SEBRING 2008 UPDATE — Sport Aircraft Works, importer and marketer of the fast-selling SportCruiser, will announce an LSA version of their Dynamic WT9. Previously, the retractable speedster (174 mph max cruise) was only available as a kit but the Slovak designer decided to pursue American SLSA certification at 550 kg (1,212 pounds). [UPDATE: Dynamic won SLSA approval on January 8th.] *** As part of their effort to meet the standards, the Aerospool Dynamic underwent spin testing by company test pilot, Jozef Chupek. “He finished this task without any undesirable control behavior,” reported the company. Testing was done in a variety of CG load and control input configurations. “All testing situations were recoverable using normal spin recovery procedures,” Aerospool added. “Spin test flights were flown with our standard aircraft; we didn’t make any special modifications [other than] safety elements such as spin recovery parachute and ejectable cockpit.” Testing was observed by members of the Slovak Civil Aviation Authority.
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Oh, Wait! One More in 2007…Rans S-19LS
As we bid farewell to 2007, up popped one of America’s top kit producers: Rans. During the year the industry reached number 65 in Special Light-Sport Aircraft approved. Randy Schlitter sent a note saying, “We achieved SLSA status for the S-19LS on December 21st.” He added, “The S-19LS is the first all new aircraft made and designed in the USA specifically for the light sport category to receive SLSA status since the ruling went into effect.” S-19LS relied heavily on CAD/CAM methods. “In fact we never built a prototype; the first aircraft was production tooled,” continued Schlitter. *** S-19LS features the 100-hp Rotax 912ULS, an all-glass cockpit, and a $110,000 introductory price. Since late 2005, Rans has successfully produced the $85,000 S-7LS Courier. Delivery of the first S-19LSs should begin in 10 months, according to the company. If demand warrants, the Hays, Kansas company projects building 50 a year within 12 months, and possibly doubling output later.
LAMA & Sponsors Plan Big Gathering at Sebring 2008
Here comes Sebring 2008, Expo #4. Come see new airplanes — Flight Design’s CTLS, a composite Part 103 entry from Interplane, a new Tecnam model, plus other first appearances. Sebring is also business-to-business, for example, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association holding both a board of directors meeting and their annual member meeting. This year, LAMA’s gathering will be the largest ever. More than 300 people have RSVP’d to a generous offer from Sandia Aerospace who will provide a pig roast dinner after a short State-of-LSA presentation by LAMA president Tom Gunnarson and yours truly. EAA‘s Ron Wagner will give fresh information about LSA at AirVenture 2008. *** Located in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sandia Aerospace was founded in 1997 by a group of professionals to provide high quality avionics products to the aviation market.
Last Look Before Year End; CubCrafters Rising
With one month to go before we evaluate all of 2007, here’s an early picture. In eleven months, industry added 499 fixed wing airplanes plus a healthy fleet of trikes and powered parachutes. I expect SLSA registrations to reach 544 airplanes for the year, nearly a doubling of the 565 we had last January after sales were tallied since beginning in April 2005. In its first 20 months, industry registered 29 airplanes a month on average. In 2007, that number will rise past 45 a month (up 56%). The entire airframe producer community should generate almost $60 million in sales. *** The top three remain unchanged as CTSW, SportStar, and Legend Cub held their lead even while 17 new models entered the marketplace. One of the most notable rising stars of 2007 has been CubCrafters. The Sport Cub maker started well down the January chart with only 15 registered airplanes.
The Technical Work of F37
The Technical Work of F37
Light sport aircraft industry stakeholders engaged in the ASTM standards initiative include manufacturers of airplanes (conventional fixed wing aircraft), powered parachutes, weight shift controlled aircraft, gliders, gyroplanes, and lighter-than-air. In addition, F37 volunteers come from the flight instructor community, recreational pilots, parts manufacturers, and the regulatory community.
Committee F37’s work embraces:
Minimum safety, performance and flight proficiency requirements.
Quality assurance to install manufacturing controls confirming that aircraft meet design criteria.
Completed aircraft production acceptance tests and procedures assuring that completed aircraft meet reported performance as demonstrated in the prototype aircraft, including design limits such as empty weight; center of gravity; performance specifications; controllability and maneuverability; longitudinal, lateral, and yaw stability; stall speeds; handling characteristics; engine cooling and operating characteristics; propeller limits; systems function; and folding or removable lifting surfaces.
