You know you have a great job when… you get to fly a brand new Light-Sport Aircraft on a bright, beautiful, blue sky day at a Sport Pilot-friendly airport. The job: writing this story and making a video. The task: Go fly (duh!). The airport: Mt. Vernon (KMVN), the award-winning Illinois facility that hosts the Midwest LSA Expo lead by the most customer-attentive airport manager one can imagine. What’s not to love?
The specific task in this case: Fly the Texas Aircraft Manufacturing Colt 100, now in the final stages of gaining its Special Airworthiness certificate as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft. See our earlier article.
The day could not have been more lovely and the air has never been smoother. The only thing I needed to make the experience a complete success was pleasant cabin mate as we went aloft to check out the Colt.Midwest LSA Expo 2019 — Day 2: Flying the Texas Aircraft Colt Light-Sport Aircraft
You know you have a great job when… you get to fly a brand new Light-Sport Aircraft on a bright, beautiful, blue sky day at a Sport Pilot-friendly airport. The job: writing this story and making a video. The task: Go fly (duh!). The airport: Mt. Vernon (KMVN), the award-winning Illinois facility that hosts the Midwest LSA Expo lead by the most customer-attentive airport manager one can imagine. What’s not to love?
My time aloft was with Quirin Riddle, a young pilot that handled Colt with precision, methodically following checklists.
The specific task in this case: Fly the Texas Aircraft Manufacturing Colt 100, now in the final stages of gaining its Special Airworthiness certificate as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft. See our earlier article.
The day could not have been more lovely and the air has never been smoother. The only thing I needed to make the experience a complete success was pleasant cabin mate as we went aloft to check out the Colt. Base covered: Quirin Riddle, a 300-hour pilot with 30 hours in type showed me around the cockpit and how Colt behaves in the air.
Look for a full Video Pilot Report and interview when Videoman Dave can get this one edited*.
Gone Colt Flying!
As I usually do, I asked Quirin to treat our flight as if it was you — yes, YOU! — in the cockpit. I told her to demonstrate for me what she would do for any prospective customer. You want to do this; I was fortunate enough to do it for you.
The idea is that since you could not go aloft in Colt I wanted to do what you’d have done had you been at Midwest LSA Expo (which I hope you will be next year; it is simply perfect for demonstration flights… the best of any airshow we attend). Through many years of experience, I have learned to start these Video Pilot Reports by asking the factory pilot to show me exactly what they’d show you if you were the one sitting in my seat.
Karin did that, so we ran through taxiing, basic takeoff and climb to altitude, followed by maneuvers. We did cruise speed evaluations, slow flight, and stalls. After she showed me what Colt could do, I requested the controls and I performed my usual evaluation starting with some dutch rolls, a non-aerobatic exercise I use to learn the handling characteristics. If I can do reasonably coordinated dutch rolls pretty quickly, as I did in Colt, that tells me this is a well-handling flying machine.
Unlike most LSA, Colt uses a yoke rather than conventional or side stick. I’m a joystick lover but I acknowledge most pilots trained in the last few decades may be more comfortable with a yoke. Some prefer it so much they will tell you an airplane is easer to handle with a yoke. I think it’s a personal preference but if you prefer a yoke, Texas Aircraft’s Colt is one that may please you.
Colt is an all-aluminum construction, meaning any repair work needed after a purchase can be done by a great many mechanics anywhere in the world. It is powered by the Rotax 912 ULS carbureted, 100 horsepower engine. Texas Aircraft chose a three-blade Sterna prop. You may not be familiar with this Asian brand but it appears very well made. Dynon provided the avionics and auto pilot.
We rotated at 50 knots after a takeoff roll of 400-500 feet, common for many Light-Sport Aircraft. Remember that this is a prototype Colt. The number two model is currently going through the process of gaining Special LSA approval and a third, conforming example is under construction in the company’s home base in Hondo, Texas. Prototypes are usually somewhat heavier than final production examples and N105TX was no exception. In standard production models, I would expect takeoff roll to be marginally shorter and the climb to more robust than the 700-800 feet per minute we averaged on a day slightly warmer than standard atmospheric conditions.
