As one who is lucky to fly lots of airplanes, questions about which aircraft I recommend are common (hint: try PlaneFinder 2.0 under the Plane Research tab). A close second is, “Do you have a particular headset you like?” The question is logical since I often use whatever is in the cockpit of the airplane I fly. It didn’t take long before I recognized one of the very best is the Sennheiser S1. It performs well, but the main reason to recommend it? It is extraordinarily comfortable. Check this video to see why.
Sensenich (pronounced Sensen-ICK) is one of the best-known prop manufacturers in the world, long supplying Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines, but also airboat makers. In 2012 Sensenich came out with a line of props specifically aimed at the Light-Sport Aircraft community and they can serve Rotax and Jabiru as well as Lycoming and Continental. Join us while we visit with company president Don Rowell at AirVenture Oshkosh.
MIDWEST LSA EXPO 2012 — One of our series of many short videos from the fall show, this one is one of the newest in the LSA fleet. This is Pipistrel’s Alpha Trainer and it has already seen market success in the USA and around the world, thanks significantly to its excellent price: $85,000 (in 2012 and before expenses like shipping and FAA registration). Simple, yes, but Alpha has all a recreational pilot might want.
MIDWEST LSA EXPO 2012 — One of our series of many short videos from the fall show, this one is the Sky Arrow. This Special LSA has been around for years but had a down period after the Italian manufacturer went out of business. It has since been acquired by a large Italian aerospace company — Magnaghi Aeronautica — and they are back in production with this smooth, great flying airplane. Here more on our short (3 min) video update.
MIDWEST LSA EXPO 2012 — One of our series of many short videos from the fall show, this one on the Magni Gyro M-24 Orion. Gyros have a special place in the hearts of some pilots… humorously called rotorheads; you know if you’re one of them. We catch up with the new side-by-side, fully-enclosed Magni M2-24 Orion and hear how this kit is to build and fly.
MIDWEST LSA EXPO 2012 — One of our series of many short videos from the fall show, this one on the MX Sprint. We look at an homebuilt version and that means it can be modified by the owner as this one was. This short video (3 min) give you some basic info and leads you to more about Quicksilver Aeronautics, now under new, motivated management. Take a part of the Midwest LSA Expo tour.
Here’s another in our growing series of mini pilot reports where you get some of the benefits of a full-length pilot report in a video format. This time it’s the new Solairus from North Wing. Any weight shift enthusiast could love it but for those of us who enjoy soaring flight, here’s a dream come true… even more so for those who don’t live near mountains or an airpark where they can tow you aloft.
And now for something completely different — For the first time in our 200+ videos we take you on a tour of the 2012 Midwest LSA Expo and cover every single aircraft on display… not just a few highlights, but every airplane. We cover all the LSA plus some kits and ultralights. Each aircraft segment is short, just 2-3 minutes, but here’s a way to see it all in 1.5 hours of watching we hope you’ll like. Later, we’ll offer each aircraft video separately to make finding the ones you want easier. TRT: 90 minutes
Randall Fishman is widely considered the pioneer of electric aircraft, having demonstrated — and regularly flying — his Electraflyer trike at Oshkosh 2007. Now in his fourth generation, Randall’s Electraflyer ULS is the best yet, in my opinion. We get a chance to hear about its development and examine it closely. It’s so new (summer 2012) that his website doesn’t cover it yet but more will follow, he assures us.
SkyReach is a new company that took over from Rainbow Aircraft that became known for their low-priced Cheetah. Bush Cat is a slightly changed model (5% different) including stronger undercarriage structure, tires, brakes and more. Hear what the other differences are as we speak to the company representative. Also get an explanation for the flashy wing decoration. And, no, they still maintain the bargain price. Check it out!
Jan Fridrich is known to all ByDanJohnson.com readers as the man behind the LSA market share statistics that have proven so popular. But his many hours of work on those figures are but a small part of the total effort Jan expends on behalf of the LSA concept – not just in the USA, but all over Europe and with an impact felt around the world. We’re pleased to tell you more about Jan Fridrich, a man we hope you appreciate.
