I admit to being somewhat surprised at the success of the LSA Cubs. We have no less than three brands with SLSA approval: American Legend, Zlin Savage, and CubCrafters. Two of these (Legend and CubCrafters) are in the top ten of Light-Sport registrations and account for an astounding one in six LSA in the USA (by itself Legend represents about one in eight). Despite a tendency to lump them together, they are distinctly different offerings. The Zlin Savage is the only one using a Rotax 912 engine and it is still selling for the remarkably low price of $60,000. Legend is…well, already a legend and can be powered by Contentinal or Jabiru. Though CubCrafters earned certification later — despite being a Part 23 production facility — the Continental-powered Sport Cub is the most deluxe of the trio, and is priced to match (more than $100,000 with options).
Where Are Newer LSA Stars Like SportCruiser?
Over a short evaluation period of 25 months we’ve seen fairly consistent results in the top ten of LSA producers based on FAA registrations (see 5/21/07 SPLOG). But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Take Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) and their best seller, the $75,000 Sport Cruiser. U.S. marketing and sales manager Bob Anderson reported, “CZAW raised additional equity capital last summer to finance a massive expansion.” The company is now housed in a 120,000 square-foot facility. CZAW president, Chip Erwin said, “We have skilled engineers and modern equipment in place. Our production ramp-up is not a ‘future claim.’ We’re doing it right now.” Anderson said part of the investment bought nearly a million dollars of state-of-the-art CNC equipment for matched-hole technology parts. The American-owned, Czech-based company has been delivering over 100 airplanes and kits per year from a smaller factory. They’ve shipped more than 850 aircraft to date.
Aircraft Design Holy Grail…& Arion’s Lightning
A standard measuring stick for aircraft design is the ratio of minimum speed to maximum speed. Powerful jets like the Blue Angels’ F/A-18 (along with a government credit card to fuel them) can perform in airshows from 120 mph to 700 mph, almost a 6:1 ratio. But for airplanes you and I can afford, a ratio greater than 3:1 is good with 4:1 being the holy grail. In my experience, a 4:1 ratio is rare; a LSA that stalls at 40 knots and tops out at 120 knots represents only 3:1. *** Recently I flew the Arion Aircraft Lightning. Yielding a fine experience with quick yet stable handling, short takeoffs and easy landings plus mild stalls, Lightning also proved a handsome performer. Nick Otterback reports flying Lightning to better than 200 mph and I held around 40 mph in slow flight. Even assuming instrument error at slow speeds, that’s still well beyond the 4:1 ratio.
Cessna Sport Sports a New Nose Job
Sun ‘n Fun 2007 brought several interesting announcements; you’ll want to keep reading SPLOG in the days ahead. One surprise was what Cessna did with the Sport, their possible entry into the LSA field. Comments ranged from, “Now, that’s the right engine to use” to “What an ugly cowling” to other vivid expressions. Cessna shoehorned a 100-hp O-200 Continental into their proof-of-concept LSA entry (still with a spartan interior). Well, truthfully, it doesn’t look like much shoehorning happened. Instead, to accommodate the Continental, Sport’s nose cowling now bulges like a weightlifter. The O-200 also adds weight — reportedly “only” 30 pounds when Continental releases their Light Sport engine. That will further squeeze useful load but the Continental engine may satisfy a flock of potential Cessna Sport buyers — when and if the Wichita giant decides to produce it. General aviation still has a legion of folks who don’t like the Rotax 912 series that otherwise dominates light-sport aviation.
Sun ‘n Fun Ran Simultaneously with Germany’s Aero
Talk about your transatlantic jet set…a number of exhibitors attended the first few days of Sun ‘n Fun and then blasted off for the south of Germany, to Aero — an every-other-year airshow that has become a focus for light-sport airplanes. EAA Sport Pilot editor, Mary Jones posted news including, “To the delight of most European manufacturers, Alain Leroy, who heads certification in the safety branch of [European authority] EASA, committed to the release of a notice of proposed amendment (similar to a U.S. NPRM) by June of 2007 that would outline rules under which a new light-sport aircraft category might operate.” Leroy had said earlier at Aero that EASA was also looking to the ASTM standards as the certification method for a European LSA. *** A major aircraft announcement was the new high wing design from TL Ultralight, manufacturer of the StingSport sold by SportairUSA.
