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 […]
sport pilot
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 […]
Norway flight school orders Skycatchers
Cessna reports it sold three Skycatchers at AirVenture 2012 in Oshkosh. Executives with Pilot Academy of Sandefjord, Norway, noted that the effort to facilitate EASA certification by moving the Skycatcher into the primary category with the FAA played a large role in the decision. “We already have Cessna aircraft at our flight school in Norway, […]
Chesapeake Sport Pilot offers flight training to wheelchair aviators
Chesapeake Sport Pilot in Stevensville, Maryland, now offers flight training to pilots who require hand controls rather than traditional aircraft foot controls to fly. This training is made possible by a specially outfitted CT LS light sport airplane that is being leased to Chesapeake Sport Pilot by Joseph D’Aguiar. “We are ecstatic about this plane […]
Two new Sky Arrows introduced at Oshkosh
OSHKOSH — Magnaghi Aeronautica, the Italian aerospace group that manufactures the Sky Arrow aircraft series, introduced an updated Sky Arrow light-sport aircraft (LSA) Tuesday at AirVenture. Enhancements include new extended wing tanks, modified aerodynamics on the stabilizer, and a new, streamlined leaf-spring landing gear. Other new components include Beringer wheels and brakes and a 10-inch […]
Factory-approved Searey training takes off
OSHKOSH — Chesapeake Sport Pilot in Maryland has been granted FAA authorization to provide factory-approved Searey transition training, officials reported Tuesday at AirVenture. The flight school is the first in the nation to receive a letter of deviation authority (LODA)from the FAA specifically for Searey training, said Helen Woods, chief flight instructor of Chespeake Sport […]
What’s expected at Oshkosh from our LSA expert
I have several targets on my radar for follow-up at this year’s AirVenture, which kicks off tomorrow, July 23. Here’s a beforehand review; details will follow. LSA seaplanes will generate plenty of interest, I think, with Icon’s latest announcements and the dreamy new Lisa Akoya. Both are superslick but not to be outdone by the […]
A tale of two flight schools
Flight schools — like many private buyers — are hyperfocused on, “What does an aircraft cost to operate?” Busy flight schools operating at high volume simply must track how all the pennies add up. In this post we asked US Aviation’s Scott Severen for additional info. Why US Aviation? While much of aviation has been […]
Flying the newest LSA: Sling
While out west on business, I had the chance to fly the latest SLSA on the list, the South African Sling. Earlier I’ve written about the all-metal LSA’s round-the-world flight, but now this low-wing design is being made available for sale to Americans. On a gorgeous Southern California day, Matt Litnaitzky and his associate Ryan […]