anymore pilots with 1,000+ Comet flight hours - let me know



Steve

FK-12 Comet c/n 086 - Update

I've recently received the photo below which shows FK-12 Comet c/n 086 in production at the FK Protech factory at Krosno in September 2010 - this aircraft will be powered by an EPA Power uprated Rotax engine.

The aircraft will be delivered to a customer in Italy at the end of October 2010 and might be painted in an attractive blue and orange colour scheme.


Steve

Comet D-MOVE "moves" to France

FK-12 Comet D-MOVE has recently been sold to a new owner in France. This Comet is c/n 43 and was built in 2001.  The aircraft was painted all yellow with a black "12" logo when operating as D-MOVE.


See Photo of D-MOVE in 2009

If you can help me with details of the new French Dept registration for this aircraft or a jpeg photo of it in France then please contact me - thank you.

Email Steve

Thanks to Ken Ede.


Steve