The flying entourage has grown from five brands the first time around to a total of 10 Light-Sport Aircraft including: TL Sting, TL Sirius, Zlin iCub, Legend Cub, Rans S-19, Flight Design CTLS, CSA SportCruiser, Jabiru J-230, Remos GX, and CubCrafters (SportCub). This flock includes several of the best-selling LSA. *** Following on the success of January’s Florida LSA Tour, the idea is to bring the show to the people. The truth is most pilots cannot attend every airshow for a variety of reasons. Even though the LSA concept has generated a lot of attention inside aviation over the last six years, the fact remains that, “most pilots in the country have yet to even see a LSA,” to quote industry leader, Tom Peghiny of Flight Design USA.
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US Sport Aircraft Takes Over from Piper
First off, a correction: Though I took the proposed renaming of PiperSport to “SuperCruiser” directly from a Czech Sport Aircraft (CSA) news release, the new name did not stick. It’ll be the SportCruiser as it was before Piper assumed worldwide distribution. *** Widely reported in aviation media, Piper abruptly ended their almost-year-long relationship with manufacturer CSA in what appears to be a dispute between the two investment companies that own both CSA (Slavia Capital) and Piper (Imprimis). Following Piper’s termination news release, CSA announced that they sought more worldwide sales and felt Piper was too focused on America. *** Whatever the true tale, the popular aircraft will have continued support in the United States thanks to Florida based U.S. Sport Aircraft. USSA was the importer since 2008 and remained involved through the Piper era. Company president Don Ayres stated, “Under the name PiperSport, the SportCruiser was the LSA sales leader in the United States, with a total of 45 units delivered to customers in the last 6 months of 2010.” Don added, “Every PiperSport sold in the US was imported, licensed, registered and sold through US Sport Aircraft and a dealer network, under a distributorship agreement with PiperSport Distribution, Inc.
Irony in 2010 Market Share Report
You just have to marvel how a dynamic new industry unfolds. No matter your level of expertise — in or out of government, large or small private organization, or even as an individual guru — no one can exactly foretell the future of the grand experiment we call Light-Sport aviation. *** So, what’s the irony? After all the years I’ve released the results of Jan Fridrich’s laborious market share assessments using FAA data, one company has finally displaced perpetual #2 producer, American Legend. The star that rose is, of course, Piper, who not quite one year ago announced they would distribute the then-Sport Cruiser. That model (with its own winding tale) had done respectably well on its own and Piper’s legacy brand brought an impressive growth spurt even during a very weak economy. Yet, even as Piper rose from 6th place last year to dislodge the Legend Cub producer, the Vero Beach outfit ended their relationship with Czech Sport Aircraft.
First Flight of Lycoming O-233 LSA Powerplant
October brought the first flight of the Lycoming O-233 in a Falcon Light-Sport Aircraft. This adds the famed Lycoming nameplate to a stable of LSA powerplant brands including Rotax, Jabiru, and Continental plus the CubCrafters CC340 engine. To these, we can now add the Lycoming O-233 LSA engine. *** “Our first flight flew well right out of the box,” reported test pilot Rob Runyon. “The O-233-powered Falcon performed well. I have no squawks.” On the maiden flight, the Lycoming O-233-powered Falcon logged 0.6 hours doing four take offs and landing. Runyon said it was a gusty day (15G23) but the Falcon handled well. “It was fun to be 1,000 AGL by the end of a 4,000 runway. I saw acceleration through 80 knots at 1,500 fpm. It went right to 110 knots and felt like it could hit 120 knots.” *** Of 110 LSA models on the market, the flight of the Falcon represents a first for Lycoming (although a Florida RV-9 ELSA was fitted and flown with the older O-235).
Smooth Ekolot Topaz Makes First U.S. Appearance
Just when you thought the LSA industry was running out of models (109 presently show on our SLSA List)… here comes one of the sharpest examples I’ve seen. NIU Group used the Midwest LSA Expo as the venue to debut an airplane I’ve seen in Europe (more than 100 flying). Previously in the U.S., we have seen the Junior from the same company.
In the accompanying photos we see the top-of-the-line Topaz and a handsome machine it is, both outside and inside. With its automotive-styled, leather-trimmed interior, Topaz presents an attention-getter for any airport ramp and the Midwest LSA Expo was no exception. Attendees were drawn to the gorgeous new LSA represented by Krzysztof Siuba. He’s aware his first name is difficult for Americans, so he just says, “Call me Kris.” Whew! Good.
