Fifty three years ago this month, Neil Armstrong made history when he declared first, “The Eagle has landed.” His words described a momentous occasion: humans about to set foot on the moon.
Orlican can’t claim such high ground but through two years of Covid dislocations, the Czech Republic developer finished their second-generation LSA and the first one in the U.S. was delivered to its first customer, a flight school.
Longtime LSA importer and reseller, Deon Lombard has been waiting as supply lines snarled and shipments were delayed. However, the European manufacturer persevered and the new model has crossed the Atlantic. Orlican’s Eagle has landed!
A New L600
In case Covid (understandably) fogged your brain, Orlican’s Eagle is a follow-on design. Americans and others have seen a very similar look before. It started with L600, which Deon has been selling in the U.S. for several years. Why the name “Legend?”
Look at the design.This July, Another Eagle Has Landed — Orlican’s New LSA Arrives in America
Fifty three years ago this month, Neil Armstrong made history when he declared first, “The Eagle has landed.” His words described a momentous occasion: humans about to set foot on the moon.
Orlican can’t claim such high ground but through two years of Covid dislocations, the Czech Republic developer finished their second-generation LSA and the first one in the U.S. was delivered to its first customer, a flight school.
Longtime LSA importer and reseller, Deon Lombard has been waiting as supply lines snarled and shipments were delayed. However, the European manufacturer persevered and the new model has crossed the Atlantic. Orlican’s Eagle has landed!
A New L600
In case Covid (understandably) fogged your brain, Orlican’s Eagle is a follow-on design. Americans and others have seen a very similar look before. It started with L600, which Deon has been selling in the U.S. for several years. Why the name “Legend?”
Look at the design. What popular model of aircraft does it resemble? If you guessed Cessna 182 Skylane, you are remarkably observant. Indeed, this model was created as an 80% scale imitation of Cessna’s popular four seater, just with two seats and built of composite rather than metal.
Since I have flown both the Cessna 182 and the L600, I’ll say it simply. Skylane 182 carries a lot more weight and it flies like it. Cruising is smooth but in maneuvers or during takeoff and landings, a C-182 feels like driving an oversized pickup truck. It has power but the handling is heavy, not agile.
Then, pricing… A new Cessna 182 is base priced beyond $500,000. Deon will sell his L600 Eagle for $150,000* — less than one-third the cost of a Cessna 182.
Of course, the 182 carries almost double the useful load, 1,130 pounds to L600 Eagle’s 594 pounds* (with standard equipment). A C-182 cruises faster, too, 156 knots to L600 Eagles’s 120 knots*. Yet with 182 going for triple the price (comparing new to new), Eagle offers good value for your dollars.
Some readers will surely say they can buy a used 182 for the same money as a new M-8 Eagle and that’s true. However, flying a C-182 will require a medical and a used Skylane priced approximately the same as a new L600 Eagle will be a 1970s model, close to 50 years old usually with out-dated analog instrumentation and a thirst for 100LL fuel. I see nothing wrong with those legacy airplanes but they will generate maintenance bills well beyond the Eagle and they’ll cost up to three times as much per hour to operate.
Who Is Orlican?
You’ve probably never heard of this brand but if you lived in Eastern Europe, that would be quite different. The company has a long, rich history. Americans may not know that so here’s the briefest history lesson.
Nearly 100 years ago, the original Orlican company was founded by engineers Beneš and Mráz in 1935. The factory was later nationalized by the government but in the 1990s, a new company — Schempp-Hirth Ltd., a brand well-known and widely respected in Europe for its sleek sailplane gliders — took over the air division of Orlican. Manufacturing of composite Scheme-Hirth gliders is current today.
The Orlican brand was reestablished in the autumn of 2014, with the support of employees and customers of the original company. “It is still in our DNA to carry on this longstanding tradition, to continue what was established many years ago,” said Orlican CEO Vaclav Bervid. The new boss expressed reverence for the original Mr. Mráz, who believed, “I searched for my own path that nobody ever walked upon…“ The renewed Orlican company hopes to continue that philosophy.
