If you’d like more info on the RV-9 as a Sport Pilot-eligible aircraft, e-mail Jay. And if you’d like to own one of central Florida’s favorite airports…yep, South Lakeland is for sale.
Jay Kurtz is the owner of South Lakeland airport (X49), where vendors often conduct customer demonstration flights a mere four miles away from Sun ‘n Fun. A longtime participant in ultralight aviation, Jay’s built RANS models, Capella designs, and a “regular” RV-9A. But it’s his second RV-9 that really has him revved up; this one is can be flown by a Sport Pilot! Not possible? Too fast and too heavy? Wrong! Jay’s RV-9 ELSA weighs 906 pounds empty and is headed to 875 pounds with planned weight savings. Powered by a 108-hp Lycoming O-235, speed is prop controlled to reach 134 mph at max continuous power. *** With the required 10 hours now flown off Jay can use the ELSA like any other Light-Sport Aircraft. And he reports the weight reductions to stay under 1,320 pounds gross transformed the ‘9 ELSA. “I approach at 60 mph, 20 slower than the RV-9A!” Jay also raved about handling and slow speed flight characteristics. I flew with Jay in his regular RV-9A and it flies as well as all Van’s Aircraft models. Yet Jay remains super enthusiastic over his ‘9 ELSA, “I’ve seen the magic of keeping airplanes light.”
Leave a Reply