Simple, light, and affordable is not a throwaway line. Each word is pivotal.
Like many of you, I have enjoyed the advancing development of the LSA space, leading to Mosaic LSA in about 15 months. Additional operational capabilities plus features like autopilot, synthetic vision, and powerful, compact engines… all these can build a very exciting airplane.
TL Sport Aircraft‘s Sparker, already in active operation, is a candidate for Mosaic LSA.
With Mosaic, the list gets even longer: more weight, more seats, more powerful engines, plus retract, adjustable props, even aerial work for entrepreneurs (see full list). Wonderful, I agree. Some pilots have asked for more and industry with FAA have been working to achieve these potentials.
SIMPLE PLEASURE — Quicksilver Sport 2S; photo by James Lawrence
Yet this is a path to ever-more complex (and expensive) aircraft. Have you been waiting for Mosaic LSA? If yes, your wishes may be answered in 15 months. If not, please continue reading.
Simple, Light, Affordable — All three words are key. Much depends on your aviation goals.
Simple
Sometimes I find my attention returning to the easy pleasures of sightseeing around the local area, basic stick-and-rudder flying, feeling the air.
While features like modern economical autopilots make cross-country flights easier, operational procedures for sophisticated instrumentation absorbs my time. Using this great gear becomes almost second nature, a muscle memory, if you fly often. Yet as with apps on your computer or device, you must invest time to keep up with software changes and the particulars of operating digital avionics offered by Garmin, Dynon, MGL, and Kanardia (among others).
The Aircraft Factory’s Sling HW, a four seater already flying and ready for Mosaic. Lots to occupy you in this cockpit.
I applaud study and learning. These make your flying safer and more enjoyable. But time spent poring over manuals and software upgrade installation necessarily takes time away from simply going up for a fun hour in the sky.
My real joy in flight is simply looking around, aerial sightseeing, enjoying the view of my surroundings from a airborne platform few other humans will ever experience. I don’t need autopilot for that. As much as any phase of flight, I throughly enjoy a series of takeoffs and landings, honing my skills. For that I don’t need a fast aircraft and I don’t need to carry anything with me so payload is less important.
Badland‘s F-series, based on the former Kitfox Lite.
For the visceral joy of flight, you may find it optimal to, well… keep it simple. The more capability you add to an aircraft, the more you have to manage, pay for, stay updated on, maintain, insure, and all the rest. Complex aircraft that can do many things will demand more of owner and pilot. They can deliver much more but you have to keep up with them.
Aviating can be simply about the physical act of flying. It doesn’t all have to be about sleek designs, cool tech, or powerful engines.
Kolb’s Firefly, seen aloft with rare tricycle gear, has long been an affordable choice for homebuilders.
Then, cost. Buying and maintaining increasingly complex aircraft is its own taskmaster. While maintaining even the simplest aircraft is still vitally important, we do now have choices in very light electric aircraft that require far less maintenance, not to mention no oil spills. Plus, your neighbors will hardly know you’re flying.
CGS Hawk is available in two-seat or single seat; different builders each supply affordable models in kit or ready-to-fly.
Today, not in some indistinct future, you can buy and fly an electric aircraft. I don’t doubt electric will power larger aircraft in the future, but who wants to wait and who will be able to afford the batteries needed to provide four-seat cross-country flying?
If your goal is some delicious airtime on a calm, sunny afternoon, the simplest aircraft are darn hard to beat. Plus, they cost a lot less.
Light
Light is a key ingredient in keeping aircraft affordable. Require more material inputs and you increase costs in a multitude of ways. Physically larger, heavier aircraft cost more, maybe a lot more. You’ll need more power and your skill set must be kept in tighter tune. True, light aircraft are more affected by turbulent air. So what? If it’s that kind of air, I might choose to ride my bike rather than fly.
Aeromarine-LSA‘s Merlin Lite has excited pilots with its potential; electric propulsion, already worked out on earlier models, is available.
Light also means using less fuel, which will continue increasing in price. Every government seems to fantasize about an all-electric future. Whether an improvement or not, it ain’t happening tomorrow when the flying is great. A lighter ICE aircraft sips fuel at a far slower rate but that airframe may also be fitted with electric propulsion, today. Several brands offer an electric option (link below). How many four-seat electric aircraft have you seen? Yeah, me too. None. Heavier aircraft will be a far greater challenge to electrify.
Affordable
Affordable is a major focus of this website. If you can’t afford it then you are somewhat doing a Walter Mitty, dreaming about owning some shiny new speedster that you may never buy. If you can’t afford flying, you won’t fly or will fly less. Those aren’t good choices.
Fisher Flying Products’ Koala looks very cub-like and is affordable and fun to fly.
Yet keeping an airplane’s cost affordable means not having every feature imaginable. The very best airplane in the world may be the one you can actually buy, maintain, and have the pilot chops to enjoy.
All this is so basic, so simple that you may wonder why bother writing about it? As I contemplate what Mosaic will deliver, I feel good about the new choices pilots will have. If your budget allows a new Mosaic LSA, great! If not… you may need to make other selections. Fortunately, you have plenty of choices.