L600 Eagle is Orlican’s entry product into Light-Sport Aircraft. They benefitted when a key engineer departed to bring a similar design to Orlican. How is it different? Let’s check the one presently in the USA.
Now in the USA
Deon Lombard’s company will import the Orlican model to sell alongside his Whisper kit. “Eagle is essentially the same design as L600 but all the improvements we could incorporate,” said Deon.
The first Orlican in America (seen in nearby photos with N-numbers) is already in use at Fly Corps Aviation flight school with nine instructors operating out of Savannah, Georgia. With 30 hours on this first example, school owner Chip Griewahn reported, “[L600 Eagle] is the easiest airplane my instructors have ever flown.” Deon reported Griewahn has plans to add more Eagle aircraft.
As Orlican completed work on Eagle, Deon listed several changes made to the prior design:
- Choice of doors opening forward or upward
- More aileron area, increased effectiveness
- Pushrods mainly replacing cable linkages
- Throttle in panel now; Aeropilot was on the floor
- Wing root fuel quantity sight tubes
- Engine cooling has been improved from Aeropilot
- Airframe is ready for post-Mosaic increases
- One of the more unusual features is the rare lay-flat accommodation (nearby photos)
The first L600 Eagle arrived in January 2022 and two more will land in the USA before the end of the year. Meanwhile in the Czech Republic, Orlican is gearing up for higher production in 2023. This year they are refining their system and building about one a month. Contact Deon Lombard for further information.
Orlican Ltd.
L600 Eagle (American model)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
- Carbon fiber composite airframe with fixed landing gear
- All terrain wheels and suspension
- Single color (acrylic) paint in white or light color
- Rotax 912 80 horsepower; Rotax 100-hp 912 and 115-hp Rotax 914 turbo are available
- Pushbutton ignition system
- Vernier throttle control
- Slipper clutch
- Tubular steel engine mount with 4 rubber engine mounts
- Fireproof sleeves on the fuel lines,
- Three-blade ground-adjustable Woodcomp Propulse propeller with carbon fiber blades
- Carbon fiber white propeller spinner
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
all figures supplied by the manufacturer
- All info for LSA model
WEIGHTS - Empty Weight — 728 pounds (330 kg)
- Maximum Take-off Weight — 1,320 pounds (600 kg)
- Minimum Crew Weight — 132 pounds (60 kg)
- Maximum Crew Weight — 397 pounds (180 kg)
- Maximum Luggage Capacity — 66 pounds (30 kg)
PERFORMANCE - Takeoff Roll — 490 feet / 150 meters
- Climb Rate — 1,200 feet per minute (5–7 m/s)
- Max Operating Altitude — 18,000 feet (5400 meters)
- Stall Speed with Flaps — 29 knots (53 km/h)
- Max Cruise Speed — 135 knots* (250 km/h)
- Landing Roll — 490 feet (150 m)
DIMENSIONS - Length — 23 feet (7 m)
- Height — 8.7 feet (2.65 m)
- Wing Span — 29.8 feet (9 m)
- Wing Area — 116 square feet (10.7 sq.m)
- Horizontal Tail Width — 9 feet (2.8 m)
- Horizontal Tail Area — 24 square feet (2.2 sq.m)
- Vertical Tail Area — 12 square feet (1,116 sq.m)
- Cabin Width — 45.8 inches (1.16 m)
* Figures presented in this article are current at the time of posting but subject to change. Dean Lombard indicated that the aircraft manufacturer is following Mosaic and the promise of expanded capabilities but noted the existing L600 Eagle aircraft has already been tested to higher weight limits and faster speeds.
Fifty three years ago this month, Neil Armstrong made history when he declared first, “The Eagle has landed.” His words described a momentous occasion: humans about to set foot on the moon.