Meet the eight youthful-faced Cessna “kids” that served as ambassadors for Cessna as they flew eight distinctively-painted and numbered Skycatcher LSA around the USA promoting Sport Pilot, Light-Sport Aircraft… and, of course, Skycatcher. After we meet each ambassador pilot and their dispatcher to hear of their experiences, we speak with Tracy Leopold about Cessna’s move into Primary Category certification so the company can more quick satisfy Skycatcher demand in Europe.
OK, think you’ve seen everything? How about a twin-engine powered hang glider that uses a wing designed more than 20 years ago. Yup. Brought back to life by Keith Sharon to the delight of Oshkosh show goers in 2012, we watch the Wasp Wing launch and then talk about its illustrious history and how it is that Keith can fly his dad’s wing design in such a singular way. You can’t buy this aircraft but I’ll bet you enjoy hearing about it.
Law Enforcement and Light-Sport Aircraft. Sound dull? Sound like somebody else may be interested but not you? I understand. But UltralightNews and I came across a fascinating aerial observation system that is inexpensive and can easily be handled by LSA. Those two factors make for a compelling reason to check out this video. Plus the capabilities of the system, employing computer technology, is quite amazing.
Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Fly Hard Trikes makes a line of lightweight trikes, one of which is the Skycycle that can qualify as a Part 103 ultralight vehicle. In production for 13 years at the time our video was recorded. Proprietor Mike Theeke installs several engines according to a customer’s wishes. On this particular example, we see the Vernor V4 four stroke, electric start engine that produces 35 horsepower. See and hear more in this video.
North Wing builds, well… wings, as you might expect from their name. They do this for trikes, or weight shift aircraft, and for many producers of the carriage part of these aircraft as well as their own full aircraft. North Wing also builds hang gliders, which means just the wing, for those pilots. In this video we look at their Scout XC two seat model and visit with designer Kamron Blevins.
“Wind is your friend” in a gyro. That means take off is faster when the wind blows down the runway. But neither is wind, like crosswind, a problem; commonly we see gyros operate in wind conditions that keep light fixed wings airplanes on the ground. Flying a gyro is more like flying a fixed wing than flying a helicpoter. In this video we get lots of info about gyroplane flying. Let’s go!
Some said it could never be done. How could you add air conditioning to Light-Sport Aircraft? It’s too heavy, too expensive, too bulky, said many. They’re wrong. The folks at Air Management Technologies or AMT have built the FlyCool system that works excellently on LSA and does not cost an arm and a leg nor does the system take up much room or add much weight. This video (with other installations to follow) explains how it works.
Ed Fisher, proprietor and principal designer of Raceair, has created several intriguing yet highly affordable designs. Here we speak with Ed about his Skylite (which can be bought as a complete kit for less than $10,000 and ready-to-fly, test flown for $20,000, in 2012 dollars) plus his Lil’ Bitts, a lightweight and more user-friendly version of the famous Pitts Special.
Tecnam has many fetching models, no less than five of which have earned Special LSA approval. To that seemingly ever growing fleet the big Italian manufacturer now adds the Tail Dragger, dressed up in full retro look. At Sun ‘n Fun 2012 we got a first look at the new model and are given the details by Phil Solomon, CEO of Tecnam North America.
One sweet little Part 103 candidate at Sun ‘n Fun 2012 that turned lots of heads what what folks dubbed the “Wonder Bread Airplane” for obvious reasons (at least if you saw TV commercials before 1975). Developer James Weibe has done lots of development on his single place entry and he tells us all about it.
We speak with Jerry Olenick of Green Sky Adventures about his Micro Mong, a sweet little biplane that can meet Part 103. This one is powered by the HKS engine, another product Green Sky represents. Sold only a kit, this Ed Fisher design can deliver great savings in return for a little sweat equity. Even with the four-stroke HKS and instruments, Micro Mong costs barely over $20,000 in 2012.
Here is the second installment of our full-length pilot reports, by which we mean we give much more than a quick glance at an aircraft. This time we review the Allegro 2007, the model that is now 100% Made in the USA.
Near the start, some wind noise interfers but this improves.
Evektor, the first ever Light-Sport Aircraft has been busy updating their Sportstar for years. In 2011 they brought their Harmony LSA to America with even more changes. This time the wing shape went from rectangular “Hershey Bar” shape to a tapered tip along with many other changes. Co-importer Art Tarola helps us understand all the differences.
