Although not previously known for any involvement in the Light-Sport space, longtime kit aircraft producer Glasair Aviation is jumping in assertively for 2014. At Sun ‘n Fun, the Arlington, Washington company debuted their Merlin and to AirVenture 2014 they brought a full-size mockup. They also participated in the standing-room-only press briefing for the new MVP.aero seaplane. Why? Because Glasair will be one of two initial build locations, handling the Western states while Port Orange, Florida-based Fibercraft will produce for Eastern states. I’ll offer more on the MVP arrangements in another report on that header-turner design unveiled at AirVenture. Yet this association means Glasair will go from no presence in LSA to taking a significant position in short order. MVP production won’t start for more than a year, but Glasair’s Merlin project is ambitiously aiming to hit the market in 2014, according president Nigel Moll. Glasair is famous for the their flagship Glasair II and III, speedsters of the sky in the Experimental Amateur Built category and for their well regarded Sportsmen two seater.
MVP.aero…Photos and Art of a Versatile New LSA
MVP.Aero's main men (before they had a chance to change into their press conference logowear): Mike Van Staaggen (L), Darrell Lynds, Mike Lynds, and Steve Pugh.
A standing room only crowd just walked out of the pre-opening Sunday press conference held by the MVP.aero folks. This airplane has been in the works for many months but principals have done a masterful job of what might be called the “Apple approach.” The giant iDevice maker jealously guards their press announcements and does well considering how many folks would love to blow their cover and tell the world what Apple plans before the company does. Kudos to MVP.aero (yes, that’s the name of their company) … it was founded by a father and son team of software experts and they clearly know how to play that game; they kept their secret very well. To bring you the fastest breaking news, what follows is a series of photos. I look forward to fleshing out the story as time moves forward, but for this post, the pictures are worth more than thousands of words.
First Searey Amphib Flight School & Design News
It’s summertime and the flying is easy … especially when it’s on the water. That’s fine for everybody who is already qualified. What if you’re new to seaplanes (or LSA in general)? How could you obtain instruction if you want to buy a new Searey? Training is optimal when done in a very similar airplane if not the same exact model you have in mind. Insurance companies may require aircraft-specific preparation. “With the addition of a [factory-built] Searey to its fleet, Chesapeake Sport Pilot flight school has become the first flight school in the world to offer flight training on the popular amphibious light sport seaplane,” said spokesperson Helen Woods of the Stevensville, Maryland company. Chesapeake also teaches in other LSA models. Chief Flight Instructor Woods reports 300 Seareys flying in the U.S. and over 500 flying world wide. “Until now, it was often difficult to obtain quality training to fly a Searey,” said Helen, “since a pilot had to own his own Searey before receiving training.” Chesapeake supplies a Searey as part of their training course.
Zigolo Cracks the China Market as Part 103!
I didn’t see this one coming. Maybe you didn’t either? In the new millennia gold rush represented by companies either being bought by Chinese businesses or gaining investment from wealthy Chinese business people or by setting up shop to sell in China (or even Cessna’s ill-fated effort to have their Skycatcher manufactured in China), one element I’ve never heard of is Part 103 in China. This least-regulated-of-all aviation category is solely an American thing, isn’t it? Well … yes and no. Germany has opened the door to a Part 103-like development in that country under the 120-kilogram class (using a number that is 264 pounds or very similar to Part 103’s 254-pound empty weight limit). England has their SSDR class (SSDR being the abbreviation for Single Seat De-Regulated). Despite following those developments, I’ve never heard a word about China and any less-regulated sector. “The first Zigolo in China was introduced to the public in that nation on July 17th at the Jingmen Airshow,” reported representative Chip W.
Evektor with Dynon Earns EASA Type Certificate
This older SportStar (with Canadian registration) features LAMA founder Larry Burke in the Pilot-in-Command seat.
