Manufacturers

Taking a kit aircraft company to full ASTM approval is a very big decision for small companies. Simply assuring you have documents to support a declaration is, by itself, a major task. Then comes a decision about fully building or going the Experimental LSA kit route. A company must first fully build and certify at […]

Out of the blue in 2007. Now, they have two in 2008…SLSA models, that is. Gobosh is the interestingly named company (it’s a tech industry thing) that burst on the AirVenture Oshkosh scene with the Gobosh 700S, a rebadged upgrade of the Aero AT-3 from Poland. Just six months later at the Sebring LSA Expo […]

Rampage looks so dissimilar to its predecessors from Skykits that it took a second glance to make the connection. While it shares the STOL wing devices with versions of the Savannah, Rampage has a sleeker look that might broaden the appeal of these short takeoff and land designs from ICP of Italy. *** For those […]

The Beaver and Chinook ultralight-like aircraft are arguably two of the bestknown lightweight designs coming from Canada. Aircraft Sales and Parts, more commonly known as ASAP, is the company that rescued and now manufactures and sells these designs, along with a powered parachute from its sister company, Summit Powered Parachutes. The tale of ASAP’s involvement […]

Six Chuter marketing man, Doug Maas, figures it’s like soccer where three goals in a game makes a “hat trick.” With their third model gaining SLSA airworthiness before the January 31 deadline for ultralight conversions, the Washington company has earned the sports phrase. The powered parachute (PPC) producer’s newest approvals brings the total to 75 […]

Upon seeing modern LSA, many aviators say, “Oh, these aren’t ‘those ultralights’ at all.” Truth be told, even those ultralights aren’t ultralights any more. Today, a certified but ultralight-like aircraft will be either Special or Experimental LSA. *** Witness what I’ll call the “return” of the X-Air. I’ve reported on this design as it has […]

IndUS marketing geniuses called their program “Refresh ’08,” but perhaps it ought to be “Renew ’08?” The changes on which IndUS staffers have long labored gave the proven design its smartest look yet. Here’s a neat trick for what may be the oldest SLSA design in the fleet, what with Serial Number One T-211 turning […]

Alert: This article is dated and some links may no longer lead to the desired destination. —DJ 0121 Maybe you’ve heard: “You can’t build a three axis airplane that can safely remain under the 254-pound weight limit.” Some allege: “You can’t buy a three axis Part 103 ultralight that actually meets the rule.” I’ve said […]

SEBRING 2008 — Every outdoor airshow organizer must cope with weather. Florida was beautiful before the Sebring Expo opened. Cold, strong wings the final day brought out jackets but several companies continued demo flying. Plenty of flights were taken during the event and good sales were reported by several companies including Flight Design, Cirrus, Cessna, […]

SEBRING 2008 — Opening day started fast with press announcements from Cirrus — the GA company started taking orders for their SRS — and from Flight Design as the company unveiled their much-anticipated CTLS. But that was hardly all as the fourth Sebring Expo got going. I found a dozen newsworthy airplanes at the event […]