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Earthstar Aircraft Inc. of Santa Margarita,
California acquired the manufacturing rights to the Laughing Gull series
of ultralights in 1985. The Laughing Gull first flew in 1976 and the two
seat version was the Laughing Gull 11 powered by a 60hp(44kW) Rotax 532
and with a maximum take-off weight of 800lb(363kg). The company went on
to develop the single seat Ultra Gull which had two fixed wings in
tandem, the tips of which were connected by twin vertical stabilisers.
The single seat Thunder Gull J first flew in 1987 powered by a 28hp
(20kW) Rotax 277 and with a maximum take-off weight of 550lb(250kg). The
Thunder Gull JT2 is a two seater and the Soaring Gull J is a single seat
powered glider first flown in 1993. All the Earthstar aircraft were
designed by Mark H. Bierle. A Thunder Gull JT2 is illustrated below.
N79356 c/n
EO 12DM
USA
2 seat ultralight first flown in 1995
Engine: 52hp(38kW) Rotax 503
Length: 18’0"(5.48m)
Height: 5’11"(1.8m)Wingspan: 26’0"(7.92m)
No.built: 7+ Range: 300miles(482km)
Cruising speed: 87mph(139kmh) Empty weight: 420lb(191kg)
Maximum take-off weight: 1000lb(454kg)
An Earthstar Odyssey is shown below.
Unregistered
A Soaring Gull J is illustrated below.
Registration unknown
Photo: Earthstar Aircraft Inc. Earthstar Odyssey on approach to Runway
23.
Photo: Earthstar Aircraft Inc. |
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