Our roving reporter offers coverage of the 2012 Rocky Mountain LSA Expo event. Thanks my erstwhile videographer on our many videos. —DJ ||||
Pipistrel Finalizes a New LSA Trainer
Engineers at Pipistrel must not sleep in too often. This company, which won the NASA efficiency challenge several times — in 2011 taking home a $1.35 million cash prize! — just unveiled a full-size version of a sleek four seat design called the Panthera. Now on the other end of the spectrum comes their Alpha Trainer, a reasonably priced LSA model aimed at the flight instruction market. Their range of models is broad running from powered sailplanes to multiple LSA models.
*** “Pipistrel is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the test flights program and the release of our new aircraft, the Alpha Trainer,” announced the company, which operates production facilities in Slovenia and Italy. Developed as a basic military aircraft trainer at the request of certain countries, Alpha is supplied in nosewheel-only configuration, part of a slate of decisions to hold down the price.
Flying the Newest Special LSA: Sling (#125)
*** While out west on business travel I had the chance to fly the latest SLSA on the List, the South African Sling. Earlier I’ve written about the all metal LSA’s round-the-world flight but now this low wing design is being made available for sale to Americans.
*** On a gorgeous Southern California day, Matt Litnaitzky and his associate Ryan Ruel took a 25-minute jaunt from the Torrence airport to the Camarillo Airport in Ventura. (This compares marvelously to a good hour and a half drive on the seemingly endless and always crowded L.A. freeway system.) Ryan cooled his jets in the Waypoint Cafe while Matt and I went aloft in silky smooth air to see how Sling turned out. In a word: beautifully.
*** Handling on the newest LSA is clearly the product of careful engineering and a patient development schedule.
Slinging It Around the World in a New LSA
Normally I don’t write about record attempts or exceptional flights until they are completed and even then only if they are significant. Too many grand voyages end prematurely. But I’ve known Mike Blyth for decades and he’s already accomplished several daring flights. For example, his South to South expedition went from the southern tip of South America up through the USA across the Atlantic through Europe and back down to South Africa, all in weight-shift trikes. Plus they made a very watchable movie from this large experience. So, if Mike says he is launching Around the World Expedition 2009 with a stop at Oshkosh on the way, we need to pay attention. Mike and his business partner James Pitman leave South Africa on July 17th and AirVenture begins the 27th. So, throttle up, boys! *** The trip is unusual in a few ways. One, their Sling LSA — from the business the two aviators co-own, called The Airplane Factory — has just completed flight testing.
Older Gentleman Versus Enthusiastic Teenager
Recently, an AvWeb video stirred controversy among many LSA fans; I heard from several and that usually means more feel similarly. The subject concerned the value and challenges of LSA as flight trainers compared to old standards like Cessna 150s. I want to express another view.
*** Are LSA harder to fly, specifically, are they harder to land? The best way to respond is to say that they are different. In fact, that’s what Cessna’s top demo pilot says about Skycatcher compared to Cessna 150s and 172s. Here are some reasons why: • LSA are lighter so they tend to be affected by wind eddies more than a heavier airplane; • LSA generally have more responsive handling and commonly use joysticks versus yokes which, due to increased leverage, means pilots can more easily overcontrol them. Many are lighter in pitch than a Cessna 150 which can cause PIOs. Some say the lighter handling makes a better pilot and if you learn in a LSA, you won’t notice any great challenge; • LSA perform better, especially in glide so they meet the runway at shallower angles, which demands somewhat more finesse.
Out of Steam? No Way! Welcome to Sling
Have you been thinking that it’s been some time since a new Special LSA was announced? While the torrid pace of yesteryear has abated, it ain’t over yet by a long shot. I know of at least a dozen aircraft still in progress to achieve SLSA status. Now, welcome to Sling, SLSA #125.
