Some odds and ends to share with you: *** If you love airplanes, you’ve got to go to Oshkosh at least once in your life. And if you’re going to Oshkosh AirVenture 2010, you’ll find a lot to enjoy. *** Most anything and everything that flies is represented in some way. Here’s some highlights of this year’s events: * Week-long Salute to Veterans — WWI, WWII, Korean-era, Vietnam-era, and modern-day military aircraft, forums, presentations, and daily air shows. * the 75th anniversary celebration of the DC-3/C-47 and the B-17. * Musical concerts and spectacular shows: Opening day features Chicago (Monday, July 26th) * Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band (Friday, July 30th) * A night air show featuring the “Wall of Fire,” (don’t miss this!) with a concert by Asleep at the Wheel and fireworks to follow (Saturday, July 31st) * Mass balloon launch (Saturday and Sunday, July 31st and August 1st) * Electric aircraft displays, forums, and demo flights (with an all-day World Electric Symposium on Friday, July 30th) * 500-plus forums and workshops, and nightly movies at the outdoor Fly-In Theater * Daily afternoon air show with top aerobatic performers and Spirit of Aviation aircraft auction.
Archives for June 2010
LSA Powerplants and Ownership
Let’s have a little quiz. Ready? Four powerplant brands serve the Light-Sport Aircraft industry (well, not including the engine developed by CubCrafters… that’s another story). Click to see them all. Most LSA use either Rotax Aircraft Engines, Continental, Jabiru, or Lycoming, with the popularity of these engines in roughly that order. *** So, here’s the quiz: Which one of these engine brands is not majority American owned? Stumped? Most of you probably guessed, “Well, only Continental and Lycoming are U.S.-owed engine companies. Buzz! Wrong. The answer: Only Jabiru remains majority owned by a non-American company. Sold successfully around the world and in the USA through Jabiru USA, this engine manufacturer is owned by Australians. All the others are majority U.S. owned. Yep, even Rotax. (For ease of communication, most people just say “Rotax,” but this major company stresses the full name is Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., (BRP) and its affiliated division, BRP-Powertrain manufacturing Rotax Aircraft Engines.) *** At a Sebring meeting of the SLSA Council — an EAA-assembled group composed of the largest five Light-Sport producers — Christian Mundigler, Sales Manager Powertrain Division, made a presentation that opened my eyes.
iPad Comes To The Cockpit!
If you want to have a rocking good time without ever leaving your seat, check out this video clip of an upcoming film titled, “No Second Chances.” Billed as “an Alaskan bush adventure on steroids” if this teaser is any indication, ho shee mama, this ought to be some flick! *** The bigger news, as Dan Johnson covered earlier with some interesting historical perspective, is the announcement by SportairUSA of the Bush iCub. *** Dan points out that the new LSA isn’t another Cub Clone a la the Legend or CubCrafters versions, but an evolution of the Savage Cub, Cruiser and Classic line of light sport airplanes put out by the Czech Republic’s Zlin Aviation since 1999. *** I’d like to get my hands on the Bush version and go do some dirt-whompin’. It’s got a 7-inch extended landing gear, 1.25-inch axles, big fat bush wheels and other mission-specific enhancements.
“We’ve Got a Plane for That!” …iCub
SportairUSA, run by proprietor Bill Canino, has long been an innovator in the LSA business. His company doesn’t build Light-Sport airplanes but Bill has triggered several interesting add-ons: he was one of the first (along with Flight Design USA) to install parachutes on all StingSports; he developed the GreenLine engine monitor system, he offered the Straight & Level button to help those caught unexpectedly in no-visibility conditions; and last year at AirVenture he rolled out the ForeSight enhanced visibility system… and this list is not exhaustive. *** For AirVenture 2010 just six weeks away, he’s got a whole new concept. First is iCub. Previously distributed under the model name Savage (still retained for some models), the sorta-Cub-like taildragger manufactured by the Zlin company of Czech Republic will now be distributed by SportairUSA, adding to their low-wing Sting series and their high-wing Sirius , both built by TL Ultralight in Czech.
Flying Car Weight Bump; Electric Motorglider!
After taking a few days off to boat around Lake George, NY and shoot the Red Bull Air Race in New York City, it’s time to catch up on what’s been happening. *** The Transition “Roadable Aircraft” (I can’t help but prefer the chummier “flying car”) just got a weight exemption nod from FAA for an additional 110 pounds of MTOW (max takeoff weight). That nudges the vehicle up to 1,430 pounds. *** Terrafugia‘s request for the bump is meant to provide “…the structure and equipment necessary for compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) which are not found in other Light Sport Aircraft.” *** They’re talking about things such as airbags, energy absorbing crumple zone and protective safety cage. *** Interestingly, Transition’s maker Terrafugia initially asked for an MTOW of 1,474 pounds. FAA in effect said “You can have what we gave the amphib makers, but no more.” *** This evokes the ultralight days, when the original 150 lb.
