To welcome a brand new year in affordable aviation, I am pleased to announce the launch of our 
These points apply so long as any Part 103 entry can meet the definitions and explanations offered in 
The new 
While the term “Ultralight” is widely used in other countries (Europe and many other places), it generally means something larger than U.S. Ultralights.
If you are searching for a particular brand, sort that column. Same for Model. If you want to see only aircraft made in the USA, for example, sorting the Origin column will help.
Of course, it's fun to take somebody along, but how often do you actually do that? I used to quote an AOPA survey that was done for many years. It regularly showed the average occupancy of a GA airplane was 1.6 persons. Since GA airplanes are commonly four seaters and sometimes six seaters, that means such roomy aircraft are flown solo most of the time if the average of all flights is 1.6 persons.
If that's true, then why do many pilots insist on a second seat in their light aircraft?
Compared to the overall expense of creating a new aircraft, the cost of adding a second seat and the necessary structure, engine power, additional fuel, and larger wing area should not in theory add a tremendous amount to the cost of building such an airplane. However, perhaps it's like the amplifier for your home theater. Once you decide you've got to have surround sound instead of just a couple of great speakers, you might have to upgrade everything in the system in order to make that all work. Airplanes are no different, of course.
I enjoy flying solo because what I like best about flying is the great view from aloft, of flying over the countryside and observing things on the ground. Sometimes seeing what I want means banking steeply to have a closer look. I don't do that when I'm concerned about another person in the cockpit with me. I find these flight movements more tolerable (even enjoyable) when I don't have to worry about a person in a second seat.
That's not to say I never want to take a passenger. Sometimes doing so can be enormously satisfying and fun.
Flying with someone may be a great way to introduce someone to aviation or it might at least keep them from voting to tax your local airport out of existence.
Nonetheless, flying solo has a special pleasure and in a Part 103 ultralight, you always fly solo.
Of course, this creates some challenges to gain instruction appropriate to that Part 103 aircraft, so two seaters are necessary. When FAA created the Sport Pilot / Light-Sport Aircraft regulation, they scrapped existing "two-seat ultralights" for LSA. Many of the aircraft that followed are not good trainers for genuine 103 ultralights but some are, including 
This website regularly promotes aircraft you can afford. This means something different to almost everyone but nearly every aircraft in the Part 103 List fits in the affordable category. All are less than $100,000 and some are less then $20,000 with a range in between. Of course, since they've been around for 40 years, lots of used aircraft are available. See 
To welcome a brand new year in affordable aviation, I am pleased to announce the launch of our Part 103 List. This new list presents 89 Part 103 entries for models built by 57 manufacturers. [UPDATE 1/18/22 — We made the 103 List even better with the “Model column now leading to info right here on ByDanJohnson.com, when available. Other article changes are shown in red text. —DJ] Too many people believe this is a minor sector with “no fixed wing aircraft that qualify.” They’re wrong; we have 38 fixed wing producers alone. Some others among the general aviation pilot population thought that Part 103 ultralights had disappeared completely. They could not be more wrong. Not only are plenty of Part 103 ultralights being produced, they come in many diverse shapes and plenty of them are being sold. Clearly, it’s about time a list like this one got published to put the record straight!
Fine. I look forward to going from a downtown hotel to the airport in minutes versus slogging through ground traffic for an hour. Will these arrive in some near future? Maybe. Even if they do arrive sooner than later, would a pilot feel entirely comfortable flying in an autonomous, computer-controlled aircraft? Only you can answer that question.
You might get a chance sooner than you think.
Whatever you think right now, would you change your mind if you got to fly one of these machines, safely, of course?
Since autonomous operation is part of the plan, a current-day 
On the other hand, Lift's short history shows a 
With those two points in mind, what say you? It doesn't matter if you love or hate Hexa. Do you welcome their novel approach to meeting 103 parameters or do you think it could jeopardize Part 103?
Mosaic, the new regulation expected by the end of 2023, is significantly aimed at accommodating eVTOLs, UAMs, and drones into the airspace. Most readers are focused on how Mosaic affects LSA but multicopters are a major reason why Mosaic exists in the first place. However, the new reg is still two years away.
Therefore, a multicopter that can actually qualify with FAA as a Part 103 vehicle and is (nearly) ready for the market has an early lead.
Slipping into a sweet spot, Lift and their Hexa need not wait for Mosaic, yet will benefit from its arrival.
