OP-WTS STARFLIGHT Rudder Pedal Mechanisms

[Valin Thorn]

Hello Aviators!

The STARFLIGHT Adjustable Rudder Pedals offer the ultimate in control and comfort for experimental airplanes. An easy to access crank handle adjusts the rudder pedals to the best position for each pilot, no matter their stature. Close tolerance polymer bearings provide precision movements with smooth and accurate control of the rudder and brakes.

The mechanism may be integrated in most airplanes that use cables to control the rudder and with castering nosewheels, where ground steering is by differential braking of the main wheels. New and retrofit installations are easy.

STARFLIGHT Rudder & Brake Control Mechanism

Well over a hundred STARFLIGHT Rudder Pedals have been sold with 15 years of fleet history and a perfect safety record.

We receive calls to purchase the rudder pedals every month – though, they’ve been out of stock for several years because of escalating production costs. We just received the best production quote we’ve seen in years (though still higher with the monetary inflation from reckless government spending). So, we’re checking with the community to see who wants to order now.

Click on the link to learn more about the rudder and brake control mechanism:

https://www.starflight.aero/product-page/rudder-pedals-mechanism

The pricing is $4,900 USD per mechanism/unit. We need customer commitments for at least 20 units before we can greenlight their production. Delivery will be about six weeks from the go-ahead date.

Please notify us by email at starflight@starflight.aero of a commitment for an order and how many units you need. Note, dual controls require two rudder pedal units.

Once we have a commitment for at least 20 units total, we’ll ask each customer to submit their order on the website at the link above, where payment will be required to place an order.

Best regards,

Valin

http://www.starflight.aero

[Paul Miller]

Valin, great news. I think I have at least (airplane) one for sure, three (airplanes) likely and possibly a few more with some research.

[Valin Thorn]

Excellent, thanks Paul!

[Danny Miller]

Can an LNC2 be retrofitted with these?

[Valin Thorn]

Danny,

A few people have purchased them for their Lancair 320/360 airplanes and we never heard they had a problem. I haven't seen photos of an installation so I can't say for sure. I don't know the dimensions between the 320/360 fuselage inner mold line and its nose wheel well bump in the middle.

The fore/aft length and side to side mounting tube lengths are easy adjustments or modifications if needed. The non-modifiable portion of the mechanism is the moving subassembly with the pedals and S-tubes. One needs at least 16 inches of horizontal space in the sweep area of that articulating portion of the rudder pedal mechanism.

Here's an old but still accurate drawing of overall dimensions of the mechanism:

STARFLIGHT Rudder & Brake Control Mechanism Overall Dimensions

Please let me know if you think they fit based on your airplane's measurements.

Thanks!

Valin

[LancairTalk Sales]

Valin's pedals are back into production and back into Classifieds so that people can order.

[Valin Thorn]

Hey gang,

We have enough orders to go into production and will be beginning work this week. There will be little if any extras made for inventory -- so, if interested please get your orders in soon. See the website link below.

Ally and I provide these products mostly as a service to the community and our love for these airplanes. The margins are small. I sure wish we could be at prices closer to what they were when first introduced. But, when adjusted for monetary inflation and some microeconomic dynamics of the experimental aircraft industry, these prices are about where one would predict in 2024.

For those interested and still on the fence, here's a viewpoint to consider...

One way to look at the cost/benefit aspects of these decisions, is to consider today a new Cessna 172 costs over $500,000 – about the same price as if we’d hired a professional to build us a new, customized Lancair Legacy. A Legacy, though, even in the landing pattern, flies faster than a C-172 does in cruise flight and is far more beautiful. Rudder & brake flight control mechanisms are flight/safety critical mechanisms – not just comfort items. And, when they are pilot and passenger, individually in flight adjustable for perfect fit, in an airplane where the seats cannot move, their functionalities are clearly worth it – especially as seen as a percentage of the total airplane costs.

BTW, for all the flying Legacys out there, note that a retrofit installation is relatively easy.

With the small margins, it is appreciated if ordering, that one selects the manual/check payment method to save us the 2.9% fees -- but, credit cards are okay if preferred.

Thank you!

Valin

https://www.starflight.aero/