Stellar Astra
Astra | |
---|---|
Role | Ultralight trike |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | |
Designer | Allistair Wilson |
Status | Production completed |
The Stellar Astra is an American ultralight trike that was designed by Allistair Wilson and produced by of Bloomfield, Indiana. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. As of 2013 the company appears to be out of business and production complete.[1]
Design and development[]
The Astra was derived from a P&M Aviation trike design and intended to comply with the US light-sport aircraft category, although it does not appear on the Federal Aviation Administration's accepted LSA list.[2][3]
The Astra features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with a cockpit fairing, tricycle landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in pusher configuration.[1]
The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 34.4 ft (10.5 m) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. Powerplants that were factory available were the twin cylinder, air-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503, the four cylinder, air and liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912UL and 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS and the twin cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E engine.
With the HKS powerplant the aircraft has an empty weight of 485 lb (220 kg) and a gross weight of 960 lb (435 kg), giving a useful load of 475 lb (215 kg).[1]
The aircraft was produced under contract for Stellar Aircraft in India by , who also marketed the design in Asia as the Cruiser.[1]
Specifications (Astra)[]
Data from Bayerl[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.5 m)
- Wing area: 168 sq ft (15.6 m2)
- Empty weight: 485 lb (220 kg)
- Gross weight: 959 lb (435 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × HKS 700E twin cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 60 hp (45 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed composite
Performance
- Maximum speed: 78 mph (125 km/h, 67 kn)
- Cruise speed: 62 mph (100 km/h, 54 kn)
- Stall speed: 37 mph (60 km/h, 32 kn)
- Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
- Wing loading: 5.7 lb/sq ft (27.9 kg/m2)
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 222. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ Experimental Aircraft Association (2013). "EAA's Listing of Special Light-Sport Aircraft". Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ Federal Aviation Administration (July 15, 2013). "SLSA Make/Model Directory". Retrieved September 27, 2013.
External links[]
- Company website archives at Archive.org
- Photo of the Stellar Astra
- 2000s United States sport aircraft
- 2000s United States ultralight aircraft
- Single-engined pusher aircraft
- Ultralight trikes