For years, many pilots have admired the Thunder Gull line of light aircraft from Earthstar Aircraft. However, obtaining one in a short time has been difficult because Earthstar remains a small company focused on groundbreaking developments by talented owner/designer, Mark Beierle. Avicom in Israel recently announced a venture to fully manufacture the Light-Sport Aircraft models Mark has elected to pursue. I know the fellows in Israel and this looks to be an excellent joining of aviation talents and enthusiasm. It should introduce more Earthstar aircraft to aviators in the U.S. and around the world.

Last year the Sebring (FL) Airport broke new ground with their U.S. Sport Aviation Expo at the end of October. Expo is on again for 2005 and will have the largest collection of Light-Sport Aircraft anywhere. Organizer Bob Wood reports, “I expect over 130 aircraft on display.” By any measure, that deserves a “Wow!” Sebring was also named GA Airport of the Year and just signed a deal to be the home of the new Cub Air Academy. The latter is a well-funded effort to introduce more folks to flying LSA in a structured environment. I highly recommend the “Sebring Expo.” If you can come, look me up…

Don Cooney’s Prowler is one clean machine with a number of cleverly designed components that set this uncommon American trike apart from the rest, even Europe’s highly engineered brands. The small double-surfaced wing resembles Britain’s Chaser but has been subtly modified to improve the shape. The trike carriage has a elegantly simple rear structure and engine mount supporting a Rotax 447. Prowler’s nosewheel uses a single sturdy strut and hydraulic brake. A simple instrument panel has the right (few) gauges and a holder for a radio. On whole, the Part 103-legal Prowler is one of the most smartly designed trikes in the fleet. Sitting low and comfortable, I can’t wait to fly it. Watch for my article in the December 2005 Kitplanes magazine.

It was just too cool for a space buff like me…that is, me and hundreds of thousands more at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I know this isn’t Sport Pilot or Light-Sport Aircraft stuff but I feel SpaceShipOne represents one of the great accomplishments of our age and I can’t resist showing you what it looked like on arrival for its one-and-only-EVER appearance in public. Folks who go to Oshkosh can see the enormous machine up close. Then, they can walk 100 yards south to the first-ever LSA Mall which features 35 light sport planes of every description. The area has proved a home-run hit and is drawing big crowds. This is a great year to visit Oshkosh; it runs through Sunday the 31st. If you come to the LSA Mall, look me up…

EAA’s great aviation celebration called AirVenture Oshkosh is about to begin (Monday, July 25th through Sunday, July 31st). Get more info at the AirVenture website, and if you can attend you’ll get to see the new Russian Sigma Light-Sport Aircraft. This unique light plane will be on display along with 35 others in EAA’s special “LSA Mall” and the entire collection is right next to AeroShell Square where SpaceShipOne will be seen with White Knight for their one-and-only-ever public appearance together. Watch for coverage of Sigma in Sport Pilot magazine.

According to news released by the Associated Press, dozens of paragliders (the unpowered sort) flew in competition above the picturesque Swiss Alps during the Swiss Paragliding Championships in late May this year. One of the competitors, Martin Scheel, snapped this impressive photo. It is not a doctored or “PhotoShopped” image but reveals the close-in flying done by these lightest-of-all aircraft. Paragliders fly from 25-40 mph and some claim glide angles of 7:1. Any of them can be carried in an oversized backpack. For more info on American paragliding, contact the U. S. Hang Gliding Association.

IndUS Aviation of Dallas, Texas received FAA approval for their Thorpedo model as a Special-Light Sport Aircraft. IndUS is the first U.S.-based manufacturer to earn a S-LSA certificate; the company takes airframe components fabricated in India and assembles them at their Texas facility. IndUS can now sell fully built LSA that can be used for paid flight training or rentals. (My review of this aircraft is available here.) For more info go to the IndUS website. Two other companies have also received approvals recently. SportAir USA was issued a certificate for their StingSport just before Hansen Air Group got their approval for the Tecnam Sierra.