Colt’s aluminum skin — fuselage, wings, tail, and control surfaces — is supported by a welded chromoly steel safety cell. The construction techniques have been proven by designer Caio Jordão‘s model from a different company called Conquest 180. Jordão’s work has resulted in more than 300 planes that have amassed 150,000 flight hours. His son Diego assists him.
In final form, Colt will offer cruise at about 110 knots though we saw less at lower altitudes and without final optimization of prop and engine, plus the added prototype weight.
Stalls occurred at very slow speeds — high 30 knots to low 40 knots indicated air speeds — and were all very well behaved. In all maneuvering that I did, Colt felt very solid and secure. It should be a great aircraft choice for those who want that classic Cessna experience in a Light-Sport Aircraft.
Speed Specs for Colt 100
- Never Exceed — 134 knots / 154 mph
- Max Speed at Max Continuous Power — 120 knots / 138 mph
- Max Speed in Turbulent Conditions — 105 knots / 120 mph
- Maneuvering Speed — 90 knots / 103 mph
- Best Angle of Climb Speed — 60 knots / 69 mph
- Stall Speed, Flaps Retracted — 44 knots / 50 mph
- Stall Speed, Flaps for Landing — 38 knots / 44 mph
* What does it take to edit a Video Pilot Report?
While Colt attracted attendees of Midwest LSA Expo 2019, Texas Aircraft’s wheeled display (background) caused “trailer envy” among some of the other vendors at the event.
Let’s start by considering we mounted six cameras that ran for an hour each, two hand held cameras used to shoot 45 minutes more, plus a series of still shots. Then add the audio track from multiple cameras. First task: watch and log every minute of every video — that’s around nine hours merely to observe what you have available to use in assembling the video.
Are you exhausted yet? You haven’t even begun editing. Then scour the Internet for more useful footage and review a thumb drive the company provided. You have now spent about two full workdays and you still haven’t even started editing. Pulling it all together will consume more days …all for a single video.
That’s probably more than you wanted to know but hopefully you get the idea that these popular Video Pilot Reports represent a lot of work.
Please be patient while Videoman Dave does his job.
While you wait on the formal VPR, here’s a mini-video to whet your appetite:
You know you have a great job when… you get to fly a brand new Light-Sport Aircraft on a bright, beautiful, blue sky day at a Sport Pilot-friendly airport. The job: writing this story and making a video. The task: Go fly (duh!). The airport: Mt. Vernon (KMVN), the award-winning Illinois facility that hosts the Midwest LSA Expo lead by the most customer-attentive airport manager one can imagine. What’s not to love?
The specific task in this case: Fly the Texas Aircraft Manufacturing Colt 100, now in the final stages of gaining its Special Airworthiness certificate as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft. See our earlier article.
The day could not have been more lovely and the air has never been smoother. The only thing I needed to make the experience a complete success was pleasant cabin mate as we went aloft to check out the Colt.
If SuperSport looks familiar to you, it should. It’s based on the CTSW but joins several elements of the newer CTLS. In Europe, Flight Design has continued to deliver a lighter model from the CT series to conform to the microlight or European ultralight parameters.
CT SuperSport can be delivered with a 710 pound empty weight that puts it well below many Light-Sport Aircraft and more than 100 pounds lighter than the longer CTLS. “This weight reduction was accomplished by using simplified avionics and equipment plus some lighter parts from the European version of the CT,” said Flight Design.
CT SuperSport is some 13 inches shorter than CTLS, Tom Jr. noted and it does not have the hat rack or aft cabin windows of CTLS. CT SuperSport also uses an electric trim for pitch only while CTLS has pitch, aileron, and rudder trim by wheels.
Father and son Gutmanns run 
You have two more days of 
Larry Mednick is a happily married man now but he remains a restless designer, always striving for a new variation on the exquisite theme he started with Revo ten years ago.
Finally comes RevX. Larry said about Rev that it is a delightful trike that he has thoroughly enjoyed since it was released four years ago. However, it is a calm weather flyer. I see nothing wrong with that but the lightweight airframe of Rev means it is somewhat more vulnerable should conditions pick up strength.
However, in exchange for some building effort RevX buyers will get a quite capable trike with impressive performance.
“The single surface RevX wing has a limited speed range,” Larry explained. “Pilots will see stall at 28 mph, normal cruise at 45 mph and the wing maxes out at 58 mph,” he noted but the handling of a single surface wing is superior.
