Star-Lite Warp 1-A

The Star-Lite Warp 1-A is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Star-Lite Engineering of Englewood, Ohio, introduced in 1996.

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category’s maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 250 lb (113 kg). The original Star-Lite used a Rotax 447 engine.

The Warp 1-A features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants, a boom-mounted T-tail and a single pod-mounted engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft is made from composites. Its 25.0 ft (7.6 m) span wing is made with an aluminum spar and S-glass vinyl-ester resin, is detachable for ground transport or storage and has a wing area of 87.5 sq ft (8.13 m2). The standard engine used is the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 two-stroke powerplant.

Introduced in 1996, the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction. The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 100 hours. The kit, including engine, propeller and instruments, cost US$26,995.00 in 1998.

In March 2014 one example, the prototype, was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Experimental – Amateur-built, although its registration expired in June 2013.

Star-Lite M2

Brian Burghgrave built a Star-Lite M2 using a Rotax 503, necessitating a new cowl. In addition, he installed flaps and counterbalanced the ailerons and elevator. First flown in October 2009, these changes add the “M2” to the name.

Gallery

Top speed: 70 mph
Cruise: 55 mph
Stall: 22 mph
Range: 100 sm
Rate of climb: 900 fpm
Takeoff dist: 50 ft
Landing dist: 50 ft
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft
Engine: Rotax 503, 46 hp
HP range: 40-100
Fuel capacity: 5 USG
Empty weight: 250 lb
Gross weight: 575 lb
Height: 6.5 ft
Length: 19.5 ft
Wing span: 25 ft
Wing area: 87.5 sq.ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: nosewheel

Star-Lite Warp 1-A
Engine: 1 × Rotax, 50 hp (37 kW)
Propeller: 2-bladed fixed pitch
Wingspan: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
Wing area: 87.50 sq ft (8.129 sq.m)
Aspect ratio: 7:1
Empty weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
Gross weight: 575 lb (261 kg)
Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
Full fuel payload: 295 lb (134 kg)
Wing loading: 6.6 lb/sq ft (32 kg/sq.m)
Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
Never exceed speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
Take-off & landing roll: 150 ft (46 m)
Crew: one

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