Almost first thing on opening day at AirVenture, Cessna lifted the black covering that kept their Proof-of-Concept LSA a secret. The veil is off and now we all know what the world’s largest airplane builder has in mind. Top Cessna officials, including president Jack Pelton, still say they are studying the entry. They’ll make their decision in the first quarter of 2007. Several issues are still being investigated inside the company and they will be surveying visitors at AirVenture to see what they think. *** The big question is…”What’s it look like?” The photo explains much, but what you can’t see is mostly metal construction with limited composite, It has gull-wing doors and significantly, it’s powered by a 100-hp Rotax 912S. The Proof of Concept Cessna LSA had no interior or avionics. If they decide to proceed it will sell for under $100,000. *** Many industry leaders applauded the entry as credible and attractive and many I talked to enthusiastically welcomed Cessna, if for no other reason than the validation it offers to Light-Sport Aircraft.
Cessna LSA Flies, Prepares for Sebring, More…
Unless you were hiding out in Italian vineyards like I was, you know Cessna flew their LSA on Friday the 13th (no superstition in Wichita, evidently). EAA’s Sport Pilot website has more details (and in-flight photo proof). What you may not know is that the big company will make a marketing splash at Sebring’s LSA Expo. Oh, I’m sure the Cessna LSA entry will also display at the AOPA Palm Springs Expo on Nov. 9-11. But Sebring’s January 2007 Expo is the coming-out party for new and upgraded LSA. So Cessna’s purchase of a booth at the Florida event is significant. *** They are also rumored to be checking out a parachute installation, probably since so many LSA come similarly equipped but it would also gain an extra safety margin for their test pilots. *** I’ll be paying the world’s largest airplane producer a visit in late November.
FK9 Now Imported with Folding, Shorter-Span Wings
The feature of folding wings is credited with the sale of many aircraft by brands such as Kitfox and Kolb (among numerous others). Promoting the Sport Pilot certificate, I’ve visited flight schools at busy airports where one of the obstacles to growth — and to adding a LSA as a trainer — has been a lack of more space to hangar their fleet. Now with FK Lightplanes USA bringing in their first two FK9 Mark IV B models, this could change. *** The Florida-based importer for the German design used in many of that country’s flight schools recently took delivery of its first two “B” versions configured as they will routinely import them. Their selection includes two-feet less span with the 100-hp Rotax 912S and folding wings as the standard model (though the 80-horse, non-folding wing models can be special ordered). The first customer, taking both aircraft, was the cooperative LetsFly.org that helps buyers share ownership of LSA and other aircraft.
Thorpedo Flying 8,000 Miles in Charity Fund Raiser
Preston Bentley had a plan. He wanted to honor a good friend, raise money for a worthy charity, and do plenty of Light-Sport Aircraft flying. The 26-year-old Private Pilot is presently 12 days into an 8,000-mile flight. Preston is flying a Thorpedo donated by IndUS Aviation; he expects to touch down in each of the lower 48 states in 30 days. Bentley seeks to raise $500,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati in the memory of his cousin Seth Bailey, who died in April 2004. The flight’s progress can be followed via an online blog. *** After my spring mishap my wife benefitted from the Quantum House in Florida where I was hospitalized. This was far better than other lodging alternatives as it offered a support group in addition to living quarters. Some 259 Ronald McDonald Houses do likewise and I understand how important these places are to families of those receiving medical care.
Triple Play by Jabiru USA; Calypso SP Certified
Pete and Ben Krotje and their team have done it again. They won an Special Light-Sport Aircraft airworthiness certificate for Calypso SP, their third and SLSA number 40 in the USA. Last November the Shelbyville, Tennessee company certified the roomy J-250 and flight school-oriented J-170. Pete said, “Calypso Sport is a Special-Light Sport certificated version of Jabiru’s proven UL with wheel pants, six-inch wheels, winglets, and other upgrades.” Calypso SP’s lower ventral fin has been reduced in size and the flaps have been extended by 72 inches. This resulted in a LSA that stalls at 35 knots, demonstrates a very short takeoff, and has near-motorglider performance at a reported 18:1 with the engine at idle. Jabiru USA says Calypso SP can cruise at 100 knots on less than four gallons an hour but when operated around 70 knots sips a mere two gallons per hour. The SLSA airworthiness was awarded on September 8th.