For example, "The aircraft is continuously calculating the energy required to 'return to home' based on altitude, wind speed and direction. Regardless of what the pilot does, the aircraft will automatically return and land when the battery approaches this level plus a reserve, and it can also automatically land in designated safe landing areas, if necessary.” Hexa presently has a 15-minute flight endurance
The plans are more explicit in several ways and you can 
One answer is that pilots already use design features to operate aircraft more safely: LSA have straight-and-level or 180-turn buttons and very effective autopilots. Engineers went to great trouble to assure an aircraft recovers well from a stall or has landing gear able to absorb hard touchdowns. Are these design features "cheating?"
First up is Lift's main promotional video. It depicts an earlier model before the float system was made more capable. Current models have seven floats, six arranged in a circle and one directly under the pilot.
https://youtu.be/BSbynmTcAYk
Although this next video appears aimed at those who may want to invest, it also has numerous scenes you may enjoy.
https://youtu.be/7FAYpoI2OKU
Now that 2021 is historical and following two years of Covid uncertainty and business interruptions, many readers can breathe a sigh of relief for an better 2022.
We have two full years remaining before FAA's Mosaic regulation becomes active. During that time you'll need to respond to the proposal I predict we will see at Oshkosh 2022 (only seven months away). Until then, what might happen in the world of light aviation?
I don't know any better than you. The future is as unknowable as ever. So many things can happen …who expected Covid-19? With my eye to the sky I'm pleased to start the new year out with some fresh news. Here are five stories to kick off 2022.
On December 22nd, 2021, 
This was even more meaningful as Vickers installed RS Flight Systems’ single-lever control equipment (approval of which is expected in the coming FAA Mosaic regulation) regulating an MT prop. 
Try as they might to contain increases with various techniques, JMB representatives at 
Why care? It's simple. If Dynon finds more market for their products, they'll be stronger to support your Dynon and to keep coming up with great new avionics ideas for all of us.
Almost single-handedly Dynon brought affordable, sophisticated, computer-based instruments to the cockpit. It wasn't that long ago that equipping a Part 23 bird with modern flat-screen equipment was a $100,000+ expense. Dynon brought such prices back to Earth.
"We have invented and patented a safetanchor for planes and other uses. Easy to install yourselves and patented in the USA," wrote the company.
Design of the anchor’s top allows it to pivot from hook-up to becoming completely flat. This makes the entire surface of anchors flush to ground level without removing them and so you can drive vehicles over it, cut the grass, prevents tripping of personnel, and being a hazard to cleaning machines or snow removal equipment.
However, I have gotten to fly a small number of airplanes for a higher number of hours. The most recent such experience is with a 
I will let the two videos below provide most of the nuts and bolts details that pilots crave. In the following words, I'll relate some of my experiences and discoveries after flying the -12 for more hours.
To begin, I'm a high wing guy. Most pilots have a clear preference for high or low wing configurations. Some think low wings look "less awkward" and "more streamlined."
They are entitled to that opinion, but for me, the number one reason to fly an aircraft with an engine is visibility… to observe a beautiful landscape unfold below. I've found aerial sightseeing is a common desire among aviators. If so, a low wing gets in the way. RV-12 places the wing sufficiently aft that from either seat you actually do have some downward visibility, but it is not as broad as a high wing design, especially one with cantilevered construction; no wing strut gets in your way.
High wing airplanes are usually much easier to enter, a factor for older, less flexible pilots. Yet among low wing designs, RV-12 is easier as you enter from the front of the wing (see step in a nearby photo). You can use structure to help climb up on the wing and once you get to that point you can simply step onto the floor. You don't have to step in the seat as on some low wing aircraft. Most folks don't like having to do that and some low wing owners have a towel to put on the seat to keep dirty shoes off of it.
That's enough about me and what I think of RV-12. Check out these two videos and learn more about Van's terrific RV-12. Happy flying!
Tail winds, everyone!
The nearby photo shows me on downwind for runway 6 at 
Contrary to common language, LSA are not "certified." Instead a manufacturer declares they meet ASTM standards and FAA "accepts" that declaration. Frequently at first, FAA audited producers in a point-by-point check of their declaration plus verifying that producers use generally-accepted best practices in their manufacturing. Companies with prior approvals may not be required to undergo an audit; it's always FAA's choice.
I've been involved with ASTM for many years and I can attest to these standards being very rigorous. They were welcomed by many countries where they are in active use. Indeed, FAA is using ASTM standards for LSA as a model for a future approval system for Part 23 general aviation aircraft. Nonetheless, a Standard Certificate is required for some countries; LSA have a Special Certificate. So, some companies believe it is in their best interest to obtain the higher level of approval.
“We couldn’t be happier to see this important step for the F2 program, which ultimately will lead to the F4 four-seat version and the all-electric F2e,” said Matthias Betsch, Head of Flight Design's Design Organization department that created the F-Series and many of its advanced concepts.