The very first aircraft ever to receive approval in the USA as a Light-Sport Aircraft is Evektor-Aerotechnik’s SportStar. No challenger can ever take away that title yet the company has continually developed this pioneeering airplane and recently achieved a new level of approval … one that alters the landscape in a way I predict we’ll see more as FAA’s Part 23 rewrite project progresses. “Following several months of certification process EASA has approved glass cockpit Dynon SkyView [as] SportStar RTC,” Evektor announced. RTC stands for Restricted Type Certificate. It is not identical the U.S. Part 23 Type Certificate — representing a somewhat lower level of government oversight — but a company earning this has to jump through many regulatory hoops. “SportStar RTC has become the first EASA certified aircraft approved with the SkyView glass cockpit [by proving] compliance with certification requirements of the EASA CS-LSA regulations. Dynon’s SkyView, recently upgraded to permit touch functionality, is widely known and used on Light-Sport Aircraft.
Airbus Goes Electric and Small (with Big Ideas)
E-Fan uses tandem, retractable gear with outrigger wheels. photo by Franklin Polanco
"Even electric commercial airliners are in the works. In Europe EADS, Airbus' parent company, has proposed the VoltAir ducted fan engine that would power commercial airliners," writes Low-Powerdesign.
As we all get packing for Oshkosh where we’ll see all manner of aircraft, one of the biggest manufacturers revealed one of the smallest airplanes at another airshow: Farnborough in England, an event dominated by military and airline producers. More surprisingly, Airbus announced at Farnborough that it would put into production their all-electric-powered E-Fan. Big aircraft, the buses of the sky, are good at moving people to their destination. However, they are very noisy and consume oceans of fuel leading to more pollution. Can this situation improve? Is it even reasonable to consider an electric-powered airliners? Some experts scoff at the idea but Airbus’ E-Fan made a powerful, if relatively quiet, statement. Airbus’ E-fan made its first flight at a French airport near Bordeaux on March 11th this year. The project reportedly evolved from work with the tiniest airplane most AirVenture visitors have seen. Airbus used an electric-powered Cri-Cri as a test bed to develop their battery and energy management technology.
Versatile LSA Seaplane to Debut at AirVenture 2014
MVP.aero wants to tempt you to come by EAA's 10th LSA Anniversary Celebration exhibit at AirVenture 2014.
An entirely new Light-Sport seaplane will make its “global debut” at EAA AirVenture 2014 and this is one you’ll want to see up close and in detail. As with a number of other persons, I have been briefed on this new entry and, like the others, I signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement to keep the new project under wraps until company leaders were ready to reveal their new flying machine. At the coming summer celebration of flight in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, everyone will finally get to see what has excited many of those NDA signers. Airshow visitors will see a mockup, but if the full-size concept looks even remotely as good as it did in the computer presentation I was shown, be prepared to be blown away. This boat hull aircraft has features you’ve never even contemplated much less seen on any previous offering. You can guess some of what I’m writing about by their tagline for MVP, “The World’s Most Versatile Plane.” That’s a big claim as we already have many good seaplane designs and more will be following.
Searey Expands into China; Opens Sales Office
Searey China sales is located in this office tower in Shanghai.
The list of aviation companies involved in one way or another with China is getting so long I won’t try to show them all here. Big companies like Cirrus Design or Continental are included. So are LSA manufacturers of various brands. Some business are setting up dealerships (Quicksilver, others). Others have arranged Chinese partners to build planes in-country (Flight Design, Zenith, others). Several companies have been fully acquired by or have received substantial funding from Chinese enterprises (Icon, others) and I’m aware of more that we will hear more about in the weeks and months to follow. The U.S. government and many other nations have borrowed from the Chinese government so a nearly unfathomable amount of dollars or other currencies are parked in China. However, most of the aviation financial arrangements are private, showing that, like their government, Chinese business people have plenty of funds to invest.
SkyCraft Airplanes Finishes ASTM Compliance
SkyCraft acquired a new facility and brought in the first couple airplanes.
While so many continue to say you can’t buy a Light-Sport Aircraft for less than — pick a number … $100,000 … $150,000 — the truth is something else. We already have modestly priced entries from Quicksilver, BushCat, X-Air, M-Squared, plus several weight shift or powered parachute entries. Another that burst on the scene a couple AirVentures back was SkyCraft. The Czech design that a group in Utah are Americanizing is a fully enclosed, well-equipped single seater. Not many singles have been offered (Tecnam‘s aerobatic Snap is one such) yet the fact remain that much flying is done solo anyway, so why not have a sharp airplane for your own aerial enjoyment. Plus, what if you can fly it away for less than $60,000? Not every pilot will find SkyCraft SD-1 Minisport sufficient and lucky for those aviators, plenty of choices are available if you have to have 1,000-mile range, autopilot, big dual glass instrument panels, and of course, two seats.
