Icon Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft recently announced a deal for the general aviation composite aircraft producer to build parts of the Icon A5 and the news introduced dates for the A5 to come to market. Several years ago I traveled to Cirrus’ Duluth, Minnesota, plant in the company of the Icon top leaders, including CEO […]
sport pilot
Remarkably priced, fully built & powerful CH-750
So, if you’ve been one of those lamenting the high cost of LSA, well, you have a few other worthy choices, but TennAir brings a new one.
Wanted: LSA pilots for FAA survey
The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association is asking all pilots of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) to participate in the 34th annual General Aviation (GA) and Part 135 Activity Survey, which is used to assess aviation safety. Because of the newness of LSA, it is essential to improve the statistics, LAMA officials said, noting more participation will “reinforce […]
The cost of certification
Again, I repeat, the preceding is merely a discussion, but one with many plot twists. It will certainly be interesting to watch how the FAA rules on either exemption mentioned above and how companies and organizations pursue their goals. More importantly, how will the market — that is, you pilots — demand each kind of certification? Only time will tell.
Electric! Gorgeous! Freedom!…4th generation ULS
Randall Fishman virtually invented the electric aircraft. That’s a rather big statement, yet I stand behind it. Randall first showed a functional electric trike at Oshkosh 2007. He’s been on a tear ever since and his ULS is his present state-of-the-art, his fourth generation of electric aircraft design. I use three words to describe ULS […]
CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS evolves
After three years in production and a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, the CubCrafters Carbon Cub SS Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) is evolving for 2013. Changes include a new cowling design, an improved cabin heat system, a new starter, and a new system voltage monitor, company officials said. New options are also being introduced, including […]
FAA delays decision on Icon weight increase
FAA officials have informed Icon Aircraft that a decision on the company’s request for an exemption to the Light-Sport Aircraft weight limitations for its amphibious Icon A5 won’t be made until the end of the year, according to a report at AOPA.org. Icon Aircraft founder Kirk Hawkins asked for an exemption in May to increase […]
Bearhawk LSA debuts
Bearhawk designer Bob Barrows — who designed the four-place Bearhawk and the two-place Bearhawk Patrol — has turned his attention to his next creation, the Bearhawk Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA). Barrows, who unveiled his new LSA at AirVenture in Oshkosh this year, said the response was overwhelming, adding plans sales are going well. Even though the […]
The Great Debate: Is the LSA rule a failure?
In his blog at the Air Facts Journal, Sporty’s John Zimmerman asks pilots if the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) rule, adopted with much fanfare in 2004 with the promise to cut the cost of flying and open up aviation to more people than ever before, has accomplished what it set out to do. Eight years […]