As with many European producers, Poland-based Ekolot has experience with sailplanes and the composite finish shows a glider producer’s attention to an exceptionally smooth finish.
Global LSA in Paris… Tennessee, That Is
In the endless tree-covered rolling terrain of northwestern Tennessee resides a Canadian manufacturer of Italian aircraft. Welcome to Skykits, producer of two models of Savannah, a STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) design from ICP of Italy plus a newer variation of ICP’s Vimana, which Skykits calls Rampage. *** Starting out in his native Canada, Eric Giles found a willing Tennessee community offering incentives if he set up shop at the local airport. Housed in a new facility (photos), Skykits ranks in the top 20 producers that generate about 90% of all SLSA registered to date. *** After ASTM-certifying four models Skykits offers three today: Savannah VG with vortex generators replacing earlier fixed leading edge slots; Savannah VGW, the VG’s larger brother done in wide body form (“47 inches plus bubble doors”); and Rampage with electrically-deployable leading edge slats mated to Fowler flaps.
Judging Winners Sun ‘n Fun 2010
I once followed judging at shows like AirVenture and Sun ‘n Fun. In fact, an aircraft I helped inspire — a modernized primary glider called the SuperFloater — won Outstanding New Design at Sun ‘n Fun 1995. Judges closely examined homebuilts, kit or restored vintage airplanes, and warbirds. If they included factory built aircraft, I was not aware of it. *** So, this year I admitted surprise after learning factory-built Light-Sport Aircraft won awards. *** To honor the hundreds or thousands of hours people put into their winners, I want to highlight some LSA and ultralights that judges liked. The Grand Champion LSA was Wayne Spring’s 2010 Predator powered parachute; Reserve Grand Champ was James Jonannes’ 2009 Arion Lightning LS-1; Grand Champion Ultralight was James Wiebe’s 2010 Belite Superlite; and, Reserve Grand Champ was Danny Dezauche’s 2010 CGS Hawk Ultra.
Seaplane LSA Fun Flying… the Season Approaches
Winter will soon yield to spring and summer, that time of year when flying from water becomes the delight of many pilots who have sampled this pleasure. Competing for their purchase in the LSA space, we have the FK Lightplanes Floatplane, FPNA A-22 Cape Town, and Legend AmphibCub. Other entries include SeaRey (close to declaring ASTM compliance); Mermaid (production plans uncertain), Icon (still in development), Colyaer Freedom (no U.S. representative), plus two trike amphibs with SLSA status (the Krucker Cygnet and Ramphos Trident). *** All this leaves out the SeaMax, which may actually be the strongest player among present SLSA amphibians. Logging its 10th year in 2009 AirMax has produced 98 SeaMaxes for worldwide sale. At $140,000, SeaMax once seemed rather expensive though today, many high-end SLSA command such prices. *** Consider the general appeal of the seaplane or floatplane compared to a land-only flyer.
New Tandem SLSA Headed to Market
Most of our tandem Special Light-Sport Aircraft — Legend Cub, Courier, SportCub, Savage, Hornet, Hawk, and SkyArrow — are recreational airplanes. Except for the last one (Italy’s smooth, composite Sky Arrow) most might also fall into the “bush” category in that they are slower-flying, fabric-covered, rugged aircraft suitable for landing on unimproved airstrips. *** A brand-new tandem, not yet officially a SLSA, is the MySky MS-1, which I call a “performance tandem.” MS-1 aims to go as fast as the category allows (120 knots) using its beefy 120-hp Jabiru 3300 powerplant. MySky’s entry also plans a deluxe interior not found in most currently-approved tandem SLSA. *** Recently I trekked to California to fly a few hours in the A-16 Sport Falcon from AviaDesign.
Sleekest Tecnam Light-Sport Aircraft Yet
Tecnam can lay claim to being the “largest LSA manufacturer” by virtue of producing more than 3,000 ready-to-fly aircraft (with approximately 120 of them flying in the USA as “official LSA” — the U.S. is a relatively new market for the Italian company). In my travels to Europe and other countries, I’ve seen a lot of Tecnam models sold under the rules of those nations. And the company was formed back in 1948. *** But even with all those aircraft built and many interesting designs — such as the Echo Super, Sierra, Bravo, Eaglet, and even a new twin that isn’t a LSA — for my money, the P2008 is easily the prettiest two seater the company has ever designed. It resulted from a marriage of Tecnam, an all-metal airplane company, to Spain’s CAG or Composite Aeronautic Group. The latter, bought by Tecnam, was the short-time producer of the Toxo Sportster *, a handsome all-composite LSA.
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