Aviation Products Star Trike

The Aviation Products Star Trike is a German ultralight trike that was designed by Klaus Wisch and is produced by Aviation Products Ltd of Bitburg.[1]

Star Trike
Role Ultralight trike
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Aviation Products Ltd
Designer Klaus Wisch
Introduction 1980
Status In production (2013)
Produced 1980–present

Design and development

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The Star Trike was designed in 1980 has been in production ever since. It fits the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category. The design features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a single-seat or a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, 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 single or double surface wing covered in Dacron sailcloth. Its 10 m (32.8 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. A range of powerplants can be fitted, including the twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine and the twin cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke, dual-ignition 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E engine.[1]

In its single seat agricultural version the aircraft has an empty weight of 170 kg (375 lb) and a gross weight of 472.5 kg (1,042 lb), giving a useful load of 302.5 kg (667 lb). With full fuel of 44 litres (9.7 imp gal; 12 US gal) the payload is 271 kg (597 lb).[1]

A number of different wings can be fitted to the basic carriage, including the Air Creation XP 15.[1]

Variants

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Star Trike Agrar
Single seat agricultural aircraft version.[1]
Star Trike DS
Dual seat version.[1]

Specifications (Star Trike Agrar)

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Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 15.5 m2 (167 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 170 kg (375 lb)
  • Gross weight: 472.5 kg (1,042 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 44 litres (9.7 imp gal; 12 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 48 kW (64 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Stall speed: 47 km/h (29 mph, 25 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 30.5 kg/m2 (6.2 lb/sq ft)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 206. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
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