A plan for continued airworthiness, including methods for monitoring and maintaining continued operational safety, and processes for identifying, reporting and remedying safety-of-flight issues.
Got An LSA Opinion? SportairUSA Wants Your Input.
The customer is king…even before becoming a customer. StingSport seller SportairUSA has launched an online survey to find out what you think. Will you waste your time? Not if you have an opinion and want someone to listen carefully. You could also pick up $100 in cash for your time and have a chance at a $1,000 bonus prize. *** To offer your thoughts, click here and follow the survey instructions. I did it in 10 minutes. They ask 23 questions, some with multiple responses and a few require you to type some answer. Results could provide valuable info. Last year, Flight Design surveyed customers and offered a prize. It’s great to see these leading companies working hard to get real opinions. But don’t delay. The survey runs only through the end of November. SportairUSA and their research partner promise your answers will remain anonymous and they won’t try to sell you anything as a result of your participation.
Getting Ready for Sebring’s LSA Expo #4
Over January 17-20, 2008 every significant company in Light-Sport Aircraft will be in Sebring, Florida. The Sebring Expo preludes with an ASTM
meeting. During the event LAMA hosts its annual member meeting and dinner plus its board will meet. EAA will organize a slate of info forums. Importantly, vendors can deliver demo flights all day every day. *** Event Chairman Bob Wood reported, “Cirrus Design is the most recent addition to the stellar group of companies now sponsoring the event. They join Cessna, Garmin, The Southern Ford Dealers, and others.” *** Sebring #4 appears bound for new records. Paid exhibit space available increased again in 2008. “We are up nearly 30% in spaces over 2007, and now nearly every one of those is booked,” said Wood. Most of the 47 companies and the 59 models that have achieved SLSA status can be found at Sebring making it the largest collection of LSA anywhere.
Jabiru’s J-250 3-Door SLSA Leads September 2007
In September, as the Cessna Skycatcher’s wave of orders soaked up funds that might have gone to other SLSA, Jabiru logged the most FAA registrations — 6 more J-250s, bringing the company to 44 units delivered and placing the model 9th overall among fixed wing airplanes. In second place, CT, CH-601XL, and Skyboy each added three registered units. Though the month was slower than usual for fixed wings, weight-shift added another strong month with 19 registrations (though some are wondering if these trikes are all SLSA or include ELSA conversions; we’re researching this). Combined, trikes and powered parachutes added 25 aircraft to the FAA registry while fixed wings added 27 for a total of 52 new SLSA. *** Jabiru USA has moved steadily up the market share chart. As the only aircraft company I know supplying both airframe and engine, Jabiru USA advanced steadily into the Top Ten of SLSA providers in the USA.
AOPA’s Hartford Expo Has Generous Count of LSA
Most pilots know AOPA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, has been fighting the user fee battle…and they’ve been doing well resisting the might of the U.S. government. But they must also have a connection with Mother Nature as warm, beautiful weather shined on opening day at Connecticut’s Brainard airport. *** On display: StingSport, Skylark, the new Breezer II, Allegro 2000, SportCruiser, Sigma, Thorpedo, Sport Cub, Bravo, Sierra, CTsw, Jabiru J-250, Gobosh G-700S, and Remos G-3. Contrary to earlier info, American Champion brought The Champ, Cessna displayed their Skycatcher mockup, and Cirrus flew their SRS. In all, I counted 17 LSA at Hartford. That amounts to a healthy 19% of all airplanes on display.
Six Chuter Powered Parachutes Joins the LSA Parade
As the deadline approaches for ultralights needing to convert to LSA, companies are recognizing the need to get products ready for the new age of light-sport. The latest: Six Chuter, one of the original producers of powered parachutes…but one that took their time hopping on the bandwagon. *** Director of Communications, Doug Maas (who also completed the production test flight), reports the company developed more than 1,000 pages of documentation to meet ASTM standards. The voluminous information came from creating a brand-new carriage with multiple configurations. Legend (which is SLSA #58) can be a single seater, tandem seater, or a somewhat rare side-by-side powered parachute (photo). This is a novel approach to certification and explains the delay for the company’s SLSA entry. Six Chuter said, “The Legend XT SSDC (Side-by-Side Dual Control) is our SLSA development model targeted for flight instructors and others who enjoy a side-by-side configuration.” Six Chuter will offer the XT SSDC and other models as either fully-built SLSA or as ELSA kits.
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