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Larry Newman, 2011

By James Lawrence || February 7, 2011 1 Comment

Larry Newman

American Aerolites Eagle

Photo courtesy Aerosoft

Double Eagle II

Larry Newman, 63, one of the seminal manufacturing/marketing dynamos in the early days of hang gliding who made the successful transition to ultralights, has died after a reported 3-year battle with pancreatic cancer. *** Larry was a flamboyant entrepreneur who successfully sold his ElectraFlyer hang gliders. *** When people started sticking motors on the foot launched craft, he came out with a new company, American Aerolites, to produce the Eagle ultralight. *** I first flew the Eagle with Plane & Pilot Publisher Steve Werner back in 1983. I remember it vividly: while Steve was up on a test hop, I was taking photos of his flight next to the runway at Coronado Airport, north of Albuquerque, near Larry's factory...and I got stung twice by fire ants.I almost jumped out of my jeans, it hurt so bad. I thought I'd been shot in the leg. I could barely see the critters but what a painful wallop they packed. *** After the success of the Eagle, Larry debuted the revolutionary, composite-fuselage, clear mylar-winged Falcon, a wonderful, radical design leap forward that would fit in well with today's S-LSA...and this was 26 years ago! *** Today, to qualify as a Light Sport, it would need a fixed nosegear: the production Falcon had a cockpit pull-up retraction system that worked very well at reducing drag. *** Always a superb (and shrewd) marketer, Larry managed to get Chuck Yeager and Delco batteries to endorse and use the Falcon in TV commercials, which ran for years and was a big success for Delco. *** I had the great pleasure to fly Chuck's Falcon in the Greater Arizona Ultralight Air Race in 1984. *** I must report without intending to brag that I won the race...entirely by accident.I say that because I got completely lost on the course, buzzed around for ten minutes looking for the pylon, then found it and flew the rest of the race firewalled. The only pilot skill I exhibited was flying a crab course where everybody else seemed not to understand how to compensate for a 15-knot wind. *** The winner was to be the pilot who completed the course in the fastest time...without exceeding the FAR Part 103 legal limit of 63 mph, straight and level, full throttle. Yep, the Sport Pilot Rule that limits LSA to a top level speed of 120 knots had its germinus in the 1980s. *** Anyway, my final average time for the 108-mile course was 62.58 mph! Now you know why I say "accidental" winner. *** Clearly the Falcon was capable of much faster than legal flight. I wonder today how many LSA, especially these sleek composite ships, nudge the 120-knot limit by a few knots. Maybe FAA will send up some air cops with speed guns. *** I remember practicing before the race. I'd run a few laps around a practice course and was on short final to land when I saw someone on the tarmac, furiously waving a red shirt. *** "What an idiot," I mumbled, wondering what the hell he was doing. *** As I got within 50 feet of touchdown, the guy was still there. I suddenly realized it was Larry, and he was trying to wave me off from landing. *** "What the...?" I said to myself, then checked the right side of the cockpit. I'd forgotten to lower the nosegear! *** "Dumbass," I mumbled, powered up for a go-around, dropped the gear, and flew the whole pattern that way. *** After I landed, he grinned at me with a "You dumb s---" look...then eased my embarrassment by saying, "Don't feel too bad: Chuck landed in it a few weeks ago with the nose gear up." *** He meant the great Chuck Yeager. Larry introduced me to the legendary USAF test pilot a few months later. Chuck gave me a quick glance, a perfunctory handshake, then made to move off to join some other people. I felt slightly invisible but my ego was none the worse for wear: Chuck was a huge hero of mine, as he was for a lot of pilots. *** But Larry grabbed his arm and said, "Wait up, Chuck: Jim's the guy who flew your Falcon in the big race and won it!" *** Suddenly Chuck's face lit up in a broad grin and he reshook my hand with substantial vigor. "Well hell, Jim, great to meet you!" *** Suddenly we were members of the same club...for a few moments anyway. *** I saw Chuck a few years later in the Warbird area at Oshkosh and reintroduced myself. I remember thinking at the time, "Man, he's getting up there in years." *** At first he didn't remember me, not surprising since he'd become a highly visible and sought-after celebrity by then. I reminded him of flying his Falcon — which had carried the nickname "Glamorous Glennis" after his late wife. The Bell X-1 rocket plane carried the same famous moniker. Chuck was the first human to break the sound barrier in level flight in the X-1, in 1947. *** As years before, his face lit up briefly in a smile, then his brow wrinkled and he said, only half joking, "Hell, Jim; you got old!" *** I laughed. (I'm 22 years younger.) *** I ran into Larry Newman a few years later. He'd long since drifted away from the hang glider biz and hooked up with Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson to be the first, in 1978, to cross the Atlantic in a balloon — the Double Eagle II.Later Larry accomplished the same feat in a different balloon with a different crew, this time being the first to cross the Pacific. *** Ben crashed and died at 55 taking off in a light twin with five women aboard, at the same Coronado Airport where Steve Werner and I first flew that spidery-framed Eagle ultralight. *** Maxie Anderson had died, at 48, two years earlier during a balloon race in Germany. *** I'd wondered whether that was hard on Larry: to lose the people he'd made history with, and so much life still ahead of them. *** Larry was an excellent and well-rounded pilot. Before the hang glider and ultralight game, he'd flown for the airlines, and after the hang glider, balloon and ultralight adventures, he returned to the professional cockpit. *** He had a penetrating gaze to go along with a cocky Joker's smile that could easily intimidate you with his abundance of self confidence. *** Larry wasn't always the easiest guy to have a casual conversation with either. Try to BS your way through a topic he was conversant in, or disagree on a cherished belief, and he'd nail you right on the spot...grinning all the time, almost seeming to revel in your discomfort as he dared you to prove him wrong. *** I saw Larry the last time at an event in Washington, D.C. to honor his flight over the Atlantic. We talked briefly; I could tell life had mellowed him considerably. He'd had his share of triumphs and setbacks, as do we all, and life had etched his face and soul accordingly. *** His big smile and bright eagle's penetrating stare were still there, but there was a resignation, and an acquaintance with humility and gentility too, and that's how I'll best remember him. *** Fly high, fly long, Larry Newman.

