1980->

Flightstar II

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Flightstar designer Tom Peghiny built the first Flightstar in the mid-1980s for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles category with its maximum 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight requirement. The two-seat Flightstar II soon followed to fill the role of a trainer. The designs quickly became commercial successes and the basic design has been extensively developed over time. By 2007 over 700 single seaters had been sold.

All models are constructed from anodized aluminum tubing assembled with bolts. The fuselage is suspended from a keel tube that also mounts the engine at the front, the tail at the back and the wings. The wings are strut-braced and utilize jury struts. The wings and tail surfaces are covered in pre-sewn Dacron envelopes, which reduces construction time. The wings have full-span ailerons, while the tail features conventional elevators and rudder. The landing gear is a tricycle gear arrangement with bungee suspension on the main wheels. The nosewheel is steerable and mainwheel brakes are an available option. The reported construction time for the single seat models is 100 hours.

The Flightstar II is LSA legal.

The Flightstar-IISC is the Sport Cabin version of the IISL. The IISC includes all that’s needed to enclose the plane for more comfort and all season flying. The cabin parts include the Fastback rear enclosure, composite cabin fairings, door posts, Lexan roof and zippered sport doors. The IISC was developed with the sport pilot in mind. The large wing allows predictable slow flight handling and quiet low throttle cruising. The IISC features the 54HP dual carb, dual ignition, Rotax 503 with the Flightstar 503 Super Cowl. The optional engines include the 64HP Rotax 582 liquid-cooled twostroke and the 60HP HKS 700E four-stroke engine. The Flightstar II was shown at the ’98 Sun ‘n Fun with an HKS 700 engine.

The Rotax 503 engine installation on a Flightstar II

Standard equipment includes high lift wing with streamlined struts, Flightstar wingfold system, vibration isolated instrument panel, 10 USG rotational molded fuel tank w/sump, full dual control system, chromemoly cage and landing gear, heavy duty stamped dynofocal engine mount, anodized airframe for corrosion protection, and point pilot restraint harnesses.

Optional equipment includes, full instrument package, 4 point harnesses, complete electrical system. in-flight adjustable trim, 3 blade composite propeller, azusa drum brake system, and brs ballistic parachute system.
The Flightstar II SC airfoil is the Flightstar FS-II-2 13% thick.

Flightstar IISC

The Flightstar-IISL combines the open air freedom of ultralight type flying and the fun of being side by side with your passenger. With a 120 hour assembly time and the Flightstar wingfold system, the IISL is fitted with full dual controls. The wide stance landing gear for cross wind landings and light wing loading offers easy handling and landings. The airframe is designed for the rigors of flight training and is tested to last. The IISL offers the same standard and optional equipment as the IISC.

The full engine options are the Rotax 503FA (496 C.C. 54HP @ 6800 RPM) with 2.58 TO1 reduction ratio, and the HKS 700E (680 C.C. 60 HP @ 6200 RPM) with 3.47-1 reduction ratio. Propeller options include Tennessee prop. Co. 2-blade, 68” dia, Ivo-prop. 3-blade 68”, and Powerfin F model 70” diameter.

March 1993

The Flightstar II kit, including engine, cost US$15,395 in 1997.
The Flightstar II-SL kit, including engine, cost US$13,795 in 1997.

Flightstar IISL

The two seat models all have side-by-side seating and have folding wings. The aircraft were also produced under licence in India by Albatross Flying Systems.

In 2009 the Flightstar single and two-seat, high wing, single engined kit aircraft produced by Flightstar Sportplanes of South Woodstock, Connecticut, rights, tooling and parts inventory were sold to Yuneec International of China when Flightstar Sportplanes’ business was wound up.

In July 2009 a new single seat model was exhibited at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as the Yuneec e-Spyder electric-powered version.

Gallery

Flightstar II
Engine: Rotax 503, 54 hp.
Height: 7.5 ft.
Length: 19 ft.
Wing span: 32.5 ft.
Wing area: 162 sq.ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Weight empty: 420 lbs.
Gross: 970 lbs.
Speed max: 96 mph.
Cruise: 65 mph.
Range: 180 sm.
Stall: 36 mph.
ROC: 700 fpm.
Take-off dist: 200 ft.
Landing dist: 300 ft.
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: nose wheel.