"The F2-CS23 is the next step in Flight Design’s ‘Vision Zero’ concept which incorporates all commercially available safety features appropriate for this type of aircraft," the company elaborated. "These features include: a passive stall and spin resistant airframe design; airframe emergency parachute system; Amsafe-brand airbags and inertial reel harnesses; Garmin ESP (electronic stability and envelope protection); a strong occupant-protective enclosure for the pilot and passengers; automatic fuel management; simplified controls such as a combined throttle and brake lever; and a more modern, car-like atmosphere and operation."
“EASA's CS-23 category is an internationally-recognized certification standard which will allow the new F2-CS23 to be easily accepted in all markets worldwide,” said Dieter Koehler, Project Manager the F2 and F4 projects.
Flight Design sees the F2-CS23 as "an excellent choice for flight schools with its wide and easy-to-enter cockpit, fuel efficiency, unique safety features, and state-of-the-art avionics suite. All new Flight Design aircraft come with carbon compensation up to TBO under Flight Design’s Pro-Climate plan." F2-CS23 follows the company's F2-LSA that began deliveries earlier in 2021.
"In countries that do not have a Light-Sport category (Canada and others), the Type Certified version of the 
Primary Category certification also has benefits in the U.S., Icon reported. One is that any A&P is authorized to work on it. Because it is not a SLSA, owners will not need to use designated Icon Service Partners, though the company will still encourage them to do so.
Another benefit is international travel, for example, flying your Icon A5 to islands in the Caribbean, or to keep your A5 on a yacht when you are in another country (image). "Light-Sport Aircraft do not receive a Type Certificate," Icon explained, "so typically, special permission is required before you can fly in another country just like if you are flying an Experimental aircraft." Some exceptions exist, notably in the Bahamas, which does allow U.S.-registered LSAs. The Bahamas is further unique among other countries in that they accept FAA's Sport Pilot certificate.
"International expansion has been a critical part of our business plan since day one,” said Jason Huang, President of Icon Aircraft. “People in the U.S. have been able to enjoy adventure flying in the Icon A5 for several years, and we will continue to produce the SLSA version. But now we are excited to introduce the A5 to others around the world. Type Certification is one of the many investments Icon has made to grow our capabilities and improve the A5. We know it will be appreciated by our international deposit holders and sales partners, and we are all very excited for this day to come."
"Note that we will continue to make the SLSA version, as well," assured Huang. This continues the chance for American pilots to fly A5 without the need for an aviation medical, using only their driver's license in lieu of a medical approval.
Why not pursue approval using the coming regulation often referred to as Mosaic?
"Mosaic is an FAA initiative that doesn’t translate globally," stated the company. "Thus, pursuing Primary Category Certification is the action we needed to coincide with our global expansion plans."
The Covid pandemic of 2020/2021 appears not to have slowed enjoyment of flying for fun… for most of us anyway. I sincerely regret anyone who suffered during this period but sport aviation has held up surprisingly well.
In this article, I will tackle a couple reader questions, the sort I hear all the time. To answer several people with one response, I asked reader John Joyce if I could use his question and name. He consented, so here we go…
"By way of example," John continued, "there are nearly 300 SportCruisers registered in the US, as well as nearly 350 Flight Design models, but only 3 Skyleaders. I’m not picking on Skyleader; there are many manufacturers with just two, five or 20 registrations in the database."
Matter of fact, our N-number database is another useful reference we offer. You can use the 
This website regularly promotes affordable aviation. Can you genuinely find an aircraft you like that is affordable? If so, are the smaller shows — ones I call "sector-specific" — the place to find them?
Those two questions come up all the time on ByDanJohnson.com.
When you read Flying magazine or AOPA Pilot, the odds are low that readers of this website will find something they can afford. Both titles do a high quality job of covering aviation and I am glad they continue (though Flying is scaling back their print magazine to just four times a year). Yet the aircraft these two periodicals cover are almost never something I can afford; you may feel similarly.
The fact is most aviation magazines and the bigger airshows are full of aircraft most of us cannot afford.
The truth is that every time I survey vendors at these two events — plus the 
Aeropup is a "back to basics flying machine with modern engineering," said Don when we spoke at DeLand Showcase 2021. He added that it is "extraordinarily rugged and an extraordinary value." What kind of value?
"The kit is only $18,000 [an introductory price, he notes] and can be flying for as little as $40,000 and 500 hours of build time," said Don. I'd call that affordable but I what I mentioned above still applies.
Because Aeropup is a kit, of course you can configure it any way you like. Given a modest 540-pound empty weight (depending on which engine you mount) Aeropup can have a high useful load of 780 pounds. Even using all 24 gallons of fuel capacity, Aeropup offers a payload of 636 pounds, enough for two big American men plus generous baggage. Heavier engine choices will use some of those pounds, but the design should still carry a lot of what you want. A 46-inch-wide cockpit provides adequate elbow room for those boys on board.
