Aero 2014 is history now but sorting through all the discoveries and reviewing hundreds of photos I shot will consume more time. Just to give a flavor of the diversity in the halls, I present some images below with photo captions. As time allows I will provide several articles about aircraft and concepts contained in the great halls of Aero. One topic I will not cover is the large number of radio control or other model airplanes I saw. In some years, such can take an entire gymnasium-sized hall by themselves … fascinating! Yet the image you see nearby is a shot taken by a small quad copter (photo inset) with its wide angle lens. Such tiny flying machines are surely part of our future and seeing things below is part of their mission (for better or worse). My LAMA Europe associate and friend, Jan Fridrich, asked a vendor to shoot the image you see, which would not have been possible by any means other than a hydraulic lift.Flying through the Great Halls of Aero 2014
Flags of many nations fly over Comco’s exhibit, representing the dozens of countries sending visitors to Aero 2014.
Rotax BRP received the German aviation magazine Aerokurier‘s innovation award in the category “Powertrain of the Future” for the Rotax 912 iS aircraft engine. Pictured are Thomas Uhr, vice-president of BRP’s Austrian manufacturing facility and Rotax engine sales manager Christian Mundigler (R). The company’s newly introduced 912 iS Sport is getting positive reviews. For more info: Rotax Aircraft Engines and Rotax BRP
Diesel engines power most long-haul trucks, millions of automobiles in Europe and … very few airplanes. Yet they are surely coming as they can burn fuel available in many countries. The four cylinder DieselJet engine from Italy produces 115 horsepower (85 kW) and weighs 187 pounds (85 kg) dry. For more info: DieselJet
Tecnam produces not only the largest line of aircraft in the LSA space but reports building more than one every working day, a most impressive pace. To assist pilots requiring hand controls, they showed this Sierra fitted for use by disabled pilots in the UK. The British group receiving the Sierra is pictured with their Aerobility airplane. For more info: Tecnam Costruzioni Aeronautiche
At Aero I have seen many very clever ideas for wing shape and air control over the wing. As elegant as any is the internally slotted wing seen here (pay particular note to the inset photo). However, the Ellipse Spirit wing shape is also beautiful with its gently curved leading and trailing edges, a technique also used on the horizontal tail (not seen). For more info: Ellipse Spirit
We’ve seen the Skyleader 600 at recent airshows in the USA. It’s a handsome all-metal low wing airplane with a backward hinging canopy. Jacksonville, Florida-based importer, Randell Dutton, indicated he will next bring in this GP One, which offers lower cost and is aimed at flight school use. It uses a different construction technique than other Skyleaders models. For more info: Skyleader GP One and Skyleader USA.
A few Samba LSA came into the USA although the current importer for Distar CZ only appears to promote the company’s Lambada motorglider. This airplane’s jaunty winglet and compound leading edge caught my eye but I was even more impressed with the creative graphic treatment that runs nose to tail. Europeans show a flare for presentation we don’t often see in the USA. For more info: Aeronautical & Industrial Resources USA
Spain is not a country from which Americans see many light aircraft but that could be changing as one importer I spoke to at Sun ‘n Fun may import a gyro from ELA Aviacion. The company has several models but this 10-Eclipse, debuted at Aero 2014, drew my attention more than any other. Inside and out, this is clearly an advanced state of the gyro artform. For more info: ELA 10-Eclipse
On a few occasions, I have written about Atol Avion’s Amphibian (earlier article). In their newest model shown nearly ready at Aero, I find a rare mostly-wood structure LSA candidate. Finland, way up near the article circle, is blessed with lots of high quality wood and lots of water. The airplane shows many clever design aspects, for example, staggered seating that explains two-position center control “yokes.” I’ll have more on it later. For more info, read: Atol’s blog
Aero 2014 is history now but sorting through all the discoveries and reviewing hundreds of photos I shot will consume more time. Just to give a flavor of the diversity in the halls, I present some images below with photo captions. As time allows I will provide several articles about aircraft and concepts contained in the great halls of Aero. One topic I will not cover is the large number of radio control or other model airplanes I saw. In some years, such can take an entire gymnasium-sized hall by themselves … fascinating! Yet the image you see nearby is a shot taken by a small quad copter (photo inset) with its wide angle lens. Such tiny flying machines are surely part of our future and seeing things below is part of their mission (for better or worse). My LAMA Europe associate and friend, Jan Fridrich, asked a vendor to shoot the image you see, which would not have been possible by any means other than a hydraulic lift. Instead, this took a few seconds and cost virtually nothing, which tells you all you care to know about the coming age of aerial surveillance.