SuperSTOL to Perform at Just Plane Fun Days
A one point touchdown is a particularly neat trick SuperSTOL can achieve thanks to slow touchdown speed and a shock-absorbing tailwheel gear leg. photo by Wayne Whitley
All Just Aircraft designs as seen in this photo have good bush flying capability. larger photo by Wes Whitley
I cannot imagine any pilot turning away while a SuperSTOL performs either a take off or a landing. photo by Wayne Whitley
Airplane-brand-specific fly-in events can be fun and informative. If the folks at Just Aircraft are involved and if they show off their amazing SuperSTOL, a company fly-in takes on a new level of excitement. Those of you who have stopped by their airshow display to speak to the people from Just Aircraft know the Walhalla, South Carolina manufacturer is composed of a bunch of individuals that seem so laid back, you could wonder how they get so much work done. They do, by the way, having produced and delivered more than 500 aircraft kits. Since 2012 — when they introduced their at-the-time-unnamed SuperSTOL to slacked-jawed response from crowds — Just Aircraft reported kit sales have more than doubled requiring the company to add a second shift to keep up with demand. How many other companies do you know with that need? All seriousness aside for a weekend, though, those Just Aircraft’ers know how to have a good time, too.
Quicksilver Ready to Build Special LSA
FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors John Soltis (L) and Kym Robbins (R), present a pink airworthiness certificate to Quicksilver Aeronautics principals Will Escutia (white shirt) and Dan Perez at the French Valley Airport.
"We feel very satisfied that the last milestone to finish our SLSA project has been completed," Escutia noted. "Dan Perez did an outstanding job leading our company team to this achievement."
Quicksilver reported the Sport 2SE will be shown and flown at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 at the end of July. photo by James Lawrence
Plenty of longtime light aircraft enthusiasts have wondered when Quicksilver would enter the SLSA sweepstakes. “On June 26th we received the airworthiness certificate and the operations limitations document for our Sport 2SE Special LSA after a three-hour inspection from the FAA,” said Quicksilver Aeronautics President and CEO, Will Escutia. Earlier the company reported successfully passing an intensive FAA audit, but a final aircraft inspection by FAA personnel was still needed. Aviation Safety Inspectors, John Soltis and Kym Robbins, provided the pink airworthiness card at the French Valley Airport (photo), approximately 10 miles from the company’s factory. Soltis expressed his congratulations saying the airplane “looked very good.” At near the industry’s lowest cost — $39,999 for a fully built Sport 2SE — those Light-Sport fans who fret about the high cost of some (exceptionally well equipped) airplanes now have a very affordable choice. If $40 Grand is still too much you can buy a Quicksilver ELSA or Experimental Amateur Built for even less.
Happy Birthday Sport Pilot / Light-Sport Aircraft!
Some may find it hard to believe that ten years have passed since FAA made its grand announcement introducing the Sport Pilot / Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. Others may see it differently. Some thought the rule was a long while coming. A number of people gave of their time to an ARAC (Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee) that deliberated for more than ten years prior to the 2004 announcement. What started out as a means to expand ultralight aircraft and to “fix” certain problems that had arisen ended up doing something completely different … although some in the agency maintain they did fix the “fat,” or two seat “ultralight problem.” Many insiders didn’t feel the problem got solved so much as got buried under other initiatives, but that’s a story for another article. What did emanate from the ARAC work and FAA’s lengthy internal deliberations was a game-changing method of approving aircraft and I, for one, salute the agency for its brave achievement.
Electric Trike Soars (Literally) into Record Book
Gary Davis, a partner in a Greenville investment management firm, launches from the Greenville, South Carolina Downtown Airport en route to a world record. photo by Gary Davis
Randall Fishman's original electric trike. See articles on 2007 electric airplanes and Fishman's state-of-the-art ULS.
