Photograph:
The prototype Sea Eagle 19-3642 (c/n 1) prior to its first flight (T Crump – Pure Emotion, Townsville)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat light sport amphibian
Power Plant:
One 48 kw (65 hp) Rotax 582UL 2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled electronic dual-ignition engine
Specifications:
- TBA
History:
The Sea Eagle was designed and built by William “Bill” Starke of Townsville, QLD and was flown by him in the initial performance trials. It was approved by Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA) for kit production under the 51% rule and a prototype was built and flown in early trials. Unfortunately Mr Starke passed away before development could be completed [from a trade related illness – he was a radiator builder and repairer]. The plane was said to be mothballed and placed in storage, eventually being slowly stripped of all the valuable parts, engine, instruments, controls etc. The prototype was registered with RAA as 19-3642 on 1 November 2001 and struck off the register on 1 November 2002.
A company called Blackhawk is said to have obtained manufacturing rights to the Sea Eagle and planned to put it into full production in the first quarter of 2009 as a kit. It was to be one of the most complete kits available (no paint or resins included) and it “would be very reasonably priced”. This company announced it intended to have the Sea Eagle at the 2009 Old Station fly-in at Raglan in Queensland on the June long weekend 2009, and at the International Air Show at Bundaberg in August 2009. Figures for the cost of the kit, including engine, propeller, instruments, radio etc had not been completed at that time.
It does seem the aircraft was completed but at the time of the above photograph it had not flown. However, after the demise of Mr Starke, there was a dispute as to ownership of the aircraft and it sat in the open for a period exposed to the elements. It seems the Rotax 503 engine, which provided 37 kw (50 hp), was installed initially but with this engine it was found to be underpowered. The engine was changed to the Rotax 582 which provided 48 kw (65 hp) but it seems during testing this engine failed and the aircraft made a forced landing in rough bush, the wings being broken off but the fuselage surviving. New wings were built for the prototype, and a further two aircraft were commenced to be constructed from the same moulds. It is said these were both completed and were fitted with Subaru EA-81 engines but as far as is known they have not appeared on the RAA aircraft register and it is not known if they were in fact completed and flown.