Toxo test flights begin .
Test flights towards certification for the Toxo have begun in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The LSA, manufactured in Spain by Composite Aeronautic Group, S.L. (CAG), arrived by air cargo earlier this month according to Amy Christian of Toxo Aircraft North America LLC, based at Cincinnati-Blue Ash Airport (KISZ).
The test flight team includes pilot Alvaro Lapetra and three aerospace engineers from CAG in Zaragoza, Spain. A certification team from CAG’s headquarters will arrive after flight testing for final FAA certification, expected later this month.
The test flight and certification schedule meant the company had to miss the big LSA show of the year, the U.S. Sport-Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, according to Christian, who said demo flights will be scheduled beginning in February at Cincinnati. The LSA will be at Sun ‘n Fun in April. First deliveries are expected in May, she added.
Priced at $115,000, the basic Toxo includes a Dynon D180 Flightdeck and a Garmin 496 plus radio stack and BRS whole-airplane parachute.
For more information: 800-917-6648, MyToxo.com or Toxo.aero.
Cirrus begins taking orders for its LSA
Cirrus began taking orders for its Light Sport Aircraft, the Cirrus SRS, on opening day of the Sebring Expo earlier this month.
According to company officials, $5,000 deposits were taken during the Expo as well as online at CirrusDesign.com.
Introduced at last year’s AirVenture to the surprise of the industry, the LSA is a “Cirrus-ized” version of the FK14 Polaris from FK Lightplanes in Germany. The design has flown for decades as a microlight in Europe.
The aircraft is a two-place, side-by-side design. A 100-hp Rotax 912S powers the LSA, which already includes a whole-airframe parachute system as standard equipment.
The SRS, which will be manufactured in Europe, is expected to be ready for delivery in 2009.
CirrusDesign.com.
X-Air set to make its U.S. debut
Another LSA expected to enter the U.S. market soon is the X-Air LS.
X-Air company officials note that the SLSA status of the LS model aircraft is nearly complete. Certification is expected early this year.
X-Air founder and designer, Joel Koechlin, has been in the aircraft manufacturing business for nearly 30 years, producing aircraft from hang gliders to the X-Air microlight, which has been on the market for some 15 years. The company has already delivered more than 1,000 aircraft to customers throughout the world, according to X-Air officials.
The high-wing LSA, powered by an 85-hp Jabiru 2200 engine, is expected to be sold for $46,900, which includes an ICom radio, Dynon engine monitor and basic flight instrumentation.
Options include the Dynon EFIS and Garmin 496 along with extended fuel capability and speed fairings. Deliveries are expected to begin before Sun ‘n Fun in April.
For more information: X-AirLSA.com