AERO, held each year in the south of Germany, is one of those shows that has interesting aircraft in more nooks and crannies than even a crack reporter can find. Thanks to Tom Peghiny of Flightstar eSpyder and Flight Design USA fame, we have more from the German show about electric-powered aircraft. Enthusiasts of electric […]
Light Sport Aircraft
CubCrafters opens European market
When it receives delivery of a CubCrafters Carbon Cub in early June, directSky will become the aircraft manufacturer’s first dealer to service the European market. directSky provides aircraft sales, maintenance, management, restoration, repairs and pilot training. It is headed by Managing Director/CEO Kamil Skorupski. DirectSky is located in Ireland (Abbeyshrule Airfield) and Poland (Mielec Airfield). […]
ICON collaborates with Lotus Engineering
ICON Aircraft is collaborating closely with Lotus Engineering USA on key areas of the production design of the ICON A5 amphibious Light Sport Aircraft. The work focuses on the A5’s cockpit, where Lotus’ experience in lightweight premium automotive-quality components is especially relevant, ICON officials said. “The collaboration with Lotus is perfect for ICON because it […]
Flying the Bristell
Since the Sebring LSA Expo in January, the airshow season has rushed by at warp speed and now we can return to more aircraft flown at the event that kicks off the aviation year. In this post, we’ll have a quick look at the all-new Bristell, first unveiled to the American pilot community at the […]
Zenith offers quick build kit for CH 650
MEXICO, Missouri — A quick build kit of the low-wing CH 650 from Zenith Aircraft Company is now available. The main fuselage of the all-metal, light sport aircraft, is assembled at the factory which cuts built time and simplifies the process. In addition, the kit also offers factory-installed bubble canopy and cabin frame. The new quick build kit costs […]
From Kiev with love: Flying the Aeroprakt LSA
BY J. DOUGLAS HINTON With the meltdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gained its independence, causing private enterprise to bloom, including Kiev-based Aeroprakt company, founded the same year and bolstered by an investment by Saudi Sheik Hussein. The result was several Light-Sport Aircraft, principally the Aeroprakt A22-LS. Designed by Yuri Yakovlev, the LSA […]
Pipistrel finalizes a new LSA trainer
Engineers at Pipistrel must not sleep in too often. This company, which won the NASA efficiency challenge several times — in 2011 taking home a $1.35 million cash prize — just unveiled a full-size version of a sleek four-seat design called the Panthera. Now on the other end of the spectrum comes its Alpha Trainer, […]
FAA forecast: Spot on or improbable?
As the Light-Sport Aircraft industry ramps up for a summer of flying and the season’s biggest celebration of flight, AirVenture Oshkosh, I am still analyzing the FAA’s recently issued 20-year forecast for aviation, which shows growth prospects for LSAs, while predicting a decline in the total number of piston-powered aircraft. Viewed from a distance, this might […]
Icon releases spin-resistance video
Earlier this year, Icon Aircraft revealed that it had successfully completed spin-resistance testing of its A5 amphibious Light-Sport Aircraft to the standard specified by the FAA for Part 23 certified aircraft. This achievement will make the A5 the first conventional production aircraft to be designed to and fully meet this standard once it enters production, […]