“People are ready to buy,” remarked an EAA official at the Light Sport Aircraft Mall during last month’s AirVenture. And he was right. The “wait and see” approach that many flight schools took when the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule was finalized in April 2005 seems to have ebbed. Now many schools are shopping for […]
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Symphony 160: The next generation trainer
You’ve always been interested in aviation, so you go to the local airport to shop for flying lessons. Your uncle, who learned to fly years ago, told you to train in a two-place, high-wing, tricycle gear aircraft. You have no idea what that means, but tell the first flight instructor you meet that you want […]
Italian Powerhouse – Tecnam’s P96 shows its colors as a ‘sporty’ plane
The newly appointed national representatives for Italy’s Tecnam are deeply experienced general aviation folks. The original national distributor, still very much involved, comes from an entire family of airline pilots. So why are these experienced aviators — who have a combined 150 years of aviation experience — messing around with Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)? The […]
Sticker shock at the avgas pump? Power Flow Systems may have a solution
Experiencing sticker shock at the avgas pump these days? Beyond cruising at reduced power settings to conserve fuel, what else can be done? Perhaps Power Flow Systems (PFS) of Daytona Beach, Fla. has the answer, providing more speed for the same fuel consumption or the same speed you now enjoy at a reduced burn. No […]
Flying the SparrowHawk
A gyroplane looks like a cross between an airplane and a helicopter. First developed in the 1920s, the gyroplane is one of the oldest forms of aviation technology. However, gyroplanes are not very common in the general aviation world, perhaps because of a reputation for being difficult or dangerous to fly. It’s an undeserved reputation, […]
Czeching out the Allegro 2000
The Allegro 2000 is no Johnny-come lately, except in the U.S. Certified by the FAA in May as a Special-Light Sport Aircraft, the Allegro 2000 has been flying for about 12 years and can be found in 16 countries. So far, about 1,200 have been delivered. Built by Fantasy Air in Pisek, Czech Republic, you […]
The need for speed — Flying the Columbia 400
Well, it took awhile. Ever since Sun ‘n Fun 2005, I had been lusting to fly the Columbia 400, touted as the fastest production recip available today. Problem is, they’re selling so fast that Aero Sport Inc., the Columbia dealer for the state of Florida, has difficulty keeping a demonstrator in inventory. In the end, […]
Viva Italia! Vulcanair set to take off in the U.S.
You may have seen it when it arrived on these shores back in the early 1970s. Then again, maybe not, other than as a picture in a trade journal. After all, to date there are only 70 examples registered in America. Strange, because it has beautiful lines, respectable performance, twin engine reliability, is certified for […]
German Precision: Remos G-3 is a top LSA entry
When the FAA awarded the first two Special Light Sport Aircraft Airworthiness Certificates at Sun ‘n Fun 2005, many — who had been waiting years — found cause for celebration. The award of the first two certificates to Evektor’s SportStar and Flight Design’s CT signaled the beginning of a very interesting race. One design competing […]