What engines are supported? Don has installed a 
I cannot / should not fail to mention 
Speaking of electric propulsion — though not so much about affordability — I can never overlook 
Finally, floats. If you like flying off the water — or the safely aspect of quadrupling your available landing areas — you gotta have something to keep your bird out of the drink. Several other producers make floats but an old friend, Lavern Dence, showed one of the coolest ideas I've seen on light aircraft floats. No, I don't mean his use of a beautiful color-speckled carbon fiber, which looks reddish in the nearby photo but his business card made from the exotic cloth had blue accents; either way it is very striking.
The construction was up to this handy fellow's usual par but it wasn't the finish that got my attention. Honestly, I would never have seen the feature had Lavern not pointed it out. His website will be KashFloats.com but that's not up yet so he advises, "Just text me at 941-457-8005." They are presently available as straight floats only.
The magic is a cleanly-embedded thruster built right into the base of the float. Skip the clunky, draggy look of water rudders and all the mechanical linkage they require. Instead an electric-motor-driven thruster helps you maneuver on water. This is a very clever idea, about what anyone who knows Lavern would expect.
Those LSA veterans may be recalling Kappa KP5, one of the earliest entries on our SLSA List (#9). It was originally sold under the European brand name Jihlavan and that challenging name for Americans may be a good reason the Czech producer changed to the better marketing name, 
In the interview, Michael also provides other desirable features of the Skyleader 600.
Yet this airplane has a longer background in light aviation and I have reported on it some time back. While my 2008 pilot report is clearly not the latest information much of what I reported in 
To save you plowing through a 4,200-word article — though some may enjoy the great detail — I present some excerpts below …again noting this that is not the latest info. To truly grasp what a fine Light-Sport Aircraft Skyleader 600 is, I urge to you link up with Michael Tomazin at an airshow. He attends the big events and you may also find him again at the 
Several years ago, company engineers altered the design for American consumption, widening the cockpit to 47.2 inches, 8 inches wider than a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
Harmony in the controls is quite good. Pressures are light and response is crisp without being sudden.
I figured rolls from 45° to 45° took about 3 seconds. The Wide Body Skyleader offers very responsive handling with modestly light control forces.
Although the [aircraft of that day] slows down well as proved by my experience with stalls, controls remain very responsive right down to minimum flying speeds. With those Fowler flaps extended well aft, the airplane seems content flying at 45 miles per hour (39 knots).
With fixed gear and prop, glide remains a very respectable 14:1 (for comparison, a Cessna 150 has a published glide of 9.5:1). I could feel our test plane stretch a glide and sink slowly.
Main gear is very forgiving and feels very sturdy. I had three landings [where the representative] said I tended to raise the nose unnecessarily high, which caused me to plop in on the gear. However, this showed how wonderfully well the gear cushioned my touchdowns.
I performed approach and departure stalls plus accelerated stalls. Most fell to the right a little faster than I’d consider optimal [please remember this was an airplane from 13 years ago], but recovery was always easy. In no case was power required to recover from stall with minimal altitude loss.
After noting the right-hand break, I paid extra attention when I did accelerated stalls to the right. But even with the wing bank at about 45°, the [earlier model] rolled out level, confirming the reasonable stall characteristics of this airplane.
You can read the entire report for lots more information if you wish, but here's the way I started the earlier report, "I’ve felt before and confirmed again that KP-5 (now Skyleader 500) is one of the sweetest handling Special Light-Sport Aircraft in the fleet."
Skyleader 600 is a leading entry in the LSA space but 
Great existing designs, a high-end model, other fascinating forays that upped the game, and a full market of choices — what does a new high-end entrant have to do? A lot! Breaking into this well-supplied sector of light aviation demands an impressive entry. Vickers appears well poised to bring something truly interesting and one built with the future in mind. It also got the 
In retrospect, 2021 improved on surprisingly good results for 2020. Pilots are buying and flying — great! — while producers are maintaining or growing; both are good outcomes we can celebrate.
While much of America and the world were topsy turvy over the pandemic and the sweeping mandates placed on individuals and businesses, Light-Sport Aircraft fared reasonably well. Translation: sales held roughly steady despite Covid fear and talk of FAA regulation change hanging in the air.
The Sport Pilot kit market and Part 103 ultralights had nothing short of a banner year 
It may be too early for this kind of thing, and I don't typically go very far into gift suggestions. I know most of you visit ByDanJohnson.com to read nuts-and-bolts information and airplane flight qualities, but many pilots have those dark, cloudy days of winter ahead when flying our recreational aircraft is less predictable.