As I turn onto final James Milnes’ voice suddenly crackles in my headset, “Golf Oscar Kilo Uniform Bravo, don’t forget it’s a tailwheel today!” The reason for James’ timely reminder was that when I’d flown the same aircraft a few weeks previously it had been configured as a trike, but today it’s a taildragger! Like most things in life, sport flying isn’t getting any cheaper. Hangarage, insurance, maintenance and fuel are all getting more expensive. But what if you had an aeroplane that lived on a road-legal trailer and fitted in your garage? One you could fly from practically any friendly farmer’s field while burning only eight liters (about 2 gallons) of mogas an hour and that you could do all the maintenance on?
Before going flying, a look around the TLAC facility reveals quite a few Kubs in various stages of construction, and the large lift (which wouldn’t look entirely out of place on an aircraft carrier) that conveys completed aircraft from the production line on the first floor down to the ground. Unlike some of the SSDRs that I’ve tested over the years, the Kub looks very well made, and also quite robust. TLAC boss Paul Hendry-Smith explained that although SSDR aircraft don’t need specific approvals from a national aviation authority or administration, as the Kub is descended from the Reality Aircraft Kid, it is built to British Civil Airworthiness Requirements, uses aircraft-quality materials and is “a proper aeroplane.”
Currently offered by TLAC as either a basic kit, “Fast-Build” kit or as a RTF factory-built SSDR microlight, the Kub is of classic rag ‘n’ tube design. Construction is primarily of TIG-welded 4130-gauge aircraft grade steel tube that is then powder-coated. The fuselage has a triangular cross-section aft of the cockpit, while the wings use Avid Flyer/Kitfox-style tubular aluminium spars and plywood ribs. Oratex UL600 covers the fuselage, wings and tail, with composites used for the cowling, which half-covers the Hirth F23 engine.
Now, I’m not a huge fan of two-stroke aero-engines. In fact, even my lawnmower’s engine is a four-stroke, so I regard the F23 with a slightly jaundiced air. It’s quite an interesting, almost contradictory little engine, as despite Hirth having replaced the old-school magnetos with dual Capacitive Digital Ignition (CDI) units you still must mix the two-stroke oil into the petrol by hand. I believe automatic oil injection is an option, but even my Yamaha RD400 motorcycle had the oil automatically injected as standard in 1978. The Hirth does have an excellent power to weight ratio though – 50 horsepower from an aero-engine that only weighs 35 kilograms (77 pounds, including the electric starter and twin expansion-chamber exhaust) is not to be sniffed at. It’s fed from a pair of wing tanks with a combined capacity of 47 litres (12 gallons) via a fuselage-mounted four-litre (1 gallon) header tank.
The constant-chord wings are braced by vee-struts and fold aft using a similar system to the Scout’s, but what really catches my eye are the large, single-slotted mechanically-actuated flaps. These have four positions, 0°, 10°, 25°, and 40° but are they really necessary? This thing has a MAUW of only 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and with a wing area of 10.5 square meters (113 square feet) the wing loading is very low, so why would it need flaps? It’s obvious that without some sort of hinged trailing edge it wouldn’t be possible to fold the wings, as they’d foul the fuselage. But does it really need lift-and-drag producing aerodynamic flaps? Only one way to find out: fly it!
There are only four circuit breakers and four toggle switches (for the master, avionics master and CDI units), plus a large button for the starter — and that’s pretty well it for the electrical services, as the handheld-type Icom transceiver doesn’t count as installed equipment.
As you may readily appreciate, the pre-take checks continue the simple theme because the F23 is a two-stroke so it doesn’t need warming up and you can’t even check the oil temperature or pressure. Consequently, my generic SEP “flow check” is quickly completed but — as it always does when flying a two-stroke — the small “Master Caution” light in my brain flickers once or twice. “Have I missed something,” I wonder? To be certain, I waited until the CHTs rise slightly then run through the pre-takeoff checks again. Finally convinced I really haven’t forgotten anything, it’s time to fly.
