Era

Earthstar Gull / Earthstar Thunder Gull / Earthstar Odyssey

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Gull 2000

Mark Beierle designed a stall and spin resistant aircraft with responsive ailerons provide roll control throughout a stall.
Of all metal construction, the Thunder Gull 2000 and Odyssey models maintain the same control. All of the Earthstar Aircraft models are fun cross-country machines and have been flown from coast-to-coast many times.
Flight tested to a G loading of +5.9 and -3 and are designed to +6 and -4 yield. The ultralight model has been certified to meet the FAA FAR-103 requirements. VNE for all models is 120 mph.
Options include engine, instruments, propeller, side windows, and parachute.
Available as a kit or ready to fly.
All kits can be registered Experimental LSA.
The Thunder Gull J first flew in March 1987.
The two seat Thunder Gull JT2 had removable wings and first flew in June 1989.
The Soaring Gull has a cantilevered removable wing. The wingspan is 8 feet longer than the Thunder Gull J. The Soaring Gull first flew in November 1993. The Soaring Gull was available in kit form (and also as a finished product) at US $10,580.

The Odyssey first flew in April 1995 and features staggered, side-by-side seating to provide more useable cockpit space.

Odessey

Gallery

Gull 2000 Single Seat
Engine Used; Hirth F33
HP/HP Range; 28/25-52
Top Speed; 63 mph
VNE: 55 kt / 63 mph / 101 kmh
Cruise Speed; 55 kt / 63 mph / 101 kmh
Stall Speed; 23 kt / 27 mph / 43 kmh
Range; 165 mph
Rate of Climb; 700 fpm / 4 m/s
Glide Ratio: 12:1
Take-Off Distance; 125 ft
Landing Distance; 75 ft
Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 250 ft / 76 m
Landing distance (50ft obstacle): 200 ft / 61 m
Service Ceiling; 14,000 ft
Lift/Drag Ratio; 11.8
Fuel Capacity; 5 gal
Fuel Consumption; 1.7 gph
Empty Weight; 112 kg / 248 lbs
MTOW Weight: 249 kg / 550 lbs
Height; 5 ft 3 in
Length; 18 ft 3 in
Wing Span; 20 ft
Wing Area; 95 sq ft
Cockpit width: 27 in
Building Time; 150 hrs

Soaring Gull
Engine: Rotax 277, 26 hp.
HP range: 25-52.
Speed max: 63 mph.
Cruise: 55 mph.
Range: 180 sm.
Stall: 23 mph.
ROC: 850 fpm.
Take-off dist: 115 ft.
Landing dist: 70 ft.
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Weight empty: 254 lbs.
Gross: 550 lbs.
Height: 5.25 ft.
Length: 17.58 ft.
Wing span: 28 ft.
Wing area: 133 sq.ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: nose wheel.
Glide ratio: 16:1.

Soaring Gull 2000 Single Seat
Top Speed; 63 mph
Cruise Speed; 63 mph
Stall Speed; 26 mph
Range; 180 mph
Rate of Climb; 850 fpm
Take-Off Distance; 115 ft
Landing Distance; 70 ft
Service Ceiling; 16,000 ft
Lift/Drag Ratio; 16.1
Engine Used; Hirth F33
HP/HP Range; 28/25-52
Fuel Capacity; 5 gal
Fuel Consumption; 1.7 gph
Empty Weight; 254 lb
Gross Weight; 550 lb
Height; 5 ft 3 in
Length; 18 ft 3 in
Wing Span; 28 ft
Wing Area; 133 sq ft
Building Time; 150 hrs

Odyssey Two Seat Side-by-Side
Engine Used; HKS 700 E
HP Range; 60-100 hp
VNE: 104 kt / 120 mph / 193 kmh
Top Speed; 87 mph
Cruise: 76 kt / 87 mph / 140 kmh
Stall: 32 kt / 37 mph / 60 kmh
Range; 348 miles
Rate of Climb; 900 fpm / 5 m/s
Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 200 ft / 61 m
Landing distance (50ft obstacle): 175 ft / 53 m
Service Ceiling; 15,500 ft
Lift/Drag Ratio; 11.1
Fuel Capacity; 10 USgal
Fuel Consumption; 2.5 gph
Empty weight: 209 kg / 460 lbs
MTOW Weight: 454 kg / 1000 lbs
Height; 5 ft 6 in
Length; 18 ft 3 in
Wing Span; 26 ft
Wing Area; 124 sq ft
Seats: 2
Glide Ratio: 11:1
Cockpit width: 41 in
Building Time; 300 hrs
Landing gear: nose wheel