So… how about a good book?
I am reading "Sky Stories" by a good friend in the publishing game, Dave Unwin. You know his name because he has 
This is a slightly more condensed version of the talk I gave at the 
Such is the nature of developing a small aircraft. Most aircraft buyers have little idea about the million and one things that must come together to create a design.
Once the aircraft has proven itself, the challenge starts anew to put a completed model into production. Usually financing becomes an obstacle to clear. I've faced this scenario myself — with a motorglider called 
Nonetheless, I was pleased to receive a notice that Ion found a buyer for the project, a venture capital company at that. This will not be a mom-and-pop-funded project.
Located near the University of California San Diego, the capital company is involved with other projects including business jets and eVTOLs plus medical and financial products. Since the acquisition is recent, it is premature to describe where and how Gaea will produce the aircraft.
Tim Apgar wrote, "Ion Aircraft LLC, which has been for sale since November 2020, was recently acquired by venture-capital investor Gaea Capital on September 10, 2021. Hopefully, this will enable Ion to finalize the design and enable marketing of their LSA product after many years of development."
After the acquisition, Tim updated his earlier communications, "The 
Back in 1998 many pilots were doubtful about Cirrus.
I was close to the company during these years. Over and over I heard statements such as: "They'll never complete the design." "They'll never get FAA to approve it (especially with that parachute on board)." "They'll never raise the money to produce it." "They'll never get production to a profitable level." "They'll never develop beyond a single model." Those doubters were wrong on all counts.
Only a few years earlier, in 1992, Americans got their first glimpse of the 
Rotax powers all kinds of recreational vehicles and recently announced, "
BRP President and CEO José Boisjoli invited guests of honor from the parent company plus Rotax employees to celebrate this success.
Gunskirchen assembly employees joined guests from BRP-Rotax's Canadian parent company as Boisjoli thanked the team in his speech, congratulating them on their dedication. Major company officials attending the celebration in Upper Austria on behalf of BRP were Thomas Uhr, Senior Vice-President Product Engineering and Manufacturing Operations Powersports, Anne Le Breton, Senior Vice-President Human Resources, Eric Lebel, Vice-President Human Resources and Minh Thanh Tran, Vice-President Corporate Strategy & Development and Global Transformation.
Yet designers have been hampered from making such changes, partly as they are burdened by a certification system that is simply too rigid to make the effort of approval worth it for small numbers of specially-equipped aircraft.
Cars, hotel rooms, curb construction, building ramps, smartphones, and more …all accommodate persons with disabilities. That's wonderful, however…
All those arrangements that make life easier for someone in a wheelchair must nonetheless cope with strenuous regulatory demands. Cars, hotels, and smartphones are created by vastly larger enterprises with staff to handle regulatory burdens.
In the more intimate world of recreational aviation, the industry is composed of much smaller enterprises. A lighter regulatory hand (using ASTM standards instead of full FAA certification) allows easier airframe customization for specific purposes — such as hand control fittings and linkages — and this system allows changes on a dramatically faster schedule.
It may be tough to abide by many pages of rules yet some developers have made special efforts for pilots that lack the use of their legs.
I've already covered Magnaghi's slickly-achieved hand control 
Founded in 2013 in Bahia, Brazil by aeronautical designer Bruno de Oliveira, Montaer developed MC01 as a fresh Light-Sport Aircraft based on the 
When Bruno created a hand control, he integrated it as smoothly as everything else on MC01 (check all the pictures to see for yourself). The handle accommodates throttle movements (fore-and-aft) and rudder/nosewheel movements by twisting.
MC01's enormous aft compartment and third door are further reasons why the Montaer proved compelling for one buyer.
Montaer won FAA acceptance as a Special LSA in 2019, and in 2021 established a presence at DeLand airport in central Florida, becoming affiliated with the active group at 
Recently Bruno wrote, "I am so happy to announce this delivery. We got the handicapped-adapted airplane registered to its new owner, Gary Hansen of Wisconsin." He added that prior U.S. representative Ed Ricks helped assemble Gary's MC01.
"This means one more Montaer flying in USA, Bruno continued. "I am manufacturing a third MC01 airplane to ship, this one with a 
Alex added his congratulations, "USA has another Montaer MC01 aircraft flying today, a bold project adapted for a physically handicapped person. A few months after submitting the project to FAA, we achieved acceptance so the aircraft can be released to its customer. We are sure Gary will be very happy with his machine."
What I ask readers to remember is that fitting an aircraft with hand controls is somewhat a labor of love. Bruno will probably never sell enough hand-control MC01s to pay for development expenses, but keeping another pilot in the air is a powerful reward.