A Bright New Year!

By James Lawrence || December 28, 2010 Leave a Comment

To our readers and all Light Sport pilots and dreamers, we thank you for your enthusiasm and support in this year of both challenges and triumphs. *** The dream is alive, and all of us together will carry it forward this year. *** Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all! *** ~ Jim Lawrence

The Airport Kid

By James Lawrence || November 30, 2010 Leave a Comment

Joe Solan, right, giving local CFI John Lampson a ride

Richard Solan, co-owner of GBR, American Airlines top gun...and Joe's dad.

On those weekends that I'm hanging out at my newly adopted country airport of Great Barrington, MA (GBR), I always look forward to seeing young Joe Solan. *** Joe's 12...going on 28, as someone at the airport affectionately quipped. *** Joe is one great kid, the kind I sometimes wish I'd been more like when I was his age. *** When we first greet, whether he's dutifully dragging a heavy gas pump hose that weighs half what he does, answering the airport office phone or hunting up a charged handheld battery, he'll flash a friendly smile, say "Hi!", and stick out his hand like the straight-up little man he is. *** He's growing up at the airport, mentored in running the business and mentored in life by his dad Rick, a co-owner of the airport with lots of great ideas for growing its prosperity. *** Rick's also the guy who keeps American Airlines 777 drivers on the straight and narrow as a top-level inspector pilot. *** I wrote a column recently for Plane & Pilot about GBR, extolling the charms, which are manifest, of this wonderful throwback to a kinder aviation era. *** It's melange of hangar styles, tied-down airplanes and acres of grass, surrounded by the bucolic Berkshire Hills farmland of western Mass., inspires flights of poetic as well as winged fantasy throughout the year. *** The 2600' paved runway has a grass strip right next to it, and there's another short-field strip at an angle alongside the triangle of tall corn that grows in the summer. *** The recently repaired asphalt is long enough to let fast singles and some light twins in, but short enough, with the very tall trees at the west end of the runway, to inspire routine vigilance and Plan B thinking ahead on takeoff or landing.Back to Joe: he's one of those genuine kids you like immediately. He doesn't come off entitled or overindulged, has an adult-like work ethic, and like GBR, is a throwback himself to an earlier time when kids were eager to help out any way they could and took no small measure of quiet pride in doing so. *** Oh, he gets to be a kid too, flying electric-powered RC models on the far side of the airport, or roaring by in the very cool Quantum Go Kart his dad just bought for him. *** Mostly though you'll see him holding the unicom station mic to give radio checks or wind and weather updates, gassing up planes and running errands. *** Last weekend was a classic late fall day in New England. Clear and crisp, in the low '40s, no winds to speak of: the kind of flying day you just don't pass up if you can help it. *** Sure enough, lots of folks and airplanes were out. Pilots and friends shot landings and swapped tall tales over doughnuts and coffee or munching down a tangerine from the wooden crate Rick always has on hand in the office/"clubhouse". *** I was eager to go flying but leery of hand-propping the cold J3 engine without some assistance — and everybody else was busy. *** "I can do it," offered Joe, confidently grabbing his parka and waving me to the door. *** Outside, he offered me the right seat in his go kart. Of course it was less than a minute's walk to the Cub, but no way was I going to pass up a chance to share that ride. *** We shot across the ramp and onto the grass, moved some planes around and rolled out the J3. I put on some gloves against the chill and Joe hopped into the front seat. *** "Switch off," he called out, somewhat dwarfed by the big cockpit but not intimidated one bit. *** "Switch off," I said back. *** "Throttle cracked," he said. *** "Roger that." *** "Brakes on," he cried, all 100 lbs. of him applied directly to the little heel pedals to keep me safe in case the Cub surged forward. *** I gave the prop hub a good tug: didn't budge an inch. That's my Little Big Man. *** It's not every day you trust your life to a 12 year old future pilot. *** But Joe's not your typical 12 year old. *** As Les, one of the local pilots, quipped, "This is a kid who will go far, whatever he sets his sights on." *** The engine flooded a couple times, but Joe hung in there, giving me suggestions, offering advice (he's learned quite a lot already from Rick) and after 15 minutes, that cold-soaked 65-horse mill caught and came to life. *** Joe worked the throttle just right to keep her idling, waited until I climbed into the rear seat, then hopped out, waved and drove off in the kart to help someone else. *** It's less common for kids today to have the kind of experience Joe is having. Access to airports starts with an intimidating fence and a coded gate, the sad icons of a frightened age. *** But we can be happy there are kids like Joe Solan, and big kids like Rick Solan, who's favorite flying is in one of his J3s at the field where he learned to fly in the '70s. *** They both help keep us all young, and ever mindful to practice gratitude for the gift of flight.

