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News & Video on Light-Sport Aircraft, Sport Pilot Kits, and Ultralight Aircraft

Shark Attack — Review and Video of a Striking Mosaic-Ready Aircraft

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Readers who scour the Internet looking for fascinating Light-Sport Aircraft may already know Shark. Conceived by Jaro Dostal in the Czech Republic, this design is the latest from a man who has a long, storied history of aircraft for the light aviation set.

Jaro’s work included the Skyboy from the early days of LSA and later the MD-3 SportRider. Both won approval from many pilots.
All Jaro’s designs have one common easily-seen design characteristic: his shark fin vertical tail. Of course, this one is no different in that respect but it is the first to openly embrace the name. With this speedy aircraft already flying in North America and with more on the way, I couldn’t resist the compelling “Shark Attack” title. Let’s check it out.
Shark.Aero
Shark is built at a factory in the country of Slovakia in a region said to be well known for producing innovative designs.

Year-End Review of Changes Expected with FAA’s Mosaic Rule — in Mid-2025

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Let me do the obvious first. Mosaic has for some weeks been in what agency personnel call their “quiet period.” This is when FAA is finalizing a regulation and will no longer respond to info requests. Public comment windows are long closed.
Short take — We know only a little more than we did a few months back. Major questions remain about what license level of pilot can fly what configuration of Mosaic LSA using what medical. We have no new information on these questions. In addition, many in the LSR-M mechanic community also have many questions and concerns.
The public had a chance to comment, and lots of you did. Now, after reading every single comment, FAA rule writers are head down preparing the final version
Coming in Mid-205
Word from those who talk to FAA about other matters say the Mosaic reg is proceeding well. It is expected by “mid-2025,” though such pronouncements have often proved premature.

American Aviation Superhero — RANS and Load-Carrying S-21 Outbound Are Mosaic-Ready

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What great to see? How about an American light aircraft producer doing exceptionally well? RANS has been around 50 years*, 40 of them as an aircraft developer and producer. From S-3 to S-21, the designs have varied but the newest is Outbound and it adds capabilities and structure to set it apart from all prior models.
Over the years this Kansas company in the geographical center of the USA has delivered around 7,000 aircraft making it one of the light aircraft success stories of all time. Lead by founder Randy Schlitter, the manufacturer has become a leading aviation brand known and flown around the world.
In the video interview below, Randy’s wife Michele Schlitter walks us through the years and highlights the pinnacle of their achievement, a tricycle-gear, tundra-tired, all-metal creation that can carry 800 pounds, Michele said in the video.

You can build it or they can build it. A kit is available faster for obvious reasons.

Changing LSA Seaplane Market — Vickers Wave Progress Update — Others, Hmmm…?

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Winter is coming, so naturally, it’s time to start thinking about seaplanes… right? It always seems weird to write about water-based activities as frost begins to envelop the northern two-thirds of the country. Yet winter is when all the big boat shows happen because buying new vessels requires advance planning. It’s also pleasant to think about spring and summer while snow flurries fly.
For many years I’ve written about this sector and names like Searey, Seamax, and Aventura (all in nearby image) have long been the leading brands. Now the first two are in financial trouble and the last has decamped to Brazil from Florida. Whatever is going on, Vickers Wave may represent a breath of fresh air.
In articles last fall and this spring, I gave overviews of the entire LSA seaplane market (read here or here).
Vickers Wave Update
Vickers previously noted, “Wave has finished its flight testing, resulting in a 120-knot cruise and useful load of 750 pounds powered by a Rotax 916iS (reviewed here).”
“A frequently asked question I receive is, ‘What is taking so long?’,” begins Paul Vickers.

A Multicopter Current Pilots Might Enjoy? …Developed Within Our LSA Industry

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Here’s a helicopter-like aircraft you might actually consider. I have often reviewed what I call multicopters (several articles). I searched for aircraft you might fly for fun; several of them can enjoy the freedom and special benefits of Part 103. I’ve stayed away from commercial “air taxi” projects.
But what if a longtime producer of Light-Sport Aircraft entered the space? What if the aircraft looked like a helicopter but one you could fly without the steep learning curve? What if it offered 45 minutes of flight with a 15-minute reserve?
The earliest entries had short flight times, 15-20 minutes. Most of them cost too much. For example, Opener’s Blackfly (now called Helix) was first promoted at the cost of a “luxury SUV,” perhaps meaning $80,000 at the time. It has since more than doubled in price.
You may doubt or dislike these flying machines, especially when you don’t know the people behind the projects.