Flightstar II SL
Engine: Rotax 503FA, 48 hp.
HP range: 42-65.
Height: 7.5 ft.
Length: 19 ft.
Wing span: 32.5 ft.
Wing area: 160 sq.ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Weight empty: 365 lbs.
Gross: 500 lbs.
Speed max: 96 mph.
Cruise: 55 mph.
Range: 165 sm.
Stall: 34 mph.
ROC: 600 fpm.
Take-off dist: 150 ft.
Landing dist: 300 ft.
Service ceiling: 13,000 ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: nose wheel.
Cockpit width: 41 in

Flightstar II SC
Engine: Rotax 503FA, 48 hp.
Wing Span 32 ft
Length 19 ft 7 in
Height 7 ft 10 in
Wing Area 157 Sq. Ft.
Empty Weight 385 Lbs.
Gross Weight 950 Lbs.
Fuel Capacity 10 USG.
Cruise Speed (@ 75%) 65 mph
Stall Speed (Vso) 36 mph
Vne 96 mph.
Climb Rate 600 Fpm.
Aspect Ratio 6.53
Max. Range (W/10 USG) 200 Miles.
Roll Rate (45 To 45) 2.8 Sec.
Takeoff Roll 205 Ft. ‘
Glide Ratio 7 To 1
Sink Rate 450 Fpm

Flightstar II-SC
Engine: HKS 700E, 52 hp
HP range: 52-80
Length: 16 ft
Wing span: 32 ft
Wing area: 160 sq.ft
Fuel capacity: 10 USG
Empty weight: 465 lb
Gross weight: 992 lb
Cruise: 70 mph
Stall: 38 mph
Range: 230 sm
Rate of climb: 700 fpm
Takeoff dist: 200 ft
Landing dist: 300 ft
Seats: 2
Cockpit width: 41 in

Engine: Rotax 582, 65 hp
Wing span: 9.8 m
Wing area: 14.63 sq.m
MAUW: 450 kg
Empty weight: 236 kg
Fuel capacity: 40 lt
Max speed: 154 kph
Cruise speed: 120 kph
Minimum speed: 62 kph
Climb rate: 3.3 m/s
Seats: 2
Fuel consumption: 17 lt/hr
Certification: Vz
Kit price (1998): US$15.595

Flight Sails Shark

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A 1981 hang glider for advanced pilots designed by Warren Bird with help from Bob Martin. The Shark was produced by Flight Sails NZ in New Zealand probably in 1982 and 1983. It had no keel pocket and the double surface was 90%, not sewn on the top surface. The keel was fully enclosed between both surfaces. The king post holds the keel which is not sewn into the top surface. The wing contained 30 battens.

Only a few were made and it was never fully developed. From the first production Shark they were gradually de-tuned from then on to try to improve the handling.

Distributed in England, it cost just over £1000 in 1982.

Performance was good but handling was not. Great in a straight line but really hard to turn. Sometimes it would turn and sometimes it wouldn’t. Turning was improved by upper wing spoilers which also could be used for air brakes.

This was the first Delta to beat the Manta Fledgling when flown by Graeme Bird at the 1981 World Champs in Japan.

Reportedly the Shark made one awesome trike wing in the 80’s. With a British Tri-pacer trike, 330cc motor, Graeme Henderson flew his across Foveaux Strait, New Zealand, in the first crossing by a microlight in 1981.

Flight Dynamics Seasprite

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This single- or two-seat homebuilt glider is distinguished by an aerofoil-shaped fuselage and bat-like sailwing type wings, the tail unit being carried on an aluminium boom. It is an unpowered Stage 1 version of an aircraft which, in fully developed powered form, will be known as the Flightsail VII, the Seasprite being of more simplified construction, and it is being marketed as plans to amateur constructors.

The fuselage is a framework of aluminium tubing, the sides and top of which are covered with polyethylene foil, except for the upper part of the nose section, which has a transparent covering of polyester film and Plexiglas. Alternatively, the structure can be covered with aluminium foil for only a minimal weight increase, and this has a much longer life. The underside of the fuselage has catamaran-type twin floats, built of plastics with a plywood covering, enabling the Seasprite to be operated off water if so desired.

The wings are of triangular planform with aluminium tube leading edges and wire trailing edges, the whole being covered in polyethylene. They can be folded rearwards when not in use but are otherwise braced to the fuselage sides. The wing tips pivot about their leading edges to provide roll control. The tail is built as a single fin/tailplane unit pivoting only in the vertical plane for control in pitch.

The pilot sits in an open cockpit in the centre section, to the right of the aluminium boom carrying the tail unit, and his weight is balanced by a counterweight at the port wing tip if a second pilot or passenger is not carried.