On those weekends that I’m hanging out at my newly adopted country airport of Great Barrington, MA (GBR), I always look forward to seeing young Joe Solan. *** Joe’s 12…going on 28, as someone at the airport affectionately quipped. *** Joe is one great kid, the kind I sometimes wish I’d been more like when I was his age. *** When we first greet, whether he’s dutifully dragging a heavy gas pump hose that weighs half what he does, answering the airport office phone or hunting up a charged handheld battery, he’ll flash a friendly smile, say “Hi!”, and stick out his hand like the straight-up little man he is. *** He’s growing up at the airport, mentored in running the business and mentored in life by his dad Rick, a co-owner of the airport with lots of great ideas for growing its prosperity. *** Rick’s also the guy who keeps American Airlines 777 drivers on the straight and narrow as a top-level inspector pilot.

Electric LSA as Primary Trainers?

By James Lawrence || November 16, 2010 Leave a Comment

WIRED Gets Air-Wired

By James Lawrence || October 29, 2010 Leave a Comment

Following up on my post two days ago, I'm happy to report Wired magazine just ran a story online about the Yuneec E-Spyder that Tom Peghiny of Flight Designs has been developing for them. The story has several excellent photos and it's a good write-up, so click on over there to see how the mainstream media is helping push public awareness of electric aviation. *** Here's the Wired video of the E-Spyder that ought to whet your appetite for electric flight...I can't wait to get back to the states and get over to Tom's to do my own story on it.

Following up on my post two days ago, I’m happy to report Wired magazine just ran a story online about the Yuneec E-Spyder that Tom Peghiny of Flight Designs has been developing for them. The story has several excellent photos and it’s a good write-up, so click on over there to see how the mainstream media is helping push public awareness of electric aviation. *** Here’s the Wired video of the E-Spyder that ought to whet your appetite for electric flight…I can’t wait to get back to the states and get over to Tom’s to do my own story on it.

Is IFR legal in LSA…or NOT?

