The Starfire Firebolt, sometimes called the Starfire Firebolt Convertible, due to its removable canopy, is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed by G. H. “Mac” McKenzie and produced by Starfire Aviation of Tempe, Arizona. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, with some pre-fabricated parts available.
Developed from the Steen Skybolt and first flying on 15 May 1987, at least nine were built. Plans were sold for US$275.00 in 1998.
Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 340 hp Speed max: 214 mph Cruise: 202 mph Range: 600 sm Stall: 61 mph ROC: 4000 fpm Take-off dist: 400 ft Landing dist: 850 ft Service ceiling: 18,500 ft Fuel cap: 39 USG Weight empty: 1354 lbs Gross: 2000 lbs Height: 7.6 ft Length: 21 ft Wing span: 24 ft Wing area: 150 sq.ft Seats: 2 Landing gear: tail wheel
A single seat open frame helicopter first flown on 16 October 1990. Aluminium tube frame with all parts bolted or pop riveted together. Engine: 64-110 hp Rotax or Hirth.
Engine: 88 hp Max speed: 95 mph Cruise speed: 65 mph Range: 105 sm ROC: 1000 fpm Service ceiling: 9,000 ft Fuel cap: 8 USG Empty wt: 430 lbs Gross wt: 895 lbs Height: 7.33 ft Length: 13.5 ft Disk span: 20 ft Disk area: 314 sq.ft Seats: 1
The Star Aircraft division of Phillips Petroleum was formed at Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1928. Designers E A “Gus” Riggs and William “Billy” Parker prepared plans for a two-passenger high-wing light private owner aircraft intended for the lower cost end of the market. The advertised cost was $3,450 with a 90hp Lambert R-266 engine. They were also advertised with a 60hp LeBlond or 75hp Velie engine for $2,985. Three Cavalier A planes were delivered in 1928.
The Cavalier B (ATC 138) followed in 1929 fitted with a lower powered 55 hp Velie M-5 engine and 15 examples were sold at $2,895 to owners of more modest means. Some were fitted with 80hp Genet and 90hp Lambert R-266 engines. The fifteen included NC24B, NC263K, NC331H, NC350M and 351M, NC451, NC453, NC450, NC941E, NC960H, NC990H, NC7239 and N7249.
Cavalier B
A single example of the Cavalier C (ATC 255) followed. The Cavalier C NC993H was powered by a 60hp LeBlond 5D engine for $2,985.
Star Cavalier C NC993H
Two examples of the 1929 Cavalier D (ATC 2-191) were built, powered by 80hp Genet engines.
Star Cavalier E NC71W
The next to secure modest success was the Cavalier E (ATC 321) of 1930 which had a 90 h.p. Lambert R-266 and was fitted with a taller, more angular, tail fin. Priced at $3,450 thirteen were sold (NC9E, NC13E, NC71W, NC350V, NC397V, NC636W, NC678W, NC980N, NC10359, NC10535, NC10583, NC10585, and NC11007).
Star Cavalier E Wing antennae NC10359
The last of the Cavalier series was the single 1930 F model N69W with a Warner Jr engine.
The several Cavalier models served private owners in the touring role until the curtailment of civil flying in the USA in late 1941. Five Cavaliers remain on the U.S. civil aircraft register in mid-2009. Cavalier B N14860 of 1930 was on public display, in airworthy condition, at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Dauster Field, Creve Coeur, Missouri near St Louis.
Cavalier B Engine: 1 × Velie M-5, 55 hp (41 kW) Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m) Wing profile: Clark Y Length: 19 ft 11 in (6.07 m) Useful lift: 538 lb ( kg) Maximum speed: 100 mph (161 km/h) Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h) Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h) Range: 500 miles (800 km) Crew: 1 Capacity: 1 passenger
Cavalier B Engine: 80 h.p. Armstrong Siddeley Genet Seats: 2
Cavalier B Engine: 90 h.p. Lambert R-266 Seats: 2
Cavalier C Engine: 60 h.p. LeBlond 5D Seats: 2
Cavalier D Engine: 60 h.p LeBlond. Seats: 2
Cavalier D Engine: 80hp Genet Seats: 2
Cavalier E Engine: 90 h.p. Lambert R-266 Length: 19’8″ Useful load: 550 lb Max speed: 105 mph Cruise: 87 mph Stall: 38 mph Range: 360 mi Seats: 2
In early 1983, Charlie Stanton commenced a three-year project that would see him design and build the Stanton Sunbird powered glider.
