Affordable Aviation

Explore Affordable Aviation by Dan Johnson on Plane & Pilot Magazine — your guide to light-sport, ultralight, and experimental aircraft. With decades of Dan’s experience, this section offers pilot reports, model comparisons, buying guides, and expert tips designed to help you get airborne affordably and confidently.

Big View Flying

The folks at the CT Flier Forum kick off their 4th Annual CT Fly-in this coming Oct. 14-17 and it sounds like a blast…unless the sight of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon aren’t enough eye candy to get your mojo working. *** Rooms are available at a $49 […]

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FAA Assessment Report

The following is taken from FAA’s “Light-Sport Aircraft Manufacturers Assessment” Final Report issued May 17, 2010. It has not been edited or changed in any way other than to format for Web posting. Light-Sport Aircraft Manufacturer Assessment —– Final Report —– Issued May 17, 2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the results of the Light-sport […]

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New LSA Market Info; Here Come the Big Boys

Perhaps you’ve noticed we have not been reporting market share information as often as we once did. Two reasons: (1) the market has matured, meaning the leaders are distancing themselves from niche producers and the rank positions aren’t moving around as much; (2) in the economic doldrums, the numbers simply haven’t been changing as quickly. […]

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Sebring Day Two: Dynon SkyView

Friday attendance seemed lighter than last year. Blame Thunderstorm Morning! One downpour sent sheets of water an inch deep flowing across the exhibition tarmac. *** But nothing dampens sky-bound enthusiasts for long — before long, we drowned rats re-emerged and started aviating as the skies slowly cleared and sunlight finally popped out around 4 pm. […]

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Let’s Go Flying with Dynon’s SkyView

[UPDATE 2/9/10 — Check our new LSA Video entry showing you around the first Special Light-Sport Aircraft installation of SkyView (and Garmin 696) in a CTLS… then go watch the video below.] *** Talk about your “Wow! Factor,” Paul Hamilton’s new video for Dynon really shows off the amazing capability of the company’s SkyView avionics […]

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Turbo Evektor MAX

One of Czech Republic’s leading LSA makers, Evektor-Aerotechnic, has upped the ante with its Turbo-powered SportStar MAX, a lovely LSA that I flew with the standard powerplant recently and will have a report in Plane & Pilot coming up soon. *** The new muscle comes courtesy a turbocharged Rotax 914 UL, which takes the MAX […]

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iCub, Meet Smart Cub

Those hard-working stalwarts at Legend, the number one U.S. producer of LSA, keep finding interesting things for folks like me to write about. • Trish Jackson is an Ohio native who flies Airbus freight carriers all over Europe. She learned flying from her mother at age 13 and still remembers a memorable quote mom made […]

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Dynon Avionics Upgrades Autopilot

Powerhouse digital instrument maker Dynon Avionics just came out with software version 5.4 for its EFIS-D10A, EFIS-D100 and FlightDEK-D180 units which are in widespread use in LSA and homebuilt aircraft. The upgrade addresses refined pitch control, including some new user-adjustable parameters that optimize autopilot performance for each individual aircraft. *** The idea, explained Dynon, is […]

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Landing a Seaplane on Water… with Wheels Down!

Landing on water with your wheels down is a confirmed aviation no-no. Land planes that try it often get flipped over upside down, when escaping the cabin becomes a real concern. Every seaplane pilot I know has a mantra he or she repeats, “I’m landing on water so the wheels must be up.” Most simply […]

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Is IFR legal in LSA…or NOT?

We’ve all seen the ads: “Full IFR-Equipped LSA!” A few top-line models offer such instrument packages, such as Flight Design CTLS, Evektor MAX, Tecnam’s P2008. But is an LSA legal to fly IFR? Quick tell: Yes — when flown by an appropriately rated pilot. We already know that a Sport Pilot license holder can only […]

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