Stolp Starduster Too

Lore & Background

The Starduster Too was developed to be an economical two-seat sport biplane. Its fuselage is made of 4130 steel tubing with fabric covering, and the spars are made of spruce wood with plywood wooden wing ribs. The base engine is a Lycoming O-360 180 hp engine, but alternative examples have been built using the Lycoming IO-540, Ranger, Ford V-8 and V-6, Continental, Jacobs, and even Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines.

The Starduster Too is a popular biplane homebuilt design, with several examples having over 2500 hours of flight time, and one with over 5000 hours. The Stolp Acroduster and Stolp Acroduster Too were follow-on models, scaled down 10 percent and stressed to 9g; the first example was registered as a Schrack-Stolp Super Starduster Too.

One example of a Starduster Too was modified with retractable gear and a sliding canopy. This aircraft, named "Samsong," was able to cruise at 150 mph and had an 830-mile range with 45 gallons of fuel, using modified gear legs from a Cessna 140.

Reader's Guide

The Stolp Starduster Too holds a significant place in homebuilt aviation as a widely built and durable two-seat biplane. Its design emphasizes economy and sport flying, with a robust airframe stressed for basic aerobatics. The aircraft's popularity is evidenced by the high flight hours accumulated on many examples, including one surpassing 5000 hours. The design's adaptability is shown by the wide range of engines installed, from the base Lycoming O-360 to radial engines like the Pratt & Whitney R-985. The Starduster Too also served as the basis for the more aerobatic Acroduster and Acroduster Too variants, which were scaled down and stressed to 9g. A notable modification, the "Samsong," demonstrated the airframe's potential for higher performance with retractable gear and a sliding canopy, achieving a 150 mph cruise speed and 830-mile range. The continued availability of plans through Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co ensures the design remains accessible to homebuilders, cementing its legacy as a staple of the homebuilt biplane community.