After three days of Sebring 2009, the upbeat mood has mushroomed. I heard zero negative comments and dozens of positive statements defining the Fifth Annual Sebring Expo as an unqualified success. As cleverly keyboarded by aviation writer, Jim Lawrence (LSA Editor for Plane & Pilot magazine — read his blog on Sebring): “Take that, bad economy!” *** EAA Editor Mary Jones and I compared notes to count 14 reported airplane sales in three days. Such good results show buyers are indeed in the market. In addition to the best Thursday ever, Friday was the “best day ever for Sebring”, said Expo Chairman, Bob Wood. *** At the show, I was pleased to find two new all-American aircraft to add to our SLSA list, now 91 models long. Welcome to M-Squared’s Breese 2 and RANS’s S-6 Coyote. The Breese won approval last summer and has been overlooked by the media… a mistake as the Alabama manufacturer offers the fully built two seater for just $34,995.
Archives for January 2009
Sebring ’09 Overtakes AOPA Expo ’08 in Attendance
I’m still contemplating the major success of the Fifth Annual Sebring Expo, which shrugged off the doldrums of 2008. Let’s review: AOPA is the leading pilot organization in the world. Their flagship magazine, Pilot, has by far the largest circulation of any magazine in aviation. Their Expo is long established. *** Yet it appears January’s Sebring outdrew November’s AOPA Expo in San Jose, California. Sebring attendance may have reached 11,500 while Expo reported 9,500. Both are excellent shows for exhibitors as each precisely targets their market. Despite AOPA’s vastly larger size, professional staff, and years of experience, LSA are evidently a compelling enough attraction that Sebring Expo passed AOPA Expo. *** After all the tallying is done, I would not be surprised to hear 20 airplanes sold at the show (worth approximately $2.5 million). AOPA’s Expo may have transacted more revenue for exhibitors as GA prices are higher, but Sebring can be proud.
Sebring Generates a Solid, Fast Start to 2009
Mornings start cool until the sun warms the day to shirtsleeve temperatures. Crowds are thick around popular displays and the action is surprisingly hot. For this first-of-the-year show following a dismal 2008, many wondered about attendance and if those visitors would be in a buying mood. The answers: pilots are streaming in and sales are happening! *** At the LAMA Dinner with 300 LSA professionals listening, Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo Chairman Bob Wood reported, “This is the best [opening day] Thursday we’ve had in the five years of Expo.” Vendors largely agreed, saying crowds were good, even heavy at times. Several reported aircraft sales on the first day. According to my visits to many airframe manufacturers or importers a sense of improvement is pervasive. This is a cautious optimism to be sure, but it’s a clear change from the gloom of the last few months. *** On Friday, airport ramps and taxiways were well populated with aircraft that flew in to examine the aircraft and other products on display.
Enroute to Sebring! Leaving 2008, Arriving 2009
Agreement is widespread welcoming a new year; 2008 was hard on almost everybody…around the world. The new year may bring continued turbulence, but a feeling that things are starting to change is prevalent, based on my conversations with dozens of LSA professionals in preparation for this year’s Fifth Annual Sebring LSA Expo. From various locations around the country, vehicles and airplanes are headed to Florida — where, by the way, 60-degree temperatures are expected to warm those from the deeply cold north. *** In this SPLOG, I present year-end information which completes the report posted earlier. We hope for a better 2009 and a much-improved 2010; nonetheless, the LSA fleet continued to expand in 2008, with a net increase of 36% (though growth slowed sharply from the 98% pace achieved in 2007 — as the fleet enlarges, it becomes harder to maintain the high percentage growth).
Think All Trikes Are Foreign? Think Again!
Weight-shift control LSA, affectionately referred to as “trikes,” are often made overseas. That’s a bit weird as the concept originated in the USA and spread around the globe. Tens of thousands are flying, despite their relative rarity in America. So you could be excused for viewing trikes as foreign. Not all of them… *** Though it won approval last summer, the newest SLSA in the game — we now have 89 models from 67 companies — is the North Wing Design Sport X2, available in two models plus ELSA versions with alternate engines. The Navajo may represent the least expensive SLSA you can purchase, retailing for $29,000 ready-to-fly. An Apache model is more dressed out and runs $32,000, still quite a bargain in today’s world of $135,000 SLSA airplanes. (More price info.) *** North Wing is an all-American company from Washington state making both trike carriage and wings.
Sebring 2009; Kicking Off a New Year for LSA
Despite a widespread financial funk, the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation Expo — commonly referred to as the Sebring LSA Expo — is fast approaching. This #5 Sebring starts the year and has become a place where new aircraft debuts are staged. Yes, a few exhibitors have pulled out to conserve cash. But most aircraft you want to see will be present. *** Paradise will have their new hand control P-1. A CTLS with the new Garmin 696 installed will be on display. An upgraded Remos GX will show…and the list goes on. *** One new LSA entry you’ll see will be the all-American Lightning LS-1 (photo) from Arion Aircraft. Though powered by Australia’s Jabiru engine the entire airframe is Made-in-the-USA. I flew a kit-built version and was highly impressed by its performance and handling. Lightning’s speed range was one of the widest I’ve ever experienced.
Zlin Savage…Isn’t; Fun, Lower-Cost Cub-like LSA
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-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 on this website.
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.
Cub Trio Aims to Fill the Sky with LSA
Triplet LSA Cubs entering the market show the popularity of this venerable design. First approved as an SLSA was the Legend Cub which offers many features desired by those who love J-3 Cubs. Shortly after Legend came approval for the Savage Cub and the CubCrafters Sport Cub
should follow soon. Watch for my review of all three in EAA’s October 2005 Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft magazine. One differentiating factor between the three are their choices of engine. Both Legend and CubCrafters use the 100-hp Continental O-200 while Legend plans to offer the 120-hp Jabiru 3300 as well. Savage offers the 100-hp Rotax 912S. All offer electric starting (not on an original Piper J-3) and each has significantly improved performance and comfort.