I always enjoy when a new airplane company arrives on the market and sets plans in motion to expand and improve their flying machine. Texas Aircraft and their Colt 100 Light-Sport Aircraft is one such company.
Lead by the energetic and ambitious Matheus Grande, Texas Aircraft is moving on several fronts. Here is some update on the Colt builder based in Hondo, Texas.
Garmin IFR Colt
“Wait,” I hear some of you exclaim! “A Light-Sport Aircraft cannot be used for flying with reference only to instruments.” Wrong!
Rather than repeat what I have already written several times, I invite you to explore this article which makes an attempt to explain the situation surrounding IFR or IMC, that is, flight in actual instrument conditions; different from filing to fly in the IFR system for training or other reasons.
Certainly, most readers will see the value in a new, modern, fuel efficient, comfortable, and marvelously-equipped Light-Sport Aircraft versus a 30-50 year-old Cessna 172 or other legacy general aviation aircraft.
Archives for August 2020
Staring At Goat — Wild Sky’s Brutus Off-Field, Outback Weight Shift Trike Light-Sport Aircraft
If you flew better than 9,000 hours solely to give trike instruction, you would tend to develop ideas about how an aircraft can better fit the type of flying lessons you want to give. That’s exactly what Wild Sky owner Denny Reed reports.
Denny has an enviable position to some. Imagine any fixed wing instructor saying, “I wish the aircraft would do some operations differently for my teaching. I can’t find one that exactly matches what I seek, so, you know what? I’ll just design what I want.”
Yeah, sure. Most of us never have that chance. Instead, we learn to adapt to the aircraft. As an example, what if you wanted the throttle in a different place, or any number of possible changes.
In a long career that has included talking to CFIs from around the world, I have never met a fixed wing flight instructor who set about making the airplane he truly wanted.
One On, One Off… Or, At Least Delayed — DeLand Reschedules for Two Months
Well, now we know what 2020 holds for airshows. I count three that did or will happen this year, but one of them — the much-anticipated November event, DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase, or DSAS — has now officially been delayed by action of the city leadership, which controls the DeLand airport.
The founding administrator, Jana Filip, made the official announcement, “The 2020 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase is being rescheduled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”
Since Copperstate/Buckeye Air Fair in February 2020, the end of July saw a modest gyroplane gathering in Mentone, Indiana for the Popular Rotorcraft Association‘s annual convention, followed by the still-upcoming Midwest LSA Expo.
Now, as it turns out, the latter event, taking place September 10-11-12, may be the last airshow event of this shutdown year.
No-Go for DeLand 2020
Officials at the DeLand Municipal Airport, lead by longtime airport manager, John Eiff, had hoped to continue on with the annual showcase as originally scheduled (November 12-14, 2020) “to help salvage the embattled tradeshow industry” …but… “it became increasingly apparent that the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Florida would make the event unsafe at this time for guests, exhibitors and volunteers.”
Jana observed, “Preparations have been running along so well, exhibitor participation was setting a record pace, and we had such high hopes for November.”
However, she added, “We really must think first of the health and well-being of our visitors, exhibitors, volunteers, other guests and the staff of DSAS and City of DeLand.”
She said that the city and county have been watching the situation with great scrutiny yet leaders decided to cancel all local events through the end of November, as a result of health concerns.
It’s ON!!! — Midwest Light-Sport Aircraft Expo WILL Open September 10th
Many years ago — back in February 2020 — I attended my last airshow. Fortunately, that was not the dark ending to a most trying year.
For 2020, the next airshow is Mt. Vernon Airport’s (KMVN) Midwest LSA Expo — slated for September 10-11-12, 2020. Hurray!
I don’t know about you (certainly not everyone, I am aware) but I am raring to go. Airshows dictate my annual calendar so this virus-infested year has done a job on my collection of great airplane info to present to you. Fortunately, I have found plenty of other newsworthy materials, but, man!, am I happy to go to Mt. Vernon this year.
Those considering attending MWLSA but who are concerned about exposure to the virus can check out their Covid-19 preparations.
GO, Mt. Vernon!
“We believe we have good plans in place to keep everyone safe while meeting the mandates set out by various organizations,” said affable and energetic airport manager, Chris Collins.
Air Tours Continue — Blackwing Heads Out to Demo their Speedster LSA
What a weird season, or non-season, if we think about all the airshows we should be attending …but are not!
However, entrepreneurs do what they must and pilots remain as interested in flying as ever. Given both forms of determination, I expect those who tour with their airplanes will largely be warmly welcomed — although those still deeply worried about Covid may not venture out to the airfield.
The good news, the concerned folks don’t have to attend yet those keen on pursuing their love of flight can at least check out a new airplane.
You can stand physically distant if you wish and, of course, you can wear a mask although you may elect not to go aloft given a fairly small cabin.
Nonetheless, I suspect most flyers will welcome Blackwing CEO Niklas Anderberg, as he takes his beautiful and very fast Light-Sport Aircraft around a series of airports in Europe.
Flight Design’s F2 Light-Sport Aircraft on Tour — Bringing the “Airshow” to the People
Although a mirror reflection of the greater global economy, many pilots are stunned that airshow after airshow has fallen to the virus. It seems like two or three years ago when, back in February 2020, Videoman Dave and I covered the Copperstate/Buckeye show west of Phoenix.
Here’s another sure sign of virus-induced time distortion. This year, 2020, was the first year that the Sebring U.S. Sport Aviation did not happen after a good run of 15 years. Yes, only seven months ago, many of us would’ve been heading to Sebring, Florida.
Little did we know in those carefree times what cataclysm was to follow starting in March 2020.
When cut off from usual routines, what does an inventive entrepreneur do?
Take to the Air!
Tom Peghiny, the veteran importer of the most successful LSA brand in America, has a new nose-to-tail, winglet-to-winglet Light-Sport Aircraft to show airshow attendees …except he can’t.
FAA’s New Light-Sport Aircraft Regulation — Progress Update for July 2020
The end is near! Or, is it?
The reference is to the long-running effort to revise the FAA regulation affecting Light-Sport Aircraft. The new ruleset has been discussed back into 2017 and started to take shape in early 2019. Almost two years later, what is the status?
I have reported on this earlier: May 2019 • July 2019 • January 2020 • and April 2020. For additional detail, go back and check those articles. In this newest report — based on LAMA‘s work with the aviation regulator — I will describe the newest development although a short review of the history is useful.
When I ask if the end is near, I mean to ponder if FAA is done with their work. Even some in industry believe FAA is about to release what’s call an NPRM: Notice of Proposed Rule Making.