page_title: Earthstar Thunder Gull
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Earthstar Thunder Gull / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: Earthstar EGull2000
context_page_description: The Earthstar Thunder Gull is a family of cantilever high-wing, tricycle gear ultralight aircraft, manufactured by Earthstar Aircraft of Santa Margarita, California as a kit for amateur construction or as a completed aircraft.
context_section_description: Laughing Gull
  Original model introduced in 1976. First models had wire bracing and later strut-bracing before development of the cantilever wing. Production completed.
  Thunder Gull
  Single-seat, high-wing ultralight aircraft with a cantilever 17.6 ft (5.4 m) wing. The name was changed from Laughing Gull for marketing purposes. Production completed.
  Thunder Gull J
  Improved model with 20 ft (6.1 m) wingspan. Standard engine is the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 and the acceptable power range is 28 to 53 hp (21 to 40 kW). First flight was March 1987 and it was available as a kit or ready-to-fly. Production completed.
  Thunder Gull JT2
  Two seats in tandem model with dual controls and a 24 ft (7.3 m) wingspan. Standard engine is the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and the acceptable power range is 40 to 80 hp (30 to 60 kW). The 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 and 75 hp (56 kW) Rotax 618 two-stroke engines were optional. It was available as a kit or ready-to-fly and production is completed. First flight was June 1989.
  Thunder Gull Odyssey
  Two seats in an unusual staggered side-by-side configuration with dual controls in the form of a shared center stick and a 26 ft (7.9 m) wingspan. The staggered seating was used to provide most of the benefits of side-by-side seating without the associated drag penalty. The seat stagger is sufficient to provide pilot shoulder clearance. Standard engine is the 50 hp (37 kW) Rotax 503 and the acceptable power range is 40 to 80 hp (30 to 60 kW). The 60 hp (45 kW) HKS 700E has also been installed. It first flew in April 1995 and was introduced at Sun 'n Fun in 1995. It is available as a kit or ready-to-fly. Fifteen were reported completed by December 2011 and still in production in 2012. A an electric aircraft version has been flown.
  Soaring Gull
  Motorglider version with 28 ft (8.5 m) wingspan and 16:1 glide ratio. Standard engine was the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277 and then later the 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-33. The acceptable power range is 28 to 53 hp (21 to 40 kW). First flew in November 1993. Ten reported as completed by December 2011 and still in production in 2012.
  Gull 2000
  Updated version with 20 ft (6.1 m) wingspan, wider cockpit enclosure built from fiberglass. Standard engine was the Zanzottera MZ 34 of 27 hp (20 kW) and then later the 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-33. The acceptable power range is 27 to 60 hp (20 to 45 kW). Fifteen reported as completed by December 2011 and still in production in 2012.
  eGull 2000
  Electric powered variant
caption: eGull 2000 in flight
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