By James Lawrence || September 1, 2010 Leave a Comment

We've all seen the ads: "Full IFR-Equipped LSA!" A few top-line models offer such instrument packages, such as Flight Design CTLS, Evektor MAX, Tecnam's P2008. But is an LSA legal to fly IFR? Quick tell: Yes -- when flown by an appropriately rated pilot. We already know that a Sport Pilot license holder can only fly in day VFR up to 10,000 feet. This discussion is about the airplane. As pal Dan Johnson, who just took up this issue on his own blog, notes, ASTM's F37 committee has worked hard to create an IFR standard, but unsuccessfully so far. The committee did add a line to the latest Design and Performance (D&P) Standard (yet to be adopted) that prohibits S-LSA flight into Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). This does not however prevent a rated IFR pilot with a current medical from flying a currently registered SLSA into IMC, and of course let's also assume the airplane is rigged with the appropriate Full Monty: IFR instrumentation, lighting and powerplant. That last item gives LSA watchers some pause, since most Rotax and Jabiru engine models, which power the vast majority of S-LSA, are not certified for IFR flight. Only an FAA-certified powerplant is legal. (Note: Rotax does indeed have certified versions such as the 912F and 912S, certified to Part 33 and used on Diamond aircraft, which are IFR legal.) The same criteria hold for night flight: it's legal, as long as the pilot is rated and the airplane is properly equipped such as with landing lights. Just to say it one more time: a Sport Pilot-only licensee cannot legally fly at night or into IMC. As Dan notes, once FAA accepts the latest D&P Standard, LSA makers will be able to outfit LSA with instruments as specified in FAA regs that will allow qualified pilots to file and fly IFR...but only into VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions). Ironically, many (if not all) FAA folks, sez Dan, are supporters of allowing LSA for IFR training including into IMC, which is currently verboten. But to sum up, the bottom line remains: all currently registered S-LSA and those that are registered before the new D&P Standard is finally approved by FAA can legally operate in IMC flight — but only if they have the proper equipment and a suitably rated pilot at the controls. And here's yet another distinction: IFR training on LSA is also legal in the IFR airspace system — but only into VMC. Only an aircraft type-rated for IFR training in IMC can legally do so. Head buzzing yet? Mine is. This topic surfaces consistently on various pilot forums online. One poster recently suggested that potential IFR-equipped LSA buyers make sure they talk it all over thoroughly with the manufacturer/dealer first, to ensure everything stays kosher. Of course, since we pilots, especially when we post on the internet, are deliberative beasts who love to parse a topic until its magnetos fry, the idea has been put forth that pitot heat should be required on any hypothetical IFR LSA, and composite versions shout have a metal mesh impregnated into the airframe to handle lightning strikes, such as on a Columbia 350. Others, of course, disagree. And at this point, my brain cries "Enuf!" and defers this fine topic for another day, in the interests of preserving what little cognitive power I have left for my J3 flight later this afternoon (before dark, natch).

We’ve all seen the ads: “Full IFR-Equipped LSA!” A few top-line models offer such instrument packages, such as Flight Design CTLS, Evektor MAX, Tecnam’s P2008. But is an LSA legal to fly IFR? Quick tell: Yes — when flown by an appropriately rated pilot. We already know that a Sport Pilot license holder can only fly in day VFR up to 10,000 feet. This discussion is about the airplane. As pal Dan Johnson, who just took up this issue on his own blog, notes, ASTM’s F37 committee has worked hard to create an IFR standard, but unsuccessfully so far. The committee did add a line to the latest Design and Performance (D&P) Standard (yet to be adopted) that prohibits S-LSA flight into Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). This does not however prevent a rated IFR pilot with a current medical from flying a currently registered SLSA into IMC, and of course let’s also assume the airplane is rigged with the appropriate Full Monty: IFR instrumentation, lighting and powerplant.

The Longest Flight

By James Lawrence || May 11, 2010 Leave a Comment

Two wild-and-crazy Swiss airline pilots decided to take a busman's holiday - one hell of a busman's holiday - by taking two Flight Design CTLS S-LSA on a little jaunt, in celebration of the birth of aviation in Switzerland 100 years ago. *** Their destination? The airport they launched from April 30th: Sion, Switzerland. *** The catch? Before they return to Sion, they're flying around the world! *** Dan Johnson's got a detailed writeup on his Splog but the short tell is the pilots, Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo, will fly 27,500 miles over 18 countries, five continents and two oceans. *** Both craft are modified to carry extra fuel - 120 gallons each, instead of the stock 35 gallons. *** They're also carrying survival gear including water ditching rafts as their route crosses both the Atlantic (Africa to South America) and the Pacific (America to Viet Nam). *** As of today they've made it across from Africa to Natal, Brazil. *** Keep track of their progress and get the in-depth story on their website. *** Bon Voyage Francisco and Yannick!

