Another one managed to slip by my radar. I follow LSA closer than most yet I can barely keep track of all the approvals. No wonder I frequently get calls asking me to unravel the puzzle of LSA makes and models. *** Better late than never, welcome the Predator powered parachute to our SLSA List of 108 models from 72 still-active companies (at least five have left the business). Scott Hughes is the original designer & creator of the Predator. *** New CEO Fredrick Scheffel wrote, “On April 22, 2009, SkyTrails LSA (Predator Powered Parachute LLC) purchased the rights to manufacture the Predator along with the tooling & inventory from Hughes Aero.” SkyTrails LSA moved into the hangar facilities where Hughes Aero had been building the Predator for the past four years. Scheffel further noted, “SkyTrails Ranch, Inc., is a long standing name in powered parachute training, sales, and service that [has now] expanded into powered parachute manufacturing.” *** National powered parachute expert, Roy Beisswenger confirmed the Predator as a Special LSA, “SkyTrails LSA is manufacturing ELSA & SLSA aircraft at the airport in Wharton, Texas.” *** Learning to fly a powered parachute can be challenging.
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Signs Of A Stronger Economy?
Could my spot survey of just a few LSA companies at the show be the harbinger of better things to come? American Legend Aircraft prez Darrin Hart told me yesterday his company had sold three S-LSA and two Texas Star Cub kits…only three days into the show. *** Dave Graham of Gobosh reports two sales of the popular low-wing Gobosh 700. *** CubCrafters has tallied at least one sale so far. *** And Paradise Aviation’s Chris Regis had one firm sale and another one ready to ink. *** You go gang!
Hangin’ In The Mall — A Fable For 2010
Once upon a time, there was a purveyor of flying machines and a trainer of pilots in the great kingdom of Texas that wondered why more people hadn’t come to fly the Planes of Sport. *** “I have an idea,” said the Duke of U.S. Aviation Group. “Let us sally forth to the local market mall at the waxing of the moon, and offer Flights of Discovery for one full moon cycle. Only then, if we still have unsatisfactory student numbers, shall we moaneth our dire and hopeless fate.” *** And so his loyal band of sky serfs and flight vassals transported a Remos GX to a busy mallway, manned the booth with eager promoters night and day, and lo and behold, one moonth later, the Duke was happy to report that 170 Flights of Discovery had been sold, along with 130 leads on partnerships as well as several potential solo purchasers.
Flight Design… “Has a Map for That”
If you study FAA’s registration database as I do, you’ll quickly discover that Flight Design and its various CT models have a strong presence in the USA (the world for that matter, with 1,500 flying, according to the company). Since CT was first certified in April 2005 — the second LSA to win Special LSA certification, after Evektor’s SportStar — the German brand has steadily planted CTs across America. You can see a CT at more airfields than any other brand by more than double; the next closest is the American Legend Cub. *** The accompanying graphic was created by Flight Design USA to show the locations of more than 300 CT aircraft in the United States. The distribution is surprisingly even with obvious concentrations in big aviation states such as Florida, California, and Texas/Oklahoma with another area of strength in New England, home base of the U.S.
Keeping Up With Flight Design
My former rock-and-rollin’ Sport Pilot flight instructor and flying buddy John Lampson and I took advantage of the gorgeous New England fall weather yesterday to sharpen up with a Flight Design CTSW thanks to another old flying pal, Flight Design USA prez Tom Peghiny. *** John and I revisited the spirited handling of the SW by jumping up to 3,000 feet and cruising through glass-smooth air over the lovely Connecticut and Massachusetts countryside, cloaked now in the gray wiskers of leafless trees. *** I also caught up with some of the latest developments for the company, including the new postage stamp released in China featuring the CTLS. *** The CT is the only LSA in the aviation stamp series, which also included GA aircraft from Cessna, Cirrus and Diamond. *** I wonder if President Obama is being made aware that private aviation is beginning to happen in China, as airstrips and infrastructure are being built all over the country for a burgeoning middle class that wants to fly.
Able Flight LSA Team Crosses U.S. in 17 Hours
Cross this big country east to west in a day? …in a Light-Sport Aircraft? Yup!
On June 8, pilots Matt Hansen and Jessica Scharle successfully completed a transcontinental flight in Peregrine FA-04, dashing 1,813.5 nautical miles from Florida to California. After making five stops along the way the duo touched down at Gillespie Field near San Diego at 10:22 PM, marking an elapsed time of 19 hours and 21 minutes, which includes time for fuel stops. Total flying time was just over 17 hours.