Thunder Gull J
Engine: Rotax 277, 26 hp.
HP range: 26-52.
Speed max: 63 mph.
Cruise: 55 mph.
Range: 165 sm.
Stall: 25 mph.
ROC: 700 fpm.
Take-off dist: 125 ft.
Landing dist: 75 ft.
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Weight empty: 252 lbs.
Gross: 550 lbs.
Height: 5.25 ft.
Length: 17.25 ft.
Wing span: 17.58 ft.
Wing area: 95 sq.ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: nose wheel.

Thunder Gull JT2
Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp.
HP range: 52-80.
Speed max: 87 mph.
Cruise: 87 mph.
Range: 275 sm.
Stall: 34 mph.
ROC: 800 fpm.
Take-off dist: 200 ft.
Landing dist: 175 ft.
Service ceiling: 14,500 ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Weight empty: 398 lbs.
Gross: 850 lbs.
Height: 5.25 ft.
Length: 17.58 ft.
Wing span: 24 ft.
Wing area: 114 sq.ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: nose wheel.

Thunder Gull Odyssey
Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp.
HP range: 40-80.
Speed max: 87 mph.
Cruise: 87 mph.
Range: 300 sm.
Stall: 34 mph.
ROC: 900 fpm.
Take-off dist: 200 ft.
Landing dist: 175 ft.
Service ceiling: 15,500 ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Weight empty: 420 lbs.
Gross: 1000 lbs.
Height: 5.92 ft.
Length: 18 ft.
Wing span: 26 ft.
Wing area: 124 sq.ft.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: nose wheel.

Odyssey
Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp
Wing span: 7.92 m
Wing area: 11.53 sq.m
MAUW: 453 kg
Empty weight: 190 kg
Fuel capacity: 38 lt
Seats: 2
Max speed: 140 kph
Cruise speed: 140 kph
Minimum speed: 54 kph
Climb rate: 4.5 m/s
Fuel consumption: 10 lt/hr
Kit price (1998): US$14,900

Early Bird Fokker D-VII

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Designed by Dennis Wiley and built by Early Bird Aviation. LSA approved.

Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp.
HP range: 28-36.
Height: 6.67 ft.
Length: 16.5 ft.
Wing span: 24 ft.
Wing area: 168 sq.ft.
Weight empty: 250 lbs.
Gross: 525 lbs.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Speed max: 63 mph.
Cruise: 53 mph.
Range: 85 sm.
Stall: 20 mph.
ROC: 1000 fpm.
Take-off dist: 80 ft.
Landing dist: 150 ft.
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Engine: Rotax 503, 50 hp
HP range: 28-50
Length: 16.5 ft
Wing span: 24 ft
Wing area: 168 sq.ft
Empty weight: 265 lb
Gross weight: 525 lb
Fuel capacity: 5 USG
Cruise: 65 mph
Stall: 22 mph
Range: 100 sm
Rate of climb: 1000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 75 ft
Landing dist: 150 ft
Cockpit width: 20 in
Landing gear: tailwheel

Early Bird SE-5A

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A tube and fabric ultralight designed by Dennis Wiley, built by Early Bird Aviation.

Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp.
HP range: 28-36.
Height: 6.67 ft.
Length: 16.5 ft.
Wing span: 24 ft.
Wing area: 168 sq.ft.
Weight empty: 250 lbs.
Gross: 525 lbs.
Speed max: 63 mph.
Cruise: 53 mph.
Range: 85 sm.
Stall: 20 mph.
ROC: 1000 fpm.
Take-off dist: 80 ft.
Landing dist: 150 ft.
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Engine: Rotax 503, 50 hp
HP range: 28-50
Length: 16.5 ft
Wing span: 24 ft
Wing area: 168 sq.ft
Empty weight: 265 lb
Gross weight: 525 lb
Fuel capacity: 5 USG
Cruise: 65 mph
Stall: 22 mph
Range: 100 sm
Rate of climb: 1000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 75 ft
Landing dist: 150 ft
Cockpit width: 20 in
Landing gear: tailwheel

Early Bird Spad XIII

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A copy of the Spad XIII designed by Dennis Wiley. Available as either of SE-5A, Fokker D-VII, or Spad XIII with the same specifications.

