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.
Air Tours Continue — Blackwing Heads Out to Demo their Speedster LSA
Someone is selling this Netflex-rating T-Shirt that may express how many feel about this strange year.
Gotta Fly!
"We have sadly seen all our exhibitions getting canceled one by one this summer," wrote Niklas in a mailing sent to Blackwing followers. "Sweden has also been closed to visitors until just a few weeks ago. We will, therefore, make it possible for you to come to Sweden and test-fly our Blackwing BW600RG, with the Rotax 912iS, every Friday and Saturday during fall."What About the 915iS Model?
While Niklas and his group work on finalizing the 915iS approval, how does the speedster work with the 100 horsepower 912iS? "Really great," exclaimed Niklas, "with a ram-air installation." He recorded "cruise speeds at 6-, 8- and 10,000-feet are about 153 knots (175 mph) true airspeed." In those measurements, he cites fuel consumptions between "5 to 4.5 gallons per hour" (though he observed that the 912iS is not then running in the fuel-saving Eco mode).Men and Machines
Niklas is expecting to win certification for the BW600RG with the 912iS and the two-blade Woodcomp shortly. "The preliminary noise test was 66 dB," he reports. (For comparison, normal human conversation is 60-65 dB.) "We are also planning to add the three-blade MT with the single power lever (no separate prop control lever) for the 912iS. This installation has been working great on the 915iS."Blackwing owners got together in Sweden. More such gatherings are planned.
In the land of the midnight sun, testing continues on the Blackwing with Rotax 915iS as they seek European approval for the powerful model.