Two wild-and-crazy Swiss airline pilots decided to take a busman’s holiday – one hell of a busman’s holiday – by taking two Flight Design CTLS S-LSA on a little jaunt, in celebration of the birth of aviation in Switzerland 100 years ago. *** Their destination? The airport they launched from April 30th: Sion, Switzerland. *** The catch? Before they return to Sion, they’re flying around the world! *** Dan Johnson’s got a detailed writeup on his Splog but the short tell is the pilots, Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo, will fly 27,500 miles over 18 countries, five continents and two oceans. *** Both craft are modified to carry extra fuel – 120 gallons each, instead of the stock 35 gallons. *** They’re also carrying survival gear including water ditching rafts as their route crosses both the Atlantic (Africa to South America) and the Pacific (America to Viet Nam). *** As of today they’ve made it across from Africa to Natal, Brazil.

Fuel CellTrike Wins At Aero

By James Lawrence || April 7, 2010 Leave a Comment

French hang glider pilot and light sport innovator/entrepreneur G©rard Thevenot has been a visionary all his life. I’ve profiled him previously re his efforts to create alternative-powered sport aircraft. *** He’s been testing electric trikes for Yuneec, the China company that’s developing several commercial sky-breaking electric aircraft designs. *** And last fall he set an electric trike record for sustained power flight of 1 hour 16 min. *** Today comes word from Aero 2010 International Exhibition for General Aviation, the big European airshow, that Thevenot has been awarded the 2010 E-Flight Award for his hydrogen fuel cell-powered trike. *** His trike is one of three fuel-cell powered aircraft exhibiting at this year’s Aero show. *** A fuel cell is a power source that creates enough electricity to drive an electric motor, using, in Thevenot's case, only hydrogen fuel and oxygen. *** The exhaust components? Heat...and water vapor! *** Fuel cells operate at low temperatures too: under 200 degrees F. *** And there is no battery or accumulator, just the fuel cell itself. *** The 77 lb. wing’s wingspan is 39 feet. The 7 kW-generating motor weighs just 121 lbs, including the 1.25 gallon hydrogen tank. *** Trike (hang glider plus three-wheeled buggy), fuel cell and the single pilot (Thevenot) all weigh less than 285 lbs. "This allows it to fly,” Thevenot told Aero’s reporters, “powered only by the fuel cell and without the assistance of an auxiliary battery." *** Boeing flew a fuel cell powered GA-style aircraft for 20 minutes in 2008. Thevenot has flown his fuel cell trike more than an hour, including across the English Channel in 2009. *** I’ve not been able to find out yet whether that hour represents a full tank’s worth of hydrogen or just what he’stested so far...because in 2006, Thevenot’s fuel cell-powered car won the Shell Eco Marathon with a hydrogen supply corresponding to one quart of gasoline - which went a world record distance of almost 2500 miles! You read right: that’s mileage equivalent to 10,000 miles per gallon! *** "Oh honey, did you remember to fill up the car last January?" *** Of course, hydrogen is ridiculously expensive. This is R&D time, not almost-ready-for-prime time. Likewise, for those who think “Hindenberg!” whenever the word hydrogen pops up - which is all of us, right? - there are many technologies including solid state oxice forms of hydrogen and other fuels being explored, not just hydrogen gas. *** Meanwhile, congratulations to Monsieur Thevenot for his vision and execution so far. *** Two other ongoing fuel cell-powered electric projects to follow: Hydrogenius, from the University of Stuttgart and Skyspark, which flew a GA-style airplane at 150 knots recently. *** While a trike may seem more trivial stunt than practical application in our age of private jets, $500K GA cruisers and $100,000 LSA, that's exactly the point: first, we show the vision, then we figure out how to upscale to the market. *** For a good discussion of this topic as it relates to growing aviation in general, see Chris Finley's excellent discourse here. *** This is what pioneer days look like: forward-thinking people doing their thing, and one day we all wake up and the world’s changed. *** Remember Wozniak and Jobs (Apple Computer, started in a garage 30 years ago), Yuneec (which made its fortune making electric motors and accessories for model airplanes) and...well, the Wright Brothers, who quietly pursued their vision in the winds of Kitty Hawk, while the world went on it’s merry way convinced man would never fly. *** SIDE NOTE: A good site to keep track of: The E-Flight Expo, which shows at the Aero Expo and explores alternative power and solutions to the global challenge of internal combustion engines. *** isn't this a great time to be alive? *** ---photos courtesy Aero Expo and Willi Tacke