Stalls — power on or off — are very benign. There is no artificial stall warner, but adequate natural pre-stall buffet. Furthermore, as you approach the stall a reasonable amount of backpressure on the stick is required. Recovery is quick and easy – just release the backpressure. Flaps up Kub stalls at around 28 knots, and although with full flap and some power you can get it down to around 22 knots it’s almost academic, as a sensible approach speed is well above stall. Trim is quite precise, although it did seem to run out of aft trim at my weight.
Cruise performance is also pretty well what you’d expect. A comfortable cruise speed is 50-55 knots, and although you can bump it up to 60 knots, the engine is buzzing quite frenetically and you’ll be burning (relatively) a lot more fuel. For example, at 50 knots you’re only burning around 10 liters an hour (2.6 gph), so the full 51 liters (13.5 gallons) provide a still-air range (including 30 minutes’ reserve fuel) of around 250 nautical miles. If you pull the power right back you can certainly improve the endurance; it’s just that if there’s any appreciable headwind at all then you won’t actually be going anywhere! However, when flying an aircraft like a Kub the journey is at least as important as the destination.
I typically use about 45 knots on final, and although if it’s flat calm you could probably safely shave off another five knots, I’d advise against it. A Kub has plenty of drag and not much inertia; the speed soon washes off. Plus, it sideslips superbly. Furthermore, when landing into just a stiff breeze the speed at touchdown is very slow, possibly less than 10 knots. Brakes are only for taxiing.
The air-to-airs with the C-152 carrying Keith and James were not easy as the Kub has practically no overtake, so I have to use a lot of geometric cut-off for the re-joins. With all the pictures recorded I briefly re-flew some of the items off the flight test card to see what — if any, changes in performance and handling had been produced by removing the nosewheel. Unsurprisingly, directional stability is stronger (less keel area in front of the center of pressure) but longitudinal stability weaker (more weight aft of the centre of gravity, exacerbating the limited aft trim). It also seems slightly faster (less drag). It’s also definitely better looking!
Sky Arrow producer 
Thanks to his work with more good folks at 
No wonder Sky Arrow was able to win Part 23 approval for Sky Arrow. This achievement is unusual because — at least until the rewritten Part 23 becomes law — the process that put tens of thousands of GA airplanes in the air has been breathtakingly expensive. Cirrus claimed the effort took tens of millions of dollars after the design work was completed. That’s too expensive for LSA builders. If you think some LSA are too costly now, let me try assure you that they would have far higher prices if they had to meet Part 23.
As most of the industry waits for FAA to complete their work, Sky Arrow USA has some luxury of time to plant their seeds.
The big difference here is that Sky Arrow may get in the business years ahead of other LSA players because Magnaghi already has Part 23 approval so they can perform commercial operations years before a manufacturer wanting to do so with a Light-Sport Aircraft model. “Also, because our airframe is tested to a 2x factor of safety, where most aircraft meet a 1.5x factor, we can carry the loads and do the work with greater assurance,” Marco explained.
If you are an ultralight enthusiast (as I certainly am!), then you are probably celebrating with me as FX1 joins the Special LSA fleet — which it does as Number 150 on our popular 
The older JetFox models were more clearly ultralights. These were European ultralights, which are somewhere between a Part 103 ultralight vehicle and LSA of today.
Chris created the 
“At the controls were southern California-based reps for the aircraft, Pete Schutte and Deon Lombard. In the post-flight photograph are (from left to right) Deon Lombard, 
I’ve already bought my ticket and will be on hand all three days of the Midwest LSA Expo. I hope you can make it, as well.
EAA announced attendance numbers identifying solid growth over last year, to 642,000 attendees
True to form as you might expect, 
What’s interesting here is that both companies have exclusively made low wing models in various configuration. Neither has made a high wing. One of these is also planning the new, powerful Rotax 915iS engine (though both producers are using that power plant in one of the low wing models.
I hope I didn’t drool on it as I looked it over.
How well is the category doing in other parts of the world? The answer draws on reports from dominant engine producer, Rotax Aircraft Engines, which has reported for years that the class of aircraft buying the most engines has been gyroplanes. Considering the many fixed wing designs also use that engine brand, Rotax’s statement carries tremendous weight.
Orion’s instrument panel is equipped with rotor revolution counter, altimeter, air-speed indicator, vertical compass, a digital engine monitoring system, and fuel level gauge. Additional, optional instrumentation can be added as desired.