In the images below, I offer you a further glimpse to accompany my first impressions piece and a couple articles presented since. Following these I expect to prepare articles on a variety of engines I saw at Aero plus a wider review of the many handsome gyroplanes one found in exhibit after exhibit. I took a look at several four seaters other than those I’ve already written about from leading LSA vendors (watch out Cessna, Piper, Cirrus, & Diamond!). I’ll write more about the wave of small, highly affordable aircraft being developed in response to lightened regulations … yes, rule writers actually loosen their grip on occasion, and when they do, innovation can blossom. I will also touch on aircraft from countries you hardly know exist, yet companies and their engineers in those nations have created some eye-catching aircraft. The world of aviation is rich at Aero. In their wrap-up news release, show organizers made these statements: “In global aviation, Aero has a strong standing; pilots and aircraft experts from around the world come to Lake Constance [in the very south of Germany].” At the end of the event facility CEO Klaus Wellmann and Aero project manager Roland Bosch gave a positive assessment of how the exhibition went for all participants, “With 606 exhibitors from 35 countries … a highly professional and international range of general aviation was present in Friedrichshafen [and an] audience from around the globe had the industry conference on its flight plan: 33,400 visitors came” representing a modest growth from last year.
Aero 2014 is history now but sorting through all the discoveries and reviewing hundreds of photos I shot will consume more time. Just to give a flavor of the diversity in the halls, I present some images below with photo captions. As time allows I will provide several articles about aircraft and concepts contained in the great halls of Aero. One topic I will not cover is the large number of radio control or other model airplanes I saw. In some years, such can take an entire gymnasium-sized hall by themselves … fascinating! Yet the image you see nearby is a shot taken by a small quad copter (photo inset) with its wide angle lens. Such tiny flying machines are surely part of our future and seeing things below is part of their mission (for better or worse). My LAMA Europe associate and friend, Jan Fridrich, asked a vendor to shoot the image you see, which would not have been possible by any means other than a hydraulic lift.
At Aero 2013 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, I was caught by the smooth, lean lines of an airplane called Prime by designer/producer 
Blackshape’s Prime will be distributed in North America by the Aircit Aviation-Aviasport partnership. The importer reported, “Prime delivers … performance and economy for a very low operating cost. Using a complete suite of electronic equipment, the Prime redefines the standards for pleasure and efficiency by taking full advantage of the strength and light weight of carbon fiber. The well-known and respected Rotax 912 ULS engine contributes to the reliability and efficiency of operation of this futuristic aircraft.” Standard equipment: retractable landing gear; digital instrumentation; variable pitch propeller; autopilot; survival [cockpit] cell; and ballistic parachute. Prime specs: VNE of 212 mph; cruise at 75% throttle up to 170 mph (and remember, this is claimed from just 100 horsepower); maximum takeoff weight 1,232 pounds (the original LSA weight before it was bumped to 1,320 pounds). With two fuel tanks totaling 29 gallons, range at cruising speed is reported at 688 statute miles. In economy mode at 140 mph, range increases past 1,000 stature miles. Takeoff and landing requires less than 500 feet on a paved or smooth natural surface.
Developed and produced since 2011 by Blackshape SpA in Italy, Prime is now well known in Europe and the Middle-East. The importer claims the Italian Navy is working with Blackshape to develop a program using Prime aircraft to train its pilots for aircraft carrier operations. A more powerful version with Rotax’s turbo 914 at 115 horsepower and 1,650 pound gross weight is reportedly in preparation for Canada and the United States. For more civil uses in North America — and for those who don’t mind paying for the fetching shape, the Advanced Ultralight Aircraft (AULA) ready-to-fly version of Blackshape’s Prime is available starting at about $242,000. Aircit Aviation-Aviasport’s first model is expected in April at the Lachute, Quebec Airport, 40 minutes west of Montreal. The Italian manufacturer requires all Blackshape distributors to offer at least 10 hours of flight training in the Prime upon purchase.
