Thruster TST-E (T500) Review

Flying the Thruster is probably one of the most fun things you can do!

Before becoming fully 'initiated' with flying Thrusters, I would often look at the type suspiciously - as if it wasn't a 'safe aircraft'.

How wrong I was!

The Thruster is one of the safest aircraft flying in the world today, with a proven track record...there are literally thousands of them flying around the world, and have been safely doing so for more than 20 years!

I must say, in all the aircraft I have personally flown, both in GA and RAAus flying, the Thruster is the most fun, affordable and thrilling flying I have experienced to date.

It could be said that flying the Thruster is a very organic experience - you genuinely feel a part of the experience in a truly heart warming and very real sense.

The Thruster is one of those aircraft that truly captures you in the experience and romance of flight!

The Thruster TST-E isn't a great deal different to the Thruster T300 that I have flown previously, although this one being the TST-E, is slightly longer (E = Extended), more like the T500 without the back being filled in as it is on the T500.

Our Thruster TST-E 25-0249 is a particularly 'well balanced' aircraft...not all Thrusters are!

There is very little issue with taxiing this particular Thruster, and thats with the 'hard compound' tail wheel! Even here at Ballarat, Victoria (where she is kept and hangared) where we have sealed runways and taxi ways - no problems at all.

This Thruster is true blue back to basics flying with a hand starter.

Starting is no problems at all...
Chocks under one of the wheels - A couple of pulls on the starter cord to prime and lube the engine first, prior to switching the ignition switches on, and then she fires on the first or second pull every time - no problems! The Thruster has dual throttle levers and the pilots side throttle control stick is easy to reach from outside the aircraft for start up.  After a couple of minutes warm up and pre-flight checks, she is ready to go...Chocks away and we are off!

Take off is fast and very uneventful - Line her up, gently apply full power, apply gentle forward pressure on the center control stick and within seconds she is at 40kts with her tail raised & aircraft ready to fly. With gentle back pressure on the stick she leaps up gently into the air and climbs at an impressive rate! This girl is made to fly...in nil wind, we get around 5-700fpm initial climb with two up and full fuel at Ballarat (1433' AMSL). But then she does have a Rotax 582 DCDI 65hp engine in charge up front!

After take off the Thruster TST-E flies like most other aircraft - it is a genuine 3 axis controlled ultralight.

She rides the turbulence quite well, in fact far better than I initially expected! She doesn't like gusts - but then no ultralight does with their low wing loadings they tend to be more susceptible to sudden gusts of wind. However, the Thruster will take just about anything thrown at her - it really comes back to the PIC's experience, knowledge and ability more so than the aircraft's - Let me tell you, this is one very capable aircraft!

The feel in the Ailerons is quite heavy giving quite a solid feel when banking. They're full span ailerons on this aircraft (no flaps) so I guess that plays a huge part in them feeling heavy. There is also plenty of solid and positive control in the pitch and the normal axis - This is not a 'twitchy aircraft' by any means...

Turns are very straight forward, with very little to no rudder needed in turns - again it comes back to how well balanced the aircraft is, this particular one is just amazing!

Coming into land is very straight forward...
line her up with the center line fly her at 55kts all the way down final to the flare, where all as you have to do is reduce power & fly her straight and level. I mainly use the 'wheeler landing' technique, which for a Thruster is possibly one of the easier ways to land. Again, this particular Thruster is so well balanced that if you do nothing else but hold her straight and level at flare height she will literally land herself! There is no need to 'force' this aircraft to land - just let her take her legs in her own time. Once the mains gently touch, just release any back pressure and she sits firmly on the ground with no tendency to bounce or take off again...

With the R582 DCDI Engine and the 3 blade adjustable IVO Prop, Cruise speed is around 55-60kts in this aircraft.
Climb is 55kts, as is approach speed.
Stall speed is around the 35kt mark at MTOW - much less with one up!
40lt fuel tank and a fuel burn of around 18 lts per hour.

This is a very comfortable aircraft to fly and a hell of a lot of fun!