I can remember firsthand when one of aviation’s true characters — Chuck Slusaczyk, of Chuck’s Glider Supplies or CGS — brought his first Hawk to Sun ‘n Fun. As this article illustrates, that was 40 years ago!
Yes, fellow fun flyers, 2022 is the year aviation celebrates the 40th anniversary of Part 103 and the emergence of the “ultralight vehicle.”
One of the ground-breaking designs that year (1982) was the CGS Hawk. When Chuck introduced this flying machine, he broke some of the rules and went on to sell more than 2,500 of the popular series. What rules did he break?
Foot-Launched Aviation
Before Part 103 came out, FAA initially said such “powered hang gliders” — as people, especially FAA, regarded them then — had to be foot launched. Pilots were not supposed to roll off on wheels. The very earliest of such aircraft didn’t even have wheels. Think of John Moody and his foot-launched 10-horsepower Easy Riser.
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Ultralight April 2020 — Second in the Vintage Series: CGS Hawk
Way back when, long before the birth of the Light-Sport Aircraft segment (in 2004), lots of us flew ultralights. They were barely more than powered hang gliders — except one.
Before 1982 these lightest-of-all aircraft were required to be foot-launchable. It’s true. I once staggered into the air partly carrying, partly dragging a Quicksilver. I got airborne thanks to a generous 15 mph headwind that provided about three quarters of the speed I needed for… um, you can’t call it “rotation,” but to get enough lift that I could sit down.
Yes, “sit down.” You didn’t think I ran for take off while sitting comfortably belted into a secure seat did you? Nope, that Quicksilver had a literal swing seat and a special rear axle that allowed a full stride of your legs.
OK, that requirement proved futile and FAA later dropped it, but one guy in particular drove that older requirement into the annals of history.
Sun ‘n Fun Day 1 — Affordable Aircraft: CGS Hawk Ultra, Evolution RevX, Kolb Trifly, Thatcher CX5
Videoman Dave and I never left Paradise City’s exhibits in our first day of video interviews. Yet we found several airplanes worth reviewing that fit comfortably into the affordable aviation space this website reports.
Hawk Ultra — Despite some speculative rumors, all is well with the dual CGS Hawk project involving two-seat Hawk specialist and primary components fabricator Terry Short paired with the father and son team of Bob and LB Santom handling the single place Hawk 103, Hawk Ultra and Hawk Plus.
Hawks developed a strong following in the U.S. and several countries with more than 2,000 flying. As the design emerged in 1983, it was only single place. Once Part 103 aircraft were growing and need for a two-seat trainer became apparent, the Hawk Arrow series debuted in several variations. With one or two seats, Hawks won a place in the hearts of many aviators and that continues unabated to this day.
CGS Hawk Has Found a New Florida Home
In the beginning … the light aviation world was void and without form. Those were the earliest days of light powered aircraft that people could truly afford. I refer way back to the late 1970s following a period when hang gliders were the darlings of the affordable aviation world. Hang gliders evolved in various dimensions, among which was the addition of an engine to a previously unpowered type of flying machine.
In those formative years one man stood large. Not only a big man in physical form, he was big in stature and bold in his goals. Some readers already know to whom I refer — the always impressive and irrepressible Chuck Slusarczyk. History about him goes back far enough that much of it precedes the World Wide Web. The earliest articles about Chuck and his enterprise never made it into the digital universe but see this link for a number that did, including some videos.
Number One CGS Hawk Retires to Florida Air Museum
Back when the term “ultralight” was new…back in spring of 1982 before FAA issued their now-classic Part 103 regulation…and during the time when ultralights still had to prove themselves by being foot launchable…that’s when bold designer Chuck Slusarczyk introduced the first CGS Hawk at the then-new Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in. It was fully enclosed (you couldn’t foot launch it and all other ultralight were open cockpit airplanes). It had conventional three axis controls (unusual then). But this “outlaw” design proved to be a hit. Over the years, CGS and Chuck have sold over 1,500 Hawks! Now, fittingly, a Hawk has been inducted into the Florida Air Museum. Even more fittingly, this followed one last flight from the airstrip at Sun ‘n Fun’s Paradise City ultralight display area. At the end of the flight, Chuck taxied back one last time. It was a bit emotional to retire Hawk #1, he says.