Electric Take 2

By James Lawrence || April 7, 2010 Leave a Comment

Alright, I'm succumbing to Electric Fever a bit more today, but a more-thorough reading of that excellent FlightGlobal piece I mentioned in the post below has a lengthy discussion about PC-Aero, a German firm that's coming out with its own line of electric-powered aircraft...including a four-seater for General Aviation. *** The brains behind this effort live inside Mr. Calin Gologan, who predicts an all-electric four-seat GA airplane in the next ten years. *** His company is debuting his first prototype, a single-seater electric dubbed Elektra One, at the European Aero show in Friedrichshafen this week. *** Apparently the tantalizing prospect of winning the $1.5 million in prize money offered by the CAFE Green Flight Challenge (in 2011) was the kicker to start Gologan down the E-Plane path. *** The Electra One will be followed by an Elektra Two (two seats) and Elektra Four (four) down the road. *** I don't like to be pushy, but if you're interested in what's going on in electric flight technology, be sure and read the excellent story linked above. It's well-researched and has some very interesting things to share. *** And don't forget to check out the Aero show...it's always a playground where new technology debuts and this year will be no exception. *** Meanwhile, enjoy a couple teaser concept drawings of the Elektra One and Elektra Four, courtesy PC-Aero.

Alright, I’m succumbing to Electric Fever a bit more today, but a more-thorough reading of that excellent FlightGlobal piece I mentioned in the post below has a lengthy discussion about PC-Aero, a German firm that’s coming out with its own line of electric-powered aircraft…including a four-seater for General Aviation. *** The brains behind this effort live inside Mr. Calin Gologan, who predicts an all-electric four-seat GA airplane in the next ten years. *** His company is debuting his first prototype, a single-seater electric dubbed Elektra One, at the European Aero show in Friedrichshafen this week. *** Apparently the tantalizing prospect of winning the $1.5 million in prize money offered by the CAFE Green Flight Challenge (in 2011) was the kicker to start Gologan down the E-Plane path. *** The Electra One will be followed by an Elektra Two (two seats) and Elektra Four (four) down the road.

The Second (Chantz) Around

By James Lawrence || March 31, 2010 Leave a Comment

Just out of a 3-day stomach bug sick bed, I must still be a bit delirious 'cause that old Sinatra tune, "Love is wonderful, the second time around" keeps winding through my fuzzy brain. *** No doubt I'm subconsciously morphing into music the news I got yesterday from old hang gliding pal and ultralight/light sport entrepreneur John Dunham that he's back, in the biz he made so successful in the '80s - Second Chantz Aerial Survival Equipment. *** His company sold more than 4,000 ballistic recovery systems when it was in operation, and has documented more than 70 saves worldwide. *** You can read all the gore-y details on John's blog linked above but a brief bio must include his deep hang gliding/ultralight/LSA background as pilot, test pilot, instructor and savvy manufacturer/businessman from the early '70s. He's an all-around talent, this guy! *** John's Flight Design West biz in Nevada marketed several LSA including the Flight Design CT and the lovely (and we hope soon-to-be-resurrected) Lambada motorglider. *** So welcome back John! *** By email, he tells me the reinvigorated Second Chantz (which closed shop when he left mid-'90s) will: *** * make and sell recovery systems for most LSA in operation and coming onto the market. *** * repack, update and do scheduled service for ballistic recovery systems made by any manufacturer - including market leader BRS (More than 6,000 old systems require service, and new rockets!) Propellants do get "stale" over time...not good. Can't save your neck with a dead load. *** * market and sell Magnum ballistic recovery systems from Czech company Stratos 07, which makes several models for a variety of aircraft from hang gliders and trikes to LSA. *** Around 100 Magnum systems are installed around the U.S. so far, on models from Remos, Flight Design/Europe, Samba, Lambada and more. *** With his own Second Chantz line, John tells me "I'll offer a rocket system, and update older systems with new rockets...and be price competitive with BRS." *** He's also resurrecting his compressed gas deployment propellant systems for all types of light aircraft. *** "I will be working with new pressure cylinders that give me up to 6000 psi...twice the power we worked with 15 years ago!" *** He hopes to develop 10,000 psi cylinders soon, which will "do the job explosives do for bigger parachute systems, with cool nitrogen gas rockets." *** John Dunham and Second Chantz look forward to giving BRS, and its "virtual monopoly" on the U.S. market, a friendly run for its money. *** But he's in it for more than that: "It's what I know and love...and hearing or reading the words “Thanks for saving my Life” becomes addictive."

