Welcome to the 27th SLSA to be approved. Storm Aircraft of Italy has struck a deal to have their Rally manufactured in the U.S. by Prestige Aircraft, of Jackson, Michigan.
This carbon fiber and Kevlar all-composite machine using the 100-hp Rotax 912S is base priced at $85,000. Prestige has appointed Air Elite Aviation of Three Rivers, Michigan as their exclusive distributor.
Rally boasts a wide cabin with 300 degrees of visibility plus doors that can be opened when flying slower than 60 knots (69 mph). Rally can cruise 107 knots (123 mph) at 75% power. Using its 34-gallon fuel capacity, the side-by-side two seater can carry you 900 statue miles.
Prestige plans to deliver Rally with basic day VFR flight instruments plus ICOM 200 Radio, Garmin Transponder with an altitude encoder, turn coordinator, and a tail strobe. The company also says that all aircraft models come with a limited two-year or 1000-hour warranty.
Archives for September 2007
Kappa KP-5 “B” Exhibited in EAA’s LSA Mall
As with EAA’s premiere LSA Mall at AirVenture 2005, the area is proving a huge hit again in 2006 and drawing large crowds interested in LSA. Not all 38 SLSA are present but all the leading brands (measured by deliveries) are on exhibit. *** One new model revealed at the event is Kappa Aircraft‘s KP-5. Though it was not rebadged, I’d at least call it a “B” model for its several significant changes. Most notable in the staggered seat design — with the left seat positioned several inches in front of the right seat — is a much wider 47-inch cabin. “Flight schools like the extra width so they can handle bigger students,” said importer Ed Miller. The “B” KP-5 has thicker wing skins (.027), filled pop rivets, and electric actuation for its excellent Fowler flaps (an earlier manual lever took some muscle). Inside a center console is narrower giving more foot room.
“Seal of Approval”…IndUS Audited Successfully
Some folks wonder about the new Statement of Compliance to ASTM standards. Is this a true certification system? FAA doesn’t do the certification, so how do we know it means anything? Good questions. A manufacturer certifies their airplane. A Designated Airworthiness Rep (DAR) examines it. Companies behind each approved SLSA (now 38 aircraft) must also do an annual internal audit. Now industry association LAMA has started promoting voluntary independent audits, to be certain a design has met and still meets ASTM standards. The first of these was performed and today LAMA was advised that IndUS Aviation, maker of the Thorp T-211 and Thorpedo, successfully completed the first external audit of a LSA builder. LAMA president Tom Gunnarson called IndUS, “an accredited company.” Such third-party audits — plus a proposed decal applied to every aircraft showing successful completion — is likely to win support from EAA, AOPA, insurance companies, FAA, and NTSB.
Sleek Design Is Workhorse; Remos G-3 “Trainer”
Rob Rollison imports the gorgeous Remos G-3. [2007 UPDATE: The new importer is Remos USA. Call: Toll Free: 888-838-9879] He is working closely with German designer Lorenz Kreitmayr to certify G-3 as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft. Early sales will be to sophisticated buyers that see the sleek machine as a personal aircraft with impressive performance. But at the Sebring Expo 2006, I met a German instructor who sees it differently. Josef Sporer somewhat hesitantly bought a G-3 to see if it would work in his flight school. After an astounding 20,000 landings and 3,500 hours on one aircraft, he is so convinced of the aircraft’s sturdiness for instructional use that he’s added a second one. So while the Remos aircraft looks like a dream, and boasts good gliding and cruising performance, it qualifies quite well as a trainer, too. Built since 1997, more than 164 are flying around the world.
Come See LSA at AOPA’s 2007 Expo in Hartford
At Oshkosh I took the chance to speak with several general aviation leaders — CEOs of top general aviation companies and presidents of leading membership organizations. All have been kind to me with their time and generous with their support for the Sport Pilot concept, but I sensed they didn’t yet accept LSA deep down. Minor questions remained. Today that seems convincingly gone. The same not-100%-certain leaders now chorus, “LSA is here to stay.” *** Evidence of that is again marshaling for AOPA’s season-ending event for general aviation. The D.C.-based organization now counts more than 413,000 members, more than two-thirds of all pilots on the FAA register. The traveling Expo show typically draws well from a region’s pilot population. Action starts October 4-6, 2007 at the Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD). *** For the third year running AOPA is providing a grouped location for Light-Sport Aircraft right where you enter the airplane display area (SLSA exhibitor list under photo).