This video is a bit longer (21 min.) than our usual fare and it’s a bit different in that we are not reviewing an aircraft. In this case, you can hear a most compelling story of a man and his daughter who were literally saved by the use of his BRS parachute in his Cirrus SR22. You rarely get to hear one of these experiences explained so well. After he lost his engine over the ocean the pilot deployed his parachute. Listen closely and learn!
North Wing makes more trikes than you might think. We also have a video on the sweet little Solairus, a soaring trike. In this video we review the Maverick, a more deluxe single seater with a beefier engine from Kawasaki. Yet even with the additional features, Maverick still fits into Part 103 where no pilot license, airman’s medical, or N-numbers are needed.
Here’s the sharp new Solairus (yes, that’s the right spelling) from North Wing, the premiere American producer of weight-shift trike ultralights and Light-Sport Aircraft. Solairus easily qualifies as a Part 103 ultralight vehicle meaning no license is needed. The fresh design is a departure from the usual trike and the one we examine is powered with a four stroke engine with electric starting. You’ll want to watch the video to get all the details.
BRS Parachutes is the leading developer of emergency parachutes intended to save the entire airplane including all occupants. The company has saved more than 276 lives (the numbers seems always to increase so check their website for the latest count). At Sun ‘n Fun 2012, we spoke with company founder and early developer, Boris Popov, about the range of BRS products.
Cessna had a great 2011 with more LSA registrations than any other brand, by a wide margin and for the first time. In this video we speak with new Skycatcher Business Leader Tracy Leopold and regional sales manager Kelly Spaulding about the leadership changes, price changes, and more regarding the LSA entry from the world’s largest airplane producer.
Lycoming is the storied aircraft engine brand name that even predates aircraft as you’ll hear in this interview with the company’s Mike Kraft. Lycoming has worked closely with Renegade Light Sport aircraft company in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and that is now paying off with installations in more and more LSA. Optimized for use in Light-Sport, the O-233 has lost some 40 pounds and is raring to go even while sustaining its 2,400 TBO.
(Part 1 of 2) – At Sebring 2010, UltralightNews and Dan Johnson take you on a golf cart Fast Tour of the airplanes on display at the show. With each, we provide some teaser information and offer their website address for you to follow further. Alternatively, you can read more about all these aircraft right here on ByDanJohnson.com, and the odds are we have a video on each of these aircraft as well. All for free… enjoy!
(Part 2 of 2) – At Sebring 2010, UltralightNews and Dan Johnson take you on a golf cart Fast Tour of the airplanes on display at the show. With each, we provide some teaser information and offer their website address for you to follow further. Alternatively, you can read more about all these aircraft right here on ByDanJohnson.com, and the odds are we have a video on each of these aircraft as well. All for free… enjoy!
Perhaps it’s to be expected that the leading seller of Light-Sport Aircraft in the USA has now entered the public service aviation market with their CTLE, the “LE” standing for Law Enforcement. This specially fitted LSA has a high-tech wing mounted camera system that is controlled from the right seat where a Tactical Flight Officer sits. He can send and receive with ground units. CTLE is leading the way to a promising new market for Light-Sport Aircraft.
You already know this airplane with the handsome interior, clean lines, and the sexy wingtips. However, you know it as the Gobosh 700E, which billed itself as a Luxury Sport Aircraft. Now with a new U.S. representative, this European aircraft is back in the market after a short hiatus. Built very conventionally in all metal, general aviation pilots will especially like the deluxe Garmin avionics in the panel.
We spoke with SportairUSA founder, Bill Canino, who represents a broad and varied line of Light-Sport Aircraft… all of which just happen to begin with the letter “S.” We wanted to inform you about all these quality airplanes but we also wanted to ask Bill about all SportUSA’s activities including their Arkansas FBO and a flock of interesting accessories items, some of which are available for other brands.
We’ve seen SeaMax before from Brazilian designer Miguel Rosario. The lovely little amphibious seaplane is the only one presently (early 2012) that can boast full Special Light-Sport Aircraft approval. We speak to the new importer who has been working with the Brazil factory to make more changes to suit American buyers plus a number of good changes to the preceding design. As a treat, we also introduce you to the new boss of the Seaplane Pilots Association.