The latest aircraft to earn Special Light-Sport Aircraft airworthiness (SLSA #77) is one of America’s most familiar and best proven models. CGS Aviation first offered its Hawk model 26 years ago, in 1982.
Since then, many model variations have been brought to market…single seat versions, two seaters, tri-gear, taildragger. Regular evolutionary changes resulted from the continuous process of development and refinement.
These efforts have sold more than 1,750 Hawks to pilots who fly them across the USA and all over the globe. *** Many years after company owner and designer Chuck Slusarczyk first offered his “real airplane” ultralight, it is appropriate that he and his Hawk Arrow II join the SLSA parade. Customers have a major reason to rejoice. Read carefully: the first 10 Hawk SLSA will be sold for $39,995 ready-to-fly with the Rotax 582.
This is, by a wide margin, the lowest price yet for any certified LSA.
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Hansen Air Group Imports the German Peregrine
You probably know the Sky Arrow. This smooth tandem Light-Sport Aircraft from Italy uses exquisite construction and I found it to fly beautifully (read my report). Sky Arrow is imported by Jon Hansen and his family. Jon represented Tecnam aircraft (also of Italy) for several years, helping to launch that brand. Hansen Air Group and Tecnam ended their relationship a couple years back, and since then Jon and his team have been seeking another aircraft to represent. That search is over. *** At Sun ‘n Fun 2008, Hansen Air Group showed their new entry, the FA-04 Peregrine, built by Flaeming Air of Germany. The low wing beauty is mostly carbon fiber and was refashioned to be a Special LSA, following Flaeming’s success at winning VLA approval in Europe. Interesting Note: Hansen’s Sky Arrow also started with VLA approval, which helped it qualify as an SLSA.
Big Crowds at the Sun ‘n Fun LSA Mall
Sun ‘n Fun 2008 is history, but planning is already underway for the 2009 event. Event boss John Burton confirmed we will again have the LAMA-hosted LSA Mall right at the front gate next April 21-26. A major success at this year’s Lakeland, Florida airshow, the industry Mall presentation featured 17 Special Light-Sport Aircraft. Weather prevented Fantasy Air’s Allegro from attending. Two days before the event, a tornado crushed a Sting S3 planned for display. And work at Quicksilver Manufacturing postponed the exhibit of the GT500 (they’re finishing SLSA approval, reports national sales manager, Todd Ellefson). *** The 17 who were in the ’08 LSA Mall enjoyed significant traffic all week and virtually every visitor to Sun ‘n Fun was at least exposed to Light-Sport Aircraft in a wide variety (although we were not able to enlist any trike or powered parachute companies).
Spanish Toxo Sportster Wins SLSA Airworthiness
In development for years, Composite Aeronautic Group’s Toxo won SLSA airworthiness on March 28th from Mike Millard, FAA. The newest SLSA, number 76, hails from Spain — the second LSA entry from that European country (after the Colyaer Freedom amphib). When Toxo first arrived, Americans were attracted but found it rather small inside. After displaying at American airshows, CAG reengineered Toxo and returned with a variation better suited to Americans (about 45 inches wide, making it more than five inches wider than a Cessna 172). Toxo Aircraft North America representative Amy Christian adds, “Toxo offers easy access with gull-wing doors, great air flow throughout the interior, and cushy seats with just the right angle for optimal comfort. Our pedals are even adjustable for a custom fit.” Toxo wings and fuselage are built using prepreg fiberglass plus carbon fiber with structural honeycomb cores. *** The company is represented in the USA by two companies: Toxo Aircraft North America with the lion’s share of American states, and by ILS Aircraft Company, an operation handling Alabama, Georgia, and the vital Florida market.
Renewed Breezer II SLSA Ready for Delivery
They are lining up, literally, at Sportsplanes.com’s Plant City, Florida airport (PCM) assembly station. Michael Zidziunas — everyone calls him “Mike Z” — assembled three of the new Breezer II SLSA and arranged for DAR inspection. Mike Z is a well-known flight instructor and licensed mechanic working in the LSA arena. *** Last fall, at the AOPA Expo, Josh Foss of Sportsplanes.com unveiled the new Breezer II. The all-metal low wing was introduced more than a year earlier but disputes over the design rights and manufacturing put a halt to shipments. Since then, German designer Ralf Magnussen found a new investor, Dirk Ketelsen, a builder of windmills for electric power generation. They established a new 17,000 square foot plant near Husum, Germany (west of Hamburg at the North Sea coastline) where Josh reports they can build more than 100 aircraft a year.
High Priced Light-Sport Aircraft; What’s Going On?