“An innovative and avant-garde choice,” Magni said, “[915iS] brings to the whole range a considerable increase in cruising and climbing performance, with fuel consumption comparable to the Rotax 914.”
The design appears connected to the Fly Synthesis Texan from Italy and the designer reportedly assisted Sunward as they worked on this project. Yet a glance at the Texan (at bottom) shows numerous differences
All these differences suggest that if Aurora is a Texan, it is an improvement on the original. The company said Aurora is the first Chinese brand Light-Sport Aircraft to receive Chinese (CAAC) airworthiness certification.
A good marketer Denney’s Kitfox once employed a whole staff of sales people following up on loads of leads that the then-new design was generating. Even now, decades later, Kitfox, doing business as 
“I’ve been involved with autos and motorcycles my whole life,” Chris detailed, “but I had a passion for aviation. When the chance came to acquire the Kitfox Lite, I jumped.” With other family members, Chris established his company and set to building Kitfox Lite as a series of differently configured models… F1 UL base kit, F2 Flyer, F3 Speed, F4 Monster, and F5 Fujita. Each model step comes with addition features or equipment.” Yet, as Badland advises, “Every model is 100% Part 103 capable.” In fact, the aircraft at Oshkosh 2019 (nearby photos) weighed a mere 235 pounds, generously under the Part 103 limits of 254 pounds empty.
“Expect to spend anywhere between $11,700-$28,500 for a brand spanking new Badland kit,” said Chris, the owner of Badland Aircraft. “You can expect to spend another $2,000-$4,500 for the firewall forward parts unless you have an engine laying around.”
“With the folding wings and the ability to park it in a 20 foot by 8.5 foot enclosed car trailer or a single car garage, you’ll appreciate the versatility.”
After impressing European pilots at the big German show called Aero Friedrichshafen, producer InnovAviation brought their sleek and sexy FX1 for Americans to see at Oshkosh 2019. For American representation, the Italian producer will be teaming up with Deon Lombard, who also represents the 
I can’t imagine how anyone can look at Alfredo Di Cesare‘s creation and not react with admiration. Italian companies are known for dashing and innovative lines (think: Ferrari or any number of auto companies or LSA giant, Tecnam). Design talent is definitely not lacking from Italian products; FX1 should be an object of national pride.
Sitting in FX1 at Oshkosh, it is immediately clear this is not the JetFox97. The older model was much more challenging to enter as you had to contort your body to wriggle around structure. Once in it was comfortable but the all-new FX1 is far easier partly thanks to those shapely curved doors.
A luggage compartment aft of the cockpit has access doors on each side and the space is open side to side giving ample area for items you wish to transport to your destination. For things you might want in flight, a space behind the occupant’s heads is available. Seats are comfortable and the cockpit measures a broad 49 inches wide (almost 10 inches more than a Cessna 172).
Cruising the grounds at Oshkosh, looking for aircraft to report, I looked around the all-new Homebuilt Area. This group has long occupied a fairly spacious grassy area in a good location south of the Warbirds Area, said to be Oshkosh’s biggest draw. However, for 2019 EAA relocated the area bringing vendors closer to the densest customer traffic, which may encourage more attendees to examine their aircraft. Several exhibitors I spoke to seemed content with the new location.
Truthfully, Van’s Aircraft Vice President and Chief Engineer Rian Johnson is only displaying a personal project. RV-5 was never offered for sale and won’t be now. Yet the light aircraft enthusiast in me noticed it right away. Probably like most other attendees I wondered, “What is that?
“Some years back, I was up in a loft storage area looking for something and uncovered a dusty airframe. When I asked Dick about it, he asked, ‘Do you want it?’ Be careful what you ask for,” Rian noted although he did eventually tackle the restoration project marrying the airframe of RV-5 to the canopy of RV-2.
While organized as completely separate companies, Vashon shares common ownership through the name John Torode, the founder of Dynon Avionics. The two businesses work hard to stay separate but it’s clear one success might help the other just as John’s earlier success in the tech industry lead to Dynon being formed.
Estimated production numbers in 2019, if this is something you wish to divulge.
Is the R7 only for those interested in Sport Pilot/LSA?
