Tecnam can lay claim to being the “largest LSA manufacturer” by virtue of producing more than 3,000 ready-to-fly aircraft (with approximately 120 of them flying in the USA as “official LSA” — the U.S. is a relatively new market for the Italian company). In my travels to Europe and other countries, I’ve seen a lot of Tecnam models sold under the rules of those nations. And the company was formed back in 1948. *** But even with all those aircraft built and many interesting designs — such as the Echo Super, Sierra, Bravo, Eaglet, and even a new twin that isn’t a LSA — for my money, the P2008 is easily the prettiest two seater the company has ever designed. It resulted from a marriage of Tecnam, an all-metal airplane company, to Spain’s CAG or Composite Aeronautic Group. The latter, bought by Tecnam, was the short-time producer of the Toxo Sportster *, a handsome all-composite LSA.
Archives for December 2009
Minimally-Fueled “Eco” Flying Machines
Here’s one of those great events that bring out garage geniuses and newtechies alike – and in time lead to entire new industries: the Eco-Marathon Ulm. *** Think of this event/competition as a call to young designers and engineers to craft minimally-fueled flying machines. Brings to mind the European aviation meets of a century ago, where passionate tinkerers and leading-edge technical thinkers gathered to show their flying machines and inspire each other to keep pushing all the envelopes. *** The happening invites everyone with prototypes or modified production models of European-standard microlight aircraft. *** The competition features a GPS-tracked course with measurement of fuel usage at the goal. The skimpiest sipper of fuel for the rectangular 2000 meter x 250 meter course, to be flown three times consecutively at Vichy, France, will be the winner. *** A plethora of energy sources is allowed for in the rules: Unleaded fuel, Liquefied petroleum, gas to liquid, hydrogen (!), pressurized air (!!), solar, battery, hybrid (gas engine/electric motor).
Homebuilt Aircraft in China Begin to Take Off
“Chinese New Year” invokes images of fireworks but here’s another take. We hear little or no recreational flying occurs in China, but that turns out to be wrong. According to an article in Wired magazine by by Michele Travierso, the Do-It-Yourself spirit exists even in that highly controlled country. *** A Chinese DIYer named Mao Yiqing has built a human-powered aircraft, which he calls Mozi (after the 5th century inventor of the kite), using his skills running Oxai, a company that builds RC planes. Mozi was built using many of the same techniques and materials — balsa wood, styrofoam and carbon fiber — as his model planes. *** Wired reports, “His workshop is covered with pictures of Eric Raymond, an American pilot who flew his solar glider across the United States and, in June, over the Alps.” Yiqing is preparing his plane, which weighs 84 pounds and has a wingspan of 81 feet, for a 4-mile flight across Dianshan Lake near Shanghai.
Ticket to Ride… er, Fly… Well, Both… Maybe
You’ve surely seen news coverage of Terrafugia’s Transition, the “roadable” LSA from a brain trust of award-winning MIT engineers in Woburn, Massachusetts. This modern version of the well-worn flying car concept has attracted plenty of media attention, and deservedly so, I think. I have been reviewing all their materials and info for an article to appear in Light Sport and Ultralight Flying magazine and I’m impressed with the task’s complexities. *** Step one is the effort to create a powered-folding-wing, four-wheel aircraft that flies as the designers wish. That’s hardly a trivial project especially as the folding wing must work in such a way that you can then drive down the road without removing those wings. (In comparison, Icon’s A5 also has powered folding wings but they stay full length, sweeping back against the seaplane’s fuselage.) *** Step two is making a road-capable drive train using the same Rotax 912 powerplant.
FK Lightplanes Opens Second Factory
Two decades of hard work, sharp design and marketing vision, and keeping a high bar for quality production recently brought FK Group, German makers of three European “ultralights”, an award from Aerokurier magazine for best manufacturer. FK beat out Remos and other top light sport builders. *** The latest good news from the FK 9 MK IV producer, (a lovely ASTM-approved LSA I’m eager to jump a hop in), is the newly completed second factory that will complete the company’s goal of producing 100% of its aircraft, from fab to outfitting to painting, all in-house. *** A company release praises FK’s association with Cirrus, (lamentably in suspension of its own low-wing Polaris LSA project – also manufactured by FK – to marshal efforts on its Vision jet), for the “huge production knowledge” in expanding its facilities.