One Seasprite has been fitted with twin tail booms preparatory to adding a small pusher engine between them, this being an interim stage, as the Seasprite II, in the development of the Flightsail VII.

Wingspan 34 ft 0 in
Length 20 ft 0 in
Height 8 ft 0 in
Wing area: 166.0 sqft
Aspect ratio: 6.96
Empty weight: 165 lb
Max weight: 500 lb
Lift off speed 30 mph
Cruise speed 35 mph
Max aero-tow speed: 35 mph
Best glide ratio: 6:1 at 50 mph

Flight Designs Jetwing ATV

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Single seat single engined flex wing aircraft with weight shift control. Rogallo wing with keel pocket. Pilot suspended below wing in trike unit, using bar to control pitch and yaw/roll by altering relative positions of trike unit and wing. Wing braced from above by kingpost and cables, from below by cables; rigid cross tube construction; 60% double ¬surface enclosing cross tube; pre formed ribs. Undercarriage has three wheels in tricycle formation; steel spring suspension on nose¬wheel and bungee suspension on main wheels. Push right go left nosewheel steering indepen¬dent from yaw control. Brakes on main wheels. Aluminium tube trike unit, without pod. Engine mounted below wing driving pusher propeller. Wing has foam insert in leading edges.

Flight Designs Jetwing ATV Article

The Jetwing ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) is an original concept: it is not purely a trike in the conventional sense, because its wheels can be replaced by floats. By removing the wing and fitting the rear of the floats with a triangular tubular structure supporting a large rudder, the Jetwing can be transformed into a speedboat. Using its pusher propeller it can be turned into a go kart by refitting the wheels but leaving the wing off, while also available as an option are skis.

The price of the trike unit was US$3000 in 1982 and bought together with the Demon hang glider wing it costs a total of US$4995. Flight Designs does not recommend the use of any other Rogallo with its trike unit and it is worth noting that its Demon Rogallo is not related to the British wing of the same name, made by Hiway.
The later Jetwing ATVs had a belt reduction drive of 2.2/1 ratio, with a max static thrust of 220 lb (100 kg).

Engine: Kawasaki TA440, 30 hp at 5500 rpm.
Prop¬eller diameter and pitch 36 x 16 inch, 0.91×0.40 m.
No reduction. Power per unit area 0.17hp/sq.ft, 1.8hp/sq.m.
Fuel capacity 5.0 US gal, 4.2 Imp gal, 18.9 litre.
Length overall 12.0 ft, 3.65 m.
Height overall 12.0ft, 3.65m.
Wing span 33.5ft, 10.18m.
Mean chord 5.3ft, 1.60m.
Total wing area 175 sq.ft, 16.27 sq.m.
Wing aspect ratio 6.3/1.
Nosewheel diameter overall 16 inch, 40 cm.
Main wheels diameter overall 20 inch, 50 cm.
Empty weight 216 lb, 98 kg.
Max take off weight 480 lb, 218 kg.
Payload 264 lb, 120 kg.
Max wing loading 2.74 lb/sq.ft, 13.4 kg/sq.m.
Max power loading 16.0 lb/hp, 7.3kg/hp.
Load factors; +4.0, 2.0 ultimate.
Max level speed 47 mph, 76 kph.
Never exceed speed 52 mph, 84kph.
Max cruising speed 37mph, 60kph.
Stalling speed 22 mph, 35 kph.
Max climb rate at sea level 400 ft/min, 2.0 m/s.
Min sink rate 350 ft/min at 23 mph, 1.7 m/s at 37 kph.
Best glide ratio with power off 7/1 at 25 mph, 40 kph.
Take off distance 50 ft, 15 m.
Landing distance 75ft, 23 m.
Service ceiling 10,000ft, 3050 m.
Range at average cruising speed 160 mile, 257 km.

Flight Designs [USA]

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In 1981 Flight Designs Inc was incorporated into Pioneer International Corporation which has been well known for half a century in the aerospace industry as specialising in parachutes.
1982-3: Flight Designs, PO Box 1503, Salinas, California 93902, USA.

Flight Designs was bought out by Pioneer Parachute in 1982.

Flight Design Javelin

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A 1981 hang glider with cambered aluminum ribs.

It is pretty easy on the handling side and the speed trim is real nice hands off. This glider was really nice to fly on a 15-20 mph day. An easy landing trainer.

It was available in two models: Javelin 168 and Javelin 208.