Photograph:
Star-Lite Aircrft Starlite 10-1274 (c/n not known) at Wedderburn, NSW in 2013 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-engine light sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 33 kw (44 hp) Rotax 447 two-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.55 m (21 ft 5 in)
- Length: 4.99 m (16 ft 4 in)
- Height: 1.22 m (4 ft)
- Wing area: 5.30 m² (57.05 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
- Cruising speed: 153 km/h (95 mph)
- Stalling speed: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Rate of climb: 274 m/min (900 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,658 m (12,000 ft)
- Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.2 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 109 kg (240 lb)
- Loaded weight: 227 kg (500 lb)
History:
The Starlite was a single-seat light sports aircraft designed by Mark Brown (who also designed the Aero Design Pulsar). It was aimed at the market for a simple, inexpensive aircraft and was produced by Star-Lite Aircraft of Engelwood, Ohio, the prototype flying for the first time in May 1983. At that time it won the Outstanding New Design award at the EAA event at Oshkosh in Wisconsin. It was introduced to the ultralight market in kit form shortly thereafter. It was a cantilever low-wing single-seat aircraft with an enclosed cockpit and had a tailwheel undercarriage but a tricycle undercarriage could be installed. Construction was composite. The kit is no longer available but parts can be obtained from a support group of builders / owners. Development of the design led to the Pulsar two-seat aircraft of similar appearance which has been marketed by Aero Designs. The aircraft at one stage was also known as the Aero Designs Starlite Starlite.
A few examples were built in Australia and one 10-1274, registered on 14 March 1991, was partially restored at The Oaks near Sydney, NSW until moved to the Sports Aircraft airstrip at Wedderburn, NSW for completion.