On his way to nearly 5,000 feet AGL, Gary Davis managed to set a record for electric aircraft. photo by Gary Davis
On Saturday, June 21 with a good crowd watching, an electric-powered trike took off and climbed into the FAI record book, or will after the organization’s normal process is followed. Let me state right up front that this story was recently released on AOPA’s ePilot written by our journalist friend Jim Moore. Despite appearing in the big member organization’s eNewsletter, the story was too cool for me to pass up for ByDanJohnson.com plus, as usual, I have an additional perspective to offer. The images are all courtesy of record-holder-to-be, Gary Davis. If you click the link above you can read Jim’s whole article; I encourage you to do so. As Jim wrote Gary flipped the switch and flew, “a custom combination of a North Wing Stratus trike wing matched to an electric-powered trike frame designed by Randall Fishman.” We have a number of articles and videos about Randall’s pioneering work.
AirCam Fly-in at Beautiful Heaven’s Landing
The landscape around Heaven's Landing is beautiful but rather forbidding to low-level single engine flying. AirCam can loiter easily and can slow into the 35-knot range to allow full scenic absorption. See full AirCam specs.
At one of the company-organized AirCam fly-ins, a collection of colorful and powerful twin engine aircraft gathered at Heaven's Landing, a beautiful airpark development in the Northeast Georgia mountains.
Lockwood Aircraft has been working on a full enclosure canopy for AirCam; here you see the prototype. It can be removed in 30 minutes.
Phil Lockwood (front) and Robert Meyer (not shown) gave many sales demonstration flights and offered area rides to others in one of the very few airplanes that will allow flying, safely, at low levels over densely tree covered terrain.
Company fly-ins are surprisingly rare despite offering a useful tool to propel new sales, to stimulate interest and camaraderie among existing owners, and to invigorate enjoyment of flying machines. This message became more obvious as a number of people joined a group of AirCam owners at Heaven’s Landing, an airpark in northeast Georgia that is surrounded by hundreds of acres of densely forested nature managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Mountains rise to 3,000 feet above sea level and form an undulating landscape of tree-covered slopes. Such an area is perfect for an aircraft like AirCam that so excels in low-level flying. Indeed, I cannot think of another aircraft I would willingly fly over terrain where landing areas are so sparse. For those who do not know, AirCam is essentially a grown-up ultralight with twin pusher engines that can easily climb — even take off! — on only one of its two powerful engines.
Flying Serbia’s Light-Sport Aircraft Entry
Update April 13, 2018 — At Sun ‘n Fun 2018, I was shown documents and photos to suggest the problem was the opposite of what appears in the following paragraph. Without legal discovery, for which I am not qualified, it is challenging to sort out the truth, however, based on the four years of history that has followed this story, I’m inclined to believe Aeroeast is a legitimate producer. In any event, as the aircraft has since changed in many ways, I consider the matter closed and wish Aeroeast good success in the future. —DJ Update August 10, 2014 — At AirVenture 2014, I was informed that Aero-East-Europe’s Sila 450 is significantly based on a Max Tedesco design. When I heard this comment, I recall I had looked at the Serbian aircraft featured in the following article and thought it looked vaguely familiar. Many aircraft designs share a resemblance so I didn’t think much of it and I was no where near any of Tedesco’s airplanes to have a comparison.
HKS Four-Stroke Engine is Back on the Market
HKS 700E powerplant - For more information about the HKS 700E engine, read this HKS arrival article from September, 2000.
Watch our 2012 video with Jerry Olenik and his HKS-powered Micro Mong.
A majority of pilots express a preference for four-stroke engines due to their lower noise signature, reduced fuel consumption, ease of fueling and other reasons. For larger aircraft, engines from Rotax, Continental, and Jabiru may be preferred choices but for lighter aircraft most of these engines are more than needed (though the 80-hp Rotax 912 UL and 81-hp Jabiru 2200 can work for some intermediate-sized light aircraft). All the preceding engines are more costly as well. One popular, economical choice was the HKS from Japan but that well-regarded engine appeared destined to disappear from the American market, a shame as it is one of only a few engines to have successfully complied with the ASTM standards needed for use on LSA. No such FAA acceptance is needed for Part 103 ultralight vehicles or Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft. Fortunately, to paraphrase Mark Twain, “Reports of [the HKS] death were greatly exaggerated.” Earlier in 2014, HKS discontinued production of HKS-700E and HKS-700T.
