Preston Bentley had a plan. He wanted to honor a good friend, raise money for a worthy charity, and do plenty of Light-Sport Aircraft flying. The 26-year-old Private Pilot is presently 12 days into an 8,000-mile flight. Preston is flying a Thorpedo donated by IndUS Aviation; he expects to touch down in each of the lower 48 states in 30 days. Bentley seeks to raise $500,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati in the memory of his cousin Seth Bailey, who died in April 2004. The flight’s progress can be followed via an online blog. *** After my spring mishap my wife benefitted from the Quantum House in Florida where I was hospitalized. This was far better than other lodging alternatives as it offered a support group in addition to living quarters. Some 259 Ronald McDonald Houses do likewise and I understand how important these places are to families of those receiving medical care.
Archives for September 2006
Triple Play by Jabiru USA; Calypso SP Certified
Pete and Ben Krotje and their team have done it again. They won an Special Light-Sport Aircraft airworthiness certificate for Calypso SP, their third and SLSA number 40 in the USA. Last November the Shelbyville, Tennessee company certified the roomy J-250 and flight school-oriented J-170. Pete said, “Calypso Sport is a Special-Light Sport certificated version of Jabiru’s proven UL with wheel pants, six-inch wheels, winglets, and other upgrades.” Calypso SP’s lower ventral fin has been reduced in size and the flaps have been extended by 72 inches. This resulted in a LSA that stalls at 35 knots, demonstrates a very short takeoff, and has near-motorglider performance at a reported 18:1 with the engine at idle. Jabiru USA says Calypso SP can cruise at 100 knots on less than four gallons an hour but when operated around 70 knots sips a mere two gallons per hour. The SLSA airworthiness was awarded on September 8th.
CubCrafters Delivers First Two SLSA Sport Cubs
Their entry has taken longer than two preceding sellers of Cub replicas under the LSA rules, but CubCrafters has taken the time to get it just right. On Thursday September 21st, the Yakima, Washington-based builder of the Part 23-certified Top Cub delivered its first two CC11-100 Sport Cub SLSA to customers from opposite coasts and starkly different environments. One will go to Juneau, Alaska and the other to Brooklyn, New York. Company president Jim Richmond thanked customers and employees who “worked and waited with us so patiently while we completely redesigned the airplane.” The company announced that deliveries will now take place at the rate of one per week, increasing to two per week near the turn of the year. *** The other two suppliers of LSA Cub replicas are North American Sport Aviation and American Legend; the latter will host a homecoming for 100 customers and prospects in the third week of October.
How Shall We Count New SLSA?
Barely over a month ago, I reported that Skykits Corp won their first approval for the Savannah. In that SPLOG posting I said that the plane would be produced with three wings mated to the same fuselage. Now, proving the point, Skykits president Eric Giles announced his second SLSA approval…for a Savannah ADV. Eric also claimed the airplane delivered to Hawaii was the first SLSA to be registered in the state (photo). *** Savannah ADV has a tapered airfoil with full-span retractable leading edge slats and double-slotted flaps, both operated electrically with a mechanical backup. Skykits says, “The new wing increases cruise speed by 25 mph while maintaining the STOL capabilities. “As their company name implies, kits are also available. The questions arise, though: Is this a new model or a model variation? Do we count it as a new SLSA? We’re bound to have more such questions as the LSA evolution continues.
Classy Resort LSA Fly-in at Sky Bryce, Virginia
“It’s the only airport in the country,” stated organizer Jim Pellien, “where you can literally walk to a snow ski chair lift, or a golf course, a restaurant, or your condo.” Indeed Sky Bryce airport (VG18) at the Bryce resort in northwestern Virginia is a rare fly-in destination where a rental car isn’t needed. The airport itself is not one of those places you hope to depart quickly for greener pastures. In fact, it’s a beautiful location nestled in a valley. *** Jim organized the Mid-Atlantic Light Sport Aircraft Show for the weekend of September 16-17. Fall colors weren’t showing yet but the event generated a respectable turnout. Available for examination and demo flights: a Czech Aircraft Works 601, Sky Arrow, Allegro, and Airborne XT912. A few other interesting but privately-owned flying machines were also present and an Evektor and CT were expected after this SPLOG was posted.
Escape Pod Flies…and Wins, Big Time
After four years of intense development (and more money than you might expect), the Seagull Aerosports Escape Pod made its flying debut at AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. Pilot Eric Rasmussen, proprietor of UFlyTrikes, a weight shift flight school and AirBorne dealership, took the sleek, retractable gear single place soaring trike aloft before a fascinated crowd at the big summer airshow. Designer Mike Riggs said, “People were running for the flight line to snap photos.” *** Those onlookers weren’t the only ones impressed. EAA judges showered the new rig with awards, giving Seagull’s Escape Pod both Innovative New Design and Grand Champion Ultralight. I’m not aware of a design snagging both honors in a single year before. (FYI: Escape Pod has been at AirVenture before but EAA judges don’t award any non-flying designs.) Hearty congratulations to Mike and right-hand man Jeremy! Now, those soaring enthusiasts — me included — are closer to deliveries of their own Pod.
Back in the Saddle in a Flightstar Ultralight
On a glorious fall day over the undulating hills of northeast Connecticut, I returned to flight after a five-month hiatus. Encouraged and accompanied by my old friend Tom Peghiny we enjoyed an hour sightseeing flight over the verdant countryside surrounding Tom’s Flightstar Sportplanes enterprise at the Woodstock airport. Gosh, it felt great to get back in the air! *** With the first revolution of the wheels I noticed how light the Flightstar seemed. I’ve done most of my flying in Light-Sport Aircraft lately and I guess I’d forgotten just how light ultralights can feel. We left the ground in a couple hundred feet lifted by a HKS 700E four stroke distributed by HPower. In an age of $100,000 LSA, this $25,000 Flightstar IISC certainly seems affordable to plenty of Americans. At 400 pounds less than LSA at gross, turns were pleasant low-gee maneuvers.
Boston Sport Pilot Tour Draws New England Crowd
A dozen aircraft were available for a crowd numbering close to 500 people at the first and only east coast version of EAA’s Sport Pilot Tour. After being threatened by poor weather the week before due to Hurricane Ernesto, the Lawrence, Massachusetts stop 30 miles north of Boston enjoyed ideal weather. Weight shift trikes made their strongest appearance yet with three machines from companies that have won SLSA approval: AirBorne and Air Creation. *** One pleasant surprise was a visit from top FAA officials in the LSA office, Larry Clymer and Edsel Ford. Larry (inset photo, front seat) is the manager of FAA Light Sport Aviation Branch…but of keener interest to most Sport Pilot enthusiasts, he has now also logged 70 hours flying trikes. His predecessor, Marty Weaver, was a gyro pilot so Larry continues a theme of agency leaders who enjoy the activity as well as regulate it.
Flight Design Surveys Sport Pilots; Offers Prizes
I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day holiday. Over this long weekend Randee and I headed to Boston for the EAA Sport Pilot Tour on Sept. 9th. At that event, visitors can complete a survey. Not only is it a chance to tell the leading seller of LSA what type of aircraft you want, but you can win some handsome prizes. Winners will be randomly chosen from those who participate in the survey. Your odds are very good to win First Prize which is a Garmin 396 worth $2,395. Second prize is a King Schools Sport Pilot Training Course and third prize is a Composiclean composite aircraft cleaning supply set. Taking the survey costs you nothing and you don’t have to go to Boston. Just click here and complete 9 multiple choice questions. (You can also add a comment.) *** But, you must act soon.