Flight Design Increases F2 Production — Moves CT-Series

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As we Floridians prepare to face Hurricane Milton starting later today, I’m pleased to give an update on one of our leading companies in the LSA space. I refer to Flight Design, which gained fame for the enviable success of its CT-series aircraft (CT2K, CTSW, CTLS, CTLSi, CT Super). In the United States, more of these models fly as LSA than aircraft from any other brand.
In the USA, importing Flight Design aircraft is now handled by Airtime Aviation, a leader in its own right. For two decades, Airtime has been the nation’s #1 seller of Light-Sport Aircraft, delivering to American pilots a large percentage of those hundreds of CT-series aircraft. Importing was previously handled by Flight Design USA; regional dealers also contributed to enlarging the CT fleet in this country. The German designer has enjoyed good success in numerous countries.
In addition to those many sales, Flight Design has long been a leader among western producers moving into Eastern Europe to take advantage of skilled technical workers and engineers.

Blackshape Prime Veloce: Speeding at Mach 2 Standing Still

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There are a lot of sexy looking airplanes displayed at AirVenture, but a sure front runner for sleekest looking plane around is the Prime Veloce all-composite, two-place tandem retractable sport plane from Monopoli, Italy. This little speedster is powered by a Rotax 915 iS and is listed as capable of a 170 knot cruise speed.  It stalls at 45 knots with full flaps and 57 knots clean.
There are about 70 Prime Veloce aircraft flying in the rest of the world and Blackshape Aircraft, out of Sheridan, Indiana, will be importing them to the U.S. They are hoping to market the Prime Veloce as a completed aircraft, counting on MOSAIC regulations to empower them to accomplish that task.  This “mosaic-ready” aircraft will carry 26 gallons of fuel and should be capable of 1,650 feet per minute climb at maximum takeoff weight. Blackshape will list the aircraft, depending on configuration at about $330,000. 

MOSAIC – A Different Perspective

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A lot has been written about the contents of the MOSAIC NPRM and many people and organizations have been able to comment on it to the FAA. Much of the commentary has been around the extension, or in some cases, curtailing of existing privileges for Sport Pilots, aircraft that can fit into the Light Sport definition and Light Sport Repairman certifications. I don’t plan to re-hash any of that here. This article will focus on what some of these changes could mean, in practical terms, to the market for Light Sport Aircraft and its customers. As you will see, it has the potential to be highly disruptive which not everyone will be happy about but will do so in a way that also opens up opportunities to a wider audience.
Before delving any deeper, let’s dispel the myth held by some in general aviation that Light Sport has been a “failure”.

Looking Back to See Ahead — Dan Johnson Recalls the Beginning of the LSA Movement

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As we move toward MOSAIC as a new reality in the Light Sport/Sport Pilot world, it’s worth knowing how we got here. MOSAIC does, after all, leverage right off of the success of the LSA category. In this casual conversation, I chat with Dan Johnson about the early days of LSA and get some questions answered on how some decisions came to be made.

 

Summer’s Almost Here! State-of-the-Sector Report for LSA Seaplanes

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One of the most active sectors in light aviation is LSA seaplanes. We’ve seen ups and downs, arrivals and departures of LSA seaplane producers. Admittedly, these flying machines are more complex than current-day LSA. For example, amphibs need retractable landing gear and substantial boat hulls able to take water loads.
LSA seaplanes constitute a highly fluid market yet we can see clues suggesting what might be ahead for some of the main brands. With summertime approaching, this State-of-the-Sector article attempts to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape (or waterscape).
We’ll first look at two high-end entries that have been in the news and conclude with present LSA seaplanes and their status in the market.
Vickers Wave
Writing for AVweb (part of Firecrown, which also owns Flying and ByDanJohnson.com plus several other publications), my fellow aviation journalist Russ Niles stated, “New Zealand-based Vickers Aircraft Company says it intends to make its first delivery of the Wave two-place amphibious aircraft to a U.S.

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