Orlican can’t claim such high ground but through two years of Covid dislocations, the Czech Republic developer finished their second-generation LSA and the first one in the U.S. was delivered to its first customer, a flight school.
Longtime LSA importer and reseller, Deon Lombard has been waiting as supply lines snarled and shipments were delayed. However, the European manufacturer persevered and the new model has crossed the Atlantic. Orlican’s Eagle has landed!
A New L600
In case Covid (understandably) fogged your brain, Orlican’s Eagle is a follow-on design. Americans and others have seen a very similar look before. It started with L600, which Deon has been selling in the U.S. for several years. Why the name “Legend?”
Look at the design.
Six Chuter’s aircraft are enjoyable enough and the company careful enough about how it treated its prospects and customers that they managed to sell more than 2,100 aircraft since forming three decades back. Over many years of examining hundreds of companies, I am aware only a very small number of airplane producers that have built more than 2,000 aircraft. Six Chuter is clearly a company prepared to stick around for a while. Here’s a very brief look back at its history.
Caleb reports he comes from a farming background, and for several years, enjoyed doing a lot of metal fabrication. Caleb brings a wealth of technical knowledge and skills that prepared him for his next endeavor.
“Add fully functional dual controls to any of our tandem models and you can receive sport pilot training in your own ELSA (Experimental Light Sport Aircraft) or EAB (Experimental Amateur Built),” stated Six Chuter. “Our standard kits are built in subassemblies at the Six Chuter factory for economical shipping anywhere in the world.”
To compare, a SLSA model cannot be changed in any way without first getting a Letter of Authorization from the manufacturer and the builder will likely not issue an LoI without first testing the equipment to be installed — a reasonable requirement, as they could be charged with liability for any resulting problems with the changed equipment.
*
I already provided three articles — (1) 
Now, thanks to encouragement from 
The Atol Aurora amphibian LSA aircraft has been under development now for 10 years and is planned to be ready for serial production by the end of 2022. This is an interesting aircraft because it implements few new design elements but is built with an old and proven material: wood. Parts in direct contact with water are composite.
According to Mr. Betsch, the company is in a excellent condition and “healthy,” and the production increase in Czech Republic was anyway needed as the company is blessed by aircraft orders. The current order boost was mainly driven by the by the F-Series but the CT-series is still selling well. oth aircraft were showcased on their exhibit at AERO where the F2 H2 was highlighted and the personnel gave an update about their Ukrainian production facility during the event.
After two years without the event, the JMB Aircraft crew has brought the VL3 Evolution to Aero Friedrichshafen and has — as usual — created big, better, perhaps the biggest stir ever. The booth was again in a prime location where JMB attracted most visitors on the AERO showcasing as a world premiere their, sleek, low wing composite rocket, which this time was powered by a French Turbotech TP-R90 130hp turboprop powerplant. See our 
This year the most advanced model Blackwing 635RG was on display, in a visible carbon finish with orange stripes called Nardo Grey, powered by the Rotax 915iS engine. The 635RG aircraft has completed the German UL-DULV certification process (similar to FAA’s SLSA) and the delivery will start in May.
In this year the biggest surprise was the announcement by mid-March that Textron acquired Pipistrel. Textron Inc., home to the Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell aviation brands, announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Pipistrel based in Slovenia and Italy. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022.
Junkers also showcased the A50 — that was introduced in 2021 — and a similar version called A60. The A50, the corrugated aluminum, open two seater was for the first time presented in public. The new edition of the A50 Junior, whose historical counterpart first flew in 1929, is now powered by a 100hp (74 kW) Rotax 912iS with electronic fuel injection. The A50 has a modern version of the ancient fixed main gear. Garmin contributes the avionics. A complete rescue system, which is mandatory for ultralight aircraft, is also installed. When cruising, the open low-wing aircraft should reach around 190 km/h (103 knots) and consume 15 liters per hour (4 kph). The stall speed is less than 80 km/h (43 knots). The first 29 copies will be sold at the introductory price of €179.000
The A414 is a relatively big, actually huge, bird and remembers to the Cirrus piston aircraft range.
