Corby Starlet CJ-1

Corby Starlet CJ-1: The Pocket-Sized Sport Fighter

The Corby Starlet is a charismatic single-seat aircraft designed by Australian engineer John Corby. Unlike the high-drag ultralights, the Starlet is a sleek, semi-aerobatic sport plane that looks and flies like a miniature World War II fighter. It is celebrated for its incredibly compact size and its beautiful all-wood construction, proving that you don’t need metal or composites to build a high-performance machine.

Why Is It a Legend?

• A Woodworking Masterpiece: The Starlet is built entirely from spruce wood and birch plywood, covered in fabric. It requires no welding and no fiberglass molding. It is the dream project for a builder who loves the smell of sawdust and traditional craftsmanship.

• Agile and Aerobatic: This isn’t just a cruiser; it’s a pilot’s airplane. With a stressed-skin plywood fuselage, it is strong enough for “gentleman’s aerobatics” (loops, rolls, and spins). It offers responsive, fighter-like handling that makes flying pure joy.

• The VW Perfect Match: It was designed specifically to maximize the efficiency of an air-cooled Volkswagen engine. While other planes struggle with VW conversions, the Starlet’s small, lightweight airframe turns 60-80 hp into impressive speed.

• Garage-Friendly Size: With a tiny wingspan of less than 19 feet, it is one of the easiest planes to build in a standard single-car garage without needing expensive hangar space during construction.

Performance and Key Numbers
The Corby Starlet is small but mighty. It is faster than most trainers and offers a “strapped-in” feel that connects the pilot directly to the air.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 1 pilot

• Wingspan: 18 ft 6 in (5.6 m)

• Length: 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)

• Wing Area: 68 sq ft (6.3 m²)

• Empty Weight: 450 – 500 lbs (204 – 227 kg)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 750 lbs (340 kg)

• Useful Load: Approx. 250 – 300 lbs (113 – 136 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 60 – 80 hp (VW 1835cc to 2200cc, or Jabiru 2200)

Performance:

• Glide Ratio: Approx. 10:1

• Cruise Speed: 115 – 130 mph (220 – 240 km/h)

• Maximum speed: 260 km/h (160 mph, 140 kn)

• Stall Speed: 40 – 45 mph (64 – 72 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 800 – 1,000 ft/min (4 – 5 m/s)

• Takeoff Distance: 400 – 600 ft (120 – 180 m)

• Fuel Consumption: 3.5 – 4.5 gallons per hour (13 – 17 L/h)

• Range: Approx. 350 – 450 miles (560 – 720 km)

In short, the Corby Starlet is the perfect choice if you are a woodworker at heart who wants a sporty, responsive, and beautiful airplane that fits in your garage and flies like a little fighter.