New Illinois LSA Academy
In the upcoming Learn To Fly issue of dead tree Plane and Pilot, I wrote an overview article covering the Sport Pilot license. *** Helping me out with some valuable insights was Jim Sweeney, well-known ultralight/Light Sport teacher/expert who really knows his FAA regs. *** One comment Jim made: FBOs have been slow to embrace LSA flight training for a variety of reasons, including reticence to invest in aircraft and training aids for fears the movement would wither on the vine like the Recreational license. *** So I was happy to have Jim note this year’s increase in LSA training nationwide. *** In that vein, Kandace McCoy, in an unusually accurate (for the media) story in the Mt. Vernon News-Register, brought good Christmas tidings for midwesterners: the opening of Southern Illinois LSA Flight Academy, a new school two years in the making that will operate out of Mt.
Sebring, Day Two!
—The bone-chilling cold (well, it was for Floridians and similar warm-climate types anyway) moved on and temperature order was restored today, with clear and calm blue skies and mid-70s temps. Lovely! *** —Sport Pilot enthusiasts came out in droves: exhibitors I talked to were pleased and surprised by the turnout. Planes were dodging each other all day in the, shall we say, interesting traffic pattern they have set up here. On our return from my air2air session with the Brasilian Paradise LSA, we had eager demo divers cut in front of us on base and final…not once, but twice! it’s good to keep your eyeballs peeled. *** —Check out these highlights:
Sun ‘n Fun 2009!
Great (and getting hot!) weather and a good, if not record-breaking, turnout mark the beginning of the EAA Sun ‘n Fun flyin. *** The exhibitor turnout is likewise somewhat down, although Dan Johnson’s LSA Mall at the entrance is filled with aircraft and lots of serious interest from potential buyers, as in previous shows. *** I’ve talked with many LSA companies here who say there are more serious buyers, fewer “tire-kickers”. *** Some LSA makers like Flight Design have racked up aircraft sales already. Others are still hoping to do business: it depends on who you talk to on whether the show is better or worse than expected. Expectations due to the economic times were not high to begin with, so it’s too early to put a number on the overall picture. *** Lots of new developments though, with more details to come here, such as: *** * a new electric/Rotax hybrid engine that will boost economy and provide electric power safety backup in emergencies, announced at AERO Friedrichshafen *** * Evektor passes LAMA audit *** * Legend Cub offers sub-$100,000 “Aeronomic Stimulus” SLSA, and new Garmin 696 installation *** * EAA presents Earth Day celebration with electric LSA prototype in center of the LSA exhibitors in the southeast display mall.
Outfoxing the ‘Foxes
To quell the confusion many have around the name of the fabric-covered taildragger and tri-gear LSA models produced by Aerotrek Aircraft (AKA Rollison Light Sport Aircraft), the company just announced a name change: Goodbye EuroFox, hello Aerotrek A220 and A240. *** The Aerotrek A220 and A240 are factory-built two-seaters manufactured in Europe by Aeropro CZ and set up for the U.S. market by Aerotrek in Bloomfield, IN. Aeropro has produced nearly 300 aircraft since 1990. *** The EuroFox lineage, like so many other similar looking aircraft from a number of makers, derives from the Avid Flyer which started the whole thing off way back yonder. One clone was the Kitfox (which, the company wants known, is not related in any way to Aerotrek’s airplanes). *** The Aerotrek models are significantly upgraded SLSA versions of those fun homebuilts of yore. *** But really, what’s in a name? With that boffo price of $62,950 in today’s still-Euro-dominated market, call it what you want, just show me the dotted line!
Move Over Batman; Flying Car Breaks Ground
Terrafugia, an enterprising company made up of MIT grads, announced the successful maiden flight of the Transition® Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. Or, the flying car. Congrats to the company, I wish them success with the two-seater. *** The big idea here of course is one that’s been tried before without success: a road-worthy, street-legal vehicle that, after unfolding the wings, can be flown as a legal LSA from any local airport. *** Lest I forget to mention it, no, you can’t take off from the street in front of your house – unless you live in an airport community and your street is a legal runway. *** The flight followed six months of static, road and taxi testing, says Terrafugia. The car/plane is designed to cruise up to 450 mi. at more than 115 mph, ride at highway speeds with wings folded (which takes, they say, 30 sec.), and fits in a household garage.
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