They’re Home! Twin Solo Round-the-World Flights
Two Swiss pilots embarked on a round-the-world flight on April 30 and 51 days later they are back home in Switzerland. Yannick Bovier, 37, and Francisco Agullo, 41, created an expedition they call “Azimut 270” to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Switzerland, a country known for its natural beauty and for being bankers to the world. *** The dynamic duo returned safely on Saturday, June 19 after crossing two oceans, confronting suspicious government officials for country overflight permission, paying high landing and permit fees, battling fatigue and loneliness, performing routine maintenance that comes with so many hours logged, plus having to watch what foods they consumed during flight legs that several times started before dawn and ended after dark. (On-board bathrooms have yet to be installed in the first Light-Sport Aircraft making such biological necessities a real challenge). *** Starting on the last day of April, the duo leaped the Atlantic to Brazil by May 8 and then crossed the Caribbean to Miami, Florida, USA by May 13.
Terrafugia Granted a Weight Exemption!
Many said it would never happen. And certainly, it took time. But Terrafugia’s team of engineers and visionaries succeeded in getting a weight increase exemption for their Transition roadable aircraft. LSA land planes are limited to 1,320 pounds (600 kg) by FAA regulations. Seaplanes are allowed another 110 pounds (50 kg) for the float gear or amphibious hull. *** On May 27, 2010, FAA granted Terrafugia the same parameters as seaplanes primarily as the Transition must also meet federal highway standards (wipers, rear-view mirrors, impact capability, and much more). The Terrafugia team was ecstatic. “We were extremely pleased that FAA recognized the potential safety benefits of bringing a product like Transition to the market and incorporating the features needed to operate on the road with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” said CEO Carl Dietrich. *** In the official exemption document, FAA Small Aircraft Directorate Manager Kim Smith wrote, “The Transition roadable aircraft is unique and must simultaneously meet both sets of standards for ASTM and FMVSS.” The agency specified this exemption is only available for the Terrafugia Transition.
Predator Powered Parachute… & Immersion Training
Another one managed to slip by my radar. I follow LSA closer than most yet I can barely keep track of all the approvals. No wonder I frequently get calls asking me to unravel the puzzle of LSA makes and models. *** Better late than never, welcome the Predator powered parachute to our SLSA List of 108 models from 72 still-active companies (at least five have left the business). Scott Hughes is the original designer & creator of the Predator. *** New CEO Fredrick Scheffel wrote, “On April 22, 2009, SkyTrails LSA (Predator Powered Parachute LLC) purchased the rights to manufacture the Predator along with the tooling & inventory from Hughes Aero.” SkyTrails LSA moved into the hangar facilities where Hughes Aero had been building the Predator for the past four years. Scheffel further noted, “SkyTrails Ranch, Inc., is a long standing name in powered parachute training, sales, and service that [has now] expanded into powered parachute manufacturing.” *** National powered parachute expert, Roy Beisswenger confirmed the Predator as a Special LSA, “SkyTrails LSA is manufacturing ELSA & SLSA aircraft at the airport in Wharton, Texas.” *** Learning to fly a powered parachute can be challenging.
No Trouble In Paradise
Paradise Aircraft, based in Florida, joins the Facebook crowd with its own fan page here. Chris Regis, U.S. rep for the Brazilian-based company which has certified the airplane in the United States, Brazil, Australia and South Africa, tells me the company is moving ahead after a good spring sales performance with some company and product updates. *** On the Facebook page you’ll find an a aerial view of the new 75,000 sq. ft. factory for producing the Paradise P1. The design just celebrated its 10th anniversary at the end of 2009. *** Carbon-fiber float maker Mead and Paradise have teamed up to offer amphibious floats for the P1. *** The camping picture from owners Neil and Karen Salmi shows the “stuff” carrying ability of the P1. Not a lot of LSA could carry that volume of gear. Of course the total 1,320 lb.
New LSA From Czech?
For just over $60,000 at the current Dollar/Euro exchange rate of 1.22:1, (around $63K and change) you may see an LSA version of this airplane in the U.S. market soon. *** The company Skyleader has been on the European aviation scene since 1996, and produces various aircraft for the overseas market, including the Skyleader 600 (formerly the Kappa KP-5) which is already an ASTM-certified LSA (the 9th one to earn the sticker). *** We got a sneak peak at the GP ONE, which is in development for the Euro market…with a possible LSA version in the future. *** Scant details yet, but you can glean a sense of the airplane from the pdf here. And look at those sculpted composite lines…impressive. *** The GP ONE just had it’s maiden flight on May 26 – congratulations to the company and its Sales Manager Miroslav Boubela, who affirms the carbon-fiber composite construction airplane will be offered in Europe in Sept.