Photograph:
Pioneer International Aircraft Dualstar ZU-FEE at Ladysmith, South Africa in April 2014 (G Shephard)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat ultralight sporting monoplane
Power Plant:
One 31 kw (42 hp) Rotax 447 two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled, electronic single-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.1 m (29 ft 9 in)
- Length: 4.9 m (16 ft)
- Wing area: 13.3 m² (143.16 sq ft)
- Cruising speed: 80 km/h (49 mph)
- Stalling speed: 41 km/h (25 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.17 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 113 kg (249 lb)
History:
The Dual Star was a two-seat development of the Pioneer Flightstar which, in the mid 1980s, was marketed in Australia by Nason Industries of Melbourne, VIC. It was a strut-braced high-wing monoplane with rigid wings and a boom mounted tail unit. The wings were double surface with Dacron covering and had full-span ailerons, while the steel tricycle undercarriage had a bungee suspension and 25 cm (9.8 in) main wheels. The nosewheel was fully steerable. Larger main wheels were optional, as were wheel fairings, brakes, floats, skis and a ballistic parachute. At least two examples of this ultralight aircraft were registered in Australia, these being 10-0053 registered on 2 April 1988 with a Rotax 447 engine and 19-0395 registered on 21 May 2004 with a Rotax 515C engine.