The Star-Lite Warp 1-A is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Star-Lite Engineering of Englewood, Ohio, introduced in 1996. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Warp 1-A
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Star-Lite Engineering
Introduction 1996
Status Production completed
Number built At least one

Design and development edit

The aircraft was designed to comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). The aircraft has a standard empty weight of 250 lb (113 kg).[1]

The Warp 1-A features a cantilever mid-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed tricycle landing gear with wheel pants, a boom-mounted T-tail and a single pod-mounted engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from composites. Its 25.0 ft (7.6 m) span wing is made with an aluminum spar and S-glass vinyl-ester resin, is detachable for ground transport or storage and has a wing area of 87.5 sq ft (8.13 m2). The standard engine used is the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 two-stroke powerplant.[1][2]

The Warp 1-A has a typical empty weight of 250 lb (110 kg) and a gross weight of 575 lb (261 kg), giving a useful load of 325 lb (147 kg). With full fuel of 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 295 lb (134 kg).[1][2]

The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off and landing roll with a 50 hp (37 kW) engine is 150 ft (46 m).[1]

The manufacturer estimates the construction time from the supplied kit as 100 hours.[1]

Operational history edit

In March 2014 one example, the prototype, was registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Experimental - Amateur-built, although its registration expired in June 2013.[3]

Specifications (Warp 1-A) edit

Data from AeroCrafter and the manufacturer[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
  • Wing area: 87.50 sq ft (8.129 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 7:1
  • Empty weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
  • Gross weight: 575 lb (261 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 5 U.S. gallons (19 L; 4.2 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax twin cylinder, air-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
  • Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 110 mph (180 km/h, 96 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 6.6 lb/sq ft (32 kg/m2)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 257. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. ^ a b c Star-Lite Engineering (1996). "Warp 1-A Ultralight". Archived from the original on May 30, 1998. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  3. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (March 11, 2014). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved March 11, 2014.

External links edit