Aerolite 103 offers gas or electric, all for remarkably low prices. Their order book is overflowing. (image from an article appearing in EAA’s Sport Aviation)
As the new year arrives, we face complicated times. Elections (all over the globe), multiple horrific wars, unbelievable amounts of government debt (also around the world), and ever-expanding regulation mean the challenges to keep flying may be great.
With all that in mind, how about a nice hour-long sunset flight in an aircraft your budget can cover. What could be finer?
I hope you enjoy all the flying you can afford in 2024!
ARTICLE LINKS:
- Future Vehicles Dingo, contact info and all content on this website
- Aerolite 103, all content on this website
- Quicksilver Sport 2S, all content on this website
- Badland F-series, all content on this website
- CGS Hawk Single, all content on this website
- CGS Hawk Two-Seater (incl. SLSA), contact info and all content on this website
- Aeromarine-LSA’s Merlin Lite, all content on this website
- Kolb Firefly, all content on this website
- Fisher Koala, all content on this website
- Electric-propulsion aircraft, covered on this website
- Many other choices can be found on this website. Please use these free features:
I’m retired and ready to learn no license flying. With a modern ultralight, will the seller direct me to the appropriate training for safe operation? I’m in Texas.
Speak to the sellers of aircraft that interest you and see what they recommend. That can guide you.
Do you know where to find these people? I would visit local airports used by ultralight pilots and ask around. Some direction will be invaluable compared to going out cold on your own. I can’t imagine another pilot not wanting to provide invaluable information, depending on where you are on the learning curve. Go visit to manufacturer of the craft that interest you. You will gain far more info than what you pay for the ticket & hotels, Don’t take the, no license necessary to mean, no knowledge/experience is needed either. BIG MISTAKE.
This is the wonderful article, and it gives me hope for the future of general aviation.
I loved your comment.
Hey everyone stop the politics. This is a great website to escape from the crazy world. Dan has always done a great job of bringing us good content so let’s dwell on our favorite subject, aviation.
This is what people in America have done recently stopped the politics and look where we are right now? Escaping for politics it’s like giving up on fighting.
If Donald Trump was currently in office, Mosaic would have passed long ago.
I’m not keen on this line of discourse but I will let it go so you can conclude your comments. Then, please, let’s end this.
Dan,
Looks like the new year created some serious grumpy out there!
You’re doing great. Love your work! I always look forward to your new articles.
Happy New Year!
Thank you so much. More to come…!
I don’t know how many times you said affordable but you never actually spoke about a price on any of the aircraft. Very poor writing.
I regret you did not find all you wanted but that article was more conceptual than a detailed review of any specific aircraft. I have written hundreds of such reviews, complete with pricing. If you follow any of the links to those aircraft, you may find what you want. Tail winds!
Guy must believe in the Easter Bunny. That guy gets in as president you will never have another president; he’ll be president for life and then his son will be president for life and then his daughter will be president for life.
I’m letting this (and the last) pass as I enjoy reader exchanges. However, let’s end this thread here. This website is all about airplanes. Politics should remain on other media. Thanks for understanding.
No trikes?
Of course, trikes, powered parachutes, seaplanes, and motorgliders could’ve been included. Isn’t that wonderful? I had to draw the line somewhere. I went with basic stick and rudder for this article.
I don’t like being a pessimistic complainer, but the introduction of this article, kinda led me to believe that I was going to see some new innovative aircraft choices, that I assumed would be the result of all this new technology, that AI seems to be helping grow faster than I can keep up with. But the selection of aircraft photos this article shows, doesn’t look or sound like anything to far removed or safer than what’s already been done; and a few of them looked like something that might be an easy way to bust your ass.
I write about innovative aircraft on a regular basis on this website. This article was intended to be about simple and very light aircraft. Being innovative wasn’t really one of the criteria. You may not like all these choices. Neither will the next pilot. Yet one might be perfect for some buyer. My goal was just to take our eyes off all the shiny objects for a while and look at something simple and fun.
Good article , food for thought in the future .
If Trump gets back in he will cut the fuel costs in half back to $1.87 a gallon would help the whole economy.
He’s got my vote , plus all of my family & friends too!
Paul, this is really a website about light aviation, not politics.
That said, NO president has a great deal of control over the global oil market that largely determines the price we pay for gasoline in the U.S. The best we can do is produce domestic oil, and we’re doing exactly that. The U.S. is currently producing 13.2 million barrels of crude oil per day. That’s an all-time record, even surpassing the highest production numbers (13M barrels/day) under the previous administration. If gas prices were solely determined by domestic production you’d have that <$2 gas today. Alas, that isn't how things work. (BTW, gas prices have already dropped 40% in the last two years even with our current robust economic growth and are expected to decline further. Strangely, some news outlets are reluctant to mention all of this.)
Dan, great article! I'm in the market for a Part 103 trike myself for exactly the reasons you mention: I don't want to fly to "get somewhere". I simply want to enjoy the experience of flying like a bird, taking in the scenery in a way most people will never get to enjoy!
Thanks for your kind words, but I remind everyone of your first line: well stated.