OSHKOSH UPDATE — At a ceremony on EAA AirVenture’s show-center location, AeroShell Square, Flight Design unveiled another new LSA, their second of 2008, the first being the CTLS which debuted at Sebring in January. Amid opening day excitement, numerous media representatives captured photos and video. A large crowd surrounded the MC when Flight Design CEO Matthias Betsch and U.S. importer Tom Peghiny took the stage. After a few words of introduction and on cue from Betsch, Flight Design representatives removed a parachute canopy used to hide the MC from view. *** The MC — for Metal Concept — is similar in appearance to the CTLS but is constructed mainly of aluminum skin over a welded steel structure that provides great durability and occupant protection. Flight Design expects the MC will have strong appeal to flight schools. Cockpit entry is even easier thanks to a lower threshold and a door that reaches well forward.
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New Australian Entry Brings SLSA Total to 85
Airgyro Aviation sounds like a rotary wing outfit. Indeed the Spanish Fork, Utah company represents and trains in the fully enclosed Sportcopter 2. In fact, Airgyro is the only place you can get “both fixed wing and auto gyro training,” said president Nate Oldham. The company recent added another “2,” the Outback 2 built by Australian Lightwing. One day after Oshkosh ’08, Nate called to report Airgyro obtained SLSA approval #85. *** Based on a two seat version of the Experimental Outback 4, the conventional looking low wing is manufactured with a steel cage structure smoothly covered with composite shells. Gull-wing doors give entry to a 46.5-inch-wide cabin. Powered by the 100-hp Rotax 912S, Outback 2 cruises at 105 knots and carries 30 gallons of fuel. Click for more features or specs. *** In addition to Sportcopter and Outback, Airgyro was appointed the exclusive sales outlet for Higher Class Aviation‘s Sport Hornet.
Yet Another…Opus Gains SLSA Status for Super 2
Sometimes a new entry slips invisibly under the radar of organizations like EAA or myself. We both (and others) have our eyes wide open for new blips popping up on the screen. Nonetheless the folks at Opus Aircraft were stealthy enough that the Super 2 approved in February 2008 only recently appeared on our SLSA List. The Atlanta MIDO (Manufacturing Inspection District Office) approved the model first created in the UK. *** Super2 is an all-aluminum, shoulder-wing aircraft with a forward sweep to broaden visibility. Originally designed and built by ARV Aviation in England, Super 2 is now made at the Rockingham County Airport in Stoneville, North Carolina. In 1983 Brit’ designer Richard Noble set the world land speed record at Black Lake, Nevada. Opus reported, “While traveling back and forth training for his record attempt, he learned how to fly. After achieving a record, Noble returned to the United Kingdom, found flying expensive and developed a small modern light aircraft.
TL-Ultralight Makes First Flight in New Sirius
You might say it’s Sirius when TL-3000 takes to the air for the first time. Kidding aside, the new model’s U.S. importer is seriously happy about their composite high wing making its initial flight. Czech producer TL-Ultralight makes the sleek low-wing StingSport that SportairUSA has been selling since the first SLSA lifted into American skies. In development since 2006, TL president Jiri Tlusty recently flew the carbon fiber TL-3000 for the first time. *** SportairUSA boss Bill Canino was recently in Czech Republic making arrangements to market the TL-3000 alongside the Sting S3, an advanced generation version of the TL’s successful low wing model. The Arkansas-based importer says the 46-inch wide Sirius is powered by the 100-hp Rotax 912S, has a useful load of 600 pounds, and extended range with fuel capacity of more than 30 gallons. *** As with StingSport and Sting S3, TL-3000 will come standard with high-end safety features such as a Galaxy rocket-deployed parachute system, PCAS collision avoidance, and AmSafe 4-point inertial-reel seat belts.
LSA Industry’s Fast Pace…Approaching Model #100
Despite an economic slowdown shared by all of aviation, the LSA industry is rich with entrepreneurs. Innovative new designs hit the market regularly. Consider this: In just over three years, the industry has certified an astounding 81 aircraft designs and several more are on the horizon. One hundred certified LSA might be available by 2009, in less than four years since the category was created by FAA. No one remembers anything close in FAA history. *** All Light-Sport Aircraft presently total about 1% of the U.S. piston engine fleet including all FAA registrations of all aircraft types and models. Yet three LSA years compare to 80+ Cessna years, so the new segment remains in its infancy. Consequently, the LSA industry may be acting precisely as needed — focusing on innovation and diversity as proven by the number of new models meeting ASTM standards. Big sales will follow, many experts believe.
