You know what modern-day aviators have that is wonderful? Choice! Lots of choice.
As Mosaic LSA prepare to enter the market in 2Q25, we’ll start seeing new models at this year’s airshows.
The truth is you have so many choices that this website offers perhaps its most useful function: helping you sift through the many aircraft you could fly. If you find a number of aircraft you like, how can you narrow your choices to find the one that best fits your needs?
Find Your Dream Plane
Maybe you haven’t explored these features but you might find them fun and worthwhile.
Check these one-of-a-kind offerings:
- PlaneFinder 2.0 — Answer a few this-or-that questions; system reduces a long list to matching aircraft
- SLSA List — Every Light-Sport Aircraft that has won FAA acceptance with links to more info
- Part 103 List — For those who want fun flying machines that won’t exceed their budget; loaded with links
- Advanced Search — Search through brands, models, or other providers on our extensive database
- LSA Market Info — Search the most comprehensive record of all LSA and SP kits in America; sort many ways
Like everything on this website, all these features are free for the using (although email is requested to use PlaneFinder 2.0). I hope you’ll go explore this website thoroughly. The good folks at Flying Media that acquired this content in March 2023 have promised to keep thousands of articles and tens of thousands of photos available.
Still, nothing beats an airshow where you can actually examine, touch, and sit in an airplane that catches your fancy. For a half century, airshows have dictated my annual calendar. These events bring together the best of aviation and form a target-rich environment for anyone shopping for (or selling) an airplane.
Airshows 2024
This list is not exhaustive. These are the events I’ve attended for many years. In order of their appearance…
Besides the breadth of aviation it offers, Sun ‘n Fun is home to LSA Mall, now beginning its 17th year as an attraction at the show. Visitors are urged to visit the light aircraft area called Paradise City.
Sun ‘n Fun 2024 / April 9-14, 2024 — Happy Birthday! Sun ‘n Fun will celebrate 50 years this year. Starting out as an EAA regional fly-in, Sun ‘n Fun has grown to the second largest airshow in the USA and the one that kicks off the start of the recreational flying season year after year. While Sun ‘n Fun has branched out into education, a museum, and many other activities (not unlike Oshkosh), it is their spring airshow at the perfect time of year that draws attendees by the hundreds of thousands. This year at Sun ‘n Fun, look for the new LSA Mall with some very special coming attractions as new LAMA president Scott Severen takes over the Mall with professional assistance from Jana Filip of Sebring and DeLand Expo fame.
Semi-trailers in Europe open on the side like this one revealing the arrival of helicopters at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in southern Germany.
Aero Friedrichshafen 2024 / April 17-20, 2024 — Easily my favorite aviation event in Europe, Aero Friendrich also has a big birthday in 2024; this will be the 30th running of the popular event that draws many tens of thousands from all over Europe. If you want to see aviation development in its brightest bloom, I advise Aero where more interesting aircraft appear than at any other show I have attended. The event commonly occurs soon after Sun ‘n Fun but takes place almost exclusively inside, so attendees are comfortable (and well fed). Most importantly, visitors will be dazzled by beautiful displays of handsome aircraft one after another after another… it’s simply a delicious event.
…For More Aero Friedrichshafen Info
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh hosts nearly every sort of aircraft you may ever see including a profusion of light and affordable aircraft, most easily found in the Fun Fly Zone.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 /July 22-28, 2024 — Turning 70 in 2023, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the undisputed king of airshows. If you can only attend one event in 2024, this is surely the best one, although you are already late to find lodging. Oshkosh swells from a normal population of around 50,000 to close to half a million during the week. Chicago and Atlanta may vie for the busiest airport in the world for 51 weeks of the year, but during Oshkosh, this event rises to the very top measured by flight operations — the busiest airport in the world for seven days. If it flies and you want to see it up close and person, AirVenture is the place. By all means GO, but start your planning now. It’s not too soon.
Renamed and repositioned as it becomes the longest-running airshow catering to light aviation: LSA, Sport Pilot kits, ultralights and more.