I applaud Bruno and those other designers for offering hand controls to pilots that need such controls.
You may love your LSA or Sport Pilot kit or an ultralight aircraft, but nearly all pilots occasionally dream of owning — or at least flying — a P-51 Mustang.
Let's face it. You probably can't afford to buy one and it's almost certain you don't have the budget to maintain it and fly it. The fuel bill alone for an hour's flying will make you gasp.
So, what do you do if you have a Walter Mitty-esque urge to own and fly a P-51 but you don't have a couple million laying around unused?
Why not build your own?
As you see from the timeline above, it has taken a while for the twists and turns of development to unravel themselves. Now ScaleWings appears to be firing on all cylinders. Recently, ScaleWings announced they starting shipping Quick Build kits (see nearby image).
Does it take so long to get such an aircraft ready? Well, yes, for at least two reasons.
First, a more complex design takes longer to go through concept, creation, alteration, testing, and gaining approval from authorities. After all that, the company can start building but this is also when the investment needs to be highest.
SW-51 began life as the FK-51. Alert readers will recognize that "FK" refers to FK Lightplanes, a German design company lead by Peter Funk. For years, Peter manufactured popular designs such as FK-9 that sold hundreds of units. Peter developed other designs including the biplane aerobatic Comet, the sleek Polaris LeMans, and several wonderful vintage recreations. His interest was in the creation and development of designs, though; Peter was less enamored of the manufacturing side of the business, so he turned to others.
A man named Rolland Hallam launched into building a series of the FK designs. It seemed to go well for a while and at Aero Friedrichshafen a decade ago, he created a sensation by introducing the amazing creation of the highly-energetic Hans Schoeller.
FK, working with ScaleWings as a consultant, hoped to build one a week starting as early as 2015. It never happened. Whatever the challenges Rolland faced, they proved insurmountable. Production of all FK airplanes slowed to a crawl. FK-51 went dark.
After Rolland bowed out, Hans joined up with younger entrepreneur Christian von Kessel, who found money and facilities and vowed to bring the now renamed SW-51 to market. That took time, but Christian kept after his goal.
SW-51 conducted a successful maiden flight and passed other technical benchmarks. Then Christian and Hans set about putting SW-51 into production. This is not a small project but they are now excited to announce they are shipping kits.
Christian and Sebastian recently sent news about ScaleWings Aircraft launching shipments of a “Quick-Build Kit” of the SW-51 Mustang.
Calling it "the world's most accurate P-51 Mustang replica at 70% scale," a standard SW-51 kit — with MTOW of 750 kilograms or 1,654 pounds — includes "the complete all-carbon body parts, control elements, seats, and the electrically driven retractable landing gear."
The company describes SW-51's unique feature: "more than 100,000 details (rivets, screws, etc.) of the original P-51 Mustang are faithfully worked into the carbon surfaces of the delivered kit, creating a near-perfect reincarnation of the legendary icon."
"This is beyond any previous kit execution in the market," said Christian and Sebastian. I'm inclined to agree for the singular fact of SW-51's incredibly authentic mimicking of the World War II original.
According to ScaleWings, the standard SW-51 kit includes:
So… can you afford this beauty? Nautrally, that depends on your individual budget. Kit prices reflect the work involved in fabricating parts.
In their "Launch Edition," Standard Kits start at €119,000 (about $138,000). The Standard Kit and optional packages can be ordered now at the 
Kit manufacturers do not apply for the aircraft registration so they often have to determine their flying fleet by other means. Readers can investigate further with our complete list of registered light aircraft using 
Excalibur is listed on FAA’s 51% approved list, Tom assured, meaning that the low build time has been through the FAA Kit Evaluation Team’s multi-page checklist to assure the owner does truly build 51% of the kit as per current regulation. For those less certain of their skills, builder-assist centers are allowed now and this idea is set to develop further as FAA’s issues its in-the-works 
Excalibur can also carry a good load. Tom said it has a 600 useful load capacity. With the standard 10 gallons of fuel, that leaves a whopping 540 pounds for occupants and gear. Fuel capacity can be optional increased to 28 gallons.
Those occupants can get in and out easier thanks to lower side rails on the 2021 model. When doors are used they are wide and allow easier-than-common entry to either tandem seat.
Shock-cord gear suspension involves 24 wraps of “aviation-grade elastic” that Tom said can absorb quite a load while dampening impact loads from transmitting to the airframe. Getting back up is also easy. “Excalibur exhibits excellent STOL characteristics,” said Tom, “with solo take-offs in 96 feet!”
Excalibur’s price at Sun ‘n Fun 2021 was quoted at $33,700 for a complete and flyable airplane but before paint and instruments. If you use analog gauges — or an iPad paired to devices like 
As Tom suggests about Excalibur, all those Avid Flyer variations claimed to have differences… “improvements” their developers prefer to call them.
