Great (and getting hot!) weather and a good, if not record-breaking, turnout mark the beginning of the EAA Sun ‘n Fun flyin. *** The exhibitor turnout is likewise somewhat down, although Dan Johnson’s LSA Mall at the entrance is filled with aircraft and lots of serious interest from potential buyers, as in previous shows. *** I’ve talked with many LSA companies here who say there are more serious buyers, fewer “tire-kickers”. *** Some LSA makers like Flight Design have racked up aircraft sales already. Others are still hoping to do business: it depends on who you talk to on whether the show is better or worse than expected. Expectations due to the economic times were not high to begin with, so it’s too early to put a number on the overall picture. *** Lots of new developments though, with more details to come here, such as: *** * a new electric/Rotax hybrid engine that will boost economy and provide electric power safety backup in emergencies, announced at AERO Friedrichshafen *** * Evektor passes LAMA audit *** * Legend Cub offers sub-$100,000 “Aeronomic Stimulus” SLSA, and new Garmin 696 installation *** * EAA presents Earth Day celebration with electric LSA prototype in center of the LSA exhibitors in the southeast display mall.
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Move Over Batman; Flying Car Breaks Ground
Terrafugia, an enterprising company made up of MIT grads, announced the successful maiden flight of the Transition® Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. Or, the flying car. Congrats to the company, I wish them success with the two-seater. *** The big idea here of course is one that’s been tried before without success: a road-worthy, street-legal vehicle that, after unfolding the wings, can be flown as a legal LSA from any local airport. *** Lest I forget to mention it, no, you can’t take off from the street in front of your house – unless you live in an airport community and your street is a legal runway. *** The flight followed six months of static, road and taxi testing, says Terrafugia. The car/plane is designed to cruise up to 450 mi. at more than 115 mph, ride at highway speeds with wings folded (which takes, they say, 30 sec.), and fits in a household garage.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Here’s a new show kicking off this weekend (Mar. 7) for all you LSA enthusiasts of the Texan persuasion. The Heart of Texas LSA Expo debuts on Saturday at the airfield in Bryan. Here’s the link to the airport. *** This should be welcome news for those in the southwest and central region who find Sebring, Oshkosh or Sun ‘n Fun bridges too far, travelwise. *** Many LSA exhibitors will be there, including the friendly folks from American Legend with their Cub line, industry leader Flight Design and its all-composite CTLS, Indus Aviation with the low-wing Sky Skooter and other Thorp kitplane-derived SLSAs, Cub Crafters with its own line of Piper Cubalike LSAs, and Northwing, makers of light sport and ultralight trikes.
Heart of Texas Fly-In
Chris Regis of Paradise Acft. did me a favor in absentia by filing a quick report from the field about the Heart of Texas LSA Expo fly-in he and other manufacturers recently attended. *** “The folks organizing really took great care of all vendors;it was a small event since it’s their first year but all the top manufacturers were there:Paradise, CT, Jabiru, Sting, Rans, Lambada, Sport Star, etc… *** During the first day, the wind was very strong and no one did demos but Sunday everyone was busy. *** The location is very good, between Dallas and Houston and I am glad that Karl and the rest of the folks decided to do this event. Jim, Texas is a huge market so we will definitely be there next year.
NTSB: “Don’t Fly” Zodiac 601XL!
In a Safety Recommendation released Apr. 14, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “has investigated a series of in-flight structural breakups of Zodiac CH-601XL airplanes designed by Zenair, Inc…in the United States in the last 3 years. The Safety Board is also aware of several in-flight structural breakups of CH-601XLs that have occurred abroad. It appears that aerodynamic flutter is the likely source of four of the U.S. accidents and of at least two foreign accidents. The Safety Board believes urgent action is needed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prevent additional in-flight breakups. Two of the accident airplanes were classified as Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA).” *** In six of the breakups, NTSB noted 10 people were killed. *** Aerodynamic flutter occurs when aerodynamic and structural forces interact and lead to unsafe structural vibration in the airplane. Left undamped, the vibrations can quickly lead to structural failure. *** NTSB’s urgent recommendation to the FAA is to prohibit further flight of the CH-601XL until it can determine the airplane is no longer susceptible to aerodynamic flutter.