50,000 Engines and Counting in 25 Years
I am writing from Europe, from two neighboring towns in what’s called Upper Austria: Wels and Gunskirchen. The former is where the Rotax flying field is located and the latter is where the sprawling Rotax factory is headquartered. The occasion is the 25th anniversary celebration for the 912 engine series and, by good fortune or exquisite planning, the simultaneous occasion for production of the 50,000th engine in the 9-series. The large Austrian company that employs 1,100 people in a modern factory produces engines for a variety of applications in large volumes. Among these are engines for BMW motorcycles and others plus a range of engines used in their own products including snow mobiles, watercraft, and on- and off-road vehicles. They also make engines for unmanned air vehicles or drones and, as you are well aware, aircraft engines for Light-Sport, light kits, and ultralight aircraft. Of the latter, they’ve built more than 170,000 engines.
Renegade Moves Closer to an “American Falcon”
Falcon, which uses Lycoming's LSA powerplant entry, was shown in front of the engine manufacturer's tent at AirVenture Oshkosh.
photo by James Lawrence (website)
For 18 months, we haven’t seen much of a sleek low-wing airplane called the Falcon LS. Even its name was challenged by French bizjet maker, Dassault Falcon, because … well, you know, someone might be confused. However, Renegade Light Sport Aircraft operator Doc’ Bailey is not an idle man waiting for the weeds to grow between his toes. He’s been busy creating his SPAR race circuit and — even though he had to relocate again after moving from Missouri to Florida (he’s now happily quartered at the sport aviation-friendly Deland airport) — Doc’ has been quietly plugging away on his Falcon line. He’s also kept his spare time to a minimum representing the D-motor video and the B.O.T. Super Cruiser, while simultaneously creating his Lil’ Rascal version of the Pitts S1 biplane. OK, so he’s busy but what about Falcon? VX Aerospace is an advanced composites company near the Appalachian Mountains in Morganton, North Carolina.
SkyCraft Completes Flight Testing of Minisport LSA
Shown in flight is the SD-1 Minisport. While the U.S. team works through the ASTM standards compliance process we present this photo of the Czech manufacturer's version. SD-1 Minisport was created by designer Igor Spacek.
We've followed SkyCraft's Minisport in earlier articles and will keep our eye on this handsome, affordable single seat SLSA candidate. It is available in either tricycle gear or taildragger configuration.
“After a long winter and spring dodging the Utah weather,” SkyCraft Airplanes announced that their SD-1 Minisport, “has completed flight testing successfully, meeting all the performance requirements needed for SLSA Certification.” The Orem, Utah company reported, “The plane was found to have good longitudinal and latitudinal stability and exhibited no issues with flutter, vibrations, or dangerous stall/spin tendencies.” SkyCraft representatives said they were able to verify the performance specifications for the SD-1 achieved by its Czech designers (see video below for a performance hint using a European aircraft). SkyCraft said that following the flight test regimen, they posted updated specifications on the Minisport page. Minisport has been flying in Europe since 2007 when the airplane and company were created by designer Igor Spacek. The U.S. team first contemplated a kit aircraft — SD-1 Minisport is constructed significantly of wood making it a great project for some craftsmen — but later elected to go the fully-built Special LSA route.
25 Years of the Rotax 912; Celebration in Austria
Twenty five years ago the world celebrated a major event in human history: the tearing down of the hated Berlin wall. That was 1989 and the same year brought forth another great occurrence in human freedom (for a completely different reason). That year, Rotax Aircraft Engines introduced their then-brand-new Rotax 912 … or 9-series as some call it. While the Berlin wall allowed Germans to cross a line forbidden for many years, the 912 powerplant gave pilots the freedom to fly with greater confidence. In evidence, several around-the-world flights have been achieved with this popular engine. Today, Rotax‘s 9-series engines propel an estimated 80% of the Light-Sport, light kit, and ultralight airplanes flying. The release of the 912 was a big deal — perhaps not as momentous as the fall of the Berlin wall — but to we pilots, that engine represents a key element in the growth of light plane flying in dozens of countries.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- …
- 97
- Next Page »