Let’s consider light amphibious aircraft – the boathull variety, not floatplanes
– but including both freshly designed, fully built light sport aircraft
along with kit aircraft born of the ultralight heritage.
In the last year, the exceedingly handsome Icon A5 has made quite a splash, literally
and figuratively. However, the A5 is more than a year away from first deliveries
and an order placed today might not be delivered until 2011 or later. Another LSA
amphibian called the Mermaid was designed and introduced by Czech Aircraft
Works of SportCruiser fame. Although five are available in the country, sales have
yet to take off.
Another popular American seaplane, the SeaRey, is moving toward ASTM
approval but remains a kit that asks several hundred hours of a builder’s time. The
simpler and faster-build Aventura models also remain available; this design has
been on the market for many years. Either kit is less costly than a fully built aircraft,
but all seaplanes have loftier price tags to cover their ability to operate on land
or water.
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Sun ‘n Fun LSA Mall 2009 Ready for Visitors
REPORTING FROM SUN ‘N FUN — For the last three years, Sun ‘n Fun management has generously provided an excellent location at this season-launching airshow. Coordinated by LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, the industry has responded warmly, each year populating the LSA Mall with some of the best selling aircraft in the sector. The LSA Mall has become a place where manufacturers want to show their newest products. (By example, the 2009 Mall has the very first Lightning SLSA and the soon-to-be SLSA & ELSA SeaRey amphibian.) *** So, once again, just inside the main entrance gate, visitors will immediately be greeted by a rainbow of Special Light-Sport Aircraft. LSA Malls have proven extremely popular with visitors because this industry showcase of models saves a lot of walking the grounds to compare one aircraft with another. Those still unfamiliar with the newest aviation segment can see a whole fleet of airplanes in close proximity; company reps are on hand to offer details and prices.
Light-Sport Aircraft Massing for Sun ‘n Fun
Lots more fun than a military build-up but bearing some resemblance, companies across the USA are preparing for Sun ‘n Fun starting Tuesday the 4th. I was on the grounds today and it already looks busy. I also traveled to Lockwood Aviation at the Sebring, Florida airport. A busy crew was assembling airplanes from Flight Design and Tecnam in preparation for the show in nearby Lakeland. Other companies set up at South Lakeland Airpark — the relaxed strip a mere three air miles from Sun ‘n Fun (where I do the majority of my flight evaluations). Today, I got a chance to compare a late-model 2005 CTsw with the 2006 model; look for the full report in EAA Sport Pilot for June 2006. Tomorrow, the folks at Sport Aircraft Works are hosting me to fly the Parrot, Sport Cruiser, and Mermaid from Czech Aircraft Works.
Jabiru USA Brings 4th SLSA to Market
SEBRING 2008 UPDATE — Like rapid fire, approvals and preparations for the Sebring Expo are coming quickly. In less than a month before Sebring we’ve seen approval of the SeaMax amphib; Rans’ all metal S-19; the super-wide S-Wing; all-new Flight Design CTLS; composite Dynamic WT9; long-gliding Lamabada, and many upgrades to the Thorpedo 120LP and 85LP. Now, welcome the fourth Jabiru: J230-SP. *** Good for flight schools, Jabiru USA president Pete Krotje added, “It’s ideal for those longer cross country trips.” J230-SP has achieved European JAR/VLA certification and Pete elaborated that J230 is one of the most tested LSA in the world because it passed all of the FAR Part 23 testing for strength, stability, and spin recovery. It has been drop tested from five feet at its design gross weight of 1,540 pounds with no serious damage. When operated at a gross weight of 1,320 pounds, design strength is reported to exceed ASTM standards by a good margin.
Certifying LSA
A Review of the Industry Consensus Standards Method
In the aviation world, the new light sport aircraft category is all the rage, with interest at aviation trade shows climbing off the charts. New aircraft certified using ASTM International industry consensus standards recently reached model number 50, with all approvals coming in less than two years, a record in aviation history worldwide.
Doing things correctly and quickly is not uncommon in the world of light sport aircraft. This is a highly entrepreneurial activity populated by get-it-done businessmen and women who are highly motivated to get their nascent industry off the ground – literally.
