In this Newsletter:

Evektor announces Rotax 914 engine option for SportStar SL
New cabin trim option for SportStar SL
600 kgs MTOW available for SportStar Plus
Plane & Pilot tests the SportStar SL

SportStar SL available with Rotax 914 engine

The SportStar SL standard engine is the Rotax 912ULS 100 hp - with this engine the SportStar is no slouch. You can cruise at a genuine 110 knots TAS and even faster when an optional VP propeller is fitted.

Even so, in the hot summer temperatures we experience in Australia, this engine begins to run out of 'puff' at higher altitudes, particularly over 5,000 feet. Enter the Rotax 914 UL 115 hp turbo-charged engine - if you want to fly fast and high, this is the option for you!

Here are a few initial comparisons between the 912 & 914, from early factory flight testing at the full MTOW of 600 kgs:

Rate of climb:
914 UL - 1,325 fpm
912ULS - 930 fpm

Calibrated airspeed standard cruise at 2,000 feet (not maximum speed):
914 UL - 119 kts
912ULS - 113 kts

Service ceiling (rate of climb falls below 100 fpm):
914 UL - 26,600 feet
912ULS - 12,600 feet

Absolute ceiling (aircraft will not climb any further):
914 UL - 28,850 feet
912ULS - 14,100 feet

Now the TBO (time before overhaul) on the 914 has been raised to 2,000 hours to match the 912 series, the 914 is an engine to reckon with. More figures are due from the factory soon. Please call Peter on 0413 900 892 for more information.

New cabin trim option for SportStar SL

Evektor has recently announced a new luxury cabin trim option for the SportStar SL. This packages includes quite a few innovations and is colour coded to match the exterior colours of your aircraft. The main items are:

- new high-back seats, incorporating headrests, for more comfort, particularly on long distance trips. The seats tilt forward to allow easy access to the luggage area behind the seats.

- new hand grips for the control sticks and flap handle. These are specially designed to fit your hand and are a big step up from the standard foam rubber grips found on most aircraft.

- a new centre console, stretching from the seat rear bulkhead forward between the pilot and passenger leg areas. This is beautifully finished with a new moulding across the base of the instrument panel, incorporating the throttle, choke, all switches and, if fitted, the propeller control. The fuel selector handle has also been re-located to a more visible position.

- there is a drink can and oddments container on the front of each seat base, very useful to tidy all those bits and pieces which seem to accumulate in aircraft (well at least they do in mine) - small LED torch, fuel tester, screwdriver etc.

- a folding arm rest between the seats, which doubles as a convenient bottle holder. Personally, I welcome this particular item as I often lodge a water bottle between the seat backs and if cold, the condensation can mark the seat cushions - the tailored holder should fix this!

- depending on instrument and avionics options fitted, there is also a good sized glovebox with a door on the right hand side of the panel.

This is just one photo from a selection - click here to see more on the Evektor Australia SportStar photo gallery:
http://www.evektor.com.au/sportstar_gallery.php

or here to see photos on the Evektor factory site:
http://www.evektor.com/sportstar/

600 kgs available for SportStar Plus

Structurally, the SportStar Plus and SL/MAX airframe is capable of handling a 600 kgs MTOW without modification - so why has there been a 550/575 kgs limit until now?

The answer lies in the American LSA/ASTM regulations which requires the aircraft to stall at MTOW no higher than 42 knots in 'clean' configuration - ie with no flap. The SportStar stalls around 42 knots 'clean' at 600 kgs but to give some leeway, the manufacturer reduced the MTOW to ensure that, at this lower weight, the aircraft would always stall below the 42 knots 'clean' limit.

In Australia, the LSA-regulated stall limit is 45 knots in landing configuration - ie with as much flap as you require. Our limit is different from the USA limit as it was rumoured that some Australian-built aircraft could not meet the 42 knots clean limit - 45 knots with flap is much easier to reach. In fact, the SportStar stalls around 34-36 knots with full flap, putting it well under the Australian limit.

Recently, the SportStar has been made available in the USA with vortex generators (VGs) on the wings, to get the 'clean' stall speed down. As a result, the aircraft is now available in USA at 600 kgs MTOW, and is known as the SportStar MAX.

Thankfully, in Australia we don't need the VGs as the aircraft already easily meets the Australian stall speed limit.

As a result, the factory has now made available the paperwork to upgrade Australian SportStar Plus aircraft (all those with wing tanks) to 600 kgs MTOW. This is simply a paperwork exercise - there is no airframe modification required.

If you are considering upgrading your SportStar to 600 kgs MTOW please call me, Peter, on 0413 900 892

Plane & Pilot tests the SportStar SL

Plane & Pilot magazine is one of the USA's pre-eminent aviation magazines, with an enviable reputation for the quality of their journalism and honesty. It is available in paper and on-line.

Recently, they tested the SportStar SL and you can find their article here:
http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/component/zine/article/1798.html

Towards the end of the article, the writer mentions Paul Hissey, an ace fighter pilot, who took delivery of his new SL at Sun 'n Fun in Sebring Florida, and flew it all the way back to California where he lives, visiting many friends and family along the way - pretty similar to flying from the east to the west coast of Australia but with more population in between!

And here's the good bit - Paul is 87! You're never too old to be flying your dream.