Manufacturers

Cessna reported 920 orders for Skycatcher in the 10 weeks between EAA’s AirVenture and AOPA’s Expo. Curiously, FAA data for SLSA registered through September 2007 showed a slip in the pattern of steady monthly growth. Does it sound logical that Cessna’s $4.6 million of orders — the retail price value of 40 or 45 SLSA […]

After a tough winter in most parts of the USA, spring evidently arrived early with 80-degree temperatures as far north as Minnesota… all before Sun ‘n Fun. More good news: After its coldest winter since the early 1980s Florida is extremely pleasant now, warm with low humidity. *** Indications are the economy continues bearing down […]

Electric is hot! Even in a dull economy with sluggish airplane sales, the spark of electric power is crackling with life. Numerous projects have been announced and organizations like EAA are making way for electric airplanes to showcase themselves at big shows like AirVenture. *** Now, from an Italian manufacturer comes the work of world […]

Winter will soon yield to spring and summer, that time of year when flying from water becomes the delight of many pilots who have sampled this pleasure. Competing for their purchase in the LSA space, we have the FK Lightplanes Floatplane, FPNA A-22 Cape Town, and Legend AmphibCub. Other entries include SeaRey (close to declaring […]

How can you do good for aviation and for a fellow American who wants to fly but has challenges? One organization shows the way. By any measure, Able Flight is doing good by enlarging the number of folks who learn to fly. That they do one better by helping people with disabilities learn to fly […]

It didn’t work out the first time. Breezer I wasn’t quite mature for market. The import structure was unwieldy adding cost and distancing the customer from the source. As Breezer Aircraft took over manufacturing of the all-metal LSA, Breezer II arrived in 2008 joining new leadership in Europe with fresh representation in the USA. *** […]

Here’s some notes from a release sent to me from Chris Regis. *** His family’s Paradise Aircraft makes the all-metal P-1 SLSA, which I’ve featured here in the past. *** Paradise started in Brazil in 1985, and has its HQ and a big new factory there, as well as the U.S. presence which Chris wrangles […]

Most of our tandem Special Light-Sport Aircraft — Legend Cub, Courier, SportCub, Savage, Hornet, Hawk, and SkyArrow — are recreational airplanes. Except for the last one (Italy’s smooth, composite Sky Arrow) most might also fall into the “bush” category in that they are slower-flying, fabric-covered, rugged aircraft suitable for landing on unimproved airstrips. *** A […]

After five days of hustle and bustle to get the talking, shooting, flying and writing done at Sebring (I’m an Air Force of One), I got a real treat: pal Dave Graham, who’s worked tirelessly since the beginning to bring the Gobosh line of LSA to America and get the two lovely low-wing models they […]

Evektor USA’s main man Jim Lee took me up for an enjoyable float above the clouds today in the SportStar Max, the top-line evolution of the SportStar which won the first ASTM SLSA designation back at the beginning of the category. *** Above the line of scud clouds murking things up below 2500′ or so, […]