Heron has some military roots; founders have over 40 years of experience in the aviation and defense industry, as well as a long history of producing small (up to 300 kg of thrust) jet engines, according to Mr. Alex Fatseas of Heron.
The two independent, V2 twin engines, 4-stroke engines are supercharged by two electrically driven blowers and are are made using Rotax engines parts. The combustion units are combined with an electric motor and a battery. All drive units act on the propeller shaft and work either in combustion or electric or combined mode depending on the flight phase. They are controlled by a sophisticated FADEC system (Full Authority Digital Engine Control).
Rotax had a VR Technology Presentation — In cooperation with LLS Ltd., Rotax developed a VR-Technology software tool for maintenance, training and sales activities.
The engine called UL520T is based on the 200 hp UL520 engine, which received an exhaust gas turbocharger. This turbo does not primarily have the function of significantly increasing engine performance, but serves as a turbo normalizer, which is intended to maintain performance with altitude. This engine, rated at 220 horsepower at sea level, is said to deliver all the power up to 15,000 feet, according to the manufacturer.
This year, the newly developed turbine is approaching serial production. First deliveries are scheduled for mid-2022. The first two installations in an UL were an unbelievable success (see JMB & Bristel/BRM contribution) which caused a big stir at Aero 2022.
Hirth has updated its two-stroke 35 Engine Series with new options and is offering this 70hp two-cylinder, liquid cooled power horse for manned and unmanned applications. The 3507HF version is successfully used in different UAVs and currently one system is in test-phase stage with the German Navy.
You know about drones. You may not know they are presently restricted to visual line of sight. However, a line-of-sight drone won’t get your Amazon package delivered a few miles from the distribution center to your house.
In fact, some organizations have big problems with what’s been proposed (see “Friends in High Places” below).
I’ll get to Speed Cruiser, ‘er… Journey in a minute but first a bit about a new collaboration forming at the DeLand, Florida airport. You know the place, where the DeLand Showcase ran for five years. In case you missed the news, DeLand Showcase is no more. Director Jana Filip departed to join Sun ‘n Fun so the event she expertly ran will now give way to something new, from someone else. More on that later.
When B.O.T. formed in Liechtenstein (a tiny but wealthy country near Switzerland) they had specific goals for their design:
Flight Qualities
Of course, most of the multicopter types — flying machines sometimes called eVTOLs — take off vertically but those are different, electric flying animals. Despite waves of breathless reporting by mainstream media types, eVTOLs are not yet ready for prime time. Even if you could buy one, you probably don’t want to pay for it. Most will be very expensive.
Developed by Miroslav Črv, Mirocopter is based in Slovenia — also the home of Pipistrel. With today’s news you might wonder, so let me assure the country is not near Ukraine and all that regrettable turmoil. Slovenia is immediately south of Austria and more than 400 miles to the west of the war zone.
Vertical thrust is achieved by collective blade pitch control of both rotors. For directional control, cyclic blade pitch control of both rotors is used. Yaw control is provided by moving tail plates. For vertical thrust, direction, and yaw control, SCH-2A helicopter is equipped with standard helicopter control inputs.
Mark Rumsey and Andrey Vegger have each signed up to help Mirocopter get started in the USA.
At present, neither man has flown Mirocopter. I asked Mark why he chose SCH-2A?
“The first units will arrive in the U.S. in June so I haven’t flown it yet,” Mark said honestly. “I am an aerospace engineer and have taken the controls of a Jet Ranger and an R22 in steady forward flight but nothing beyond that. I have about 20 hours training in X-plane with my helicopter control simulator.”
“Recommended training,” Mark continued, “is to become a proficient student in an R22 or equivalent two-seater. Eventually, we plan on offering training in a full-scale constraining simulator that allows you to hover and slowly move across the ground in all directions. It will be similar to 
“Due to political reasons, I dropped my relationships with both of them. I am originally from Ukraine and both companies are Putin baked companies,” he opined. Then he found Mirocopter and Miroslav of Slovenia.
