I’d call this Day 4 but rush-deadline work for the mag intervened after the last day at Sebring so just getting to it now. *** The Sebring experience gets better every year, I believe precisely because Bob Woods keeps it consistently valuable without tricking it up with a lot of extraneous booths selling things like Miracle Kitchen Knife or iPhone WonderMuffin Pocket Baker and the like: it’s an LSAshow, pure and simple, and a great opportunity for folks to crawl out from wherever winter is tap-dancing on their heads and let them see, compare, fly and even buy aircraft and peripheral stuff.Many airframe makers reported sales at the show, or expected deals to close afterward. Exhibitors hope for sales of course, but realize folks often need to go home, reflect on what they’ve seen, then push the button or think more on it. *** I’d say from everybody I talked to, optimism was rekindled that 2011 will be better than the last — a real toughie.
Archives for January 2011
Sebring Day 3: Busy Blustery Bouncy Fun
***
The day dawned foggy and solid overcast…then cleared almost instantaneously…then snap overcast again. ***
The wind grew… and grew… the temperature dropped, and by the end of it, everyone agreed it was an unseasonably chilly day, more like San Francisco in winter than Sebring, Florida. ***
But people flew, and flew. Folks came out in good numbers and, according to all the exhibitors I spoke with, and that was a lot, there was focused interest and orders, or solid prospects, were recorded. ***
My flying fortunes started bright and early with a morning flight in the new Flight Design CTLS, thanks to Tulsa, OK Airtime Aviation dealers Tom Guttman and his son…Tom Guttman. Makes “Hi Tom!” less of a chore, you only have to say it once. ***
These enterprising lads have finalized the fitting and testing of their Clamar floats, designed and built by famed float maker, Clair Sceli.
Two More SLSA Models Appear on Radar
In multiple ways Sebring 2011 is starting off the aviation year in grand fashion.
Crowds are strong through the first three days. The LAMA Dinner with special guest AOPA President
Craig Fuller was a big hit to the standing-room-only crowd. Weather has been warm and accommodating
— though poor conditions to the north prevented several airplanes from arriving on schedule.
*** In my rounds with UltralightNews to shoot more LSA videos, we
uncovered two new Special Light-Sport Aircraft models that were not previously on the
SLSA List. I rushed to add them as I recently found out
another FAA branch regularly uses our SLSA List — I was informed Aircraft
Registration in Oklahoma uses this resource before issuing at least some new registrations
so it’s in a seller’s best interest to be sure their models are on the List.
*** Welcome to SLSA #113, the Cricket Aviation
Storch.
Sebring Day 2: Quick Takes on Cool Stuff
Here’s a glancing blow at some products you might want to check out in depth: *** A cute new LSA named Viper SD-4 showed up, beautifully built (in Slovenia) and should be very attractive to anyone who likes the conventional approach of an all-metal airframe done in the traditional way — with a modern technological boost. *** The parent company, Tomark Aero, uses CAD design and CNC precision cutting methods. *** US distribution will be through Tomark Aero USA, located in Frisco, TX. *** Some specifications: • Wingspan 27′ 10 1/2 ” • Max weight 1,320 pounds • Cruise 108 knots • Max speed 120 knots • Stall 40 knots • Climb 1,280 fpm • Take-off run 525 feet • Landing run 722 feet *** Wild and Crazy in a Flying Boat: that’s what I’d title a short movie I’d make of my fun ride with Kerry Richter, designer of the SeaRey amphib, took me for a way-too-fun ride over, around, onto and off of a nearby lake.
Sebring Day 1: Cessna’s Skycatcher Update
Cessna’s Skycatcher program is really gaining traction. I had a fun chat with Julie Filucci, Mgr of Cessna Pilot Centers (an excellent formation stick too — she flew for my Cessna shoot a year ago). *** Matt Tutton, an Orlando Cessna dealer, and Bob Stangarone, Cessna’s VP of Corp. Communications also weighed in the haps in Wichita. *** By the end of 2010, 30 Skycatchers had been delivered, mostly to flight schools across the U.S. *** “We expect to deliver 150 more by the end of this year,” says Bob, “and more than that in 2012, although we don’t have an exact number yet.” *** Cessna’s working tirelessly working away at that backlog that initially climbed to 1000 orders when the scratch-built LSA was first announced a few years back. *** Both Julie and Matt Tutton had recent long XC trips with the Skycatcher. Julie’s reached out to Oshkosh from Wichita, while Matt’s went southeast from Wichita to Orlando.