As the fun diminished the costs rose in proportion. One of the original ideas behind the whole LSA concept was affordability, but with some aircraft now priced up to $200,000 that particular principle seems to have been forgotten [though more modestly priced LSA do remain available]. Consequently, when Chip Erwin of 
It was the great Leonardo (da Vinci, not di Caprio) who observed that, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” — and this seemingly simple machine is indeed quite sophisticated. Looking rather like a 1950’s Slingsby T.38 ‘Grasshopper’ primary glider, it features a traditional tubular structure with the wings and tail surfaces covered with fabric. It is currently powered by a two-stroke single cylinder Vittorazi Moster 185 engine that produces 25 horsepower yet only weighs a very impressive 25 pounds, although Chip also told me that plans to produce an electric-powered version are well advanced.
As you’d expect the instruments are an object display in minimalism, being a single LCD unit for rpm, CHT etc., plus a very simple ASI. Intriguingly the Zigolo is offered with a choice of whole aircraft recovery systems as standard — either a rocket-propelled BRS or the pneumatic Comelli system. The empty weight is 210 pounds and it’s 18 feet long, with a wingspan of 36 feet 4 inches and a wing loading of 2.8 pounds per square foot. Zigolo stalls at 19 knots, cruises at 36 knots while burning 1.6 gallons per hour and has a Vne of 52 knots, while the minimum sink rate is 276 fpm and the best glide a claimed 11:1 Anyway, that’s enough facts and figures — is this thing as much fun to fly as it looks? Absolutely! Having strapped it onto me (well, that’s what it feels like) Chip gave the pull-start an energetic tug and the little motor burst into life. With Chip’s parting words ringing in my ears — “no stalls, spins or high-speed stuff — we haven’t had a chance to expand the envelope yet” — I resolved to keep everything right in the middle and just buzz around while getting a feel for the thing.
As I’d expected, as you have three wheels, no brakes and a fixed tailwheel (a castoring unit is in design) the trickiest part is taxiing. It requires a certain boldness, as the only way to do a 180 is stick full forward, squeeze the trigger (to blip the engine), full rudder and deftly pirouette while blipping the engine to keep the tail up! Oh, did I mention the throttle? It’s a trigger on the stick. [As Dave mentioned above, instrumentation is similarly basic, for one, using the elegantly simple Hall Windspeed Meter that never needs a battery or any maintenance. Very simple aircraft like Zigolo do not need fancy glass cockpits to operate as a motorglider — ideally going aloft for engine shut down to exploring soaring flight, an act that will be even easier with an electric motor in the works. However, adding 
Once lined up I realized that there really isn’t anything to either check, set or adjust, so simply squeeze the trigger and off I jolly well went. The acceleration is reasonably good, and got better once I lifted the tiny tailwheel off the ground. As it slid into the sky I immediately saw the attraction of this curious contraption. The forward field of view is exceptional, the aircraft feels surprisingly stable and it’s just — well — fun! As I know this is the sole Zigolo in the country and it has only a few hours on it I content myself with buzzing up and down the runway for Jim Lawrence’s camera and making lots of take offs and landings. It’s a real hoot, and I’d love to fly the electric version on a gentle summer’s evening and spend a lazy hour simply floating about as the last of the day’s thermals waft out of a warm wood. One of my favorite maxims is “never fly over anything you can’t glide clear of” — and having an electric motor would definitely be nice, as with a best L/D of only 11:1 Zigolo won’t glide too far.
Of course, all SSDRs have their limitations. Quite obviously, any wind much more than a gentle zephyr would make flying it most disagreeable. However, if you want a simple, affordable machine whose primary purpose is to simply allow people to experience the joy of flight then this could be just the thing. So can the Zigolo make sport flying truly affordable? I hope so. As the late but not overly lamented Spice Girls might have put it, I really, really, really want to zig-a-zig Zigolo!
