Streak Shadow
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Wales
Streak Shadow
Thinking of forming a group on a Streak Shadow.Heard all the good points from prospective sellers but what's not so clever about operating this little machine?Any info gratefully received.
No wind-ups please!
No wind-ups please!
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: india
streak shadow
great machine to fly. flew about 280 hrs.
the only minor faults were the rear seat was cramped and difficult to get in or out. Noise level was high in the rear.
Need to be careful while taxying on unprepared surfaces to prevent debri damage to the prop.
As also while landing on uneven surface due wheel size and undercarriage width.
Other than above cannot find anything negative.
Front cockpit is excellent with a great veiw, low noise and excellent manouveabilty. It would pitch up to 50 degree plus with no adverse stall characteristics and contol response was excellent, especially when compared with Challenger or Zenith CH-501
the only minor faults were the rear seat was cramped and difficult to get in or out. Noise level was high in the rear.
Need to be careful while taxying on unprepared surfaces to prevent debri damage to the prop.
As also while landing on uneven surface due wheel size and undercarriage width.
Other than above cannot find anything negative.
Front cockpit is excellent with a great veiw, low noise and excellent manouveabilty. It would pitch up to 50 degree plus with no adverse stall characteristics and contol response was excellent, especially when compared with Challenger or Zenith CH-501
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Surrey Hills
I built G-BVLF [912UL] K250 at Old Sarum. Best Star Streak kit build IMHO as I was monitored by Fiona Luckhurst at the Shadow Flying Centre. Has a modified canopy which bulges at the sides and gives more freedom for one's torso. Only reason for sale was my increasing girth!
I changed to a SkyArrow 650T - more room for lardy types.
G-INFO has the present owner's details.
I flew a lot in the company of CFM's Designer David Cook. He always took off and landed with full flap. Keeps one's touchdown speed to the low end and therefore shorter landings and less stress on the nose wheel. Shorter takeoff run as well.
5 Blade prop acted like an airbrake when closing the throttle!
I changed to a SkyArrow 650T - more room for lardy types.
G-INFO has the present owner's details.
I flew a lot in the company of CFM's Designer David Cook. He always took off and landed with full flap. Keeps one's touchdown speed to the low end and therefore shorter landings and less stress on the nose wheel. Shorter takeoff run as well.
5 Blade prop acted like an airbrake when closing the throttle!
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Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
Since that, the entire fleet has new (and certainly better) main undercarriages, so that is pretty much a non-issue.
I've flown Shadows a reasonable amount, and the Streak seems one of the best models (for microlight pilots, I'd rate the CD highest personally). I can offer a few thoughts:
- Don't plan on regularly carrying adult passengers, the rear cockpit just isn't up to it.
- Buy an ANR headset
- Never plan on storing it out of doors routinely
- The ASI overreads by about 20% in the cruise, and the altimeter by about 150ft, because some idjit put the static inside the cockpit
- The aeroplane is much better with an extended range "belly" fuel tank and under-floor footwell extension in the back.
Those criticisms aside, it's a fantastically enjoyable aeroplane to fly, with easy docile handling, and over the last couple of years very cheap to buy.
G
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 75
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From: Devon, UK
Streak Shadow
When I got interested in microlights as a change from light aircraft., I called on Fiona Luckhurst at the Shadow Flight Centre, Old Sarum, who was very friendly and helpful.
She had for sale a nice low-hours CD, with closed trailer, and suggested a trial flight. I was amazed at the way it leapt off the ground - though the subsequent climb rate dropped back quite soon - and the way it responded to the sensitive sidestick control. On my quite high approach, throttling back gave a steep descent, and a touch of power let me flare and put it down on a sixpence. I was hooked. Bought it, trailered it back to Dunkeswell, and subsequently flew it all over the country (after fitting a long-range belly tank, which it really needed for cross-country flying). As others have said, a panoramic view from the front seat, but not much room and noisy in the back. Needs care taxying over bumpy ground, and the pusher-propeller tips are vulnerable to loose chippings, so throttle back and let it coast over them every time.
The wings stow on their leading-edges against the sides of the trailer, and the fuselage and boom are pushed up a short ramp formed by the hinged-down rear trailer-door.
It's a very well designed package, and the Streak Shadow is very similar, with a much improved performance from the larger engine and shorter wings - so not a microlight .
She had for sale a nice low-hours CD, with closed trailer, and suggested a trial flight. I was amazed at the way it leapt off the ground - though the subsequent climb rate dropped back quite soon - and the way it responded to the sensitive sidestick control. On my quite high approach, throttling back gave a steep descent, and a touch of power let me flare and put it down on a sixpence. I was hooked. Bought it, trailered it back to Dunkeswell, and subsequently flew it all over the country (after fitting a long-range belly tank, which it really needed for cross-country flying). As others have said, a panoramic view from the front seat, but not much room and noisy in the back. Needs care taxying over bumpy ground, and the pusher-propeller tips are vulnerable to loose chippings, so throttle back and let it coast over them every time.
The wings stow on their leading-edges against the sides of the trailer, and the fuselage and boom are pushed up a short ramp formed by the hinged-down rear trailer-door.
It's a very well designed package, and the Streak Shadow is very similar, with a much improved performance from the larger engine and shorter wings - so not a microlight .
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,458
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From: Wildest Surrey
Only problem I've found with Shadows is the nosewheel steering - sometimes it doesn't castor like it should when there's someone in the cockpit thus when there's weight on it. The controls I find are very heavy (especially ailerons) when compared with some aircraft of similar weight and performance.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 376
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From: UK
The legendary Eve Jackson was the first person to fly a Streak Shadow (unassisted) to Australia for which she won the Seagrave Award. Late nineties she then got itchy feet again and left her engineering job at Compton Abbas airfield in Dorset and flew Gertie (her Shadow) on a shoe-string budget to Tanzania where she still resides. She wrote an entertaining account of her African journey, which included a forced landing in Somalia and an enforced stay with some 'shifter' bandits. Copies of her book 'Gertie's day out' are available from Amazon.
Regards, jez
Regards, jez
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 44
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From: 10 miles finals
Flew a Streak Shadow for a while and as has been mentioned Fiona Luckhurst is definately the person to advise. The only problem apart from those already mentioned was the damage you can do to the prop if there are stones,debris etc when taxying around. Used to go to the Pyrenees rally each year and after damaging a prop in Spain found it cheaper to push the thing to parking after landing. Hard work but saves money.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 832
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From: East Anglia
I've got a nice one which will be advertised in the LAA magazine in Aug. Its an LAA permit Shadow with Rotax 912. ~50hrs airframe engine and prop. New Permit in June. Has an ANR intercom with headsets fitted and the extended rear footwell.
Send me a message if interested.
ZA
Send me a message if interested.
ZA