This particular year, however, the company based in Mexico, Missouri celebrates its 30th anniversary. Beginning in 1992, Sebastien Heintz has paired popular designs with hard work to build his company to occupy the number one slot as seen in our 
Zenith’s success benefits from decades of design work by Sebastien’s father, Chris Heintz. The latter passed away in 2021 but had been honored many times for his numerous accomplishments in creating enjoyable, affordable aircraft. His sons are all involved in the aviation business. Any entrepreneur will admit that is quite unusual.
Zenith’s top weekend is surely their well-attended 
Offer a Broad Line of Proven Models
Some can pay the invoice on a high-end aircraft to enjoy its capabilities. That’s terrific. Who knows… you might score their used aircraft for a large discount in a few years. For many, though, new is nice yet something much more modest will suffice if it gets them safely up and down to enjoy the view of their surroundings or simply practice a few touch and goes. Any way you can fly is a good way, I’d say.
“In 1998, we designed and built our first single place trike (the Maverick) featuring a strutted wing,” related Kamron. He was first to use struts on a delta wing, he reports. Yet even while Kamron created a growing number of trike models, he kept supplying the wings for other trike builders in the USA and other countries.
For many Americans, buying in the USA is important. “North Wing is an American company, and we maintain a large inventory so parts availability is only a few days away,” assured North Wing. That in-country service and availability will relieve you and can help keep your insurance cost lower.
Scout XC Apache
As recently as seven weeks before the show was to open (about as close to the show as I dared to wait to make airline and hotel reservations), 
True, most LSA are not recommended for aerobatic flying or training. However, one of the main reasons for that is that Rotax does not want their LSA 9-series engines used for aerobatics. If the engine manufacturer does not permit that, we’re done talking. It cannot be used that way. The airframe maker can also stipulate no such operations.
Instead, Magnus will use a ULPower engine. The latter has anticipated this use and the Belgian company recently declared that it meets all ASTM standards applicable to aircraft engines (specifically the F2339-19A standard for reciprocating spark engines for Light-Sport Aircraft).
“Magnus Aircraft is proud to announce its Fusion 212 airplane is approved for intentional spin. Starting now (April 2022), complete stall and spin awareness training, which is required for all CFIs as per FAR 61.183, can be [done] on the Fusion 212,” wrote László Boros, CEO of Magnus.
“UL Power confirmed their ASTM declaration stating that the 350 and 520 engines are ASTM-compliant and can be used on SLSA,” Doma added.
“Magnus successfully completed the comprehensive intentional spin and recovery test series,” Doma elaborated, “so the Fusion 212 airplane is approved for upset recovery training (UPRT), intentional spin and basic aerobatics (+6/-3Gs), which is extremely important for flight safety. Fusion 212 is the first and only available Light Sport Aircraft for these maneuvers.” (Note that Tecnam acquired the single-seat 
However, he fell in love with aviation while working for Magnus in Europe and later in the USA, first residing in Texas though he and his family have now relocated to Florida. Doma earned his pilot license in 2020 and is working towards his instructor ticket.
In the USA, JMB is represented by 
“The first tests are very promising,” said JMB. “We are continuing to validate the performance, but the advantages are already visible: no vibration and a TBO multiplied by two.” (The latter reference compares the TP-R90 to Rotax’s 915iS, which still has a 1,500 hour TBO although the company is proceeding conservatively as always; engineers will later raise this to 2,000 hours as with 912-series engines.)
These engines can operate on kerosene or other lesser-refined fuels. The French company cites jet-A1, diesel, UL91, Avgas, or bio-fuel. In an age when 100-octane low-lead may disappear, this fuel versatility has extra value — although every Rotax, Jabiru, or UL Power engine can run on either 100LL or auto premium (or any mixture of the two) so this is of less concern to LSA owners. Nonetheless, where airports do not permit auto gas to be dispensed, a turbine aircraft that can accept alternate fuels might have an advantage.
