The Starfire Firebolt, sometimes called the Starfire Firebolt Convertible, due to its removable canopy, is an American homebuiltaerobaticbiplane that was designed by G. H. "Mac" McKenzie and produced by Starfire Aviation of Tempe, Arizona. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction, with some pre-fabricated parts available.[1][2][3]
The aircraft is made of mixed construction, with a welded steel tubing, aluminum and wooden structure, all covered in dopedaircraft fabric. Its 24.00 ft (7.3 m) span wing employs a NACA 63A015/0012airfoil and has a wing area of 150.0 sq ft (13.94 m2). The cockpit width is 29 in (74 cm). The acceptable power range is 180 to 300 hp (134 to 224 kW) and the standard engine used is the 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming IO-540 powerplant. With that engine the aircraft has a cruise speed of 202 mph (325 km/h) and an initial climb rate of 4,000 ft/min (20 m/s).[1][4]
The Firebolt has a typical empty weight of 1,325 lb (601 kg) and a gross weight of 2,000 lb (910 kg), giving a useful load of 675 lb (306 kg). With full fuel of 39 U.S. gallons (150 L; 32 imp gal) the payload for the pilot, passenger and baggage is 441 lb (200 kg).[1]
The standard day, sea level, no wind, take off with a 300 hp (224 kW) engine is 400 ft (122 m) and the landing roll is 800 ft (244 m).[1]
The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied plans as 3000 hours.[1]
Operational historyEdit
By 1998 the company reported that six aircraft were completed and flying.[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Starfire Firebolt.
Photo of a Firebolt
October 21, 2023
starfire, firebolt, sometimes, called, convertible, removable, canopy, american, homebuilt, aerobatic, biplane, that, designed, mckenzie, produced, starfire, aviation, tempe, arizona, when, available, aircraft, supplied, form, plans, amateur, construction, wit. The Starfire Firebolt sometimes called the Starfire Firebolt Convertible due to its removable canopy is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed by G H Mac McKenzie and produced by Starfire Aviation of Tempe Arizona When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction with some pre fabricated parts available 1 2 3 FireboltRole Homebuilt aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Starfire AviationDesigner G H Mac McKenzieStatus Production completedNumber built At least nineDeveloped from Steen Skybolt Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Firebolt 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development EditThe Firebolt was developed from the Steen Skybolt and features a biplane layout with interplane struts cabane struts and flying wires a two seats in tandem open or optionally enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy that slides back fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration 1 The aircraft is made of mixed construction with a welded steel tubing aluminum and wooden structure all covered in doped aircraft fabric Its 24 00 ft 7 3 m span wing employs a NACA 63A015 0012 airfoil and has a wing area of 150 0 sq ft 13 94 m2 The cockpit width is 29 in 74 cm The acceptable power range is 180 to 300 hp 134 to 224 kW and the standard engine used is the 300 hp 224 kW Lycoming IO 540 powerplant With that engine the aircraft has a cruise speed of 202 mph 325 km h and an initial climb rate of 4 000 ft min 20 m s 1 4 The Firebolt has a typical empty weight of 1 325 lb 601 kg and a gross weight of 2 000 lb 910 kg giving a useful load of 675 lb 306 kg With full fuel of 39 U S gallons 150 L 32 imp gal the payload for the pilot passenger and baggage is 441 lb 200 kg 1 The standard day sea level no wind take off with a 300 hp 224 kW engine is 400 ft 122 m and the landing roll is 800 ft 244 m 1 The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied plans as 3000 hours 1 Operational history EditBy 1998 the company reported that six aircraft were completed and flying 1 In March 2014 eight examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration although a total of nine had been registered at one time 5 Specifications Firebolt EditData from AeroCrafter All Aero and The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage 1 3 4 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity one passenger Length 21 ft 3 in 6 48 m Wingspan 24 ft 0 in 7 32 m Height 7 ft 7 in 2 31 m Wing area 150 0 sq ft 13 94 m2 Airfoil NACA 63A015 0012 Empty weight 1 325 lb 601 kg Gross weight 2 000 lb 907 kg Fuel capacity 39 U S gallons 150 L 32 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming IO 540 six cylinder air cooled four stroke aircraft engine 300 hp 220 kW Propellers 2 bladed constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 235 mph 378 km h 204 kn Cruise speed 202 mph 325 km h 176 kn Stall speed 62 mph 100 km h 54 kn Range 500 mi 800 km 430 nmi Service ceiling 18 000 ft 5 500 m Rate of climb 4 000 ft min 20 m s Wing loading 13 3 lb sq ft 65 kg m2 See also EditList of aerobatic aircraftReferences Edit 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 American airplanes St Sz Aerofiles com April 15 1940 Retrieved March 10 2014 a b Starfire Aviation Firebolt All aero com Retrieved March 10 2014 a b Lednicer David 2010 The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage Archived from the original on April 20 2010 Retrieved March 10 2014 Federal Aviation Administration March 10 2014 Make Model Inquiry Results Retrieved March 10 2014 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Starfire Firebolt Photo of a Firebolt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Starfire Firebolt amp oldid 1174715466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
