General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

The best way to practice social distancing: Go flying!

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“This, too, shall pass…” said my neighbor, Bill Chernish, who flies for Southwest Airlines. His industry is unusually battered by the coronavirus pandemic. His serene, forward-looking view is refreshing amidst the fear seen everywhere you look.

Despite his calm, turmoil is widespread. Some hotels are are operating at only 10% occupancy. Numerous reports put airlines seats as one third to two thirds empty, a far cry from the nearly-or-every-seat-taken experience of recent years. Woes of the lodging and transportation industries are matched by many others.

For everyone around the globe, the word “coronavirus” — or the clumsier “Covid-19” disease it causes — remains the major topic of conversation. Rarely has the globe seen one theme so thoroughly dominate all the peoples of the planet. What comes next?

I have no crystal ball, but comments on social media brightened my outlook. Perhaps you can feel similarly.

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Flying an AirBike 900 miles

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Many general aviation pilots would not take too long to plan a 900-mile trip. After all, in your Cirrus SR22, this would take perhaps five hours and maybe involve one fuel and stretch break. It might only take seven hours of flying in an older Cessna 172 Skyhawk. In both it could be quicker as you might plan a more direct flight.

But when Mike Jefferson flew 900 miles to the Copperstate Fly-In in early February in Buckeye, Arizona, it took three days and 17 hours of airtime to complete the flight. Of course, he flew much more slowly — averaging a bit over 50 miles an hour — but he had quite a different experience.

Would you attempt his flight?

Before you answer, consider the flight was in an airplane you get “on” more than one you get “in” — an AirBike, better known as a motorcycle of the air.

When you are flying an AirBike, you are partially sheltered by a wind screen, but even your pant legs are going to be out in the windstream.

To some pilots, this may sound delightful. To others, it would be closer to punishment. Fortunately, we can all have it our way in this great country of flying freedom.

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LSAs log growth in 2019

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As we enter the third decade of the new millennia, new and improved reporting capabilities allows us to quickly report results for all of 2019 for light aircraft industry market shares.

First, let’s define what is meant by the “light aircraft industry.”

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Those magnificent men and their Flight Designs

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Flight Design’s CT series is the best-selling Light-Sport Aircraft in the United States and while the importer benefits from several distributors, one stands head and shoulders above all the rest.

Normally, that last phrase is just an expression, but in this case it is also literal. Why?

That’s because the two fellows who run the distributor enterprise define the phrase “big and tall.” At my average height both tower above me. Meet Tom Gutmann, Senior and Junior. In more ways than physical dimensions, they loom large and cast a long shadow.

Their company, Airtime Aviation — found via the easy-to-remember website, FlyCT.com —  is significantly responsible for the success of the CT series in America. Operated by the energetic father and son team, Airtime Aviation has delivered more than 220 new and used CT aircraft to customers around the United States and North America.

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It’s winter, so time to shop for a seaplane

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It may seem like the dead of winter if you’ve already been grappling with heavy snows across America’s north. Therefore, it must be time to shop for boats, right? And if that sounds reasonable, why not a seaplane?

Saturday, Nov. 14, was the final day of the last airshow of 2019. The 2019 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase suffered its chilliest weather of the four years it has been operating.

Nonetheless, my unscientific survey of airshow vendors jibed with numerous comments from individual pilots: Despite the less-than-ideal weather this year, sales of aircraft and other aviation gear proceeded. Show organizers said attendance was up more than 20% this year and every planned exhibitor space was sold.

Given this year’s uncharacteristic chill, the 2019 running of the Deland Showcase bore a resemblance to the boat shows I used to marvel at in my former home of Minnesota. How’s that?

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Blue skies for LSA

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As another election season starts up, polling and statistics move to center stage.

For similar — although less theatrical — reasons, reporting aircraft market share information helps businesses learn what customers want. Data also help buyers learn the brands that are favored, as well as the ones that pass the test of time.

As aviation’s newest sector, Light-Sport Aircraft market shares offer the customary values to identify trends. Thanks to a new effort over the last year, the light aircraft industry has the best information in its 15-year existence.

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3 ways to buy a used LSA

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Halfway through its second decade, the Light-Sport Aircraft sector is showing one clear-cut sign of maturity.

Used LSA are increasingly common and some represent exceptional values, helping to put aircraft ownership within range of a larger group of pilots.

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Oshkosh 2019 winners

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When 12,000 airplanes converge on one airport, you know some of them will be so special, so engaging, and so compelling that they will motivate pilots to investigate more deeply or perhaps pull the trigger on a purchase.

One essential purpose of the Experimental Aircraft Association‘s annual convention is to help pilots become aware of aircraft they may want to examine and perhaps experience for themselves. Since most of us cannot afford multiple airplane purchases, some guidance about the best-in-category might be helpful.

Be advised, though, the following does not try to be definitive or exhaustive. Many other great choices might be available, but these are the ones that caught my eye.

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Flying into Oshkosh at 14 in an ultralight

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One of the early arrivals at the 2019 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh was Henry Scott, who flew an ultralight from his home in Virginia to the big show in Wisconsin.

I’ve frequently had the pleasure to fly into KOSH during the show. Every time, it’s been an eye opening experience, literally and figuratively.

Now, imagine making such an epic arrival in an ultralight aircraft…‘er vehicle, cruising at 40 to 50 mph. Of course, a Part 103 ultralight means flying solo, so you do your own head-swiveling to look for traffic. Your planning better be solid to make this a reasonable task.

Go even further and imagine doing all this while you are 14 years old! Sound crazy? Yeah, it might seem that way, but in an hour-long conversation with Henry’s father William, I came to admire the preparation for his son’s flight.

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The new Flight Design family

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Once upon a time in the then-new world of Light-Sport Aircraft, Flight Design led the pack for airplanes delivered and registered. The German company held that #1 ranking for a decade.

Then came a pause in the juggernaut that is Flight Design. The company’s expenses outran its revenues and a major restructuring was forced upon it by the German legal system. This was 2015, but at Aero Friedrichshafen 2019, the company was again looking strong. Its prominent space in Aero’s gymnasium-sized exhibit halls was filled with interesting machines, including the distinctive Horten flying wing that debuted at the event.

Horten, the company’s several fixed wing designs, and the Rotorvox deluxe gyroplane all now operate under the parent name, Lift.

Attracting the most attention from tens of thousands of attendees to Aero Friedrichshafen was F-series, especially F2 that looked closed to what Flight Design has produced for more than 15 years.

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