Starfire Firebolt

Last updated

Firebolt
Starfire Firebolt (7-28-2023).jpg
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Starfire Aviation
DesignerG. H. "Mac" McKenzie
StatusProduction completed
Number builtAt least nine
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]

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]

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]

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

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falco F8L</span>

The Falco F8L is an Italian-designed lightweight 2-seater aerobatic aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pitts Special</span> Family of American aerobatic biplanes

The Pitts Special is a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944. The Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and, even today, remain potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partenavia Oscar</span>

The Partenavia P.64B/P.66B Oscar is an Italian two/four-seat, single-engined, high-wing monoplane built by Partenavia.

The Aviation Industries of Iran AVA-202 is an Iranian two-seat, light aircraft designed as a trainer and sporting aircraft. It was intended for the Iranian domestic market to avoid dependence on imports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steen Skybolt</span> American homebuilt aircraft

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.

The Jurca MJ-51 Sperocco is a plans-built two-seat tandem aerobatic aircraft derived from the Jurca MJ-5 Sirocco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wag-Aero CHUBy CUBy</span> Type of aircraft

The Wag-Aero CHUBy CUBy is a high-wing four-seat homebuilt cabin monoplane of tube-and-fabric construction, it is a modern representation of the Piper PA-14 taildragger with elements from other Piper family members. The plane is currently marketed as the Wag-Aero Sportsman 2+2 by Wag-Aero in kit form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murphy Elite</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Murphy Elite is a Canadian light aircraft that was designed and is produced by Murphy Aircraft of Chilliwack, British Columbia. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St-Just Cyclone</span> Canadian amateur-built aircraft

The St-Just Cyclone, also called the St-Just Cyclone 180, is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by St-Just Aviation of Mirabel, Quebec. The company has since moved to Boucherville, Quebec. While it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit and in the form of plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rihn DR-107 One Design</span> American homebuilt aerobatic aircraft

The Rihn DR-107 One Design is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dan Rihn and first flown in 1993. The aircraft is supplied by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty of Corona, California in the form of plans and a materials kit for amateur construction.

The Rihn DR-109 is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dan Rihn. The aircraft was supplied by Jim Kimball Enterprises of Zellwood, Florida and more recently by Ashcraft Aero Works of Aurora, Illinois in the form of plans. It was designed for competition aerobatics as well as a trainer for the Rihn DR-107 One Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft Technologies Acro 1</span> American homebuilt airplane

The Aircraft Technologies Acro 1 is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Fred Meyer and produced by Aircraft Technologies of Lilburn, Georgia. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction. Neither plans nor kits are available anymore and the aircraft is out of production.

The Giles G-200 is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was produced by AkroTech Aviation of Scappoose, Oregon. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft or a kit for amateur construction. The first customer-built aircraft made its first flight on May 26, 1996. AkroTech Aviation went out of business and the design is no longer in production.

The Bagalini Bagalini is an Italian homebuilt ultralight aircraft that was designed by Marino Bagalini. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elmwood Christavia Mk IV</span> Canadian homebuilt light aircraft

The Christavia Mk IV (Christ-in-Aviation) is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Ron Mason and produced by Elmwood Aviation of Frankford, Ontario. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collins Dipper</span> American homebuilt aircraft

The Collins Dipper was an American homebuilt flying boat that was designed and produced by Collins Aero of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania and first flown in 1982. The aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction. Only one was built and none remain registered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatz Classic</span> American homebuilt biplane

The Hatz Classic is an American homebuilt biplane, designed by Billy Dawson and produced by the Makelan Corporation of New Braunfels, Texas. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or, alternatively, in the form of plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SkyDancer SD-260</span> American homebuilt aircraft

The SkyDancer SD-260 was an American aerobatic homebuilt biplane that was designed and produced by SkyDancer Aviation of Louisville, Kentucky, introduced in the mid-1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit.

The Ultimate 10-200 is a Canadian homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed produced by Streamline Welding of Hamilton, Ontario, introduced in the 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The American Homebuilts John Doe is an American STOL homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Steve Nusbaum and produced by American Homebuilts of Hebron, Illinois, first flown in 1994. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

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. April 15, 1940. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Starfire Aviation Firebolt". All-aero.com. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (March 10, 2014). "Make / Model Inquiry Results" . Retrieved March 10, 2014.
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.