General Aviation News

The real story behind the proposed changes to LSA

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A few words provided a spark that turned into a raging prairie fire in early October. The words included two numbers, each significant in their own way.

The first — perhaps the one grabbing the attention of most readers— was 3,600, that being the number stated to be the new weight limit for Light-Sport Aircraft by a high level official at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Since these newest aircraft under FAA regulation are presently limited to 1,320 pounds (1,430 for seaplanes or floatplanes), 3,600 pounds amounted to an increase of almost 300%.

Is such a large increase likely or reasonable?

The second number was a date. It was said that this weight increase and much more would all be put in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to be issued on Jan. 19, 2019, a very specific date. Coming as it did from a large membership organization, such a precise declaration made it sound factual and accurate.

However, the devil is in the details. [Read more…]

Flying the new A32 Vixxen

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The first of the fall Light-Sport Aircraft series of shows was the Midwest LSA Expo in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, held Sept. 6-8, 2018. That event offered Americans and your faithful reporter a first look at the new A32 Vixxen from Aeroprakt.

To give some perspective, the Ukraine-based Aeroprakt factory manufacturing the new model has been building the A22LS model — sometimes called Valor — for many years. More than 1,000 are flying in a variety of countries.

Indeed, U.S. importer Dennis Long has logged a good run of sales since he took over about three years ago. A22 has an agreeable starting price of about $85,000. Given that the average price of a new vehicle in America is now $36,000 — for machines made by the hundreds of thousands each year — that cost for a well-made Light-Sport Aircraft is quite affordable. [Read more…]

New opportunities coming for Light-Sport Aircraft

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Things are looking up for Light-Sport Aircraft, rather fantastically so in my admittedly biased opinion.

While this space is usually dedicated to cool new airplanes — not boring government policy reviews…yawn! — this column will provide some rays of light to an industry approaching its 15th birthday (in September 2019). I think some of this may surprise you.

LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (kind of a General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) for the light aircraft sector) and its partner, USUA, the U.S. Ultralight Association, have been heads-down working on improving the opportunities for LSA. [Read more…]

Back to the Future: InnovAviation’s FX-1

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In the late 1990s, the Italian JetFox 97 flew as an evolved ultralight-style aircraft. The two-seat design resembled the American FlightStar, which sold around 1,000 units in all configurations.

Unlike Flightstar, JetFox 97 fully enclosed the engine and cabin, giving it a more finished look. Instead of the simple tail boom on Flightstar, the European microlight had an aft fuselage and other refinements.

However, as Light-Sport Aircraft erupted into the marketplace in 2005, JetFox appeared to quietly fade away. U.S. representation of the design moved on to other pursuits.

Yet worthy ideas can be recycled and revived. Such appears to be the case for FX1. [Read more…]

A drool-worthy collection of LSA seaplanes

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SUN ‘n FUN 2018 ended a record event on a Sunday. Traveling home Monday, I had less than a 24-hour turnaround before jetting across the Atlantic for Aero Friedrichshafen 2018, which started Wednesday. As on a roller coaster, all I could do was hold on tightly.

For an aviation buff, the month of April is something like being a kid in a candy store. So many fun airplanes. So few days to absorb the images, stories, people, and excitement.

Sandwiched in the partial day between getting home from SUN ‘n FUN and blasting off to Europe, one more cool thing happened: A gathering of Light-Sport seaplanes. [Read more…]

35 years and counting at Rans Aircraft

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One of the most celebrated names in light aviation is Rans, a company name that both hinges on and reflects its designer and company boss, Randy Schlitter.

Recently this now-familiar producer celebrated 35 years since the initial flight of its first single-seat aircraft.

When the company first flew its S3 Coyote I three and a half decades ago, most observers had no idea where the Kansas company was headed…or if it would even last.

For that matter, the company that showed at SUN ‘n FUN back in the mid-1980s consisted of one fellow and his interesting little Part 103 ultralight vehicle. Most show goers probably never even considered this modest entry would lead to one of the most important companies in the light aircraft space.

Very likely Randy himself didn’t know, though he has proven a shrewd entrepreneur and prolific developer for many years, driven by that fire burning in his belly. [Read more…]

Will you fly the aircraft of the future?

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This article may either excite you or annoy you.

I understand. I have mixed feelings about a new class of airplanes I don’t understand as well as familiar, legacy ones.

Perhaps like you, I’m annoyed because I didn’t foresee this and because these new proposed machines are not my experience over many decades of flight. Nonetheless I’m also excited as I enjoy new technologies and how they can help us in myriad ways.

However, it may not matter what you or I think.

You and I may be the veteran pilots of the USA (and perhaps the world). We have years of experience. Americans account for around half of all the pilots, half of the airplanes, and half of the flight hours in the world.

Yet much like veterans of the auto industry, we are in danger (or is it a benefit?) of being upended by the world of tech. The Information Age is upon aviation in ways we never envisioned. [Read more…]

Let the airshow season begin

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The 14th running of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo vigorously launched the 2018 season of airshows. The show ran Jan. 24-27, 2018, at Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF).

The central Florida airport — directly adjacent to the famous Sebring Raceway — hosts the annual event and lucked out with an opening day of gorgeous weather of clear blue skies and modest breezes in the high 70s. More than 100 vendors exhibited and plenty of shiny new aircraft were available to examine. [Read more…]

Enjoy your freedom to fly in 2018

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American pilots are extraordinarily fortunate. We have a freedom to fly that many around the world can barely comprehend, much less enjoy as we do.

Yes, I’m well aware many American aviators don’t pay much attention to flying outside U.S. borders. Indeed, around 80% of all general aviation airplanes are located in the USA, also home to more than half of all the pilots on the planet. We also have the most public airports and those don’t include many flying fields. No wonder we can be inwardly focused.

In addition, a large share of the airplanes produced anywhere and the innovations they boast originated in the land of the free. Lucky us!

I hope you will enjoy every minute you can spend aloft in 2018. [Read more…]

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