Affordable Aviation

You’ve surely seen news coverage of Terrafugia’s Transition, the “roadable” LSA from a brain trust of award-winning MIT engineers in Woburn, Massachusetts. This modern version of the well-worn flying car concept has attracted plenty of media attention, and deservedly so, I think. I have been reviewing all their materials and info for an article to […]

Two decades of hard work, sharp design and marketing vision, and keeping a high bar for quality production recently brought FK Group, German makers of three European “ultralights”, an award from Aerokurier magazine for best manufacturer. FK beat out Remos and other top light sport builders. *** The latest good news from the FK 9 […]

In the upcoming Learn To Fly issue of dead tree Plane and Pilot, I wrote an overview article covering the Sport Pilot license. *** Helping me out with some valuable insights was Jim Sweeney, well-known ultralight/Light Sport teacher/expert who really knows his FAA regs. *** One comment Jim made: FBOs have been slow to embrace […]

—The bone-chilling cold (well, it was for Floridians and similar warm-climate types anyway) moved on and temperature order was restored today, with clear and calm blue skies and mid-70s temps. Lovely! *** —Sport Pilot enthusiasts came out in droves: exhibitors I talked to were pleased and surprised by the turnout. Planes were dodging each other […]

Great (and getting hot!) weather and a good, if not record-breaking, turnout mark the beginning of the EAA Sun ‘n Fun flyin. *** The exhibitor turnout is likewise somewhat down, although Dan Johnson’s LSA Mall at the entrance is filled with aircraft and lots of serious interest from potential buyers, as in previous shows. *** […]

To quell the confusion many have around the name of the fabric-covered taildragger and tri-gear LSA models produced by Aerotrek Aircraft (AKA Rollison Light Sport Aircraft), the company just announced a name change: Goodbye EuroFox, hello Aerotrek A220 and A240. *** The Aerotrek A220 and A240 are factory-built two-seaters manufactured in Europe by Aeropro CZ […]

Terrafugia, an enterprising company made up of MIT grads, announced the successful maiden flight of the Transition® Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. Or, the flying car. Congrats to the company, I wish them success with the two-seater. *** The big idea here of course is one that’s been tried before without success: a road-worthy, street-legal […]

Here’s a new show kicking off this weekend (Mar. 7) for all you LSA enthusiasts of the Texan persuasion. The Heart of Texas LSA Expo debuts on Saturday at the airfield in Bryan. Here’s the link to the airport. *** This should be welcome news for those in the southwest and central region who find […]

Chris Regis of Paradise Acft. did me a favor in absentia by filing a quick report from the field about the Heart of Texas LSA Expo fly-in he and other manufacturers recently attended. *** “The folks organizing really took great care of all vendors;it was a small event since it’s their first year but all […]

In a Safety Recommendation released Apr. 14, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “has investigated a series of in-flight structural breakups of Zodiac CH-601XL airplanes designed by Zenair, Inc…in the United States in the last 3 years. The Safety Board is also aware of several in-flight structural breakups of CH-601XLs that have occurred abroad. It […]