Search Results for : electric

The company I’ve been writing a lot about lately keeps finding more things for me to talk about. When I was in Slovenia last month, Pipistrel‘s movers and shakers told me on the QT to be ready for a major announcement soon. *** And here it is: just officially announced this morning, introducing the Alpha Trainer, a purpose-built version of the company’s winning Virus SW (Short Wing) cruiser. Designed for the flight school market, it carries an introductory price that should raise a few eyebrows: $83,000 just about everything, including delivery, shipping to the US, FAA fees etc. *** Yep, I’d call that news. *** Rand Vollmer of SALSA Aviation, a U.S. Pipistrel dealer, tipped me off this morning about the official release. Pipistrel makes elegant, fun-flying, functional aircraft and the Alpha (200 were recently ordered by the Indian government) should prove to be no exception.

In the midst of a couple weeks away from home to marry off my firstborn daughter, I remain nonetheless able and willing to mine the LSA infoverse for newsworthy veins. *** Also, check out Aero Friedrichshafen going on right now in Germany. It’s one of Europe’s premier aviation events, with lots of new aircraft (like the Pipistrel Panthera 4-seat flying Ferrari) and technologies announced every year. Now, two items of interest: *** Flight Design Goes EASA *** The leading SLSA producer for the U.S. market, Flight Design, told everyone at Aero that the CTLS has earned the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) restricted type certification ((R) TC) for the two-seater.John Doman, Flight Design’s director of business development of global sales and marketing, said, “For European flight schools the certification will enable additional aircraft utilization leading to more revenue and value for their purchase of a Flight Design (R) TC aircraft.”  *** This type-certificated version of the CTLS will be distributed under the variant name CTLS-ELA and is nearly identical to the SLSA version already marketed worldwide.

Aero 2012 is one of those shows that has interesting aircraft in more nooks and crannies than even a crack reporter like Dave Unwin can find. Thanks to Tom Peghiny (of Flightstar eSpyder, and Flight Design USA fame), we have more from the German show. —DJ ||||
At Apple press events, the late Steve Jobs would often tease the crowd with “one more thing.” Here’s the ByDanJohnson.com equivalent from Aero…
*** Enthusiasts of electric aircraft realize that the road to electric-powered, general-use aircraft is still off in the future. For example, we haven’t seen much lately about the electric Cessna 172 project. One thing seems certain: the first electric airplanes to find market success will surely be the lightest of the breed. *** Tom Peghiny sold his Flightstar designs to electric aircraft developer, Yuneec so they could advance the eSpyder. Tom confirmed Yuneec is hard at work and that we’ll see the eSpyder as an LSA in America but first it will appear as a German ultralight.

Aero 2012 concluded and we present a final round of aircraft news to be followed by a wrap up view. All photos by Dave Unwin —DJ ||||
LSA SUPPLIERS & ENGINES
Garmin had a pretty big presence at the show. I spoke to Matt Harran who told me that the newest items Garmin had at Aero 2012 are improved VFR charting for the GPSMAP 795, which includes more specific data from Jeppesen, which can be uploaded onto the unit.
*** Along with the usual two and four-strokes there were some diesels, a hybrid and a couple of rotaries at Aero 2012. More esoterically, there were also some small jets and turboprops, and several electric motors.
••• An Italian company, MW Fly, also had three versions of its B22 on show; the 95 horsepower 22D, 115 horsepower 22L and 130 horsepower 22R. These geared, liquid-cooled flat-fours feature electronic ignition and injection.
••• Although not the usual ByDanJohnson content, Diamond’s DA-52 VII deserves a mention because the new aircraft generated a great deal of interest.

We begin coverage of the Aero 2012 event, brought to you each day that Dave’s Internet connection permits. All photos by Dave Unwin —DJ ||||
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Friedrichshafen Germany’s Aero show has grown in both size and popularity. Indeed, many feel it is easily the largest and most important general aviation show outside of North America. Unusually for most other GA shows, it also gives the style-conscious show-goer the unusual option of wearing Lederhosen. I must admit that as I read yet another doom-filled newspaper while waiting for my flight, I did wonder if perhaps this year’s event might be significantly smaller than it was in 2011. *** At first glance, I’d say that it was, although as I wandered around the display halls I was astonished at just how many new aircraft types were being displayed. I’ve always believed that recessions are often essentially “self-fulfilling” prophecies, generated mostly by negative coverage in the mass media.

As Aero 2012 moves toward a conclusion our wandering reporter updates you on several more attractive aircraft. All photos by Dave Unwin —DJ ||||
Having already decided that the Cicare Spirit was pretty minimalist as far as helicopters go, you may imagine my surprise when I saw an even more minimalist machine! This was the Hungarian Hungarocopter, which took helicopter minimalism to an entirely new level! Powered by either a 136- or 165-horsepower Subaru, and with a gross weight of 992 pounds, it definitely looked like flying it would be a bit of a thrill! *** As usual the show featured a fair few curiosities, and my interest was piqued when I spotted a machine that looked very much like a Cessna, with “Skylane” on the tail. As it quite clearly wasn’t a Skylane (being nowhere near big enough) I investigated further and discovered that it was a new-ish German ultralight powered by an 80-horsepower Rotax.

Dave Unwin continues daily coverage of the Aero event… wandering through the gymnasium-sized exhibit halls of Aero. All photos by Dave Unwin —DJ ||||
As I made my way through the cavernous exhibition halls I was amazed as always at how many new aircraft were showing. Aviation is a curious industry and — be it a desire to run an airline or design an aeroplane — it is obvious that logic often takes a backseat to emotion. The market is already saturated with neat little two-seat aircraft, and yet every year several more appear. *** Czech company TL Sport had a new three-blade, composite, electric constant-speed prop called the PowerMax on display, as well as its Sirius LSA on clean amphibious floats. TL also had a Rotax 912iS in a Sirius. In fact, just about every light sport type seemed to be fitted with the fuel injected engine from Rotax. *** Even some helicopters, such as the Cicare Spirit Tandem, were fitted with a Rotax.