I'm a great enthusiast of soaring flight. Over decades of sampling a large number of aircraft of every description, I'm still drawn to a machine, which lacking any kind of powerplant, relies on the performance of the design and the skill of the pilot to stay aloft. I remain fascinated with locating rising columns of heated air. Circle well enough into one of these invisible thermals and you may be rewarded with an invigorating sensation of lift, of riding the swirling airmass thousands of feet into the air …silently. It's mesmerizing to observe the ground fall away as you are propelled higher and higher.
You may never have felt such thing and you may be hesitant about launching into the air in an aircraft that will allow only one approach and landing per flight; no exceptions. However, for those entranced by manipulating wisps of air to rise upward, a machine like Pipistrel's Sinus is a thing of beauty.
Though awkwardly named, to English speakers at least, Sinus boasts long and slender but very hard-working wings that permit this SLSA motorglider to glide 27:1, giving the ability to reach more than 10 miles from only 2,000 feet above ground (assuming no lift or sink). Even if you don't care about soaring, a glide path that flat can get you to a safe landing in many more situations.
Want to learn more? Let's take a sample soaring flight. Even better, let's investigate wave soaring.
You can 
Roger wrote, "A local glider pilot, John Wahl, has been forecasting mountain wave for the Moriarty, New Mexico area but never getting much real feedback as to the accuracy of his predictions." Mountain waves form when moving air rises over mountainous terrain. As the air rushes up the slope, layers above repeat the lift. Upper air is pushed aloft by the lower atmosphere climbing a mountain's windward side
Robert continues, "In late October 2021, he forecast wave for a Saturday so I borrowed Hugh Bivin's Sinus, N21PX, and took John along to see if the wave would be as forecast. We had his plots of where it should start and end geographically. We had oxygen, a data logger, warm clothes, and a sense of adventure.
"We took off about 10:15 AM and climbed west-northwest under Rotax power. Our home field elevation is 6,200 feet.
"The orientation of the wind aloft was not the best for wave to form. An ideal wind direction is 260 to 280 degrees so as to be perpendicular to the Sandia mountains, which rise to 10,500 feet. The wave was forecast to be at the northern end of the Sandia range, and be at an angle to the mountains. Wind aloft was about 230 degrees, not ideal by any means. This would be a good test of John's forecasting method.
"We saw a line of clouds had formed along the forecasted direction. We got to the upwind side about 15 miles west of Moriarty and turned to run parallel to it. These were the roll clouds [sometimes associated with wave conditions] but really did not look much like a traditional roll cloud. They were just a line of not very tall cumulus. But we started to see an increased climb rate some distance upwind of them. We were about 8,500 feet above sea level. I slowly brought the power to idle but we did not climb, so I returned back to climb thrust. A short time later I tried that again and we found ourselves climbing with idle power. I shut off the motor and feathered the prop. We were still climbing! It became very quiet.
"We continued on a north-northwest track, climbing modestly at about 1.5 to 2 knots, about 150-200 feet per minute. The forecast was for stronger lift ahead so we continued. Sure enough, just where John had forecast stronger conditions, we found that. The best climb rate we saw was 3 knots or about 300 feet per minute. We stopped the climb at 17,910 feet. We could have gone higher, I think to at least 20,000 feet, but the wave window was not open.
"John was very happy, as was I. His forecast was validated under unusual conditions.
"We turned around and more or less followed our track back, still in wave, but staying well below 18,000 feet.
"The view was fantastic. As we flew out of the region of better lift we started a long slow decent and turned slightly to the southeast toward home.
"We landed after 1.25 hours of flight time, about an hour of which was power off. Naturally, the landing was done power off. As we cleared the runway I un-feathered the prop, started the motor and taxied to the hangar.
"This flight could not have been done except in a motorglider, and the fact it was done in a Sinus made it all the more interesting. I figured we used about 3 gallons of fuel. The flight was not just for fun but to validate John's forecast model; so there was a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
"This illustrates the potential of research that can be done in a touring type motorglider. Because both pilot and researcher were side by side, coordinating the flight path was easy (unpowered sailplanes almost always have tandem seating). We were able to motor right to the area we wanted to explore, and, of course. always had a safety out with the motor.
"All in all, it was a flight to remember for the research, fellowship, and the fun of it."
—Robert Mudd, October 2021
Here's our video with Rand Vollmer. Hear from a Sinus expert about this high performing LSA motorglider.
https://youtu.be/zrRtAam5-zk
Today the manufacturing of CGS's Hawk line falls to two entities after the brand's most recent rescuer, Terry Short, chose to focus on his own strengths. Terry had saved the design from its second owner after the original creator, Chuck, retired from the business. When Terry got busy building airplanes and supplying parts, he realized that it was a more diverse enterprise than originally anticipated. Therefore he was open when Bob Santom approached him.
