Search Results for : flight design ct

Smart Brief picked up on an AOPA poll of its membership (without citing the numbers of poll respondents) that shows an overwhelming majority can see themselves “flying as a sport pilot in the future.” *** That dovetails into a topic I’m working on in my column for the May issue, which covers the recent LSA Tour of Florida that took place right after Sebring 2011. *** John Hurst, head of Sebring Aviation, who flew a Flight Design CTLS on the Tour, told me of his desire to overturn what he perceives as an entrenched belief among younger pilots that LSA flight is primarily viable as an alternative for older pilots faced with the possibility of losing their flight medicals, and therefore their flight privileges. *** “I want us to stop preaching to the choir and reach out to younger pilots. Too many younger pilots think of LSA as a compromise you need to make when you’re in danger of losing your medical.

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The day dawned foggy and solid overcast…then cleared almost instantaneously…then snap overcast again. ***
The wind grew… and grew… the temperature dropped, and by the end of it, everyone agreed it was an unseasonably chilly day, more like San Francisco in winter than Sebring, Florida. ***
But people flew, and flew. Folks came out in good numbers and, according to all the exhibitors I spoke with, and that was a lot, there was focused interest and orders, or solid prospects, were recorded. ***
My flying fortunes started bright and early with a morning flight in the new Flight Design CTLS, thanks to Tulsa, OK Airtime Aviation dealers Tom Guttman and his son…Tom Guttman. Makes “Hi Tom!” less of a chore, you only have to say it once. ***
These enterprising lads have finalized the fitting and testing of their Clamar floats, designed and built by famed float maker, Clair Sceli.

Cessna’s in the hunt for flight schools, like everybody else.  Word comes via a city blog that Orlando Flight Training is ramping up a Sport Pilot training program that will use four Cessna Skycatchers at its Kissimmee Gateway Airport facility. *** The piece claims OFT is the first to offer the C-162 in Florida, and plans to have them operational this summer. *** While we’re at it, let’s highlight a few more Sport Pilot ops in the Sunshine State: *** ^ Another Sport Pilot training program at Apopka is Grizzly Aviation Services.  It also uses a Gobosh 700S, which rents out at $97/hr. *** ^ Yet another Orlando-area operation is Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Training LLC, which gets things done out of Kissimmee Airport with a Remos GX and a SportCruiser. *** ^ Mike Z.

Wrapping (that’s moviespeak) yesterday’s item with Charles Thomson and Santa Monica Flyers, the erstwhile flight training entrepreneur happily reports a good start. “I haven’t done any marketing whatsoever; it’s all been word of mouth. People were waiting for a light sport airplane in this area.” *** Note: Photo at right is Charlie’s SportCruiser. *** That’s a scenario many LSA operations can envy. It doesn’t hurt to be smack in the middle of a huge megalopolis and general aviation mecca either. *** Thomson believes the wish to fly is universal. “Flying provides the connection between man and God. Look at angels: people with wings. It’s sad to me that someone might go through life and never fly.” *** Yet his business philosophy is anything but idealistic: He charges students less than some local schools for instructor time, but gives a greater percentage of the hourly fee to instructors. *** “I can get the best instructors that way.

Last weekend, under popcorn-cloud, clear blue skies, the Greater Boston EAA Chapter 106 put on a doozy of a local LSA air show that drew several hundred folks. *** By my count 11 LSA models represented the industry, including the FPNA Valor (left), Flight Design CTLS (cockpit, right, with a guest and FD rep John Lampson looking on), and the Terrafugia proof-of-concept Transition “roadable” aircraft, in it’s final public appearance as work has begun on the Beta version. BTW…it drove in. 😉 *** The show was held at the lovely Lawrence Muni airport (good name) in Andover, MA, just north of Boston. *** The chapter created an enthusiastic, well-attended event that will stand as a good model for how to make it happen on the local level: pilots talking to pilots, not a big splashy corporate thang. Some demo flights, a local biplane ride vendor, and terrific food (bkfst or lunch, all you could eat for $5 or $7 – now we’re talking!) *** In addition to those shown and mentioned here and below, LSA that flew in included the *** Vans RV12, Sport Cruiser, Aerotrek A240 and Highlander Sport.

So what do you do for a break from your regular airline gig? Fly around the world, of course! *** These two airline pilots plan to circumnavigate old Terra in 2010 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first Swiss pilot license holders. *** In April, 2010, Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo will launch in two, not one but two, Flight Design CTLSs from Switzerland, fly west down the coast of Africa and hop the Atlantic to Brazil. They’ve even named their planes: Dreamcatcher and Celine’ (for a daughter, not the singer.) *** The motivations are the “usual suspects” stuff of aerial adventure: to commemorate aviation milestones (Swiss) and inspire young people. *** What the hey, for me the inspiration is imagining making such a journey myself! And flying in formation for 25,200 miles? Now there’s a concept. *** The intrepid pioneers plan to visit 18 countries, span five continents and cross two oceans.