Welcome to Committee F37
ASTM International’s Committee F37 on Light Sport Aircraft is just five years old, yet it has produced, from scratch, specifications for design, performance, quality acceptance tests and safety monitoring for LSA. ASTM standards guide the preparation of pilot operating handbooks, maintenance manuals, and a system of service bulletins to advise consumers of maintenance needed to keep their aircraft in good operating condition.
First LSA Flown Around World; Claims New Record
Many other airplane categories have tried round the world flights, but it’s now been done by a Light-Sport Aircraft. Flying a Flight Design CT, Indian Air Force Wing Commanders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar will claim a new record by successfully flying around the world in 79 days. Part of a celebration of the Indian Air Force 75th Anniversary, the two pilots covered a total distance of 40,497 kilometers (25,310 miles) in 79 days flying over 19 countries (Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Russia, USA, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, UK, Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India).*** During the expedition, Commander Monga became part of very small group of pilots by soloing across the Atlantic in a single engine aircraft. Kumar had to go via airline so the CT could fly longer. Despite missing this exciting segment Kumar expressed appreciation for the CT: “It’s a fantastic machine, very reliable…it got us home and there were no problems.
Special LSA Certificate Given by FAA
Sun ‘n Fun 2005 started off with a bang when Flightstar Sportplanes’ Tom Peghiny heard the Flight Design CT he imports was one of the first Special Light-Sport Aircraft to be given its airworthiness certificate. (S-LSAs are fully built and can be used for training or rental.) CT regional dealer Tom Gutmann of Airtime Aviation, Inc., was the recipient of a process Peghiny graciously called “the effort of many people.” Watch for full coverage of this benchmark achievement in aviation magazines.
Flying the American Legend Cub
Familiar…Yellow…Tandem…FUN!
Many light-sport aircraft
(LSA) aspire to a
futuristic look, using
exotic materials like
carbon fiber with
shapes that are sleek and finely contoured.
Other designers chose another
niche. American Legend Aircraft
Company of Sulphur Springs, Texas, is
one of three companies that have recreated
the venerable Piper Cub, which
has so captured the imagination of the
general public that the words “Piper
Cub” are used by the unknowing to
describe almost any airplane without a
jet engine.
Pilots know better. Yet among the
immense range of aircraft available,
the Piper Cub maintains a favorable,
nostalgic image. Doesn’t every pilot
have a warm, fuzzy feeling for the little
yellow tandem-seater? Three companies
now target this interest under
the new LSA category. (We’re featuring the Legend Cub
but will describe
the other two-the
North American Sport
Aviation Savage and Cub
Crafters’ Sport Cub-in
sidebars.)
American Legend’s Cub
was the first of the three to earn special
light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) certification
under the ASTM consensus standards.
Sport Pilot Tour Blows into the Windy City
The country’s third largest metro area will soon be visited by a collection of Light-Sport Aircraft plus hundreds of pilots and friends interested in Sport Pilot. On Saturday, June 17th get out and enjoy these activities — EAA experts will answer questions on the Sport Pilot license. You can sign up for a free Sport Pilot certificate if you’re an EAA member. You can close-up examine SLSA in a relaxed environment that will give you time to ask your questions and try on the aircraft for fit. The Sport Pilot Tour brings all this to an airport near you, this month on the outskirts of the Windy City. Food is available. The event is free. All Sport Pilot Tour stops are staged near areas with large general and pilot populations to insure the best results. Minneapolis will be next (Aug. 19), Boston (Sep. 9), Riverside CA (Dec.
First to Achieve Light-Sport Aircraft Status?
Discounting coordination qualities, steep turns, well, all turns went very well in the GT 500; it is very precise in handling. You can always point the plane where you wish.
Many pilots, especially those trained in general aviation aircraft, love the yoke. I much prefer a joystick. This is personal preference, but you can’t fault the execution of the yoke arrangement in the GT 500. Like all components, it’s very well done.
Since I’d just flown the Flight Design CT before the
GT 500, comparisons were easy. Handling in the composite CT aircraft was much more fluid (though that may not suit everyone). The CT could also fly nearly as slowly over the fields as the GT 500, showing the possibilities in new aircraft designs.
The GT 500 behaved very properly at speed. Cruising at 90 mph indicated, the design felt very solid and gave every assurance. However, at 4,200 rpm and 50 to 55 mph, I experienced almost a continuous shudder that seemed to come from the tail.
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