Sportsplanes Announces Arrival of New Breezer II
The early reviews — mine included (report here) — were excellent. The Breezer design from Germany is a great flying aircraft. Then problems arose…though fortunately not with the airframe but with design rights and such. Now that those difficulties are resolved, new aircraft are again arriving in the U.S. “The new Breezers are here!” declared Josh Foss, head of Sportsplanes.com, a Utah-based organization with reps around the country. He plans to display the new Breezer model at the AOPA Expo in Connecticut October 4-6, 2007. *** Breezer II features a much larger baggage compartment, an enlarged panel, and heavy duty toe brakes that replace a handbrake lever. Josh added, “Breezer II is now being manufactured in a new 17,000 square foot facility in Germany that has been equipped with the latest in high tech machinery geared for large volume. The facilities include a private airstrip for flight testing.
September Market Share Update: 1,192 Registered
FAA registration data through August show continued growth with another 58 SLSA listed for a total increase in 2007 of 557 aircraft (88%) in just eight months. The lone share change in the Top Twelve was CubCrafters rising another notch to 6th, pushing Fantasy Air down to 7th. CubCrafters has been rising steadily after their late entry, though they still significantly trail rival American Legend. *** Despite being a trike enthusiast, I’m amazed to observe the 15% share of all Special Light-Sport Aircraft that are weight shift control aircraft. France’s Air Creation and Australia’s AirBorne dominate the category with a registered 105 and 61 models respectively. Six trike models share the market. *** Powered parachutes have also done respectfully well in a few months with 5% of all SLSA registrations. Infinity (27 aircraft) and Powrachute (24) overshadow Summit (7).
Urban Air USA Brings Lambada Closer
Bostik Industries is known to some LSA buyers as “the other supplier” of emergency ballistic parachute systems (Magnum). Indeed, that activity appears to be thriving as major producer BRS Parachutes intensifies its focus on larger GA airplanes and light jet projects. *** An affable Joe Bostik (airline captain and champion hang glider pilot) is also the U.S. agent for the shapely Lambada motorglider. Though soaring pilots will be instantly drawn to this reasonably priced motorglider (less than $100,000; other choices can cost much more), the airplane also works as a cross country cruiser, able to fly 800 nautical miles at speeds of 100 mph. Though Rotax 9-series engines offer great reliability, should the powerplant go quiet, a Lambada pilot can glide up to six miles from only 1,000 feet off the ground. Bostik now has his Lamabada website well populated with info, specs, and photos.
Old Becomes New…and Lowers the Cost of LSA
Sport Hornet is the second fixed wing “ultralight” to make the jump to Special Light-Sport Aircraft certification.* Some consider Hornet a “true ultralight” as it uses an aluminum tubing airframe. Builder Higher Class Aviation made numerous changes: The upside-down two-stroke Rotax 582 gave way to right-side-up four-stroke Rotax 9-series engines. Gross weight was increased. New dual struts brace dual wing spars. The cockpit is four inches wider and rear rudder pedals have more room. Conventional toe brakes are available. *** All these things are great but the best news may be base price for a reasonably well-equipped Sport Hornet with the 80-hp 912: $49,995. [UPDATE: 8/29/07 — HCA now gives buyers the 100-hp 912S for the same price!] And one more important thing: since Sport Hornet still flies like most ultralights it can continue to train pilots to fly other ultralight-type aircraft. After the final deadline of January 31, 2010, you’ll still be able to conduct training for hire in a Sport Hornet.
For Enthusiasts, Taildragger EuroFox Now Available
EuroFox has remained one of the value price leaders among all 57 LSA models. Now, U.S. importer, Rollison Light Sport Aircraft announced that a taildragger version is available. Many experienced aviators feel a taildragger looks faster and has a more appealing appearance (though experience flying a taildragger is a plus). RLSA expressed, “EuroFox is ideal for recreational flying, but it is also a good touring aircraft within the LSA category and has a range of 600+ miles, a cruise speed up to 120 mph, and a climb rate of over 1,000 fpm with the 100 hp engine.” The taildragger version of the EuroFox has been available in Europe for several years. The 2007 version features a redesigned main landing gear of composite materials and has widely-spaced main wheels to improve crosswind characteristics and ground handling. To help you visit more airfields RLSA said, “The EuroFox taildragger features a new toe brake system and larger, heavy-duty tires.”