Starfire Firebolt

Last updated
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Starfire Aviation
Designer G. H. "Mac" McKenzie
Status Production completed
Number built At least nine
Unit cost
US$275.00 (plans only, 1998)
Developed from Steen Skybolt

The Starfire Firebolt, sometimes called the Starfire Firebolt Convertible, due to its removable canopy, is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed by G. H. "Mac" McKenzie and produced by Starfire Aviation of Tempe, Arizona. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, with some pre-fabricated parts available. [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.

Biplane airplane wing configuration with two vertically stacked main flying surfaces

A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage over a monoplane, it produces more drag than a similar unbraced or cantilever monoplane wing. Improved structural techniques, better materials and the quest for greater speed made the biplane configuration obsolete for most purposes by the late 1930s.

Contents

Design and development

The Firebolt was developed from the Steen Skybolt and features a biplane layout with interplane struts, cabane struts and flying wires, a two-seats-in-tandem open, or optionally, enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy that slides back, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration. [1]

Steen Skybolt

The Steen Skybolt is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane. Designed by teacher Lamar Steen as a high school engineering project, the prototype first flew in October 1970.

Tandem arrangement in which people, machines, or animals are in line behind one another facing forward

Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction.

Bubble canopy

A bubble canopy is a canopy made without bracing, which attempts to provide 360° vision to the pilot. Bubble canopy designs vary. Some, like on later versions of the F4U Corsair, are built into the upper rear fuselage, while others, like the canopy of the P-51D Mustang and most modern fighter aircraft, are built flush with the fuselage, providing unobstructed rear visibility.

The aircraft is made of mixed construction, with a welded steel tubing, aluminum and wooden structure, all covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 24.00 ft (7.3 m) span wing employs a NACA 63A015/0012 airfoil and has a wing area of 150.0 sq ft (13.94 m2). The cockpit width is 29 in (74 cm). The acceptable power range is 180 to 300 hp (134 to 224 kW) and the standard engine used is the 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming IO-540 powerplant. With that engine the aircraft has a cruise speed of 202 mph (325 km/h) and an initial climb rate of 4,000 ft/min (20 m/s). [1] [4]

Aircraft dope

Aircraft dope is a plasticised lacquer that is applied to fabric-covered aircraft. It tightens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes, which renders them airtight and weatherproof.

NACA airfoil

The NACA airfoils are airfoil shapes for aircraft wings developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The shape of the NACA airfoils is described using a series of digits following the word "NACA". The parameters in the numerical code can be entered into equations to precisely generate the cross-section of the airfoil and calculate its properties.

Airfoil

An airfoil or aerofoil is the cross-sectional shape of a wing, blade, or sail.

The Firebolt has a typical empty weight of 1,325 lb (601 kg) and a gross weight of 2,000 lb (910 kg), giving a useful load of 675 lb (306 kg). With full fuel of 39 U.S. gallons (150 L; 32 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 441 lb (200 kg). [1]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 300 hp (224 kW) engine is 400 ft (122 m) and the landing roll is 800 ft (244 m). [1]

The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied plans as 3000 hours. [1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that six aircraft were completed and flying. [1]

In March 2014 eight examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although a total of nine had been registered at one time. [5]

Specifications (Firebolt)

Data from AeroCrafter, All-Aero and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage [1] [3] [4]

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 235 mph (378 km/h; 204 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 202 mph (325 km/h; 176 kn)
  • Stall speed: 62 mph (100 km/h; 54 kn)
  • Range: 500 mi (434 nmi; 805 km)
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
  • Rate of climb: 4,000 ft/min (20 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 13.3 lb/sq ft (65 kg/m2)

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 257. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN   0-9636409-4-1
  2. "American airplanes: St - Sz". Aerofiles.com. 1940-04-15. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  3. 1 2 "Starfire Aviation Firebolt". All-aero.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  4. 1 2 Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage" . Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  5. Federal Aviation Administration (10 March 2014). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved 10 March 2014.