OK, I know turbines are not allowed on present-day LSA. Could that be changing as Mosaic slowly works its way through the FAA? We won’t know until FAA releases their NPRM at this year’s Oshkosh (I predict). However, some language provided by the agency to guide ASTM standards writers has suggested that the ban on turbines might not last.
A irony to this possibility is that turbines were the specific reason why electric wasn’t permitted. Uh… what?! Yep, in the effort to prevent turbines, FAA rule writers specified reciprocating engines only. That kept out turbines, alright, but it also scratched electric propulsion. Back in the early 2000s, government authorities weren’t pushing electric vehicles so rule writers didn’t feel the political pressure they do now.
“
“Bristell B8 is an all-metal, high-wing [design] without struts and with a steerable nose wheel,” said the company. Although it looks quite different from the low wing, B8’s cockpit is equally spacious at 49.2 inches wide. Pilots and their cabin mates will no doubt find entry much easier than first climbing up on the wing. Generally, pilots identify as high or low wing enthusiasts and now BRM can offer them what they want.
H55 is a leading enabler of electric aviation offering modular, lightweight, and certified electric propulsion and battery management solutions to the aviation industry as to make air transport, quiet, clean and affordable. “H55 supports its customers in integrating and customizing its technology solutions for a wide range of applications suitable for both existing airplane designs and future concepts such as VTOLs and e-commuter aircraft,” said the Swiss company.
The result? An electric LSA-style aircraft with a 419-pound payload, an 1,874-pound MTOW, a climb rate of 800 feet per minute, and electric energy cost for a one-hour flight of $7.00. Charging time for normal operations is reportedly just one hour. BRM Aero expects to achieve CS23 certification by mid-2022. It should be available for flight schools as soon as mid-2022, the company said.
I elected not to go to what would have been my 27th visit to Aero because just two months ago, when I needed to make air reservations, Covid panic still gripped Europe. Officially in mid-February, the show could not even be held. It looked too questionable for me to go forward with costly tickets amid global uncertainty; I was unwilling to chance being quarantined for two weeks at my own expense. Challenges of obtaining the right Covid documents also proved difficult. Fortunately for the beleaguered Aero organizers, things opened up but now I’m missing one of my favorite airshows of the year. So, a big thanks to John Rathmell of 
I captured video from multiple cameras for each aircraft; watch for our video pilot report soon. While the video is in editing, I will give a short review of the Stream. This was a new experience for me.
Up front instrumentation is larger and you do fly solo from the front. Yet in the back, I had a seven-inch Garmin touch screen that provided the same info in a smaller package. For example, the gear position shows in both locations… although, like most digital screens, it may take a while to pick out the data you want from all that is displayed.
However, in one way the front proves superior, regarding runway visibility on approach to landing. With no flaps or with one notch deployed, I had no sight picture from the aft seat. However, with full flaps, I could easily keep an eye on the runway. An offset to the aft seat visibility looking forward is that you have an excellent straight down view that the front PIC seat lacks; the pilot up front is seated at the wing midpoint so downward visibility is restricted.
What you might be more surprised to learn is how gentle its stall characteristics are and how slow it can go on landing.
Since I mentioned the aircraft speeds along quite well, I rush to say I was rather amazed that Stream could slow down into the high-30s (knots) when flaps are deployed. From 39 knots indicated to 150 knots in cruise, we start to approach that magic 4:1 stall-to-cruise target that any designer likes to achieve (it’s not an easy mark to hit).
Then, through a series of turns, I discovered that Stream will hold its altitude very well without power or trim adjustments of any kind. Of course, using those controls will make handling even better I suspect, but stick pressures remained light and it was simply unnecessary to employ those controls in order to produce turns that maintained altitude and speed. These are wonderful characteristics for Stream to demonstrate.