*** Quietly back on April 18th, 2012 Sling N511NG, based at Torrance, California, received its pink Airworthiness certificate. You may recall reading about a South African Sling earlier, the aircraft completing a world-circling flight that its developers achieved in a fresh-off-the-drawing-board design.
*** Sling began development in 2006 in South Africa; 60 airplanes have been delivered to other countries. “This airplane is the first U.S.-registered Sling,” stated Matt Liknaitzky, the representative of American importer The Airplane Factory USA. Sling was designed from the start to make full use of the LSA envelope and to be in compliance with ASTM standards for Special Light-Sport Aircraft.
Flying the Airplanes of Sebring 2012 — Bristell
Since Sebring in January, the airshow season has rushed by at warp speed and now we return to more aircraft flown at the event that kicks off the aviation year. We’ll add more from Sun ‘n Fun soon plus we’re loading more than 30 new videos. In this post, we have a quick look at the all-new Bristell, first unveiled to the American pilot community at the AOPA Summit last fall in Hartford Connecticut.
*** If you feel a sense of deja vu when looking at Bristell, that’s understandable. It has some common design heritage with the SportCruiser or PiperSport because the man behind the BRM Aero Bristell — Milan Bristela — was once affiliated with Czech Aircraft Works which originated the design. That’s when Milan and I first met. He left the former company before it was taken over by Czech Sport Aircraft, designed another aircraft with a different partner, and finally chose a path all his own.
Cessna Drops 80 Skycatcher Orders in Europe?
This article has been updated; see at end.
According to a French dealer for Cessna, 80 Skycatcher orders have been cancelled. Why? Well, possibly this… *** For many months, my LAMA Europe colleague, Jan Fridrich and others have tried to convince EASA to adopt the U.S. version of LSA rules including acceptance of ASTM standards as the means of certification for these light aircraft. EASA arrived at different rules that demand that producers meet DOA and POA regulations, which are rather expensive and burdensome. (EASA is the European Aviation Safety Agency, roughly the equivalent of FAA for the entire European Union. DOA is Design Organization Approval and POA is Production Organization Approval. In addition EASA demands a Restricted Type Certificate). EASA has accepted ASTM standards via its CS-LSA (Certification Specification [for] Light-Sport Aircraft) but layered on top of this is their DOA/POA/Type Certification requirement. *** A small number of LSA builders — Evektor, Tecnam, Flight Design, and possibly others — have reportedly gained these approvals, so it is possible for companies to comply.
Young Sport Pilots Featured at Sun ‘n Fun 2012
Remember when you were 17? For a pair of Sport Pilots that age, Wednesday at Sun ‘n Fun 2012 will be a day they remember, possibly for the rest of their lives. How cool is that?! *** According to the good folks at Breezer Aircraft USA, “On March 29th, the Sun ‘n Fun air show will open with an event which people all around have declared impossible!” To kick off the show, two Central Florida Aerospace Academy students will use a pair of Breezers to perform a precision formation fly-by to open the afternoon air show. The two pilots are Juniors in high school. *** The Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Kathleen High School is home to some of Polk County’s most advanced students. CFAA is housed in a snazzy new building just across the street from the Florida Air Museum on the Sun ‘n Fun campus.
Biplane Comet Hits 100 — Lycoming Coming
Fk Lightplanes in Germany celebrated the production of Number 100 of their fascinating model the Fk12 Comet. This snappy handling, steady flying, folding wing biplane has no competitors in the LSA space, even with 123 total models winning Special LSA approval. At airshows here in America, Hansen Air Group has been showing the Comet to substantial interest. It has enough going for it that we’ve made several videos about it (at AirVenture 2011 and earlier at at Sebring 2011) plus a video mini pilot report. *** German designer Peter Funk (photo) — who I’ve known for many years — counts himself among those pilots who have a soft spot for biplanes. This interest stimulated the prolific designer to create a lightweight biplane way back in 1994. He said his intention was to build not only a plane preserving the classical style of a biplane but that would also provide good flight performance and be easily and comfortably folded up for hangar storage.
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