Feature

The Diamond DA42, also know as the Twin Star, is arguably the most advanced light twin on the market today. Since its introduction to the United States in 2004 it has been gaining a foothold in flight schools around the country. I recently had the opportunity to fly one courtesy of Galvin Flying Services at […]

I freely admit it. From the time Burt Rutan, at the behest of George “Rick” Adam, designed and built the Carbon Aero M-309, which later evolved into the Adam A500, I always had an interest in flying the plane, particularly after seeing it featured in the recent movie “Miami Vice” where it aggressively pursued the […]

“People are ready to buy,” remarked an EAA official at the Light Sport Aircraft Mall during last month’s AirVenture. And he was right. The “wait and see” approach that many flight schools took when the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule was finalized in April 2005 seems to have ebbed. Now many schools are shopping for […]

You’ve always been interested in aviation, so you go to the local airport to shop for flying lessons. Your uncle, who learned to fly years ago, told you to train in a two-place, high-wing, tricycle gear aircraft. You have no idea what that means, but tell the first flight instructor you meet that you want […]

The newly appointed national representatives for Italy’s Tecnam are deeply experienced general aviation folks. The original national distributor, still very much involved, comes from an entire family of airline pilots. So why are these experienced aviators — who have a combined 150 years of aviation experience — messing around with Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)? The […]

Experiencing sticker shock at the avgas pump these days? Beyond cruising at reduced power settings to conserve fuel, what else can be done? Perhaps Power Flow Systems (PFS) of Daytona Beach, Fla. has the answer, providing more speed for the same fuel consumption or the same speed you now enjoy at a reduced burn. No […]

A gyroplane looks like a cross between an airplane and a helicopter. First developed in the 1920s, the gyroplane is one of the oldest forms of aviation technology. However, gyroplanes are not very common in the general aviation world, perhaps because of a reputation for being difficult or dangerous to fly. It’s an undeserved reputation, […]

The Allegro 2000 is no Johnny-come lately, except in the U.S. Certified by the FAA in May as a Special-Light Sport Aircraft, the Allegro 2000 has been flying for about 12 years and can be found in 16 countries. So far, about 1,200 have been delivered. Built by Fantasy Air in Pisek, Czech Republic, you […]

Well, it took awhile. Ever since Sun ‘n Fun 2005, I had been lusting to fly the Columbia 400, touted as the fastest production recip available today. Problem is, they’re selling so fast that Aero Sport Inc., the Columbia dealer for the state of Florida, has difficulty keeping a demonstrator in inventory. In the end, […]