Star Flight Starfire

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Starfire | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Ultralight aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Star Flight Manufacturing | design_group = | designer = Dick Turner | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1979 | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Star Flight Starfire''' is the first aircraft in a large family of American ultralight aircraft that was designed by Dick Turner and produced by Star Flight Manufacturing, introduced in 1979. The aircraft were all supplied as kits for amateur construction.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-38. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="VUM">{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/so.htm#starflighttri |title = Star Flight Tristar|accessdate = 16 December 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}</ref><ref name="VUM2">{{Cite web|url = http://virtualultralightmuseum.com/t.htm#tristar|title = Tristar|accessdate = 16 December 2011|last = Virtual Ultralight Museum|date = n.d.}}</ref>

==Design and development== The aircraft was designed before the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules were brought into effect, but all models comply with them anyway, including the category's maximum empty weight of {{convert|254|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The Tristar, for instance, has a standard empty weight of {{convert|220|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The line of aircraft all feature a cable-braced high-wing, a single-seat, open cockpit, tricycle landing gear and a single engine in pusher configuration.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /><ref name="VUM2" />

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminium tubing, with the flying surfaces covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its {{convert|33|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} span wing is cable-braced from a single element kingpost. The landing gear features a steerable nose wheel with a bicycle-style rim brake. The powerplant is mounted underneath the wing and drives a pusher propeller.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /><ref name="VUM2" />

The Tristar model took 25 hours to build from the factory-supplied assembly kit.<ref name="VUM2" />

==Variants== ;Starfire :Initial model with a hybrid weight-shift and aerodynamic control system, designed in 1979.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /> ;Tristar :Model designed in 1980, with a conventional three-axis aerodynamic control system, using a side stick and spoilers for roll control. Revised fuselage for new control system. The standard engine supplied was the {{convert|30|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Cuyuna 430R.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /> ;TX-1000 :Model with a conventional three-axis aerodynamic control system, strengthened airframe and a {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 377 two-stroke engine.<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /> ;SC-1000 :Improved model<ref name="VUM" /> ;AC-2000 :Improved model introduced in 1984.<ref name="VUM" />

==Specifications (Tristar) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Cliche and the Virtual Ultralight Museum<ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="VUM" /> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=15 |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=33 |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=9 |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=165 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=220 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=470 |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|2.5|u.s.gal}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Cuyuna 430R |eng1 type=twin cylinder, two-stroke aircraft engine, with reduction drive |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=30

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=55 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=38 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=21 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=60 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=10000 |ceiling note= |g limits=+5/-3 |roll rate= |glide ratio=7:1 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=750 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin=350 |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:1970s United States ultralight aircraft Category:Homebuilt aircraft Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft