For your enjoyment, here is arguably the most unique airplane I found on the grounds of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 …and with around 3,000 show planes, that is truly saying something.
This aircraft is made almost entirely of foam sheets that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s. It uses two electric motors for thrust. The aircraft is a biplane taildragger. Batteries provide the fuel.
Plus, yes, it actually flies! Catch some of the action in two videos below.
Award Winner?
This unusual arrangement was prepared for EAA’s tough judges. However it fared in that evaluation, this clearly wins an award in my mind for being highly original, unique, super affordable, and OK… it is rather delightfully weird, not that that I see anything wrong with that.
What you are seeing in the nearby photos and videos below is Peter Sripol‘s man-carrying scratch-built aircraft project.
Peter is a longtime modeler and homebuilder with a popular YouTube channel that boasts more than 650,000 subscribers!Twin-Electric-Motor Biplane Made Mostly from Foam …and, Yes, a Human Flies It!
For your enjoyment, here is arguably the most unique airplane I found on the grounds of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 …and with around 3,000 show planes, that is truly saying something.
This aircraft is made almost entirely of foam sheets that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s. It uses two electric motors for thrust. The aircraft is a biplane taildragger. Batteries provide the fuel.
Plus, yes, it actually flies! Catch some of the action in two videos below.
Award Winner?
This unusual arrangement was prepared for EAA’s tough judges. However it fared in that evaluation, this clearly wins an award in my mind for being highly original, unique, super affordable, and OK… it is rather delightfully weird, not that that I see anything wrong with that.
What you are seeing in the nearby photos and videos below is Peter Sripol‘s man-carrying scratch-built aircraft project.
Peter is a longtime modeler and homebuilder with a popular YouTube channel that boasts more than 650,000 subscribers! He brought his foam homebuilt ultralight project to Oshkosh 2018 and we found it in the ultralight area, now rebadged as the “Fun Fly Zone.”
EAA reported, “Peter’s first project was inspired by a visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, and he’s applying lessons learned from that ultralight, which featured wings built with foam board insulation, to his newest model.”
The unorthodox ultralight — I cannot recall ever seeing a biplane twin engine aircraft …certainly not with electric motors — was built from foam board insulation, fiberglass, wood, and some pieces of aluminum. He is so frugal that some of his controls are contained in cardboard boxes. The aircraft weighs around 215 pounds, well under the Part 103 limit of 254 pounds. Part 103 ultralight vehicles can use two or more engines/motors.
The fuel source is a series of nine batteries driving dual model-airplane engines. Peter built a first ultralight that EAA reported “was minimally planned, in contrast to [this] design, which [he] took time to design in CAD.” The first video explains why the motors have the wood constructions holding them along with other design considerations. The second video, Peter’s, shows some of the other building effort.
Think what you will of this project but I admire his skill, tenacity, originality, and his… well, “go for it” attitude.
We interviewed Peter at AirVenture Oshkosh 2018. See that below but stay tuned for more…
Next you can enjoy Peter’s video about building the project. It’s cleverly done just like his unique aircraft:
For your enjoyment, here is arguably the most unique airplane I found on the grounds of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 …and with around 3,000 show planes, that is truly saying something.
This aircraft is made almost entirely of foam sheets that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s. It uses two electric motors for thrust. The aircraft is a biplane taildragger. Batteries provide the fuel.
Plus, yes, it actually flies! Catch some of the action in two videos below.
Award Winner?
This unusual arrangement was prepared for EAA’s tough judges. However it fared in that evaluation, this clearly wins an award in my mind for being highly original, unique, super affordable, and OK… it is rather delightfully weird, not that that I see anything wrong with that.
What you are seeing in the nearby photos and videos below is Peter Sripol‘s man-carrying scratch-built aircraft project.
Peter is a longtime modeler and homebuilder with a popular YouTube channel that boasts more than 650,000 subscribers!
“As promised, 
Events like the one AeroJones hosted may be critically important to introduce literally billions of people in the Asian-Pacific region to the idea of flying for fun.
In addition to China and Taiwan, AeroJones Aviation is able to ship fully manufactured CTLS aircraft to other Asia-Pacific countries including Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Korea, and Thailand.
You have more privileges than you may know with your Light-Sport Aircraft.
“I deliver on wheels but for $300, an owner can add the float option, which provides mounting brackets attached to specially-reinforced fuselage points.”
Maybe you never flew a floatplane or seaplane (the latter implying a hull). If that’s true you are missing one of the singular pleasures of flying. Landing on water is almost unreal. It seems unlikely but when you find yourself about to touchdown on a lake, you know you have arrived in a way few people in history have ever considered much less achieved.
If you must have two seats, FireFly loses out, being designed expressly to be a single seater. Nonetheless, if budget is a primary driver for your airplane purchase, as it is for most people, the FireFly on floats looks to be a highly attractive option.
A new-to-Americans Light-Sport Aircraft made its debut showing at AirVenture 2018. Here is the Magnus Aircraft Fusion 212.
Snyder and Foldesi exhibited their brightly painted low wing that uses mostly carbon fiber construction and a dual taper wing. Full dual controls are available at both seats. Toe brakes on each side guide a castoring nose wheel via differential braking. Rudder pedals are adjustable to accommodate pilot height differences. Leather upholstery is used throughout and cabin heat is provided.
“This low-wing monoplane [has a] symmetrical wing profile that provides it with superb aerobatic capabilities,” said Magnus Aircraft. However, the company advised, “While the aircraft has aerobatic capabilities … as a Normal Category SLSA aircraft, Fusion 212 is presently limited to a maximum of 60 degrees of bank and a maximum pitch up or down of 30 degrees when operating in the United States.”
The Santoms will take over production and sales of the single place Hawk models including the Part 103 model and the Ultra, a somewhat beefier model that is built as an Experimental Amateur Built (EAB). My discussion with Bob and LB was encouraging. I was impressed to hear the enthusiasm from father and son for keeping this series of Hawks available.
On my first day on Wittman Field here in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, we took the privilege to drive around the grounds and capture video scenes as hundreds of exhibitors arrive and set up their displays.
We will have lots more to report and will capture many videos for you, but here’s a little five-minute glimpse of what it looks like as the show unfolds before our eyes.
This article has been 
The KRT2 VHF transceiver has already been installed in over 10,000 aircraft across Europe. It features an integrated intercom, a dual watch mode (the pilot can monitor two frequencies at the same time) and it has 100 memory slots for preferred frequencies that tie in with airport identifiers. The radio can be updated with new software at any time. Like the transponder, the KRT2 features digital electronics which make it light, compact and reliable.
Infotech in Part 103 ultralight vehicles means far more than GPS or even synthetic vision digital screens (imagine an iPad mated to a 
Developers probably use Part 103 because they can do what they want sooner, easier, and not require a pilot’s license — or much FAA oversight. Conversely, any aircraft with two or more seats must use another FAR section inviting much more regulation.
In a CBS News article, Leng was reported saying, “When you press the thumb-stick to climb, you have absolute full control. When you stop in the middle of the air and go off the joystick, the aircraft freezes.” These phrases are hardly the way a pilot would say it; perhaps he stated it this way because he was speaking to a non-pilot reporter.
Tested by Eskil Amdal, Equator reportedly accelerated to 70 knots before leaving the ground and flying down the runway at 100 knots at nine meters (about 30 feet, at the edge of ground effect), before landing smoothly. Amdal reported stable flight with good controllability in all axes. Two more flights were performed the following day, further establishing confidence in the flying characteristics.
“Speaking at a press conference in Rovaniemi, Finland on Tuesday afternoon, Markku Koivurova, CEO 
The report continued, “Koivurova said that the accident would not pose a major setback for the small plane manufacturing firm,” while adding that the company will suffer additional loss by taking one customer plane out of the production queue for further testing.
In the world of Light-Sport Aircraft, we have more than 90 manufacturers and 145 Special LSA (
In Virus (yes, I’ve heard most the jokes about the name) Michael refers to the best seller of the comprehensive Pipistrel line. The reference here is to Virus SW. While the company has succeeded with a number of their other models, Virus SW — the shorter wing span and higher cruise speed variation — is the clear front runner among their production.
This particular airplane — nicknamed “Mahi” by its owners — is part of the WE! Expedition project, in which two female pilots, a mother and daughter, intend to fly around the world. Pipistrel will no doubt promote that voyage as they’ve done other global circumnavigation flights.
“We will also have 10,000 copies of the new Pipistrel Magazine available for giveaway,” said Coates. “This magazine features the full history of Pipistrel along with the different projects we have been involved with in the past 30 years.” Such company magazines used to be called “house organs” and Pipistrel’s features information about the whole aircraft line.
After Aero 2016, we enthusiastically 
Zlin principal and designer Pascale Russo (in video below), is another of the sleep-deprived creators of cool aircraft. He saw another unfilled niche, and since nature abhors a vacuum, Pascale got busy with a new model. Welcome to Ultra Shock, unveiled at this years wonderful 
Ultra Shock also retain its strength. “We loaded and drop tested [Ultra Shock] up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) from 120 centimeters (about 4 feet) above the ground without any damage.” That may not sound like such a high drop height but I’ve seen test reports and can attest that is a very demanding test, especially at such weight. The design “virtually eliminates the touchdown rebound,” Pascale said. “We proceeded from the original Savage Cub-S,” Pascale continued, “reinforcing and refining the fuselage framework, increasing … the cockpit height, improving the accessibility, and generally improving ergonomics on board.” In other words, he made sure larger pilots will fit well.
Despite Ultra Shock’s lighter weight design, Zlin said the “engine bay can accommodate different engines from the standard 
He managed to reach a targeted and demonstrated minimum empty weight — an impressively slim 649 pounds — with a 100 horsepower Rotax 912 with radio and basic instrumentation and a weight savings program which introduced carbon fiber elements, light weight battery, and Oratex fabric covering (a weight-saving material with already colored cloth) in place of classic heat-shrink Dacron, among other choices.It appears he succeeded well. Ultra Shock is significantly lighter than most of the other Cub-clones, which should translate to great performance with the Rotax 912 and reduced overall expense. Zlin is targeting €95,000 (about $115,000) for a well-equipped Ultra Shock but for U.S. pricing and availability, please 
Many pilots who first set eyes on the SW51, a precisely faithful 70%-scale imitation of the famous North American Aviation P-51 Mustang managed to utter a single word: “WOW!”
Thanks to his youthful associate, Christian von Kessel, SW51 has been refunded and reenfranchised, bringing it to reality. The earlier producer group stumbled and this amazing construction never reached market.
For those ready for the hottest action, you can build the Experimental version and install a Chevy V-8 engine, but that’s well beyond the scope of this website. If you’re curious, though, ScaleWings says the airframe can take up to 600 horsepower.
SW 51 also bests the original with detachable outer wing sections that feature an autoconnect design; wing locking connects flaps, ailerons, pitot tube, electric and fuel lines. The developer reports the process takes one person a mere five minutes to complete.
Gulp! Can you afford this beauty? Budgets vary by person, but SW51 is roughly comparable to other higher-end Special LSA. In Europe, the assembled base price is about $182,900, though shipping to the U.S. and other countries will add expense. Yankees wanting the retractable version will indeed have to choose a kit, with the cost starting at around $140,000 for a quick-build version, however, this does not include the engine. A wide range is available if you kit build, up to a very powerful V8 engine. Given what you may be acquiring, those prices are reasonably affordable if you yearn for the full fighter jock sensation of flying your own 70%-scale P-51 Mustang lookalike.
At the Rotax event for journalists allowing reporters like me to fly their new 915 engine (more about that and a 
Imagine you are out flying your light aircraft over the countryside. Imagine you have strayed into unfamiliar territory with no recognizable references. Imagine you suffer an engine failure. This is unlikely with our modern great engines, but we all know it happens.
The service can be used with a free mobile app or an online map. The developers who created this said, “It can also be built into any other app, platform, or website, with just a few lines of code.”
Years ago, back in the late 1990s, I flew an aircraft called JetFox 97. It resembled the Flightstar of the day and both were modeled on talented European designer Hans Gygax’s designs. Along came Light-Sport Aircraft in 2004; years passed with not much word about the increasingly aged JetFox 97.
While FX1 clearly follows the Jetfox 97 — its overall shape, planform, and layout are very similar — the new model is very different in some ways not obvious in the nearby photos.
We’ve got the answers and more.
Look for Deon, Alfredo, FX1, and L600 in the ultralight / light plane area of Oshkosh at the south end of the sprawling airshow grounds (you can take a free tram ride if the hike is too much for you).
The big Italian company that LSA enthusiasts know very well through models such as P92, Sierra, and P2008 has a large and growing presence in global aviation. Their developments are broad and delve into aviation segments large and small. They are also getting ready to celebrate a benchmark birthday.
The Leica CityMapper is specifically designed for 3D city modelling and urban mapping. It is the world’s first hybrid airborne sensor combining both oblique and nadir imaging as well as a LiDAR system.
BRM Aero boss and chief design, Milan Bristela, has convincingly proven his visionary credentials. Here’s 
All that space might be useful for another kind of enjoyment: bush flying, landing on river beds, camping …that sort of adventure.
What’s great about the Beringer/Alaska adaptation is that it follows Milan’s mantra to keep as many new innovations as possible retrofittable to older models. That works here, too, but owners get a bonus.
U.S. representation is very strong with 
“Oh, don’t worry,” your friend replies. “Just move the joystick as you’d expect. If anything goes wrong, just hit the big red button and it will safely return you to precisely where you took off.”
Safety, low noise, performance, ease of control, and maintenance cost reduction are the selling points of Whisper, company officials said. They plan to move towards manufacture and marketing by 2020, hoping to sell ten machines in 2020, twenty in 2021, and forty in 2022. Those targets sound refreshingly sane to me, as opposed to other builders boasting huge volumes just over the horizon.
Yes, of course. I 
Whatever the eventual solution, it has become more and more clear to me that multiple-rotor aircraft — some with wings that pivot to transition from vertical liftoff to speedier in-flight cruising — remain clearly in the future of flight.
For the moment, Brian is not designing. He’s fighting for his very survival. …literally!
“Dan, I know that you are well connected in the ultralight world and I know that a lot of ultralight people are amazed at what Brian has done. Can you share the attached Go Fund Me link? We set it up as a great way to give back and help out a man that has given so much to all of us.”