Sting at St. Louis Sport Pilot Tour
At the second EAA Sport Pilot Tour SportAir USA and their local rep, Wicks Aircraft, brough a pair of their sharp Sting aircraft. Also known as the Carbon Sting or StingSport, the handsome low wing comes from the fifth of six companies to earn their Special-Light Sport Aircraft certificate. An estimated 300+ visitors got to examine this bubble-canopied aircraft and several attendees took flights. You can see my pilot report from EAA’s 11/04 Sport Pilot magazine right here. The carbon fiber Sting is sold with many optional items as standard; get more info at SportAir USA’s website
U.S. Built A-22 Valor Wins SLSA #49
After I flew the A-20 and A-22 near Aeroprakt’s Ukraine factory, I felt sure these designs would find their way to the U.S. market. Now that Sebring-based Float Planes and Amphibs (FPNA) assumed import operations from Spectrum Aircraft, you can buy planes like the great-flying A-20 Vista or the tractor engine amphib A-24 Viking. FPNA also builds an amphibious float system for trikes and sells other lines like Quicksilver ultralights and powered parachutes. *** But their newest achievement on March 31st, a couple weeks before Sun ‘n Fun 2007, was SLSA approval for the A-22 Valor. FPNA is the manufacturer of this model, purchasing the fuselage and selected other components from designer Aeroprakt in Ukraine, but building 60% of the airplane themselves including wings, avionics and panel work, engine installation, plus all plumbing and electrical. FPNA owner Shawn Okun says the Orlando MIDO office gave their approval.
Skylark, a “Clean Sheet” Light-Sport Aircraft
When you walk up to Skylark, you get an impression that usually lasts (a marketer’s dream come true). While uncommon in light sport aviation winglets are well established on fast airplanes from bizjets to airliners. As a design feature, winglets that stick in your mind make the wingtip device a winner for sales reasons; any aerodynamic gain is icing on the cake. *** Burt Rutan is credited with first using the idea on his VariEze in 1975 and it was subsequently used by the Learjet 28 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. But the concept was invented even before the Wright Brothers first flight, way back in 1897. Even then they knew about wingtip vortices. Get more winglet info. Skylark has become Sportsplanes.com‘s top-of-the-line LSA, flanked by the Breezer, C42, and American Flyer. Skylark was designed by Canadian David Marsden, who engaged Dova of Czech Republic to built it, later selling them the design rights.
LSA Training Aircraft Welcomed to Embry Riddle
A month before Sun ‘n Fun helps to kick off the new year, I visited Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach as the big aero school hosted dozens of universities at the National Training Aircraft Symposium. The third of these events to gather academia with industry invited Light-Sport Aircraft to participate. University aeronautical department leaders know general aviation best but clearly recognize LSA and value their economical operation. Plus, these are aeronautical places of learning and SP/LSA is now part of the FARs they teach. Many sessions at NTAS were highly technical, aimed at helping to prepare students for airline careers. Yet every student has to solo and simple flying machines have a secure future. “The LSA panel session was lively,” said ERAU organizers, “and the questions were good.” ERAU is one of our major educators for young aviators; their interest in LSA is timely and appropriate.
U.S. Leading Manufacturer of LSA Remains a Legend
With the delivery of their 88th Legend Cub, the Sulphur Springs, Texas-based company handily confirmed its well-out-in-front leadership among American companies building SLSA. If fact, among the entire fleet, Legend is a solid number two behind Flight Design and its CT, a good margin ahead of next-best producers Fantasy Air, TL Ultralight, Evektor, Tecnam, and AMD (according to the best info I have). Other U.S. built LSA companies include IndUS, RANS, Jabiru USA, CubCrafters, Skykits, Just Aircraft, Luscombe, Prestige, Delta Jet (trike), and Infinity (PPC). Seventeen models — a shade over a third — of 48 currently approved are either “Made in the USA” or foreign designs built in the U.S. *** All-American Legend recently listed their many achievements in less than two years since the first SLSA approvals including: Jabiru (or Continental) power, floats, glass cockpit, special paint schemes…all in addition to many Piper J-3 improvements, such as a wider cockpit, doors on both sides, and fly from either seat capability.
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