After concluding three strong events on the EAA Sport Pilot Tour, a dozen LSA traveled from Franklin, PA (north of Pittsburgh) to the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association headquarters in Frederick, MD. AOPA senior management took a chance to examine and fly in several of these aircraft, then adding coverage to their website. The meeting had been arranged in cooperation with LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association. AOPA staff flew in the morning and evening and met in the afternoon with industry leaders to further AOPA’s understanding of LSA. A recent survey showed 30% of the organization’s 405,000 members see LSA as helping aviation to grow.

EAA’s Sport Pilot Tour got started at the Golden West Fly-in north of Sacramento, California over the first weekend in June. The Sport Pilot Tour intends to bring Light-Sport Aircraft from a variety of manufacturers together for pilots and newcomers to see, touch, and fly. Instead of you traveling across the country to a big airshow, the Tour will come to your location (as the schedule allows) to make it easier for you to check out the newest aircraft. Some 10-15 brands are expected at each location. You can follow the Sport Pilot Tour by checking EAA’s website for the updated calendar.

After a detailed review, ASTM’s Weight-Shift Control Sub Committee got their Design and Performance Standard through final ballot. This was reported at the mid-May ’05 ASTM Committee meeting for Light-Sport Aircraft. Once FAA issues their Notice of Availability trikes can be manufactured and sold as S-LSAs, joining fixed wing airplanes and powered parachutes. AirBorne trikes (photo) have Australian certification plus now that country plans to adopt the entire U.S. Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. To keep up with the growing list of aircraft that have received their certificates, one good source is EAA’s Sport Pilot website.

How can a Part 103 use a four-stroke engine? Well, you can elect the half-VW from Hummel…or you might try a rotary engine as seen at the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. This innovative racing cart engine is being developed for Part 103 ultralight use (yes, to make the weight, with electric starter!) by Erik Pederson, the new president of Phantom Aeronautics. Impressively educated, Eric has a BS in Aero Engineering plus an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Watch for a test report when Erik is satisfied with the performance.

Italy’s largest light aircraft producer is Tecnam and pictured here is their new Bravo seen at Aero 2005. Bravo is the replacement to the company’s popular P-92 Echo. Tecnam also makes the P-96 Golf low wing (see my pilot report in EAA’s 5/05 Sport Pilot magazine). The new Bravo makes a big step forward by using a cantilevered wing (no struts) along with other changes to better suit it to the new Sport Pilot rule. The U.S. importer is Hansen Air Group; get more info direct from the source.

In Aero 2005’s massive display halls, light-sport aircraft from eastern European companies dominated. Yet one creative idea traveled from France. The Isatis 01 from AeroJames appears to have no room for its tractor engine…no wonder as the BMW engine is in the rear spinning its prop through a carbon fiber driveshaft. The logic is to give the pilot tremendous visibility and it works. The Isatis 01 and many other planes will be featured in my report for Kitplanes magazine (9/05 issue).

Europe’s major aviation show Aero in the southern German town of Friedrichshafen is underway. The show is housed in seven huge halls. Three of these hold light-sport aircraft of all kinds and one of the most beautiful aircraft seen is this Corvus Corone from Hungary. With a superb finish, excellent features, and a most distinctive burgundy and gold paint job, this entry from the new Corvus company caught the attention of many of the show’s 45,000 visitors. Look for a review of Aero in the 9/05 Kitplanes and perhaps a separate story on the Corvus.

America’s top hang glider manufacturer released their new T2 topless hang glider by offering demo flights to qualified pilots at Florida’s Wallaby Ranch located a few miles south of the Disney complex. Just before the Sun ‘n Fun airshow opens, Wills Wing traditionally hosts an event at the hang glider tow park. In one busy day during this year’s festivities, four tug pilots launched 277 flights! Good soaring weather benefitted the gathering which occurred just before the U.S. Nationals started at the Quest Air tow park a few miles north of Wallaby.

From the designer who brought you the popular SkyBoy comes the MD3 Rider currently being marketed by FlyItalia based near Milan, Italy. This attractive LSA-type airplane was created by Jaroslav Dostal, the man behind the Interplane SkyBoy. Jaro started with an interest in hang gliders and went all the way to FAR 23 commuter aircraft before returning to light sport designs. Look for a report in Kitplanes magazine (8/05 issue). And, I’ll have more to report after attending the Aero 2005 show in Germany.