Anecdotes from customers/operators and how you have addressed requests/problems (the true indicator of excellence).
Where is your exhibit located and who will a person meet there?
The update to industry covered a lot of ground but here we’ve tried to make it a quicker read.
Regarding the much-anticipated max weight increase, FAA refers to a “Power Index.” This term means a formula-based method to replace maximum takeoff weight in the definition of a LSA, involving wing area, horsepower, and takeoff weight.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 includes a deadline of 2023 for implementing a key mandate that suggests the longest it should take. Once an NPRM is published, a comment period follows to hear from the public after which FAA needs time to address the concerns raised during that comment period. After closure of that comment period, the FAA has 16 months to publish the Final Rule.
“All of these requests are on the table,” FAA acknowledged in the June teleconference. Of course, this does not mean all are certain to be included, but they represent a “huge opportunity [for industry and for pilots].”
Under this more performance-based approach, LSA manufacturers would have more flexibility in making trade-offs among these parameters to meet a new power index limit. That new limit is intended to allow for up to a safe, robust, four-seat airplane.
“The Flight Standards people are considering [aerial work],” said FAA.
Single Lever Control
At Henry’s age 13, the Scotts ordered an Aerolite. This followed many flights in a Cessna 150 with his father, where he learned all the basics of flight while someone was ready to assist when (and if) needed. However, at his youthful age and unable to obtain a Private Pilot certificate, Henry could not solo the C-150.
“Jabiru Aircraft will be offering an increased warranty at Oshkosh 2019, lasting the duration of the show,” Scott explained, revealing great confidence in this roomiest of Light-Sport Aircraft. “The warranty offered will be five years or 1,000 hours, whichever occurs first, for the airframe and the engine.”
In case the J230-D price tag sounds beyond your budget, remember Jabiru has other choices.
The cantilevered all-metal design has excellent ramp appeal, good specifications, and approval as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft is underway at this time, the developer said. He also added, is coming to the USA, to Florida, to be manufactured. The Brazilian invasion continues…
Evidence of Brazil’s prowess in creating aircraft that fit the LSA category include the excellent 
“All parts are manufactured with a high-speed CNC machine and precision tooling jigs,” André clarified. The well-equipped deluxe Hero with “complete options, is priced at $180,000 (U.S. dollars).
However, Pop Hero will still be delivered with Bose A20 headset, the Sensenich three blade prop, and sidestick. The lower-cost model is not pictured with this article “because we are working in its assembly, yet it is basically the same without winglets,” André said.
It’s not just pilots either. Although it’s a story worthy of another article, mechanics are predicted to have even higher job opportunities with pay scales increasing to entice trained workers. This is a great time to be a young person pursing aviation, better than I’ve seen in many decades of following aviation closely.
In 2018, LAMA honored Adam Morrison, the steady hand at the tiller of the ASTM committee that writes and updates the industry consensus standards that allow LSA to fly in America and other countries without having to go through terribly expensive Part 23 (Type Certificate) level approval.
For this 28th year of this award, aviation professionals have been invited to submit a name for consideration. From all the nominations received, the one with the most votes wins. Very simple rules guide the vote.
In an age where many Light-Sport Aircraft run $150,000, to well… possibly much more, “affordability” becomes something of a tortured word. What might seem affordable to a pilot that can buy a nearly one million dollar Cirrus SR22 is vastly different from what is affordable to most readers of this website. So, how affordable can Aerolite be to warrant my claiming “super affordability?”
Consider this perspective. Automobile companies, building tens or hundreds of thousands of a single model, have an average U.S. selling price of more than $35,000 in 2019. Yet here is an airplane, being built at a tiny fraction of the quantity of any automobile, selling for as little as half the price of the average new car. I find that amazing — and it appears a sufficient number to keep U-Fly-It active and profitable, so much so that the DeLand, Florida company can’t keep up.
Is Hirth’s 28-horsepower F33 enough power for bigger pilots, say someone weighing 250 pounds? Dennis answered.
Are Aerolite prices enticing for what many consider to be a dandy little airplane? Perhaps the following answer sums it up. When asked by a customer if U-Fly-It has any plans for a two seat model, Dennis’ responded, “We are building so many single seaters that we just don’t have time to make a two-seater. We literally can not build them fast enough.”