They may have accomplished the feat to help nonprofit Able Flight in its mission to assist disabled folks learn to fly, but I think these twentysomething pilots showed they have the right stuff. That’s even more obvious when you hear Jessica Scharle courageously overcame a rare medical condition that fused almost every joint in her body. Nearly immobilized at one time, numerous surgeries, years of physical therapy, and personal determination helped Jessica become completely independent.
A Familiar Brand Becomes Newest SLSA Approval
REPORTING FROM SUN ‘N FUN — The season-launching Sun ‘n Fun airshow starts in one day and the countdown to SLSA Number 100 rushes onward. Welcome to Kitfox Aircraft — a U.S. brand you already know (now LSA producer Number 70) — and their new Super Sport LSA, Number 97 on the SLSA List. *** Kitfox Aircraft is the current owner of a legacy brand in light aviation. A major success story with more than 4,500 aircraft accumulating more than a million flight hours, Kitfox is celebrating its 25th year in business. Kitfox boss John McBean called from Texas as he was enroute to Sun ‘n Fun to confirm the airworthiness certificate he forecast a few days earlier. *** Base priced at $83,495, this all-American brand comes with many of the same features seen on costlier LSA. Its moderate price provides basic flight instruments but interesting safety qualities such as an Angle of Attack indicator (a system which compares differential pressure of the upper and lower wing surfaces) and 25 years of history with never a structural failure.
Dealmaking and Consolidation? New LSA Directions?
What to the following events have in common? …Sebring LSA Expo, Heart of Texas LSA Expo, Midwest LSA Expo, Sport Pilot Tour… Answer: All are focused marketing shows generating keenly interested crowds to examine Light-Sport Aircraft. When that happens, business arrangements sometime result, and not all deals are between airplane buyers and sellers. *** At the Sebring LSA Expo FK Lightplanes USA struck an agreement with Hansen Air Group. The latter, an Atlanta-based national seller of the Sky Arrow and new FP-04 Peregrine, signed on to represent the Fk9, seen in Florida atop Baumann BF-1500 floats. One aviation family helps another as FK’s father-and-son Tony and Adriel Anderson linked up with twin brothers Jon and Ron Hansen. *** Recently I attended an open house for another mini-conglomerate in light-sport aviation based at the Melbourne, Florida airport.
Sebring ’09 Overtakes AOPA Expo ’08 in Attendance
I’m still contemplating the major success of the Fifth Annual Sebring Expo, which shrugged off the doldrums of 2008. Let’s review: AOPA is the leading pilot organization in the world. Their flagship magazine, Pilot, has by far the largest circulation of any magazine in aviation. Their Expo is long established. *** Yet it appears January’s Sebring outdrew November’s AOPA Expo in San Jose, California. Sebring attendance may have reached 11,500 while Expo reported 9,500. Both are excellent shows for exhibitors as each precisely targets their market. Despite AOPA’s vastly larger size, professional staff, and years of experience, LSA are evidently a compelling enough attraction that Sebring Expo passed AOPA Expo. *** After all the tallying is done, I would not be surprised to hear 20 airplanes sold at the show (worth approximately $2.5 million). AOPA’s Expo may have transacted more revenue for exhibitors as GA prices are higher, but Sebring can be proud.
IndUS Unveils the First-Ever LSA Diesel
Sun ‘n Fun has been a rip-roaring success for Light-Sport Aircraft. The new LSA Mall right at the main entrance gate has been thick with traffic all week and even the weather cooperated after a day-before-opening deluge of rain (5+ inches in a few hours!). In the days ahead, I’ll have lots more LSA news for SPLOG readers. *** On Saturday, IndUS Aviation unveiled their first-in-the-industry diesel-powered Thorpedo DP. News media and interested parties turned out to hear IndUS leaders speak about the project. The Dallas, Texas-based company finally pulled back the curtain after months of work to reveal their WAM-120 three cylinder, two-stroke engine tucked neatly under their new shapely nose cowl. *** Turbocharged and supercharged, the 120-horsepower engine burns a mere 3 gallons of Jet A per hour. This fuel is widely available around the world (important to an international seller like IndUS) where 100LL is not.
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