In this Newsletter

SportStar Plus - more weight carrying, more fuel, more range/endurance
Rotax oil thermostat - engine running too cool? Read on!
LSA A22 Foxbat - a firm favourite now available at 600 kgs MTOW
Airshow dates - where to see SportStars and Foxbats

LSA SportStar 'Plus' available at higher MTOW

The standard SportStar is now designated the 'Plus' with extra weight carrying capacity, more fuel and longer endurance. Having just flown a SportStar Plus from the Gold Coast to Mareeba, north Queensland, and back (round the long way, well away from the coast!) I can vouch for the fuel consumption at almost exactly 16 litres an hour at an average true airspeed of 106 knots.

Here are the figures:

Useful load: + 55 lb / 25 kg
Total: 600 lb / 272 kg

More fuel at MTOW: + 35 litres
Total fuel volume: 118 litres

Extra range: +160 nautical miles
Total range: 700 nautical miles
572 NM / 910 km Range at 55 % MCP,
airplane in configuration:

Longer endurance: + 1.5 ? 2 hours
Total ultimate endurance: 8.5 hrs

Example endurance/range: 7.5 hrs/575 nautical miles at empty weight 315 kg , crew 172 kg, baggage 13 kg, fuel balance to MTOW.

Rotax oil thermostat available

We now have an oil thermostat kit available. Although this has been developed primarily for the SportStar, in principle, it could be fitted to any Rotax 912 installation.

Some aircraft run cooler than others and in the winter the oil may not reach its optimum temperature in the cruise, particularly at low cruise power settings.

The kit includes everything you need to place the thermostat between the two hoses connecting to the oil cooler ? in effect, providing an oil cooler bypass until the oil temperature reaches the ideal level. There are full fitting instructions for the kit, which takes 1-2 hours to install.

You can see full details of the kit and fitting instructions on the Evektor website at: www.evektor.cz/at/en/index.htm#sportstar

Cost is $330 including GST per kit plus postage.

Foxbat LSA is coming!

The Foxbat is fast becoming the aircraft of choice for mustering pilots and station owners and now a new LSA version will be available for delivery in Australia from July 2007 onwards - we already have a couple of orders for this stunning new version of an old favourite!

The LSA Foxbat retains all the amazing flight characteristics of the original - fantastic short take-offs & landings, very safe & gentle stall, easy slow speed handling.

The LSA Foxbat can be registered via either RAAus or CASA (VH-) and can be used for pilot training and glider towing.

There are 2 main differences between the current Foxbat (which will remain in production) and the LSA version. First the wing will be all-metal for the first time - the currrent wing is an all metal frame with doped Stitts fabric covering. The benefits of the all-metal wing include better weather resistence and slightly better handling characteristics - albeit at a small weight penalty.

The second difference is the Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) which goes up to 600 kgs for the land plane and 650 kgs for the amphibious floats version. On an empty weight around 300 kgs, the LSA Foxbat will have a superb usable load of 290-300 kgs.

As a result of the increase in MTOW, a number of options become available which cannot not be fitted to the original aircraft - for example, twin control yokes with centre throttle & brakes, Aertex Leather seat upholstery and night VFR equipment.

The standard LSA Foxbat will come highly specified with strobes, landing light, navigation lights, ballistic rescue system pre-installation, wheel spats, Blue Mountain flight instruments and other items.

Prices have not yet been finalised - but call us now if you want to be among the first to own what is an exceptional development of a tried and trusted design!

Australian Airshows

The SportStar and Foxbat will be on display, with test flights available at a number of airshows in the next few months:

Shepparton - 17 & 18 March
Avalon - 20-25 March (SportStar only)
Natfly/Narromine - 6 - 9 April
Old Station, Raglan (Qld) - 9 & 10 June
Bundaberg Airshow - 3 - 5 August

Please call now if you would like a demonstration/test flight.