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The
boat
1. With the help of Lomac's designers and after many
tests, we increased the volumes on the bow to compensate the
trust of the propeller that, contrary of what happens in a
traditional boat, is high in the air instead of underwater.
This allows the bow under full trust to come out of the water
much quicker and the stern has not anymore the tendency to
"slip" laterally under the same conditions.
2. We increased the V on the bow to improve the performances
in choppy water.
3. To help the planing, especially in completely flat
water, a well-known boat architect (Donno Des.) designed for
us some lateral steps in the stern region and longitudinal
ones in the bow. This breaks the "suction" effect
that is experienced in those conditions. The system is used
in big boats to help planing with low power. In our case we
found out that it corrects also the "torque" effect
we experience when we give full power in "plow"
running and quickens a lot the transition to "planning".
To reach this result, and also to improve the longitudinal
stability, the boat is wider in the back. All this allows
to start from 0 speed to taking-off speed practically without
using the rudder and makes nearly impossible the 180 spins
experienced sometime in particular conditions or sloppy piloting.
4. The deck has a new design to improve structural
strength but with less material and can be filled with water
for improved stability in taxiing in strong wind conditions.
5. The resin used, instead of the traditional Polyester,
is Vynilester that has characteristics very near to the Epoxy
resin. We have in this way a stronger, more elastic and lighter
hull.
6. The Hypalon used for the inflatable part is now
much lighter than the standard one but with equal strength
and durability. All this improvements make the new model Fib
boat completely different from a standard inflatable because
it's specifically designed for the particular use we make
of it and it is the fruit of the experience we gained in 13
years of production and flying of this particular ultralight.
The weight of the Fib 2001 boat is now only 58 Kg (127 Lb)
and this includes the paddles, rudder, air pump and all the
stainless steel hardware fixed on it !!
The wing
The performance of the hull allowed us to mount standard on
the new model Fib a completely
new designed wing that is 2.5 Sqm. smaller than the original
one. The wing has a different shape of the "roach"
, variations in the batten profile to widen the speed ranges
and has more tension in the leading edge and in all the wing
surface. We maintained the same span of the 21Sqm in this
way we have now a bigger :aspect ratio". We reach in
this way a better handling in the air (practically similar
to that of a normal land trike), a more safe handling in taxing
with strong wind joined with slightly improved maximum speed
but maintaining the low stall speed. The wing is
studied for the use in sea environments and has all stainless
steel bolts, some sealed parts and tube-to-tube junctions
made with special grease for increased protections. This wing
can be used only on the new version of the Fib and as a training
wing in trikes and in trikes dedicated to hang-glider towing.
Just to give an idea of the performance of the new model FIB
we succeeded in taking -off it with pilot and passenger, Rotax
503 engine (48hp)flat surface and wind in the back of approx
4knots! Something impossible with the old Fib 582 (64hp) and
surely for all other sea-ultralights in the market.
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