Star Flight Starfire

Last updated
Starfire
Role Ultralight aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Star Flight Manufacturing
Designer Dick Turner
Introduction 1979
Status Production completed

The Star Flight Starfire is the first aircraft in a large family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Dick Turner and produced by Star Flight Manufacturing, introduced in 1979. The aircraft were all supplied as kits for amateur construction. [1] [2] [3]

United States federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

Homebuilt aircraft planes constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity

Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.

Contents

Design and development

The aircraft was designed before the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules were brought into effect, but all models comply with them anyway, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The Tristar, for instance, has a standard empty weight of 220 lb (100 kg). The line of aircraft all feature a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration. [1] [2] [3]

Tricycle landing gear aircraft undercarriage arranged with main gear under the wing or fuselage and a third set under the nose

Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has a single nose wheel in the front, and two or more main wheels slightly aft of the center of gravity. Tricycle gear aircraft are the easiest to take-off, land and taxi, and consequently the configuration is the most widely used on aircraft.

Pusher configuration arrangement of propellers on an aircraft to face rearward

In a vehicle with a pusher configuration, the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). According to British aviation author Bill Gunston, a "pusher propeller" is one mounted behind the engine, so that the drive shaft is in compression.

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 33 ft (10.1 m) span wing is cable-braced from a single element kingpost. The landing gear features a steerable nose wheel with a bicycle-style rim brake. The powerplant is mounted underneath the wing and drives a pusher propeller. [1] [2] [3]

Aluminium Chemical element with atomic number 13

Aluminium or aluminum is a chemical element with symbol Al and atomic number 13. It is a silvery-white, soft, nonmagnetic and ductile metal in the boron group. By mass, aluminium makes up about 8% of the Earth's crust; it is the third most abundant element after oxygen and silicon and the most abundant metal in the crust, though it is less common in the mantle below. The chief ore of aluminium is bauxite. Aluminium metal is so chemically reactive that native specimens are rare and limited to extreme reducing environments. Instead, it is found combined in over 270 different minerals.

The Tristar model took 25 hours to build from the factory-supplied assembly kit. [3]

Variants

Starfire
Initial model with a hybrid weight-shift and aerodynamic control system, designed in 1979. [1] [2]
Tristar
Model designed in 1980, with a conventional three-axis aerodynamic control system, using a side stick and spoilers for roll control. Revised fuselage for new control system. The standard engine supplied was the 30 hp (22 kW) Cuyuna 430R. [1] [2]
TX-1000
Model with a conventional three-axis aerodynamic control system, strengthened airframe and a 35 hp (26 kW) Rotax 377 two-stroke engine. [1] [2]
SC-1000
Improved model [2]
AC-2000
Improved model introduced in 1984. [2]

Specifications (Tristar)

Data from Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum [1] [2]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h; 48 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 38 mph (61 km/h; 33 kn)
  • Stall speed: 21 mph (34 km/h; 18 kn)
  • Range: 60 mi (52 nmi; 97 km)
  • Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
  • g limits: +5/-3
  • Maximum glide ratio: 7:1
  • Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
  • Rate of sink: 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s)

Related Research Articles

The Airborne Avenger is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Airborne Wing Design in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Seahawk Condor is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Buddy Head, Bob Carswell and Dave French and produced by Seahawk Industries and later by Condor Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Hovey Delta Bird is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Hovey in 1982 and supplied as plans for amateur construction.

The Goldwing Ltd Goldwing is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Craig Catto and Brian Glenn and produced by Goldwing Ltd. The aircraft was supplied as a complete factory-built aircraft only and no kits or plans were offered.

The Advanced Aviation Husky, Hi-Nuski and Coyote are a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Advanced Aviation. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction and introduced in 1978.

The Ultra-Efficient Products Invader is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Nick Leighty and Rick Berstling, produced by Ultra-Efficient Products and introduced in 1982.

Cascade Kasperwing I-80

The Cascade Kasperwing I-80 is an American ultralight flying wing motorglider that was designed by Witold Kasper and Steve Grossruck. It was produced by Cascade Ultralites and introduced in 1976. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Manta Foxbat is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bill Armour and produced by Manta Products Inc of Oakland, California. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Mitchell Wing P-38, also called the Lightning, is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Jim Mead and produced by Mitchell Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Paup P-Craft is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by D. Paup and produced by Paup Aircraft, introduced in 1982. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Waspair HM 81 Tomcat is a British canard ultralight aircraft of unusual design, that was produced by Waspair and later Midwest Microlites. The designer is disputed and Chip Erwin, Larry Whiting and Robin Haynes are all named as designers. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Skye Treck Skyseeker is a Canadian ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Skye Treck of Manitoba. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Eastern Ultralights Snoop is a family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Able and produced by Eastern Ultralights, starting in 1981. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Airmass Sunburst is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by John Massey and produced by Airmass Inc. in the early 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Ultra-Fab Sundowner, also called the Sundowner Convertible, is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Bob Leinen and produced by Ultra-Fab. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Swallow Aeroplane Company Swallow is a series of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Chet Fudge and produced by the Swallow Aeroplane Company in the 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Teratorn T/A is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Teratorn Aircraft. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Pinaire Ultra-Aire is an American ultralight aircraft that was designed and produced by Pinaire Engineering. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The LEAF Trike is an American ultralight trike that was designed and produced by Leading Edge Air Foils in the 1980s. The aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Vintage Ultralight SR-1 Hornet is an American homebuilt aircraft produced by the Vintage Ultralight and Lightplane Association of Marietta, Georgia, introduced in the early 1980s. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page E-38. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN   0-9680628-1-4
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Star Flight Tristar" . Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Virtual Ultralight Museum (n.d.). "Tristar" . Retrieved 16 December 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.