After a detailed review, ASTM’s Weight-Shift Control Sub Committee got their Design and Performance Standard through final ballot. This was reported at the mid-May ’05 ASTM Committee meeting for Light-Sport Aircraft. Once FAA issues their Notice of Availability trikes can be manufactured and sold as S-LSAs, joining fixed wing airplanes and powered parachutes. AirBorne trikes (photo) have Australian certification plus now that country plans to adopt the entire U.S. Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. To keep up with the growing list of aircraft that have received their certificates, one good source is EAA’s Sport Pilot website.
Archives for May 2005
Innovating for Part 103 Ultralights
How can a Part 103 use a four-stroke engine? Well, you can elect the half-VW from Hummel…or you might try a rotary engine as seen at the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. This innovative racing cart engine is being developed for Part 103 ultralight use (yes, to make the weight, with electric starter!) by Erik Pederson, the new president of Phantom Aeronautics. Impressively educated, Eric has a BS in Aero Engineering plus an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Watch for a test report when Erik is satisfied with the performance.
Tecnam’s Sleek New Bravo
Italy’s largest light aircraft producer is Tecnam and pictured here is their new Bravo seen at Aero 2005. Bravo is the replacement to the company’s popular P-92 Echo. Tecnam also makes the P-96 Golf low wing (see my pilot report in EAA’s 5/05 Sport Pilot magazine). The new Bravo makes a big step forward by using a cantilevered wing (no struts) along with other changes to better suit it to the new Sport Pilot rule. The U.S. importer is Hansen Air Group; get more info direct from the source.