OREM, Utah — SkyCraft Airplanes began production of its SD-1 Minisport this month, which will be available for order as an S-LSA starting in July. The SD-1 boasts a 118 mph cruise speed, 1,400 fpm climb rate, 39 mph stall speed, and 5 hours of endurance, according to company officials. The price of the SD-1 […]
sport pilot
Summer’s coming: Cool it, fellow pilots!
Across the northern U.S. states and across much of Europe it was a lousy, cold, snowy winter. It seemed everyone I spoke to at AERO in Friedrichshafen, Germany, complained about the crappy winter and their laments mirrored those from America’s northlands. However, the weather appears to be going directly from winter to summer. It was […]
Flight delay
By RAEANN SLAYBAUGH More than 60 years elapsed before 87-year-old Karl Klingelhofer of Tucson, Ariz., revisited his love of aviation and earned his sport pilot’s license. But if you ask him when he decided he wanted to fly, he draws a blank. He can’t pinpoint an instance or a moment that lit a spark — […]
Air conditioning for Flight Design CTLS debuts
US Aviation previewed its integration of the FlyCool air conditioning system in the Flight Design CTLS at SUN ’n FUN. US Aviation partnered with FlyCool to develop the air conditioning for the Light-Sport Aircraft. “We are seeing a 20° drop in less than 10 minutes on a 100° day,” reports Scott Severen, with US Aviation […]
LSA companies flock to Florida
No less than three Light-Sport Aircraft companies have recently struck deals with Florida airports, winning the support of local government officials anxious to provide jobs. Renegade LSA, producer of the Falcon and a key figure in the development of an LSA-oriented Lycoming O-233 engine, moved into a 70,000-square-foot facility at the St. Lucie Airport. Proprietor […]
LSA market share: The rest of the story
We recorded very strong interest in our recent market share post. Traffic spiked to double in the days since our report was posted at ByDanJohnson.com (and that was from record levels). It would appear the LSA segment is hardly in “critical condition,” despite what some may think. The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) board of […]
First flight: Sam LS
The first flight of Sam LS, an all-new design, took place Feb. 26 at Lachute Airport near Montréal, Quebec, Canada. “Liftoff was perfect, in about 300 feet,” said Thierry Zibi, president of SAM Aircraft. “We were not at gross weight, so our climb of nearly 1,300 fpm felt like a rocket.” The test pilot, Raphaël […]
2012 LSA market shares: Cubs and surprises
Our annual review of LSA Market Share brings our updated fleet chart and a second chart showing prior-year registrations. While sales of new SLSA remains below par, the market appears to be experiencing spotty but regular recovery from earlier low points. The first half the year foretold a better recovery but the last half of […]
Go negative…or work together?
It is true that a pilot of one type aircraft may not know much about nor (therefore) care much about another type aircraft. Ultralight pilots and turbine pilots may not seem to have much in common. Sailplane pilots and crop dusters, likewise. Powered parachute enthusiasts seem on the opposite side of the spectrum from airline […]