By RAEANN SLAYBAUGH More than 60 years elapsed before 87-year-old Karl Klingelhofer of Tucson, Ariz., revisited his love of aviation and earned his sport pilot’s license. But if you ask him when he decided he wanted to fly, he draws a blank. He can’t pinpoint an instance or a moment that lit a spark — […]
Light Sport Aircraft
Tecnam debuts Astore at AERO
As part of its 65th anniversary celebrations, Tecnam debuted the Tecnam Astore next-generation Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) at AERO 2013 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Tecnam Astore is an all-new two-seat, low-wing airplane developed by Tecnam’s renowned Head of Aircraft Design, Professor Luigi Pascale. Pascale has named his latest creation in honor of his first production […]
Air conditioning for Flight Design CTLS debuts
US Aviation previewed its integration of the FlyCool air conditioning system in the Flight Design CTLS at SUN ’n FUN. US Aviation partnered with FlyCool to develop the air conditioning for the Light-Sport Aircraft. “We are seeing a 20° drop in less than 10 minutes on a 100° day,” reports Scott Severen, with US Aviation […]
Czech Sport Aircraft provides safety briefings to firefighters
On the first and fourth day of the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo 2013, which was held in Lakeland, Florida, last week, Czech Sport Aircraft provided detailed safety briefings to the Lakeland Fire Department. The briefings focused on the Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) that Czech Sport Aircraft offers as an enhanced safety feature […]
$2 million and counting…
Flight Design USA has taken in $2 million worth of orders for its CT-line of light sport aircraft, “just since Sebring,” President Tom Peghiny said at SUN ’n FUN. Flight Design’s C4 boasts deposits for 80 aircraft worth $20 million. “There are enough $400,000 new four-seat aircraft,” says Flight Design CEO Matthias Betsch. “That is […]
LSA companies flock to Florida
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 […]
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 […]