Just out of a 3-day stomach bug sick bed, I must still be a bit delirious ’cause that old Sinatra tune, “Love is wonderful, the second time around” keeps winding through my fuzzy brain. *** No doubt I’m subconsciously morphing into music the news I got yesterday from old hang gliding pal and ultralight/light sport entrepreneur John Dunham that he’s back, in the biz he made so successful in the ’80s – Second Chantz Aerial Survival Equipment. *** His company sold more than 4,000 ballistic recovery systems when it was in operation, and has documented more than 70 saves worldwide. *** You can read all the gore-y details on John’s blog linked above but a brief bio must include his deep hang gliding/ultralight/LSA background as pilot, test pilot, instructor and savvy manufacturer/businessman from the early ’70s. He’s an all-around talent, this guy! *** John’s Flight Design West biz in Nevada marketed several LSA including the Flight Design CT and the lovely (and we hope soon-to-be-resurrected) Lambada motorglider.

Meanwhile, Back At the Electric Ranch…

By James Lawrence || March 27, 2010 Leave a Comment

The Creative Solutions Alliance (CSA) is a nonprofit organization, founded by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles "Lucky Lindy" Lindbergh, that just announced his creation of the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP). *** In stirring language as quoted to AOPA's Alton K. Marsh, Lindbergh says, "We are literally teaching the next generation to imagine and create their future." *** The idea, as we've seen in the past with similar contests such as the Orteig Prize (1st Atlantic crossing won by Lindbergh) Kremer Prize (human powered flight - Gossamer Condor), and the X-Prize (1st private suborbital space flight), is to "promote the practical development of electric aircraft by recognizing specific advances in this emerging cleantech (sic) industry." *** Prizes will be awarded for: *** Best Electric Aircraft: keyword in this category is practical, and it can be an Experimental, LSA or Certified aircraft. *** Best Electric Aircraft Sub-System: component systems that advance the field of electric aircraft *** Best Electric Aircraft Component Technology: Individual components such as batteries, motors, power electronics etc. *** Public Choice Award: We get to vote on our favorite, flying or not, "practical or not"! *** The winners in each category will be announced at Oshkosh's EAA Airventure this summer. *** Anybody want to take early odds on the Yuneec e430, already a design award winner? *** Or the ElectraFlyer X, shown at right? *** ---images courtesy CSA and ElectraFlyer

The Creative Solutions Alliance (CSA) is a nonprofit organization, founded by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles “Lucky Lindy” Lindbergh, that just announced his creation of the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP). *** In stirring language as quoted to AOPA’s Alton K. Marsh, Lindbergh says, “We are literally teaching the next generation to imagine and create their future.” *** The idea, as we’ve seen in the past with similar contests such as the Orteig Prize (1st Atlantic crossing won by Lindbergh) Kremer Prize (human powered flight – Gossamer Condor), and the X-Prize (1st private suborbital space flight), is to “promote the practical development of electric aircraft by recognizing specific advances in this emerging cleantech (sic) industry.” *** Prizes will be awarded for: *** Best Electric Aircraft: keyword in this category is practical, and it can be an Experimental, LSA or Certified aircraft. *** Best Electric Aircraft Sub-System: component systems that advance the field of electric aircraft *** Best Electric Aircraft Component Technology: Individual components such as batteries, motors, power electronics etc.

Spring Buzzzzz…

By James Lawrence || March 27, 2010 Leave a Comment

Everybody laments the high cost of LSA ownership: here's an alternative...especially if you like true bugs-in-teeth aviating like our winged forefathers...uh, and foremothers of course...er, forepersons? Sheesh. Staying PC is so last week. *** Manfred Ruhmer, the German hang glider world champion and one-time distance record holder of 435 miles (current record is 444 mi.!), has been working on his own electric-powered trike - named the Icaro 2000 Pit-Trike. *** Chalk up that curious name to translation from the Italian. Maybe it grabs the air like a pit bull? Icaro's price page calls it Nano Trike - take your pick! *** BTW, a "trike" is a wheeled undercarriage, powered by a pusher-prop powerplant, that allows a conventional foot-launched (or aero-towed) hang glider to fly under its own power. *** The trike unit without hang glider wing lists between $11,000 and $15,000 US, reports my pal Dan Johnson, before shipping, *** and you still have to add your own hang glider - another $3K to $6K. *** Still, here's an electric-powered aircraft you can own for as little as $15,000 or so! *** Before we go further, check out this video. And note when the pilot (it's Ruhmer himself) shuts down the power while soaring in ridge lift over the trees. The prop folds to streamline and the lightweight trike becomes a soaring machine. Now we're talking! *** Icaro produces the design as part of its Light Trike line. It's a long-respected maker of hang gliders. *** What's encouraging is this is yet another electric-powered aircraft to come to market. Electric powered vehicles of all types are the coming thing, believe it. *** Other notable electric projects we've talked about recently: *** --- Several models from China's Yuneec (all-electric award-winning E430 SLSA, "paramotors" for paragliders, and another hang glider trike still in development, being test flown by another big hang glider name - France's Gerard Thevenot). *** --- FlightStar's e-Spyder, in advanced development at Yuneec with Tom Peghiny's oversight (it's a modified FlightStar which Tom produces) *** --- Randall Fishman's American-made ElectraFlyer Trike, ElectraFlyer C and ElectraFlyer X two-seat SLSA. *** But unlike many others still coming to market, you can buy Icaro's trike now. *** Prayer to: God/Santa/Gaia/Buddha/Jahweh et al.: please please please let Icaro show up at Sun 'n Fun so I can whangle a ride. Or the newest eSpyder prototype. Or the Yuneec e430 again. Or all of them. *** Amen. *** ---images and video courtesy Icaro

