No less than three Light-Sport Aircraft companies have recently struck deals with Florida airports, winning the support of local government officials anxious to provide jobs. Renegade LSA, producer of the Falcon and a key figure in the development of an LSA-oriented Lycoming O-233 engine, moved into a 70,000-square-foot facility at the St. Lucie Airport. Proprietor […]
Light Sport Aircraft
Tecnam acquires Snap
Tecnam has acquired the rights to Snap! the LSA aerobat. The LSA was designed and developed by Fabio Russo, who is now the head of research and development for Tecnam Aircraft. Tecnam will now manufacture the airplane at its facilities in Naples and Capua, Italy. SportairUSA, the American marketing and distribution company that introduced the […]
Tecnam to debut new low-wing LSA
Tecnam will reveal its “Astore” next generation Light-Sport Aircraft at AERO Friedrichshafen 2013 in Germany on April 24. “Astore is an all-new, two-seat, low-wing airplane that offers superlative performance,” wrote company officials. The Italian company celebrates its 65th year in 2013 and saw fit to name the new model accordingly. “What could be more fitting […]
CubCrafters receives night VFR certification for Top Cub
The FAA has issued Night VFR approval for CubCrafters’ CC18-180 Top Cub. CubCrafters’ Top Cub already boasts a gross weight of 2,300 lbs., a useful load of 1,100 lbs., and short-field capabilities, so the addition of Night VFR expands the Top Cub’s capabilities, according to company officials. “Until now, the only significant omission from Top […]
LSA market share: The rest of the story
We recorded very strong interest in our recent market share post. Traffic spiked to double in the days since our report was posted at ByDanJohnson.com (and that was from record levels). It would appear the LSA segment is hardly in “critical condition,” despite what some may think. The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) board of […]
First flight: Sam LS
The first flight of Sam LS, an all-new design, took place Feb. 26 at Lachute Airport near Montréal, Quebec, Canada. “Liftoff was perfect, in about 300 feet,” said Thierry Zibi, president of SAM Aircraft. “We were not at gross weight, so our climb of nearly 1,300 fpm felt like a rocket.” The test pilot, Raphaël […]
2012 LSA market shares: Cubs and surprises
Our annual review of LSA Market Share brings our updated fleet chart and a second chart showing prior-year registrations. While sales of new SLSA remains below par, the market appears to be experiencing spotty but regular recovery from earlier low points. The first half the year foretold a better recovery but the last half of […]
Go negative…or work together?
It is true that a pilot of one type aircraft may not know much about nor (therefore) care much about another type aircraft. Ultralight pilots and turbine pilots may not seem to have much in common. Sailplane pilots and crop dusters, likewise. Powered parachute enthusiasts seem on the opposite side of the spectrum from airline […]
Production begins on ICON A5
Production of the ICON A5 started in December 2012 with the completion of the first tooling master, according to the most recent newsletter from ICON Aircraft, the Los Angeles company that is developing the amphibious Light-Sport Aircraft. ICON’s composite supplier, Cirrus Aircraft, will use the composite tooling produced from this master to manufacture production A5 […]