Stolp SA-500 Starlet

SA-500 Starlet
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
Designer Lou Stolp
Status Plans available (2015)
Number built 35 (1998)[1]
Unit cost
US$100 (plans only, 2015)
Variants White WW-1 Der Jäger D.IX

The Stolp SA-500 Starlet is an American amateur-built aircraft. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty of Corona, California.[2][3]

Design and development

The Starlet features a strut-braced parasol wing, a single-seat open cockpit with a windshield, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[2][3]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing, while the wing is made from wood and covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 25 ft (7.6 m) span wing employs a Clark YH airfoil, has an area of 83 sq ft (7.7 m2). The recommended installed power is 65 to 125 hp (48 to 93 kW), and engines used include the 65 hp (48 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine, the 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL, 100 hp (75 kW) Subaru EA-81, Suzuki and small Continental Motors, Inc. powerplants.[2][3][4][5]

The construction time is estimated to be 1400 hours.[5]

Operational history

By 1998, the company reported that 35 aircraft were completed and flying.[1]

Variants

Specifications (SA-500 Starlet)

Data from Bayerl and Aircraft Spruce & Specialty[2][5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 25 ft (7.6 m)
  • Wing area: 83 sq ft (7.7 m2)
  • Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 22 U.S. gallons (83 L; 18 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine four cylinder, air-cooled, 1500 cc four stroke aircraft engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (209 km/h; 113 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h; 91 kn)
  • Range: 630 mi (547 nmi; 1,014 km)
  • Wing loading: 12.0 lb/sq ft (59 kg/m2)

References

  1. 1 2 Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 263. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 121. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. 1 2 3 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 128. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. ↑ Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Aircraft Spruce & Specialty (2012). "Starlet SA500". Retrieved 21 October 2012.
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