Everybody laments the high cost of LSA ownership: here’s an alternative…especially if you like true bugs-in-teeth aviating like our winged forefathers…uh, and foremothers of course…er, forepersons? Sheesh. Staying PC is so last week. *** Manfred Ruhmer, the German hang glider world champion and one-time distance record holder of 435 miles (current record is 444 mi.!), has been working on his own electric-powered trike – named the Icaro 2000 Pit-Trike. *** Chalk up that curious name to translation from the Italian. Maybe it grabs the air like a pit bull? Icaro’s price page calls it Nano Trike – take your pick! *** BTW, a “trike” is a wheeled undercarriage, powered by a pusher-prop powerplant, that allows a conventional foot-launched (or aero-towed) hang glider to fly under its own power. *** The trike unit without hang glider wing lists between $11,000 and $15,000 US, reports my pal Dan Johnson, before shipping, *** and you still have to add your own hang glider – another $3K to $6K.

Phoenix Motorglider To Debut at Sun ‘n Fun 2010?

By James Lawrence || March 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

Last year, I almost got to do a flight report on one of the most enjoyable airplanes I've ever flown: an Urban Air Lambada SLSA motorglider. *** Alas, before the magazine could schedule the story, two (not one, but two) Lambadas broke up in flight, both in very strong soaring conditions. *** The design was immediately suspect of course, though plenty of load tests on the Czech Republic design both before and after the incidents had failed to show any structural weakness. *** Both pilots used their onboard ballistic parachutes by the way, which saved both their lives. That's yet another strong argument right there for onboard parachute systems: no way would they have survived otherwise. *** One breakup was evidently a case of pilot overspeeding - way overspeeding, and during 1500 fpm soaring conditions to boot. Yikes. The other is still under investigation but pilot error is suspect there too. *** But the sudden bad news and financial struggles made it look like curtains for the home company, although the picture is more promising now for the Lambada's return. *** Meanwhile, the magazine story was postponed. *** Now comes news from Jim Lee, who reps the Lambada and the popular Evektor SportStar series of SLSA. *** Jim says a new motorglider, the Phoenix, (suitably named) is about to glide onto the scene. *** Also produced in Czech land, this new bird as you can see is a beauty. *** Jim, a soft spoken guy not given to sales hyperbole, emailed me with this: "The Phoenix will take the US by storm!" *** On his blog he's put up some tasty pictures and talks a bit about the airplane, which he hopes to have here *** in time for Sun 'n Fun April 13-18. *** He also promised me a flight on it for a story for the mag! *** Pardon me while I tremble slightly with joy. *** I won't repeat everything on Jim's blog, except this: *** You could call it a "souped up Lambada". It is a two seat, 15 meter span aircraft which will be certified as an S-LSA. *** Sure is a looker, and Phoenix has better performance and ergonomics, is roomier and I better stop now before I get overexcited. *** ---photos courtesy Jim Lee and Phoenix Air

Last year, I almost got to do a flight report on one of the most enjoyable airplanes I’ve ever flown: an Urban Air Lambada SLSA motorglider. *** Alas, before the magazine could schedule the story, two (not one, but two) Lambadas broke up in flight, both in very strong soaring conditions. *** The design was immediately suspect of course, though plenty of load tests on the Czech Republic design both before and after the incidents had failed to show any structural weakness. *** Both pilots used their onboard ballistic parachutes by the way, which saved both their lives. That’s yet another strong argument right there for onboard parachute systems: no way would they have survived otherwise. *** One breakup was evidently a case of pilot overspeeding – way overspeeding, and during 1500 fpm soaring conditions to boot. Yikes. The other is still under investigation but pilot error is suspect there too.