People are arriving in Florida for the kick-off of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, Jan. 16. As we enter the last-minute rush to head to the 10th Sebring LSA Expo, as it is known, a few news items arrived and I’ll run through them so you have some idea of what will be […]
Why LSA registrations were down in 2013
A number of people have asked about an updated sales report for 2013. While remembering that we report registrations, not sales, last year was a different sort. Registrations were down from 2012, with the exception that CubCrafters remains the registration (and presumably sales) leader. American Legend and its Cubs also showed more activity than previous […]
What’s ahead for LSA in 2014?
True for most of aviation, the Light-Sport Aircraft sector may not recall 2013 as a banner year. However, it was a year of movement in the right direction with a few enterprises doing well. It was also a year when the locus of activity continued a steady pace progressing from European manufacturers to U.S.-based producers. […]
Skycatcher and the future
At the NBAA show this fall, multimillion dollar business jets and working aircraft were the focus. No surprise. After all, the organization is the National Business Aviation Association. While I’ve attended a few times (and am always stunned by the size of the exhibit hall and the opulence of the displays), I was caught off […]
Top reasons to buy an LSA
At this year’s Midwest LSA Expo, held Sept. 5-7 at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) in Illinois, I delivered a presentation called “20+ Reasons to Buy an LSA.” However, to handle the subject a little bit differently, I turned it into an audience participation exercise. As I presented each slide of a particular reason, I […]
A new approach to LSA certification
“It’s always been done this way” begins a familiar statement for someone defending a long-standing practice. The reference here is to the nearly 10-year-old category of Light-Sport Aircraft and how these airplanes are permitted to fly across the USA. It is no longer being done the old way and the results are good. The Sport […]
Best AirVenture ever?
Was 2013 the best EAA AirVenture Oshkosh ever? In one way obvious to every attendee, this year’s event was superlative: Wisconsin’s weather was nearly perfect. Each day of the event was blessed with mild temperatures, mostly clear skies, and a comforting breeze. EAA officials surely thanked their lucky stars, having endured last year’s blistering heat […]
Evektor passes FAA audit
The first Light-Sport Aircraft to win FAA acceptance as an SLSA was Evektor. Now, Midwest U.S. Sportstar and Harmony rep Steve Minnich reports Evektor passed a recent FAA audit. This comes as no surprise because the company has also successfully been ISO-audited, EASA-audited, and LAMA-audited. Still, FAA apparently wanted to go see for themselves after […]
Rotax 912 iS: Better than predicted
While the 912 iS is essentially the same engine as the carbureted 912 ULS, it has seen numerous changes, including fuel injection and computer controls.