In 2017, Bob Santom and his wife Marlene came to agreement and the Santom family took over rights and production of all CGS Hawk single-seat aircraft. This includes the Classic, Arrow I, Sport, Plus, and Ultra. As he operates "CGS Hawk Single and Ultra," Bob is assisted by his two sons, LB and Jonah, though the latter is part time as he has a full-time gig with Cirrus Design. 
In 2019, Terry also reached agreement with 
When Danny Dezauche took over the design, he did what he could, but I examined what he received and he faced a major challenge. The documentation needed quite a bit of work. Danny kept the brand alive but he was realistic about the daunting amount of work ahead. It was probably appropriate when 
With Hawk, you just buy sewn Dacron "sails," a term carried over from the days when such wing coverings were adapted from sailboat sails. You slip them on, tighten them up, and you are largely done. Years later, when replacement may be needed, you can simply buy a new set of sails, which is much lower cost and far less labor than recovering (though dope and fabric coverings may go many years with no need of replacement). Dacron sails are $3,100 so the covered kit price is $15,600 before engine.
Whatever your choice, the engine may run $3,000 to $6,000. Add a few instruments and a couple other refinements and your Hawk Ultra could total $22,000 to $25,000 in flying form.
Bob Santom said the 
Let's keep a focus on aircraft affordability. Look, we love recreational aircraft. In how they deliver enjoyment, they are closer to boats, RVs, and motorcycles than they are to a Cirrus SR22 or a Bonanza.
Some owners justify the latter saying they use their airplane for company travel. When an airplane’s price tag approaches $1 million, business use is surely necessary.
Very few of us can even drean of dropping a cool million on an airplane. Rather, I often hear from readers that a $125,000 Light-Sport Aircraft is "way too expensive!"
In this article, I'll tell you something of Wes Parker's story and explain how he came to own the aircraft pictured nearby at a modest expense.
FAA’s July 2021 enforcement action opened a Pandora’s Box and has dramatically affected flight instruction in recreational aircraft of many types.
Conventional flight schools using CFIs operating Standard Category / Part 23 airplanes are not affected.
I hope you'll check out the video below — it's just 7 minutes. More importantly, I hope you want to contact your political representative and urge their action to support a fix to 
Based on many airshow conversations, I believe many of you share some qualities with Wes. He’s a longtime A&P mechanic who works for HondaJet in avionics using his electrical engineering background. Let’s just say he’s handy and knowledgeable. Many kit builders I've met also bring skills and experience to a project.
Basically, Wes did what some people do: buying, fixing up, enjoying for a time, then selling. For non-aviators, this procedure commonly involves cars, houses, or motorcycles but it can also include airplanes.
Before you sell, you get to enjoy, and Wes does. He’s flown his acquisitions plenty but the idea is the same — buy an airplane needing some attention, apply your skills (and some cash), enjoy the airplane, eventually selling it to a new buyer. Wes is good enough at this that he has often come out ahead, leveraging his previous acquisition into a new airplane at minimal new cost.
In Wes’s case, his electrical engineering skills and hands-on experience encourages him to seek out interesting aircraft which have work remaining or repairs needed for its electrical system. You may possess particular skills you could apply similarly.
Timing and preparation is important, too. Wes said, "You gotta be ready to buy." Research your target, seeking ones where you can apply your skills but also have the money and be ready to make an offer.
Wes started with a Zodiac 601XLB (see image toward bottom). An older owner had done a nice job with much of the airframe but the electrical system needed lots of work. “I added some money and used my skills. My wife contributed the striking design of the wrap. We enjoyed flying it but a buyer came along and I cashed out.”
Then came a Lancair 360. The story is similar: an informed buy, finishing or fixing, enjoying, reselling and coming out ahead of investment and expenses.
This method didn’t always work perfectly. An investment in a Van's RV-3, for its engine in particular, proved to be a "learning experience." Wes hoped he could energize a Beech Skipper that needed a more potent engine but a required STC turned out not to be available, so that project was less profitable.
When Wes decided not to play the Airman’s Medical game, he returned to flying Sport Pilot-eligible aircraft. Into his life came Celebrity.
Numerous importers of LSA and other products have told me how their container shipping expenses have shot skyward faster than a Blue Origin space flight with a billionaire on board. I've heard many quote between double and triple the rates per container compared to a couple years ago. Welcome to the world of inflation-stimulated price increases combined with tariffs, sanctions, and taxes… all of which are on the rise globally.
