Flightstar Sportplanes
Encyclopedia
Flightstar Sportplanes is an American
aircraft manufacturer based in South Woodstock, Connecticut
. Its primary product is the Flightstar of ultralight and two-seat training and light-sport aircraft
, which have been in continuous production since the mid-1980s. The company also distributes two other manufacturer's aircraft lines, engines and aviation products.
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.
In July 2009 Peghiny demonstrated a new version of his Spyder single seat model at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Designated the e-Spyder, it differs from earlier models in that it is electric-powered. The aircraft replaces the standard Spyder's normally-fitted two-stroke engine with a Yuneec Power Drive 200 20 kW electric motor and two 28 lb (13 kg) lithium-polymer battery packs which provide a 40 minute endurance. The aircraft is intended to be developed into a commercially available kit and forecast to be available for under US$25,000.
Flightstar is also a distributor for Ballistic Recovery Systems
parachutes, Rotax
and HKS
aircraft engine
s, Lockwood Aircraft supplies, the Leza-Lockwood Air Cam and Flight Design CT series
of aircraft.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft manufacturer based in South Woodstock, Connecticut
South Woodstock, Connecticut
South Woodstock is a census-designated place in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,211 at the 2000 census.It is notable as the former home of the now-defunct Annhurst College.-Geography:...
. Its primary product is the Flightstar of ultralight and two-seat training and light-sport aircraft
Light-sport Aircraft
A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance...
, which have been in continuous production since the mid-1980s. The company also distributes two other manufacturer's aircraft lines, engines and aviation products.
History
The company was founded in the early 1980s by aircraft designer Tom Peghiny to build his initial commercial design the Flightstar ultralight. The Flightstar was intended for the US FAR 103 Ultralight VehiclesUltralight aircraft (United States)
Ultralight aircraft in the United States are much smaller and lighter than ultralight aircraft in all other countries.In the USA ultralights are classified as vehicles and not aircraft and are thus not required to be registered or for the pilot to have a pilot licence or certificate.- US definition...
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
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
. 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.
In July 2009 Peghiny demonstrated a new version of his Spyder single seat model at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Designated the e-Spyder, it differs from earlier models in that it is electric-powered. The aircraft replaces the standard Spyder's normally-fitted two-stroke engine with a Yuneec Power Drive 200 20 kW electric motor and two 28 lb (13 kg) lithium-polymer battery packs which provide a 40 minute endurance. The aircraft is intended to be developed into a commercially available kit and forecast to be available for under US$25,000.
Flightstar is also a distributor for Ballistic Recovery Systems
Ballistic Recovery Systems
Ballistic Recovery Systems is a manufacturer of aircraft ballistic parachutes .The company was formed in 1980 by Boris Popov after he survived a fall in a partly collapsed hang glider in 1975...
parachutes, Rotax
Rotax
BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG , commonly known simply as Rotax, is an Austrian engine manufacturer. It develops and produces four-stroke and advanced two-stroke engines for Bombardier Recreational Products products as well as for motorcycles, karts,...
and HKS
HKS
HKS can refer to:*the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University*HKS *HKS, Inc., an international architecture firm*HKS , Japanese automotive accessory company...
aircraft engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
s, Lockwood Aircraft supplies, the Leza-Lockwood Air Cam and Flight Design CT series
Flight Design CTSW
The Flight Design CT series is a family of high-wing, tricycle undercarriage, two seat ultralight and light-sport aircraft produced by Flight Design of Germany...
of aircraft.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built (by year) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flightstar | circa | single seat ultralight | |
| Flightstar Formula | 26 (1999) | single seat ultralight | |
| Flightstar II | 58 (1999) | two-seat ultralight trainer | |
| Flightstar Spyder | 700 (2007) | single seat ultralight | |
| Flightstar IISL | 180 (2007) | two-seat ultralight trainer/Light-sport aircraft Light-sport Aircraft A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance... |
|
| Flightstar Loadstar | 12 (2001) | single seat ultralight | |
| Flightstar IISC | 90 (2007) | two-seat ultralight trainer/Light-sport aircraft Light-sport Aircraft A Light-sport aircraft, also known as light sport aircraft or LSA, is a small aircraft that is simple to fly and which meets certain regulations set by a National aviation authority restricting weight and performance... |
|
| Flightstar e-Spyder | 1 (2009) | single seat electric-powered ultralight | |