A Day In The Office
Nothing like getting some air. *** Thanks to Jim Lee of Phoenix Air USA, I finally had my desire: Jim and I flew the fabulous new Phoenix LSA motorglider, with both wingtips (max span: 49 feet!) out of his home base at Melbourne International Airport, Florida, and I have to say simply this: it cured my winter blues.Or to paraphrase Renée Zellwegger, “Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at liftoff.” *** To say the Phoenix lives up to its advance billing is understatement, plain and simple: it’s a wonderful airplane for anybody who desires to have friendly Light-Sport handling (2 second roll rate, 45° to 45°), wonderful engine-off soaring performance (200 fpm sink rate), excellent and comfortable XC cruise (100 knots at 75%), comfortable, semi-reclined seats, great visibility with the sleek bubble canopy and forward rake of the cowl, beautiful lines, wonderful engine package… need I go on?I’ll let the pix do the talking for now.
Irony in 2010 Market Share Report
You just have to marvel how a dynamic new industry unfolds. No matter your level of expertise — in or out of government, large or small private organization, or even as an individual guru — no one can exactly foretell the future of the grand experiment we call Light-Sport aviation. *** So, what’s the irony? After all the years I’ve released the results of Jan Fridrich’s laborious market share assessments using FAA data, one company has finally displaced perpetual #2 producer, American Legend. The star that rose is, of course, Piper, who not quite one year ago announced they would distribute the then-Sport Cruiser. That model (with its own winding tale) had done respectably well on its own and Piper’s legacy brand brought an impressive growth spurt even during a very weak economy. Yet, even as Piper rose from 6th place last year to dislodge the Legend Cub producer, the Vero Beach outfit ended their relationship with Czech Sport Aircraft.
Piper Tells PiperSport Maker: “CzechMate!”
In a tersely worded and OMG-style announcement, Piper Aircraft today said today it “will terminate its business relationship with Czech Republic-based Czech Sport Aircraft to market that company’s Light Sport Aircraft, citing differences in business philosophies.” *** Piper’s CEO Geoffrey Berger said, “After a year working with Czech Sport Aircraft, Piper determined that it is in our company’s best long-term interests to discontinue the business relationship…Clearly, the company (i.e. Piper) has a different business perspective and approach to the market than Czech Sport Aircraft,” he added. *** Piper excited the LSA world with its announcement last year, when helmed by former CEO Kevin Gould, that it would virtually take over rebadging, and upgrading, the popular but problem-plagued Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser, a beautiful and popular aircraft. *** “We at Piper have a close affinity with this emerging segment of the marketplace,” Berger continued, “and we have great expectations for the LSA industry.
Piper Drops Czech Sport Aircraft and PiperSport
In stunning news just before the Sebring LSA Expo starts, Piper Aircraft announced they will be terminating their business relationship with Czech Sport Aircraft, the Czech republic-based manufacturer of the PiperSport (previously known as the SportCruiser from initial developer Czech Aircraft Works). *** “After a year working with Czech Sport Aircraft, Piper determined that it is in our company’s best long-term interests to discontinue the business relationship…” said Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger. “Clearly, the company has a different business perspective and approach to the market than Czech Sport Aircraft,” he added. The company stated that “it became clear that Piper’s core strengths and that of Czech Sport Aircraft were mismatched.” *** This follows a year that saw Piper register more new SLSA than any other company, almost reaching their sales target announced at last year’s Sebring. (see note at bottom) “We at Piper have a close affinity with this emerging segment of the marketplace and we have great expectations for the LSA industry.
The Zen of Cub
Seems everybody who’s done any kind of flying has a J3 Cub lurking somewhere in their psyche.A most evocative rendering of the mystique of flight in a Cub comes in the form of a poetic blog by Michael Bradford, a long time hang glider, ultralight and light plane pilot. *** I wrote for a publication, Glider Rider (now Light Sport and Ultralight Flying), that he edited for years and we hadn’t talked in some time. My loss. *** Now, as self-described “recovering smartass” and software writer, Michael keeps his feet in the hang gliding harness boot and can be counted on for eclectic, highly original takes on ‘most everything. *** But don’t take my word for it: check out his blog. *** He calls himself “Lazarus Nobody.” The blog’s titled: Nobody’s Flying Service: Making People Nervous since 1951. *** I bet, like me, you will nod and smile as you read through his excellent take on what it means to fly.