CubCrafters Delivers First Two SLSA Sport Cubs
Their entry has taken longer than two preceding sellers of Cub replicas under the LSA rules, but CubCrafters has taken the time to get it just right. On Thursday September 21st, the Yakima, Washington-based builder of the Part 23-certified Top Cub delivered its first two CC11-100 Sport Cub SLSA to customers from opposite coasts and starkly different environments. One will go to Juneau, Alaska and the other to Brooklyn, New York. Company president Jim Richmond thanked customers and employees who “worked and waited with us so patiently while we completely redesigned the airplane.” The company announced that deliveries will now take place at the rate of one per week, increasing to two per week near the turn of the year. *** The other two suppliers of LSA Cub replicas are North American Sport Aviation and American Legend; the latter will host a homecoming for 100 customers and prospects in the third week of October.
How Shall We Count New SLSA?
Barely over a month ago, I reported that Skykits Corp won their first approval for the Savannah. In that SPLOG posting I said that the plane would be produced with three wings mated to the same fuselage. Now, proving the point, Skykits president Eric Giles announced his second SLSA approval…for a Savannah ADV. Eric also claimed the airplane delivered to Hawaii was the first SLSA to be registered in the state (photo). *** Savannah ADV has a tapered airfoil with full-span retractable leading edge slats and double-slotted flaps, both operated electrically with a mechanical backup. Skykits says, “The new wing increases cruise speed by 25 mph while maintaining the STOL capabilities. “As their company name implies, kits are also available. The questions arise, though: Is this a new model or a model variation? Do we count it as a new SLSA? We’re bound to have more such questions as the LSA evolution continues.
Back in the Saddle in a Flightstar Ultralight
On a glorious fall day over the undulating hills of northeast Connecticut, I returned to flight after a five-month hiatus. Encouraged and accompanied by my old friend Tom Peghiny we enjoyed an hour sightseeing flight over the verdant countryside surrounding Tom’s Flightstar Sportplanes enterprise at the Woodstock airport. Gosh, it felt great to get back in the air! *** With the first revolution of the wheels I noticed how light the Flightstar seemed. I’ve done most of my flying in Light-Sport Aircraft lately and I guess I’d forgotten just how light ultralights can feel. We left the ground in a couple hundred feet lifted by a HKS 700E four stroke distributed by HPower. In an age of $100,000 LSA, this $25,000 Flightstar IISC certainly seems affordable to plenty of Americans. At 400 pounds less than LSA at gross, turns were pleasant low-gee maneuvers.
Flight Design Surveys Sport Pilots; Offers Prizes
I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day holiday. Over this long weekend Randee and I headed to Boston for the EAA Sport Pilot Tour on Sept. 9th. At that event, visitors can complete a survey. Not only is it a chance to tell the leading seller of LSA what type of aircraft you want, but you can win some handsome prizes. Winners will be randomly chosen from those who participate in the survey. Your odds are very good to win First Prize which is a Garmin 396 worth $2,395. Second prize is a King Schools Sport Pilot Training Course and third prize is a Composiclean composite aircraft cleaning supply set. Taking the survey costs you nothing and you don’t have to go to Boston. Just click here and complete 9 multiple choice questions. (You can also add a comment.) *** But, you must act soon.
RANS Plans for New SLSA to Go High & Low
At the Minneapolis Sport Pilot Tour, RANS exhibited their S-6 and S-7LS. At a fly away price of $75,000 S-7LS Courier SLSA represents a strong value. Coyote S-6 remains a 51% kit, one of the most popular in the world. Either can be flown with a Sport Pilot Certificate. Earlier this year the Hays, Kansas company abbreviated their line to their best sellers (S-6, S-7 & S-12) *** New Light Sport Aircraft from RANS are still in development. Designer Randy Schlitter has already announced his low-wing S-19, but he told me of S-20, a high wing variation using many of the same components. This could smartly establish RANS against Euro designs like Italy’s Tecnam with their high wing Bravo and low wing Sierra, which also share components. Look at the entire RANS family of planes. (The RANS website has no info on S-20 yet.)