Italy’s Tecnam Buys Producer of Spain’s Toxo LSA
Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam, simply “Tecnam” to Americans, manufactures the Sierra, Bravo, Echo Super, and Eaglet SLSA. On June 10th the Italian company completed its purchase of Composite Aeronautic Group (CAG). U.S. pilots became aware of CAG’s Toxo after it won SLSA airworthiness in March 2008. *** Tecnam CEO Paolo Pascale Langer explained, “Although Tecnam is expanding capacity due to significant growth we still require more space along with enhanced access to additional technologies. CAG provided both.” *** Tecnam plans to use CAG’s Zaragoza, Spain facility to double their current production of two seat aircraft. They claim annual output of 300 light single engine aircraft per year. The company hopes to boost that figure to 600 aircraft per year by the end of 2009. *** Tecnam has been focused on their dual Rotax engine airplane, the P2006T.
Fixed Wing or Flexible…TampaBay Has Choices
Our SLSA (Special Light-Sport Aircraft) List is popular with visitors and often generates a heads-up from alert readers about some new SLSA approval that snuck under my radar. This time the heads-up made me aware of new models in two forms. *** Please welcome TampaBay AeroSport’s Apollo Fox airplane and Monsoon weight-shift trike, to which I’ve assigned SLSA numbers 80 and 81. TampaBay, aka Apollo Aircraft, has been deeply involved with Light-Sport Aircraft for some time and previously won approval for the Delta Jet trike, which sells for a reasonable $38,000. Monsoon is a sleek, highly-engineered trike available with Rotax 582 or either 912-series engine for $45,000 to $58,500. *** In early 2008, the Florida Zephyrhills airport-based TampaBay also won an airworthiness certificate for their fixed wing Apollo Fox airplane. This European two seater is a variation of the popular design originated by Avid and Kitfox.
Silvery LSA-8 Has a Great Tradition, Now Built New
Clyde Cessna. William Piper. Walter Beech. Al Mooney. William Boeing. You knew all that.
But do you recall the name Donald Luscombe? You probably should.
The Luscombe Aircraft Company built some 8,000 aircraft, 6,000 of them the Silvaire model alone. And they once pumped out as many as 23 per day, yes, per day! In 1948, Luscombe produced more than 2,700 aircraft in a calendar year. That’s more than twice as many as all LSA companies combined have sold in three years.
Fortunately, it isn’t just a history lesson. Thanks to John Dearden and staff at Flabob Airport in Southern California, the Luscombe was revived as the LSA-8 earning approval as a Special Light-Sport Aircraft.
Lucky me, I went flying in it with John and a pleasure it was. Great manners in a responsive, good performing, all-metal, Continental-powered LSA that is 100% Made in the USA. Selling for around $90,000 LSA-8 looks inexpensive compared to euro-denominated LSA now running to $130,000.
X-Air Captures SLSA (#78); A Low-Price Leader
Many pilots have complained about the high prices of Light-Sport Aircraft. Customers expected figures like $50,000 or $60,000 (and we had choices at that price in 2003). Now, double or more is common. Read why. But not always. X-Air LS comes in at a surprisingly modest $46,900. Yes, it has sewn Dacron wings (though that helps keep it lighter; no painting). No, it isn’t as sleek as the carbon fiber jobs. Others can fly a bit faster (cruise is 90 mph). Yet for $20,000 less than we thought they should be five years ago — and about one-third the cost of many LSA today — X-Air LS will find some buyers. Indeed, X-Air had a good start at the Flying magazine Parade of Pistons, selling a LSA to the high and fast crowd. X-Air comes standard with the 85-hp Jabiru 2200, giving it spirited performance at very low fuel usage.
Floatplane Season Means Fun for LSA Enthusiasts
With summer just around the corner, floatplane flying regains its special appeal. In about a month, I’ll have an announcement of a very exciting, ultramodern new seaplane that will make your jaw drop. But today, you can get an incentive at the opposite end of the LSA technology spectrum. *** Legend Cub, which offers a float option for its replica Cub, is offering $2,000 of free options with the purchase of a Legend FloatCub, base priced at $121,000. If you’ve investigated floatplane or seaplane prices you should recognize a fair value, now with a couple grand of added goodies to clinch the deal. *** FloatCub comes with Baumann 1500 Floats and experiences minimal performance reductions in this configuration. FloatCub still manages a 92 mph top speed, only 10 percent below a non-float Legend Cub. And climb remains a respectable 500 fpm. *** Unlike the other two Cub lookalikes in the LSA fleet (Sport Cub and Savage) — and unlike the original Piper Cub — Legend offers doors on both sides.
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