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...a web log of developments in Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft

Zlin Savage...Isn't; Fun, Lower-Cost Cub-like LSA

January 5, 2009

Even though Savage has a 1,236-pound gross weight, its significantly lower empty weight (673 pounds) yields 563 pounds of useful load that permits options other Cubs must avoid.

Given how she flies, I really don't know why the Zlin developers settled on the name Savage. It simply isn't "savage" despite being a taildragger that challenges some tricycle-gear-trained pilots. Sure you'll need training or prior experience to qualify for insurance but it's no more challenging than Legend Cub, Sport Cub, or RANS's S-7LS. Savage exhibits very cooperative handling down to low stall speeds (below 40 mph indicated). You can read a sidebar or look for full-length articles to be posted here including one appearing soon in Light Sport and Ultralight Flying. *** Coming next for Zlin's Savage is a bushplane option perhaps to be named the Sport. The new model will include reinforcements to withstand the rigors of bush flying and landings on rougher surfaces. Additional X bracing has been added, the gear extended three inches to allow huge Alaskan Bushwheels (photo), plus you can order a belly pod for camping gear. If you want floats, you should select the left side door option. *** But since Savage is much lower priced than Legend or CubCrafters, you can add several options and still spend less. According to expert Cub pilots another option worth considering, especially for bush flying, is vortex generators.

Year Ends with New SLSA: Welcome FA-04 Peregrine

December 31, 2008

SEBRING UPDATE -- First shown at Sun 'n Fun 2008, FA-04 Peregrine will be present at the 2009 Sebring LSA Expo January 22 to 25. Welcome to warm, sunny Sebring for a winter break! SLSA approval of the Peregrine brings the total to 88 aircraft models and 66 companies.

On December 29th, a new Special Light-Sport Aircraft was approved. With only a couple days remaining in this challenging year, I suspect this will be the final approval of 2008. Welcome to the FA-04 Peregrine, which was inspected after assembly at Hansen Air Group in the Atlanta area. I believe this to be the first LSA from former East Germany (which was ironically named German Democratic Republic even though it was Communist). *** FA-04 Peregrine is a low-wing carbon fiber LSA that evolved from Flaeming Air's FA-02, which earlier had won European VLA approval. The interior is 44 inches wide (a Cessna 172 is 39.5 in.) with "lots of legroom" and a large luggage compartment that makes the model appropriate for longer cross country flights. Adjustable seats aid occupant comfort. In an interesting variation, Peregrine has main landing gear that can "easily be converted to a taildragger," said Jon Hansen. *** Hansen Air Group, an early player in the LSA world that also worked on the ASTM committee, paved the way for Tecnam as its first representative. Later the organization, with headquarters in the east, put its effort into selling Sky Arrow. FA-04 Peregrine represents a significant return to the market for the Georgia enterprise.

New Year Clean-Up Job; Help Your LSA Gleam

December 28, 2008

Aircraft Spruce is one of light aviation's largest third-party suppliers of aircraft building, repairing, or maintenance products. Spruce stocks and sells Composiclean's line. Click to see a list of products with links for more info on each.

ByDanJohnson.com is dedicated to light-sport aviation and keeps a laser focus on the aircraft of this sector. Included are new developments, market share, and maintenance of Light-Sport Aircraft to name a few. In the maintenance category, at its most basic level, is keeping your bird clean and shiny. *** I'm sure some other products can also do the job, but one company has made LSA the subject of much study. I wrote about Composiclean earlier but as we prepare for a new season of flying recreational aircraft, this low-tech task deserves another look. A leading reason: you can seriously harm some aircraft finishes by cleaning them with the wrong chemicals. Don't take my word for it; Composiclean shows customer comments on their website. *** Major distributors have signed on to sell these LSA-friendly cleaning products. Lockwood Aircraft Supply has a whole area for the goods and Aircraft Spruce sells them at airshows (photos). *** If cleaning products seem ordinary, think again. Significant damage has been done to composite airplanes which were cleaned with the wrong brands. To get advice directly from the source regarding the right stuff for your pride and joy, call proprietor Ken Godin at 860-432-0067.