Lots of folks are wondering about, or complaining about, the seemingly high prices of Light-Sport Aircraft. Recently a prior editor-in-chief of EAA publications, Scott Spangler, wrote a blog on JetWhine. Scott focused on expensive avionics as one reason LSA cost so much. While a factual observation, I believe the price increase is more complex. *** First, LSA suppliers install equipment like autopilots because buyers ask for them. A large chunk of all LSA are sold to “retiring” GA pilots used to such equipment in their Cessna or Bonanza. Simpler LSA are available; most suppliers have one. But customers are buying the loaded-panel jobs. *** Let’s look closer at those rising prices. Five years ago, in the pre-dawn of SP/LSA, a CT was selling for $60,000. Today it’s $125,000. By far the largest piece of that doubling is the euro’s soaring value compared to the dollar. Were the currencies at parity, that $125,000 would be $80,000.
Two Lovely Low Wings — Gobosh 700 & 800
Out of the blue in 2007. Now, they have two in 2008…SLSA models, that is. Gobosh is the interestingly named company (it’s a tech industry thing) that burst on the AirVenture Oshkosh scene with the Gobosh 700S, a rebadged upgrade of the Aero AT-3 from Poland. Just six months later at the Sebring LSA Expo 2008, Gobosh introduced the super sleek 800XP from the Czech Republic’s Aveko, builder of the speedy retractable VL-3 on which 800XP is based. Relying on their experience with the Symphony and other business ventures partners Dave Graham and Tim Baldwin (inset photo, left) are rapidly expanding their presence in light-sport aviation. *** Their two planes are an interesting contrast. Gobosh promotes the metal 700S as a “luxury sport aircraft,” though it seems well aimed at flight schools. The composite 800XP is the high performance model, “which had to be slowed down for LSA rules,” said Dave.
On the Rampage…Yet Another SLSA from Skykits
Rampage looks so dissimilar to its predecessors from Skykits that it took a second glance to make the connection. While it shares the STOL wing devices with versions of the Savannah, Rampage has a sleeker look that might broaden the appeal of these short takeoff and land designs from ICP of Italy. *** For those who got to see the new model at Sebring the airplane’s lines weren’t alone to admire. Deep blue paint was used in strategic accent to highly polished aluminum on most of the fuselage; Rampage gleamed brilliantly in Florida’s warm sun. The finish was brought inside where a polished aluminum instrument panel frame contrasted with royal blue inset subpanels (photo). Skykits director Eric Giles reported that the bright metal inside had not caused reflective problems on their long flight from western Canada. *** Rampage, the fourth SLSA model for which Skykits has gained airworthiness, uses electrically deployed leading edge slats to continue the impressive performance of the Savannah models.
Hat Trick: 3 Six Chuter Powered Parachute SLSA
Six Chuter marketing man, Doug Maas, figures it’s like soccer where three goals in a game makes a “hat trick.” With their third model gaining SLSA airworthiness before the January 31 deadline for ultralight conversions, the Washington company has earned the sports phrase. The powered parachute (PPC) producer’s newest approvals brings the total to 75 SLSA models…in less than three years! *** Boss and designer Dan Bailey planned to create three models based on common airframes. Consequently, Six Chuter has the market covered like, uh…well, like a parachute canopy. They have a “conventional” tandem (Legend XL); a rare side-by-side PPC (XT SSDC), intended as a trainer appealing to instructors who want to be alongside their student; a single seat SLSA (P103); and a Part 103 qualifier (P103UL), when flown with the Rotax 503 and few accessories. The mainline PPC Legend was derived from Six Chuter’s SR7 and Spirit models but all were redone to fully address the Light-Sport Aircraft rule.
X-Air’s Return Brings Lowest-Cost SLSA
Upon seeing modern LSA, many aviators say, “Oh, these aren’t ‘those ultralights’ at all.” Truth be told, even those ultralights aren’t ultralights any more. Today, a certified but ultralight-like aircraft will be either Special or Experimental LSA. *** Witness what I’ll call the “return” of the X-Air. I’ve reported on this design as it has evolved (see photo legend). Astute visitors may recognize X-Air LS as an evolution of the pioneering Weedhopper, though little of the original design remains. The latest iteration of this venerable design is working to gain SLSA airworthiness. X-Air founder and designer, Joel Koechlin, has three decades of experience in light aircraft. His X-Air series has been a mainstay among European microlights for 15 years, selling more than 1,200 copies. *** The coming SLSA model employs the 85-hp Jabiru 2200 powerplant. Koechlin said, “This aircraft is exactly what the LSA category was meant for; it is light and easy to fly and simply fun!” U.S.