The 28 hp Rotax 277 engine enables a take-off and climb to a height sufficient for the engine to be stopped, the propellor automatically folded and the aircraft to fly as a conventional glider. The engine can be re-started in flight if needed.
The single seat Stanton Sunbird motorglider ZK-JEA utilised various mechanical parts from Charlie’s earlier American Eaglet ZK-GOE.
It has a wingspan of 42 feet (12.8 metres) and was powered by a 27 HP Rotax 277 engine with a feathering propellor that could be restarted in flight if necessary. It was self-launching and flew successfully for over 10 years.
ZK-JEA (c/n 001) was registered as a Class 1 microlight to Charlie Stanton on 1 November 1994, and its first flight was on 26 February 1995 and over the next ten years Charlie made many flights including a maximum height of 13,000 ft and on another occasion a flight of 3 hr 30 min.
The registration was cancelled on 11 April 1997 as withdrawn.
Its final flight was on 16 April 2005.
On Sunday 4 December 2005, during the Ashburton Aviation Museum’s Christmas party, the Stanton Sunbird was donated to the museum by Charlie and his wife, Phyllis, where it is now on display.
Engine: 28 hp Rotax 277 Wingspan: 42 ft / 12.8 m Wing area: 100 sq.ft / 9.2 sq.m Wing loading: 5.3 lb/sq.ft / 26 kg/sq.m Airfoil: Epple 748 High Lift Empty weight: 313 lb / 142 kg Payload: 214 lb / 97 kg Max weight: 527 lb / 239 kg Vne: 81 mph / 132 kph Cruise: 45 mph / 90 kph Stall w/flaps: 32 mph / 52 kph Load factor: +- 4.4g Service ceiling: 15,000 ft
The 1916 Standard Aircraft Corp model J was the first production model. A two-place, open cockpit biplane, they were powered by a 90hp Hall-Scott A-7 engine, and featured a pronounced overhang in the top wing.
An army contract model, many were sold surplus after WW1.
The Standard GD-24 (Gates-Day) of 1928 (ATC 2-38) was designed by Charles H Day and first flew on 24 August 1928, piloted by Clyde Pangborn.
A 3-4 seat (in three cockpits) biplane, three were built; NC193E c/n 102, NC442 c/n 103, and NX7286 c/n 101, and possibly also included NC2220. The first two become New Standard D-24.
The 1917 Standard JR-1 and -1B were two-place Army advanced trainer, but boldly referred to by the company as “Pursuit”. They were revised J-1/SR-1 with a 175hp Hall-Scott A-5 engine in the JR-1, and 150hp Wright-Hisso A in the JR-1B.
Six JR-1 were built; AS25804, and 34225 to 34229, and six went to the US Mail Service in 1918 as JR-1B with 150hp Wright-Hisso A engine (AS42111 to 42116).
Standard JR-1B AS42114
The 1918 Standard E-4 were redesignated JR-1B as a post-war single-place mail plane with a 150hp Wright-Hispano A and a longer top wing.
Standard Aircraft Corp made to own designs SJ trainers; E-1 single-seat fighters, used for advanced training; H-3 landplane reconnaissance biplanes and H-4-H floatplanes.
One hundred and twenty-eight Standard E-1 Pursuit Trainer were built, up to 30 with Gnôme Rhône engines (AS33769 to 33770, AS44542 to 44574, and AS47515), the 80hp LeRhône powering most (AS49133 to 49207).
Three LeRhône powered were retitled M-Defense (44575 to 44577).
AS49156 to 49212 are also seen in some records as M-Defense, but those conflict with E-1 s/ns. Underpowered, none saw combat service. Three were converted in 1919 with lengthened fuselages as MAT experimental radio-controlled aerial torpedoes and reregistered (64228 to 64230).
Standard Aircraft Corp made to own designs SJ trainers; E-1 single-seat fighters, used for advanced training; H-3 landplane reconnaissance biplanes and H-4-H floatplanes.
Built in 1916, the SJ was a civil trainer, modified from the J-1 as a two-place high-wing monoplane powered with 90hp Curtiss OX-5 and Sikorsky-designed wing.
All Aero 