One such example is a fascinating collaboration, in this case between two companies each producing a substantially authentic scale model replica of the famous World War II fighter. One has a market established over several years. The other has a spectacular new entry. How can you imagine the story ends?
Christian von Kessel of 
As 
Ron showed active work on the project as they unveiled their new nose cowling at Sun ‘n Fun. If you look at the earlier article you’ll see they’ve made a quality upgrade. This happened when an automobile industry engineer with an interest in airplanes offered to assist Thunderbird. He was able to employ his skills including use of an auto company wind tunnel to refine the shape. As the nearby images show, the work reveals professional quality; the shape is excellent. Will it be all done by AirVenture Oshkosh 2022? No, but it’ll be coming along this year, Ron is sure.
“Hummingbird is an innovative project designed and manufactured by Hummingbird Industria Aeronautica and distributed in North America by 
They promote reasonable prices: the two-seater around $75,000 and a single seater around $40,000 (but contact the company for current prices; shipping costs are at crazy levels). The two seat tandem model we saw at Sun ‘n Fun had the 
On pleasant evenings, crowds can be five deep all along the runway fence. STOL comps provide exciting close-up action. At few other airports can you observe so closely, literally 100 feet away from runway centerline.
Unfortunately Steve broke an axle and ended up on his nose in Wednesdays gusty conditions. Damage was reasonably minor — an advantage of landing so slowly perhaps — and he should be back in action soon.
Monster STOL solves that problem, Jan believes. His dual aft shocks on each side have 18 inches of stroke. The tires aren’t tundra but they’re large. And standing Super Duty up on specialized landing gear — which also helps entry into this high-off-the-ground airplane — allows Jan to create a very steep angle of attack.
Little did we know last year that Putin would invade Ukraine and plunge both countries into disarray. The 
At Sun ‘n Fun 2022, Gene “Bever” Borne and son Ken of 
Upon closer inspection, this Sprint model was powered by Aero 1000, a single-cylinder, four-stroke engine with impressive specs. Air-Tech said it outputs 39 horsepower — similar to the Rotax 447 — and is extremely economical on fuel.
Blackhawk’s search for the right engine for their quads lead them to an Swiss engine popular with cart racing enthusiasts. These racers push the engines hard and after years of working to improve the breed, the base engine has become very reliable.
Bever and Ken have fitted the Aero 1000 to their Sprint after building fairly simple hardware to support the engine — see nearby photos of engine and mounts.
After we got the LSA Mall set up to receive a flock of airplanes, I was able to get around the sprawling Sun ‘n Fun campus to see what else I planned to cover as the show begins. It starts Tuesday the 5th and runs through Sunday the 10th. I hope you can make it but if not, I’ll be reporting on the aircraft that I think may interest you.
Now represented in the USA, Bat Hawk travel traveled half way around the globe to get to Sun ‘n Fun. This side-by-side two seater has well established itself in South Africa but will now test interest from Americans. Based on rave reviews from those with experience, the odds look promising.
One company has focused for years on creating replicas for famous designs harking back to World War I, a time not long after the Wright Brothers first flew their Flyer on the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk. We’re talking century-old designs, created with slide rules and drafting pape and not much prior art on which to rely.
Replicas are big business in cars, boats, and, of course airplanes. Some like Airdrome cater to one era of history enthusiasts. Others cater to a later war period. Scalewings goes to great effort to make these designs as authentic as possible while building at around 50% of original scale. The task is impressive, enough so that most of us have no real idea of the detail that is goes into something like the model in the photos.
One of my favorites to come along in the second decade of Light-Sport Aircraft is the 
I didn’t get to visit with anyone from The Airplane Factory on set-up day to hear if they have any late-breaking news — so I’ll go back, of course — but the sharpest paint job I found anywhere on the grounds was the handsome Sling 4 seen nearby. I have reported on Sling LSA and 
If AeroSport sounds busy (and they are!), 
To close this preview article so I can go to bed and get ready to do this all again tomorrow, I want to extend a thank you on behalf of myself and 