167 were built by Early Bird before manufacture and marketing was taken over by Loehle. Loehle shipped kits pre-built to covering stage. LSA approved.

Engine: Rotax 277, 28 hp.
HP range: 28-36.
Speed max: 63 mph.
Cruise: 53 mph.
Range: 85 sm.
Stall: 20 mph.
ROC: 1000 fpm.
Take-off dist: 80 ft.
Landing dist: 150 ft.
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Weight empty: 250 lbs.
Gross: 525 lbs.
Height: 6.67 ft.
Length: 16.5 ft.
Wing span: 24 ft.
Wing area: 168 sq.ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Engine: Geo Tracker, 80 hp.
HP range: 80-100.
Speed max: 90 mph.
Cruise: 80 mph.
Range: 270 sm.
Stall: 45 mph.
ROC: 600 fpm.
Take-off dist: 300 ft.
Landing dist: 400 ft.
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Weight empty: 550 lbs.
Gross: 800 lbs.
Height: 6.4 ft.
Length: 16.25 ft.
Wing span: 20.17 ft.
Wing area: 142 sq.ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Loehle Spad XIII
Cruise: 65 mph
Stall: 22 mph
Range: 100 sm
Rate of climb: 1000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 75 ft
Landing dist: 150 ft


Engine: Rotax 503, 50 hp
HP range: 28-50 hp
Fuel capacity: 5 USG
Empty weight: 265 lb
Gross weight: 525 lb
Length: 16.5 ft
Wing span: 24 ft
Wing area: 168 sq.ft
Seats: 1
Cockpit width: 20 in
Landing gear: tail wheel

Early Bird Jenny

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Designed by Dennis Wiley, the Jenny is a 2/3 scale WW I replica biplane. The fuselage construction is welded 4130 steel tube. Wing construction uses aluminium leading and trailing edge spars, and stamped aluminium ribs. The craft is covered in standard aircraft fabric. Building times are reported to be 400 to 600 hours.

A construction video is available which will cut building time considerably. The craft can be powered by the Rotax 503/582, or the AMW. The designer has completed the installation of a Chevy Geo engine on his own craft and had about 40 hours flying time on it.

The Geo is reported to put out about 65 HP and come in at a weight of 135 lbs. complete. The Jenny is a tail dragger, in a tractor configuration. Controls are stick and rudder.

The craft can be built from a set of plans and raw materials or was available in kit form.

The Jenny takes off in about 300 feet climbs at about 600 feet per minute and cruises in the 65/70 m.p.h. range.
The designer indicates that the craft has been tested to +6 and -4 G’s ultimate. Apparently 400 plan sets have been sold 40 aircraft are flying, with another 27 under construction.

By 2009, the Jenny was marketed by Loehle Aircraft Corp who carried the design for a while.

John-Hal Barfield
bjohnhal@aol.com
I need plans 2/3 Jenny I would like to put back in the air
12 May 2018

Variation:
Timber Tiger Aircraft Jenny

Engine: Rotax 503 CDI, 46 hp.
HP range: 46-65.
Empty Weight: 419 lbs.
Gross Weight: 800 lbs.
Wing Span: 27 ft. 6 in.
Wing Area: 175 sq. ft.
Wing Loading: 4.6 lbs. sq. ft.
Length: 18.33 ft.
Height: 7 ft.
Speed max: 70 mph.
Cruise Speed: 65 m.p.h.
Stall Speed: 35 m.p.h.
VNE: 80 m.p.h.
Range: 180 sm.
ROC: 450 fpm.
Take-off dist: 250 ft.
Landing dist: 300 ft.
Fuel cap: 10 USG.
Seats: 2.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Engine: Rotax 503, 52 hp
Wing span: 8.3 m
Wing area: 16.3 sq.m
Empty weight: 190 kg
MAUW: 362 kg
Fuel capacity: 38.8 lt
Max speed: 130 kph
Cruise speed: 100 kph
Minimum speed: 60 kph
Climb rate: 4 m/s
Seats: 2
Fuel consumption: 11 lt/hr
Plan price (1998): US$125
Kit price (1998): US$9100