CUSTOM FLIGHT NORTH STAR

TYPE: Tandem-seat kitbuilt.

PROGRAMME: Re-creation of Piper Super Cub, but re-engineered for additional structural strength. Prototype North Star (C-FGYD) first flew in 1991 and made its public debut that year. Offered in kit form from 1992 onwards.

CURRENT VERSIONS: North Star: Standard version, as described below.
Bright Star: Basic version with no flaps, single one-piece door, leaf spring steel main landing gear, square-topped fin and fuel capacity of 87 litres (23.0 US gallons; 19.2 Imp gallons); introduced in 1996, but first aircraft had not flown by late 2002; optional tricycle or tailwheel versions. Accepts engines from 74.6 kW to 134 kW (100 to 180 hp).
North Star 4: Four-seat version, to be powered by engine in 108 to 194 kW (145 to 260 hp) range. Seeking launch customers.
North Star 6: Six-seat version currently under development; will have maximum take-off weight of around 1,810 kg (4,000 lb). Engines between 194 and 265 kW (260 and 355 hp) can be installed.

CUSTOMERS: At least 14 (of which seven completed) in Canada; five (four completed) in USA. Production aircraft Nos. 7, 8 and 16 completed in Ontario by D E Blackburn, A King and R M Harkness in 1998. Nos. 3 (Subaru engine) and 15, built by W Smith, Ontario, and J Y Gratton, Quebec, followed in the first half of 1999. Total of at least 24 kits sold by September 2002.

COSTS: North Star: C$36,000; Bright Star: C$19,602; both excluding engine (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Strut-braced mainplanes; wire-braced tailplanes; raked wingtips. Easy maintenance/inspection covers. Quoted build time 1,200 hours.
Compared with Super Cub, has landing gear legs 8 cm (3 in) taller; flatter spine; squared wingtips, with ailerons moved outboard by 0.61 m (2 ft 0 in); aileron and flap chord increased 10 cm (4 in); flap span increased 0.60 m (2 ft 0 in); cockpit 6 cm (2½ in) wider.
Aerofoil USA 35B.

FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Horn-balanced rudder and elevators. Four-position flaps.

STRUCTURE: Welded 4130 chromoly tube, fabric-covered fuselage. Tubes injected with oil as anti-corrosion measure. Wing of prototype constructed of wood, but kit aircraft have I-beam spar, aluminium ribs and 2024-T3 leading-edges.

LANDING GEAR: Tailwheel configuration (fixed) with hydraulic/coil-spring suspension. Steerable tailwheel. Optional floats and skis. Mainwheel tyres 6.00-6 or 8.50-6; tailwheel 2.80-4 in.

POWER PLANT: One 112 kW (150 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320-E3D flat-four driving a McCauley two-blade fixed-pitch propeller. Fuel capacity 197 litres (52.0 US gallons; 43.3 Imp gallons) in two wing tanks.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and passenger in tandem within enclosed cockpit. Door on each side - upper half Perspex and lower half fabric-covered steel tubing. Baggage compartment reached through separate door on starboard side of fuselage.

Data estimated for Bright Star

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

  • Wing span: 11.07 m (36 ft 4 in)
  • Wing chord, average: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
  • Length overall: North Star: 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in)
    • Bright Star: 7.16 m (23 ft 6 in)
  • Height overall: North Star: 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
    • Bright Star: 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
  • Propeller diameter: 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
  • Cabin door (each): Height: 0.89 m (2 ft 11 in)
    • Width: 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in)

AREAS:

  • Wings, gross: 17.65 m² (190.0 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

  • Weight empty: North Star: 531 kg (1,170 lb)
    • Bright Star: 476 kg (1,050 lb)
  • Baggage capacity: 41 kg (90 lb)
  • Max T-O weight: North Star: 997 kg (2,200 lb)
    • Bright Star: 816 kg (1,800 lb)
  • Max wing loading: North Star: 56.3 kg/m² (11.53 lb/sq ft)
    • Bright Star: 46.3 kg/m² (9.47 lb/sq ft)
  • Max power loading (112 kW; 150 hp engine):
    • North Star: 8.93 kg/kW (14.67 lb/hp)
    • Bright Star: 7.30 kg/kW (12.00 lb/hp)

PERFORMANCE:

  • Max level speed: 122 kt (225 km/h; 140 mph)
  • Max cruising speed:
    • North Star (landplane): 100 kt (185 km/h; 115 mph)
    • North Star (floatplane): 85 kt (158 km/h; 98 mph)
    • Bright Star: 87 kt (161 km/h; 100 mph)
  • Normal cruising speed: North Star: 85 kt (158 km/h; 98 mph)
  • Stalling speed, power off:
    • flaps up: 35 kt (65 km/h; 40 mph)
    • flaps down: 31 kt (57 km/h; 35 mph)
  • Stalling speed, full power:
    • flaps up: 31 kt (57 km/h; 35 mph)
    • flaps down: 22 kt (41 km/h; 25 mph)
  • Max rate of climb at S/L:
    • North Star: 335 m (1,100 ft)/min
    • Bright Star: 305 m (1,000 ft)/min
  • Service ceiling: 4,880 m (16,000 ft)
  • T-O run (half fuel): North Star: 55 m (180 ft)
    • Bright Star: 92 m (300 ft)
  • Landing run: North Star: 61 m (200 ft)
    • Bright Star: 84 m (275 ft)
  • Range: 600 n miles (1,111 km; 690 miles)

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 2004. ISBN: 0-7106-2614-2

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