SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON You’ve surely seen news coverage of Terrafugia’s Transition, the “roadable” LSA from a brain trust of award-winning MIT engineers in Woburn, Massachusetts. This modern version of the well-worn flying car concept has attracted plenty of media attention, and deservedly so. I have been reviewing all their materials and I’m impressed with […]
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Rotax lifts TBO to 2,000 hours
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON No one doubts the leading position of Rotax engines among LSAs. Of course, most European producers use the Austrian brand, but so do many U.S. builders, even Van’s Aircraft. However, despite their dominance, some GA pilots have scoffed at the brand, saying it isn’t a “real” aircraft engine partly as it […]
There’s a ‘map’ for that
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON If you study FAA’s registration database as I do, you’ll quickly discover that Flight Design and its various CT models have a strong presence in the USA — and the world for that matter, with 1,500 flying, according to the company. Since CT was first certified in April 2005 — the […]
Sebring LSA Expo kicks off a new year
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON OK, aviation fans, it’s time for a new year that will hopefully be a great turnaround from 2009. No one expects a quick return to the halcyon days of 2006, but aviation has been picking itself up off the floor for a few months. Many are starting to see signs of […]
Zenith & AMD 601XL under intense scrutiny
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Bad as in-flight break-up accidents are, many opinions blur the big picture. Last spring NTSB recommended FAA “ground the fleet,” so to say, of Zenith Air and AMD’s CH-601 aircraft. FAA chose further study. When additional CH-601s became involved, media outlets and other organizations jumped on the bandwagon. Let’s review: The […]
RANS S-6ELS: Bargain Extraordinaire
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Much lamenting has been heard regarding the price of LSAs. It isn’t hard to understand given prices that now exceed $140,000. Was such inflation supposed to happen? I’ve explained how this occurred, and the biggest culprit, by far, is the exchange rate difference between dollars and euros. (Other factors include the […]
Legendary ‘Van’ flies his own RV-12 to work
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Cessna‘s LSA entry helps to validate the concept of industry consensus standards in lieu of government certification. SkyCatchers will populate airports as shipments ramp up in 2010. Other big companies also are looking at LSA — as most LSA enthusiasts know, Cirrus offered an entry, though work has stalled, and late […]
Belite: Fresh talent gives rise to new LSA
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON If you’ve been around aviation long enough you’ve heard the Q&A: “Know how to make a small fortune in aviation? Start with a large one!” Yet aviation can always use fresh talent, so welcome former tech entrepreneur, James Wiebe, turned aviation businessman. From his days building Mac peripherals under the name […]
Questions erupt for Remos; new investment heralded
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON After announcing the selection of the Remos GX as the 2010 giveaway airplane, AOPA leaders are surely breathing a sigh of relief now that Remos has issued a reassuring statement. Earlier rumors threatened to cast doubt on those who participated in the sweepstakes announcement (including yours truly). Along with others in […]