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Up or down? How flies the LSA industry in this strange year?

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By any measure 2020 has been an unusual year. While millions were thrown out of work by lockdowns to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, plenty of others can work from home or have businesses that are considered essential.

In this context, how is the general aviation industry holding up?

The short answer: Some are doing surprisingly well.

In this third quarter report for the calendar year, I’ll look at some numbers for general aviation manufacturers, as well as the light sport aircraft (LSA) industry that has my full focus.

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Crowds flock to Midwest LSA Expo 2020

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Lots of doubters expressed opinions in the weeks and days before the 12th running of the Midwest LSA Expo in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

After all, we have seen the cancellation of major airshows, such as SUN ‘n FUN and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, plus hundreds of non-aviation gatherings. Could this sector-specific show work while the big events succumbed to COVID-19 concerns?

I can only express one person’s opinion, but reflect a number of comments I heard that went like this: “Thank goodness for Mt. Vernon Airport Manager Chris Collins and his contingent of orange-shirted volunteers who hosted this event.”

To me, “success” means no accidents (none happened) and a decent turn-out that got pilots in new aircraft and vendors the sales that sustain them (both happened).

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The latest on the FAA’s proposed changes to LSA

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The end is near! Or is it?

The reference is to the long-running effort to revise the FAA regulation affecting Light-Sport Aircraft. The new ruleset has been discussed since 2017 and started to take shape in early 2019. Almost two years later, what is its status?

Some in the industry believe the FAA is about to release what’s called an NPRM, a Notice of Proposed Rule Making.

But an NPRM is not going to be forthcoming soon. Instead, the agency is preparing for a full internal review of the proposals, known as LSA 2023.

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Build your own fighter

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ScaleBirds is not your run-of-the-mill kit aircraft company.

In truth, all kit builders are amazing to me. People who labor for years to design an aircraft, craft methods for making the parts, assemble it all, work out bugs in construction, fly the aircraft, then smooth any rough edges of its flight qualities, start producing kit components — and the manual it will take for a non-expert to build the kit (perhaps the hardest task) — and finally, start the effort of telling people about the airplane, market it, sell it — and the big one — try to turn a profit for doing all the preceding. Any way you cut it, birthing a new design is an immense project.

Sam Watrous, his son Scott, and their merry band of (mostly volunteer) ScaleBirders are not merely doing all the above. They are emulating vintage American military designs in reduced scale and trying to get the details right so the kit versions look as much as possible like the originals.

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Five fascinating flyers just waiting to make their U.S. debuts

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During this most unusual time, we have been hearing a lot about virtual events of all kinds. Even airshows are working to maintain pilot interest despite the lockdowns. 

Nonetheless, since SUN ‘n FUN and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh had to push their big events into 2021, many aviators have been missing a favorite activity. While you must wait until next year to attend SUN ‘n FUN, we can give you a sense of what you might have seen this year.

Before SUN ‘n FUN was forced to cancel because of the pandemic, I learned of five not-before-seen aircraft that planned initial appearances at the Lakeland, Florida, show. Plenty of Light-Sport Aircraft or Sport Pilot kit aircraft enthusiasts wanted to learn more about them … perhaps you were among them?

Since you didn’t get to attend this big events, let’s review these five fascinating flyers here.

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The Swedish Speed Monster

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While appreciating the joy of a slow, leisurely flight over beautiful countryside, most pilots also are powerfully motivated by the dream of a speedy aircraft. Going fast has magical appeal.

No surprise, then, that a successful record attempt by a European light aircraft proved popular as pilots follow shelter-in-place orders.

During this coronavirus scare, Sweden has been in the news because authorities did not fully lock down the Scandinavian country. Some closures were recommended and certain folks (older, immune-deficient…you’ve heard all this repeatedly) were encouraged to self-isolate. Yet pictures show restaurants, streets, and other public venues with plenty of people. Sweden has had deaths, of course, each and every one of them tragic.

However, the greater freedom enjoyed by younger, healthier Swedes allowed an impressive flight in the middle of April 2020.

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The best way to practice social distancing: Go flying!

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“This, too, shall pass…” said my neighbor, Bill Chernish, who flies for Southwest Airlines. His industry is unusually battered by the coronavirus pandemic. His serene, forward-looking view is refreshing amidst the fear seen everywhere you look.

Despite his calm, turmoil is widespread. Some hotels are are operating at only 10% occupancy. Numerous reports put airlines seats as one third to two thirds empty, a far cry from the nearly-or-every-seat-taken experience of recent years. Woes of the lodging and transportation industries are matched by many others.

For everyone around the globe, the word “coronavirus” — or the clumsier “Covid-19” disease it causes — remains the major topic of conversation. Rarely has the globe seen one theme so thoroughly dominate all the peoples of the planet. What comes next?

I have no crystal ball, but comments on social media brightened my outlook. Perhaps you can feel similarly.

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Flying an AirBike 900 miles

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Many general aviation pilots would not take too long to plan a 900-mile trip. After all, in your Cirrus SR22, this would take perhaps five hours and maybe involve one fuel and stretch break. It might only take seven hours of flying in an older Cessna 172 Skyhawk. In both it could be quicker as you might plan a more direct flight.

But when Mike Jefferson flew 900 miles to the Copperstate Fly-In in early February in Buckeye, Arizona, it took three days and 17 hours of airtime to complete the flight. Of course, he flew much more slowly — averaging a bit over 50 miles an hour — but he had quite a different experience.

Would you attempt his flight?

Before you answer, consider the flight was in an airplane you get “on” more than one you get “in” — an AirBike, better known as a motorcycle of the air.

When you are flying an AirBike, you are partially sheltered by a wind screen, but even your pant legs are going to be out in the windstream.

To some pilots, this may sound delightful. To others, it would be closer to punishment. Fortunately, we can all have it our way in this great country of flying freedom.

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LSAs log growth in 2019

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As we enter the third decade of the new millennia, new and improved reporting capabilities allows us to quickly report results for all of 2019 for light aircraft industry market shares.

First, let’s define what is meant by the “light aircraft industry.”

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