Midwest Aviation Expo / September 5-7, 2024— Since this is a year of benchmark editions of airshows, why not Midwest? The event taking place at the Mt. Vernon, Illinois airport (KMVN) is doing two big things this year, The show has renamed itself Midwest Aviation Expo, from Midwest LSA Expo. Having “LSA” in the name when it began in 2009 was a great idea but the event has always featured more than LSA, though it has plenty of them. In addition, Midwest has drawn Part 103 ultralights on one side and numerous kit builders on the other. Beside offering a good selection of airplanes with no entrance fee, no parking fee, and great facilities including a very popular restaurant, Midwest has long had a mission to please everyone that comes, vendor or attendee. Now for 2024, this show celebrates its 16th running, making it the longest-running event among sector-specific event. Congratulation to Team Midwest Aviation Expo!
—For More Midwest Aviation Expo Info
Closing out the recreational flying season in October is the DeLand Aero Showcase, seen in this color-splashed image.
DeLand Aero Showcase / October 18-19, 2024 — Formed after the DeLand Sport Aviation Expo was discontinued by city officials, this restructured event is now in the capable and energetic hands of Alex Rolinski and Doma Andreka. If you don’t already know these fellows (think about Aero Adventure and Magnus Aircraft), you may want to pay attention. This pair of entrepreneurs has ambitious plans to expand at DeLand Airport, already a hotbed of recreational flying and sky diving. DeLand Aero Showcase is on for its annual event in mid-October when Florida enjoys wonderful weather but also ample hotel rooms and rental cars. Fly south like the birds when it gets cold back home. The Sunshine State welcomes you and so does Aero Showcase.
Whatever show works best for you… GO! You’ll have a ball and you might find your dream plane.
Is there a way to filter the list for aerobatic capable aircraft?
Maybe I’m missing it?
I can only think of two. Van’s or Sonex. No Rotax. I wish more of these aircraft came with option for ULpower engines. I wan’t to do some simple aerobatics to and I would like some more choice in that area. Thanks for your articles. They are very helpful.
No one using a Rotax advocates aerobatics, as you evidently know. Your two choices are good, but you should also include Magnus Aircraft and their Fusion 212. It can be equipped with ULPower and is even promoted as an aerobatic trainer. Fusion can be delivered ready-to-fly, unlike the other two.
Thanks Dan!
I realized after looking at the list and your articles that you are also purely focused on LSA type aircraft ruling out faster bigger aircraft for aerobatics and mostly limiting to the rotax.
Thus the only Vans is the RV-12 not aerobatic. Making the only aircraft besides the fusion the Sonex’s. I did see the Fusion it’s nice but wish there were more than 3 choices. If many of these aircraft had the choice of ULpower right from the factory there might be many more aerobatic choices as several are rated loading wise.
For me it’s down to the Sonex-B with UL350is or a Van’s RV-7,8 or 14 then.
I really appreciate your site and your articles.
-michael
You are correct that this website focuses exclusively on LSA, ultralights, and kits that Sport Pilots can fly. Lots of magazines cover the larger aircraft.
Among the aircraft I report Rotax does indeed have a 70%+ market share. However, ULPower engines only recently met ASTM standards so the future may include more of their engines.
Aerobatic aircraft represent a niche within a niche. I would not expect the segment to attract many aircraft entries.
The Sorrell Hiperbipe SNS-7 is still being offered in kit form by Thunderbird Aviation. It’s too heavy to be an LSA under current rules, but should be fine under MOSAIC. Thunderbird also offers a few other Sorrell designs of the LSA and Part 103 varieties.
Thanks!
With all the negative comments against the regulation from the stakeholders, it would be no surprise if the final rule does not come out till 2026 or 27 or not at all!
FAA doesn’t have much choice in this. They might do something extraordinary if pressed hard but they must maintain federal guidelines — regulators regulating regulators.
I won’t have the money to get a new plane until late 2025 anyway. I wouldn’t buy one until Mosaic is finalized. Still excited about the new types of aircraft coming from Mosaic.
Is there an official date for the new LSA rules come into actual use. The way I understand it, it’s the end of 2025
No “official date” has been discussed but FAA has often said it takes 16 months after the close of public comments before a regulation is released. That translates to second quarter 2025.
Your headline for this article should read “bigger, faster and MORE EXPENSIVE MOSAIC LSA’S.
I didn’t want to be too in-your-face about prices. Some pilots are very excited to have these new capabilities …and apparently have the budget to allow it. We need all kinds of buyers. That said, I cannot disagree with your sentiment. I did address cost in the article.