Stolp Starduster

Louis A. Stolp and George M. Adams designed and built a light sporting biplane known as the Starduster SA100, which flew for the first time in November 1957; and founded Stolp Starduster Corporation to market plans, components and basic materials to amateur constructors (Aircraft spruce now markets the plans). Later on they introduced the SA-300 Starduster Too, which was an enlarged two-seat version and is suitable for engines of 125-260 hp. The prototype SA-300 was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1A flat-four engine of 180 hp.

After Lou sold the startduster company they designed Acroduster SA700 (1 seat) and SA750 (2 seats), an aircraft series designed to give the early Pitts a run for the money. The end result was an aircraft with much better behaviour then the pitts on the ground and in the air but not as acrobatic as the later. Given the choice I personally would go with the Acroduster anyday…

In the seventies the oilcrisis made an impact even in the homebuilt arena and Lou designed the SA500 Starlet and the SA900 V-star.
The are pretty much two designs of the same concept of single-seat, economical fun to fly, advanced sunday acrobatic designs. Most of the are powered by a Lycoming 235. Personally I would consider to give my vote on the V-star as the prettiest little homebuilt ever constructed.
Anyone interested in any of these designs I would keep a very close eye on the weight. Initially intended to have gross of 1000lbs I have seen V-stars that has an emptyweight way over that! Because of this the 35mph stall suddenly is subsancially higher and I would be very carefull not to stress the aircraft in any way by doing acrobatics in it. And suddenly the whole point of the aircraft is gone. No longer a nice handling, friendly arcrobatic aircraft it just turns into a static object. Just my 2c…

Starduster One SA100
span - 19 ft.
length - 17 ft.

Super starduster SA101

Upper Span - 24 ft.
Lower Span - 20 ft. 5 in.
Wing Area - 162 sq.ft.
Airfoil - Symmetrical 0 degrees incidence/dihedral (Makes it WAY more acrobatic then the SA100)
Engine: Lycoming 10-360
Cruise 170 mph
Vne 220 mph
Stall - 60 mph
Empty weight - 840 lbs.

Starduster Too SA300
Stolp Starduster II SA 300

Length: 20 ft
Height: 7 ft 6 in
Wingspan Upper: 24 ft
Empty Weight: 1,105 lb.
Max Takeoff Weight: 1,650 lb.
Engine: Normally Lycoming 320/360
Range: 300 miles
Cruise Speed: 120 mph
Max. Speed: 180 mph

Starlet SA500
Engine: 65-125Hp
Length -17 ft.
Height - 5 ft. 10 in.
Wingspan - 25 ft.
Wing Area - 83 sq. ft.
Gross Weight - 1,000 lbs.
Empty Weight - 650 lbs.
Airfoil - Clark Y, High-Lift
Maximum Speed (vne) - 180 mph
Fuel Capacity - 22 gal. - 13 in wing, 9 in fuselage

With Lycoming 235:
Cruise Speed - 100 mph
Approach Speed - 80 mph
Stall Speed - 60 mph
Takeoff Distance - 300 ft.
Landing Distance - 400 ft.

Acroduster SA700
Singleseat
span: 19 ft.
length: 15′9″
I found no information indicationg that this type ever went beyond N181J, the SA700 prototype.

Acroduster Too SA750
image 0624
span: 21′5″
length: 18′6″

Starduster SA900
image 0002
span 23ft
length 17′2″
wing area 141 sq ft
top speed 90 mph w/65 hp
cruise 80 mph
stall 35 mph
limit 6g at 1000 lb
ultimate 9g at 1000lb
empty wt 649 lb w/65 hp
gross 1000 lb

Interesting Links:
Stolp aircraft own ref page
EAA airventure starlet with good pirep
Bud Divisson pirep on the Starduster Too
Aircraft spruce stolp kit department