It’s a Winner; CGS Hawk Sport
Given Chuck Slusarczyk’s decades in recreational aviation, I imagine almost everyone in ultralight aviation has heard of the funny, Polish-speaking pioneer with the hard-to-pronounce last name (Slew-Sar-Chick). If Chuck had named his first business Slusarczyk Glider Supplies, pilots would have stumbled and renamed it for him. Knowing his name is a tongue twister, he wisely called it Chuck’s Glider Supplies.
In his early business years, when Chuck was younger and slimmer, he made hang gliders. Lots and lots of hang gliders. I flew one, as did thousands of others. He was one of a handful of east-of-the-Mississippi hang glider manufacturers. Being a long way from the West Coast where hang gliding was centered back in the ’70s, Chuck made the Californians nervous. They couldn’t keep an eye on his developments and he was regarded as unpredictable. Those who knew him thought the word should be innovative.
Then came powered hang gliding, such as it was in those days.
Midwest 2020 Open — What Caught My Eye on Day 1: Hawk Tundra from CGS
I saw a lot of smiles at Midwest LSA Expo 2020. A common phrase was, “This is the biggest” — by which they meant only* — “airshow of the year. It’s even bigger than Oshkosh 2020.”
As I’ve often repeated, Midwest has been social distancing since long before you heard of that phrase. I believe it to be a reasonably safe environment. However, a warning for those concerned about exposure: some hand shaking occurred (between consenting parties) and not everyone wore masks outside as they viewed the aircraft on display.
I heard of two companies and one group specifically prevented from attending due to government mandates and other concerns at home.
Similarly, my video-creating colleague, Videoman Dave, a Canadian national, was forbidden by U.S. border authorities from attending. His aviation business, which feeds his family, was judged non-essential.
Longtime journalist Tim Kern — of 121five.com, an aviation news outlet — investigated why Rans Aircraft was unable to attend.
CGS Aviation — Hawk with HKS Power
One of the more successful “ultralights” is the CGS Aviation Hawk. Over the years, several different models were sold and approaching 2,000 of these aircraft have taken to the skies. At Sun ‘n Fun 2013 current owner Danny Dezauche introduced the newest version of all: a 60-horsepower HKS 4-stroke-powered Hawk that is on its way to becoming one of the newest Special Light-Sport Aircraft. Here more about this iconic company in this video.
CGS Aviation — Hawk
The Hawk series from CGS Aviation is one of our light aviation stalwarts. With more than 1,500 flying since 1983, Hawk is well established and enjoys a great accident record. It flies wonderfully but what may be Hawk’s best sales feature in these days of $130,000 LSA is the l-o-w price. Check the video (near the end) to hear price info.
CGS Aviation’s Hawk Arrow II Wins SLSA Approval
The latest aircraft to earn Special Light-Sport Aircraft airworthiness (SLSA #77) is one of America’s most familiar and best proven models. CGS Aviation first offered its Hawk model 26 years ago, in 1982.
Since then, many model variations have been brought to market…single seat versions, two seaters, tri-gear, taildragger. Regular evolutionary changes resulted from the continuous process of development and refinement.
These efforts have sold more than 1,750 Hawks to pilots who fly them across the USA and all over the globe. *** Many years after company owner and designer Chuck Slusarczyk first offered his “real airplane” ultralight, it is appropriate that he and his Hawk Arrow II join the SLSA parade. Customers have a major reason to rejoice. Read carefully: the first 10 Hawk SLSA will be sold for $39,995 ready-to-fly with the Rotax 582.
This is, by a wide margin, the lowest price yet for any certified LSA.
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