For years, the aviation calendar used to go something like this: Oshkosh (now known as AirVenture) ended in the first days of August. Later that fall we had the AOPA and NBAA events and that appeared to be largely the end of shows until a new season launched. In fact, it was a rather long […]
Splog
LSAs at AOPA Summit
At the AOPA Aviation Summit I spent time in the Lockwood Aviation booth, which gave me a chance to speak with a few RV-12 builders. Van‘s has reportedly sold approximately 600 RV-12 LSA, of which 150 may be flying, making RV-12 by far the most successful Experimental LSA. RV-12 would among rank high among all […]
Fall brings opportunities and challenges for LSA
AOPA’s Aviation Summit concluded late last month in Hartford, Conn., in what many view as the final aviation event of the season. Yet as winter approaches in the northern states, the southern states will host events every weekend in October. The LSA Tour series that has seen success in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado will move […]
What’s going on at the top?
Earlier I wrote about several changes of leadership at LSA producers. Here’s a similar story, one I find quite amazing for its breadth. Consider this: The following organizations — some of the biggest and most influential in aviation — have seen longtime leaders depart: EAA, Sun ‘n Fun, Sebring Expo, and a couple years ago, […]
Best bargain in a ready-to-fly airplane?
Many pilots speak of airplanes they cannot afford. Indeed, $150,000 Light-Sport Aircraft are priced beyond common budgets. One way to solve this is through a partnership or fractional ownership… and I will be writing about partnerships later this year. Another way involves a ready-to-fly aircraft for under $15,000. You read it right: $14,995 for a […]
Out-cubbing the Cubs
The folks at Sportair USA think the American Cub replicas are rather expensive, with at least one model topping $163,000. So, what if you’d love a Cub-like aircraft yet you haven’t won the lottery? How about iCub? (Or how about a Rans S-7LS Courier? It also carries a much lower price and flies wonderfully well.) […]
Politics and LSA
Since the beginning of aviation (or at least since near the beginning) government has approved any aircraft the public may buy and fly. A newly designed model, after proving its airworthiness to company engineers and management, had to gain government approval before sales could begin. The cost curve has been steeply upward. Cirrus Design is […]
Smaller is (sometimes) better
Air shows drive the calendar of many people involved with aviation, certainly so for the business men and women. Everyone knows about the large events, such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at the end of July or Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, at the end of March, or AOPA’s Aviation Summit, which is approaching at […]
Positive reports continue out of Oshkosh
Reports continue positively for results at AirVenture 2011…despite FAA’s partial shutdown, a media frenzy over the debt ceiling, a roller coaster ride in the stock markets, and a continuing bum housing market. If you can smile after all that, things must be improving. Here’s more evidence of improvement: Icon Aircraft announced it secured 143 delivery […]