After a prolonged absence, mogas is returning to airports, thanks to steady efforts by a consortium lead by Dean Billing and Kent Misegades, our very own GAFuels bloggers. The numbers appear small today, even if they function to help you find cheaper and cleaner mogas as an alternative to 100LL. About 3% of airports presently […]
Splog
Ugly ducklings
Aviator opinion is widespread about CH 701 and CH 750 being ugly ducklings. Fortunately, plenty of pilots don’t care about looks so long as an airplane flies well (750 does!) and for some the, ahem… distinctive look of 750 is a thing of pride. Think Hummer or the old Volkswagen Thing. Indeed, Zenith Aircraft Company […]
Allegro keeps on training…3,500 hours logged
LSA America now produces the Allegro in Littleton, N.C., and despite Czech-based Fantasy Air’s ceasing manufacturing several years ago, Allegro did well enough in the first couple years to still retain the #14 rank on our LSA sales leaders. Exciting as this now-Made-in-the-USA story may be, this article has a different focus. I want to […]
SLSA #120 approved
Way over in Paris, a new airplane has arrived — only this Paris is in Tennessee. SLSA #120 Spirit comes from a new company but one whose leader earned his SLSA pedigree gaining four model approvals. That would be Skykits and its STOL variations. All are designs from ICP of Italy (Savannah, plus ADV and […]
OSH sales report
This year I had easily 30 conversations at AirVenture revealing either outright positive successful results or varyingly robust mood indicators such as, “Looks like aviation has life in it again.” A number of aircraft purveyors said they took cash deposits and wrote firm contracts. I estimate about 30 aircraft sales by this method. Companies like […]
Sales robust at Oshkosh
Oshkosh is over and before it ended many expressed a common thought: We love to go to Oshkosh; and we really love to go home when it’s over. While stated with a somewhat humorous overtone, the truth is that AirVenture is a tough slog for those who work the show. Twelve-hour days are standard and […]
Summertime…and the flying is easy
Summer is here, the rainy season is history in most parts of the country, and the flying is easy and fun. While aircraft used in transport have to soldier on through winter’s cold and other inclement weather, sport or recreational flying is done when it’s fun… naturally. And, of course, summer means EAA AirVenture Oshkosh […]
EASA finally releases LSA certification specifications
Try not to yawn. This is important. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), roughly the equivalent of FAA for the European Union, finally released its CS-LSA, or Certification Specification for Light-Sport Aircraft. While not exactly what the industry hoped for, it at least represents acceptance of the ASTM certification standards. That reduces uncertainty for LSA […]
Over the horizon LSA producers: Iran and Malaysia
Most of what our media reports about Iran is bad: Islamic militants. Contested elections. Brutal suppression of dissent. Nuclear ambitions. What we don’t hear is about the country’s light aircraft producers. Then consider Malaysia. Do you think of that country relative to aircraft production? Do you think of it in any way? My guess is […]