ZAP! Goes the Revolution
I have seen the future and it is electric. Lots more to say about this than I have time, space or energy here, after my first day at Oshkosh, but this much is clear: electric flight is a reality, just as the Wright Brother’s Flyer made heavier-than-air flight a reality. *** I spent an hour talking with the Yuneec E-430 people. *** FACTOIDS: *** * Made in China *** * The company just built a new 250,000 sq. ft. factory. That’s right: 1/4 MILLION square feet! *** * Company has initial plans to produce 6 different electric flying craft: ultralights, trikes, powered parachutes, hang gliders…and the sleek, beautiful, 45-foot wingspan E-430 (above) that went from light bulb idea to flying prototype in 4 months! *** * Getting FAA to amend LSA reg to admit electric power will take some doing. But you can’t stop a flood tide. *** Also saw Flight Design’s Tom Peghiny wow the crowds in the waning light at the Ultralight flying area with his E-Spyder, also powered by a Yuneec prototype electric propulsion system.
Long Distance Runners, Two by Two
Two “Lookie what we can do!” stories – one accomplished, one getting under way this week. *** Avweb reports two chommies (Afrikaans for friends) expect to fly their modified D6 Sling light sport airplane around the world! These adventurous lads modified their South Africa-produced, metal LSA (not ASTM certified in the US) to carry up to 118 gallons in each wing for long legs. Long, as in more than 2,000 nautical miles over water. Holy Lucky Lindy, Batman! And people think I’m nuts flying a hang glider. *** Mike Blyth and James Pitman are the pilots. They hope to launch from Johannesburg this Thursday and make a stop at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I’ll try to snag a shot of them. Bon voyage, guys! *** To follow the adventure Click here. *** NEXT UP in the Let’s Rock LSA Dept. comes from my next-issue column, Light Sport Chronicles.
Hang Gliding’s George Washington
Sad news today that the father of hang gliding, Francis M. Rogallo, who I had the distinct pleasure to meet at Kitty Hawk a few years ago when I flew a competition on the dunes, has passed away at 97. *** That’s a nice old age for all to aspire to, but his passing will be marked by every “diver driver” who ever took foot-launched flight. *** “Rog” was universally beloved within the community, and stayed in touch with industry leaders and pilots who lauded him for his gentle good nature and indisputable place as the person who’s aerodynamic engineering creativity directly led to hang gliding, ultralights and todays light sport aircraft. *** Rog invented what came to be known as the Rogallo Wing as a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) project engineer in 1948. He got patents for the flexible v-shaped fabric/frame Parawing in 1951. *** NASA became highly interested in a capsule-deployable version in 1958 for bringing astronauts back home, but dropped the complexities of deploying the steerable design in favor of the round parachutes we know, which were deemed adequate for the mission.
China Certifies First LSA
An important development in the globalization of sport flight was just announced by Flight Design, the German maker of the CT line of LSA that leads in sales here in the U.S. *** The parent company announced its CT line had received Type Design Approval TDA-LSA-0001A from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), as well as a Chinese Production Certificate. *** That number is important: the CT will forever be the very first foreign LSA allowed to be sold in China. Although the Skycatcher is in fact manufactured for Cessna in China, it is not yet certified to be sold and flown in China, though that day can’t be too far down the road. *** The potential benefit to sport aviation is huge. *** Not only is China reportedly building general aviation airports all over the huge nation – a significant change from earlier domestic policy to help its exploding middle class enjoy the fruits of its labors – but its willingness to allow foreign manufacturers to sell their wares signals the first wave of what could prove to be a huge market worldwide.
FAA Recommends Safety Mod for Zodiac CH601XL
AMD, makers of the Chris Heinz-designed Zodiac CH601XL and CH650 light sport/experimental built aircraft, just got some bad news from the FAA. *** In its Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-10-08, FAA urged pilots and current builders not to fly either model until they make structural modifications to the aircraft. *** Yet another accident involving a CH601XL brings the number to five in the U.S. and several overseas, with numerous fatalities reported. Consistent reports of control surface flutter and in-flight structural failure have plagued descriptions of the accidents. *** FAA directed its recommendation at: “all serial numbers, including special light-sport category aircraft (S-LSA), experimental light-sport aircraft (E-LSA), and experimental amateur-built aircraft” of the two models, citing “several areas of concern regarding the CH601XL…that may impact the overall safety of the design. Those causing the greatest concern are as follows: *** Wing structure: …the basic static strength of the CH601XL/CH650 does not appear to meet the intent of the ASTM standards… *** Structural Stability: …buckling in the wing structure, including in the center section.
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