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Why Buy this Plane over Another?
I asked the question of U.S. dealer James Peeler. He’s been a Flightstar dealer and pilot for several years and is “one of us” ultralight pilots. Now that he represents the Czech aircraft, he should be able to relate why the model excites him.
The EV-97 EuroStar aka SportStar has been manufactured for more than 6 years in the Czech Republic and has been used as a trainer in Europe without even one service bulletin or airworthiness directive issued, Peeler says. The factory has achieved the ISO 9001 quality standard certification.
More pragmatically, Peeler says, “The plane flies better overall as a trainer than anything I have ever flown in my 22 years of flying with more than 5,500 hours in 103 different aircraft (general aviation, Experimental, rotorcraft, and ultralight).
“The performance is uncanny,” he continues. “It gets off like an ultralight (in less than 300 feet) and climbs like a homesick angel at between 1,200 to 1,500 fpm with two aboard, cruises at 100 to 120 mph, Vne 167 mph, and stall at 38 mph.” I didn’t find the ground roll as short nor the climb as strong, but perhaps Peeler’s technique is that much better than mine.
Peeler likes the SportStar’s split flaps, which he believes are very efficient and clean with no hinges on the top surface of the wing. Three notches of flaps helps him get into a very short ultralight strip. “I have personally landed with a passenger on an 800-foot grass strip and had room to spare,” he recalls.
Regarding ground operations, Peeler says, “The ground handling is superb, allowing the plane to turn around in it own wingspan. The robust landing gear is most forgiving and smoothens the ride on unimproved fields to a level I have never experienced before.” Certainly the model has lots of clearance and I also enjoyed the tight turn capability.
Peeler loves the overall looks of the design as well, stating, “The icing on the cake is that this is a sexy aircraft with turned-up wing tips, bubble canopy, low wing, and handling that is right on, tight, and responsive without being too sensitive.” He describes stalls as “anti climax” because the SportStar simply buffets and mushes, and with an accelerated stall breaking back toward the high wing. My own experience with stall confirms these good qualities.
Peeler reports the SportStar is available as a kit for $25,000 (complete with basic instruments, motor mount, differential brakes, finished interior, all parts and pieces predrilled by CNC, and with nothing else needed but engine and engine accessories). A 51%-qualified fast-build kit with wings and tail section assembled sells for $30,000. Under Light-Sport Aircraft, if passed, a complete, painted, basic ready-to-fly plane powered by an 81-hp Rotax 912 engine can be sold to American customers for $60,000.
Peeler says all these prices are for the kits or completed aircraft delivered to your airport in the Continental U.S. He adds, “I just happen to be the sole U.S. dealer for the EV-97 SportStar.”
Those who build from kits can use an Airman Repairman Certificate to do their own maintenance and annual inspections. Peeler expresses, “Many of the [proposed] new composite Light-Sport Aircraft type craft are only built at the factory, thereby limiting your building options to zero.”
The Building Effort of a Kit
Peeler says, “[My SportStar] is registered in the Experimental category, and I built it myself in 5 weeks (18 hours a day 7 days a week).” This grueling schedule – which did not include painting – sums to 630 hours which isn’t bad, though I’m inclined to question continuous 18-hour days while building an aircraft.
Peeler feels the SportStar was virtually made for the proposed Light- Sport Aircraft category. Evektor, eyeing the U.S. market keenly, sent a factory representative to assist Peeler in setting up his dealership and to oversee the building of two planes.
“The kit is very straightforward and comprehensive including all parts necessary to assemble the plane with nothing left out,” says Peeler. He says this is one of the reasons the kits go together so quickly. You don’t have to chase down missing items or pick them up locally.
You have a choice of engines including the 81-hp Rotax 912, 100-hp Rotax 912S, 80-hp Jabiru 2200, and possibly a BMW unit (currently being tested). Engine cost is in addition to the kit prices.
So, put a Rotax 912S on a kit SportStar and you’ll spend about $37,000 plus you’ll invest 600+ hours. Ultralights are far less expensive and build in a fraction of the time but neither do they offer all that the SportStar can.