Air-Cam Developments under Lockwood Leadership

December 22, 2008

A future Air-Cam pilot tries out the open cockpit. The whimsical paint job is the work of owner Anita de Villegas. [Top] The Rotax 914 Turbo installation. Check Air-Cam specs.

Air-Cam isn't a Light-Sport Aircraft because it has two engines. OK, it's also a shade heavy but if Air-Cam could, it would be a LSA. Certainly it's "light" and "sport" compared to most twins. Regardless, it's a favorite of all the airplanes I've flown so I'm pleased to see its rapid progress under the leadership of Phil Lockwood, the original developer. *** The latest accomplishment is a factory-authorized amphibious float system from Montana Floats that includes all mounting hardware. As though it needed any more power -- Air-Cam is the only multiengine airplane I've flown that can launch with one engine -- the twin pusher can now be equipped with two Rotax 914 Turbos. Combined with the extra power (230 hp total), Air-Cam can be fitted with a constant speed reverse pitch prop system ideal for float-equipped Air-Cams. A new rigid mount can now accommodate High Definition video cameras...it is, after all, the Air-CAM. They've also updated all the manuals, a big job that builders and owners will appreciate. *** Lockwood Aircraft is finishing a new DVD and they have a factory Air-Cam for demo flying and testing. Projects to come include a BRS airframe parachute system and a full enclosure.

FAA Keeps Assessing; LAMA Audit of 22 Producers

December 18, 2008

LAMA does audits in the USA and abroad as seen in these photos. The review is a week-long effort reviewing every page, every paragraph of all applicable ASTM standards. The two-part audit assures customers, insurance companies, and more that a manufacturer has all the documentation required to declare compliance.

FAA is more than half way through their assessment of the Light-Sport Aircraft industry. According to post-assessment interviews with companies, FAA teams performing these info-gathering visits have generally been satisfied but some changes will likely be made to assure better written records and procedures. *** In preparation for actions it believes will follow the assessments, industry business organization LAMA accelerated its effort to perform LAMA Compliance Audits on more companies. The industry association has been assembling an expert audit team, processes, and extensive checklists to make the effort easy on producers and very cost-efficient. *** LAMA Founder and Chairman Emeritus Larry Burke reports 22 companies are either done, in process, or in negotiation to become LAMA audited. When these are complete, possibly by next Oshkosh, LAMA says this will cover more than 80% of the Light-Sport Aircraft being sold. *** MARKET UPDATE -- Following the 12/12/08 SPLOG, I want to clarify industry performance in 2008, a year most will record as "difficult." In 11 months of 2008 producers registered 392 SLSA airplanes. In 11 months of 2007, the industry registered 499, so 2008 represents a drop of of 108 units or 21.6%. Any decrease is undesirable, but it's less decline than in many industries.

2008 In Review; a Look at the Year for LSA Sales

December 12, 2008

We still cannot count weight shift or powered parachutes as those database figures remain suspect. Though sales are off about 20%, pilots still want to fly and LSA still offer excellent value. I predict pent-up demand will balloon sales once customers perceive the economy to be improving.

With one month to go (and it's hard to imagine a big December), we have figures to report for this most extraordinary year. We're all (painfully) aware of the economic predicament, but how has this impacted light-sport aviation? Here's my observations. *** In 11 months, the industry has increased fleet size by 35% to 1,510 fixed wing airplanes from 1,118 on January 1st. Annualizing the numbers, all airplane LSA should register 427 airplanes, which equates to about 35 aircraft per month, which means sales were about 20% off the monthly pace recorded since early 2006. *** Flight Design held its top spot and again delivered the most, but just barely. Remos has been the rising star of 2008 with a 147% increase over their total on January 1st. Tecnam became only the third company to pass 100 units registered. Other solid gains were logged by Czech Aircraft Works (up 69% in the year); Jabiru (up 53%); FPNA (up 55%, though from a lower number, which makes larger percentage gains easier); Aeropro (up 52%). *** In raw numbers, Flight Design lead, registering 56 in 11 months, Remos had 50, Tecnam had 36, Czech Aircraft Works had 31, Jabiru had 29, and American Legend had 24.

For more SPLOG postings, see the SPLOG section under Light Sport Aircraft.