Affordable Aviation

REPORTING FROM SUN ‘N FUN — For the last three years, Sun ‘n Fun management has generously provided an excellent location at this season-launching airshow. Coordinated by LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, the industry has responded warmly, each year populating the LSA Mall with some of the best selling aircraft in the sector. The […]

REPORTING FROM SUN ‘N FUN — The season-launching Sun ‘n Fun airshow starts in one day and the countdown to SLSA Number 100 rushes onward. Welcome to Kitfox Aircraft — a U.S. brand you already know (now LSA producer Number 70) — and their new Super Sport LSA, Number 97 on the SLSA List. *** […]

After selling 40 aircraft under the Experimental Amateur Built (EAB) rule, Arion has now completed their SLSA approval just in the nick of time before the season-launching Sun ‘n Fun starts. Welcome to Lightning — SLSA #96 — from Arion Aircraft, which is our 69th company to enter production of Light-Sport Aircraft. *** Lightning got […]

The Light-Sport Aircraft industry is moving closer to Special Light-Sport Aircraft approval Number 100. On March 29th, 2009, the Century became SLSA model number 95. We still sit at 68 companies since Italian-based Storm Aircraft previously earned SLSA approval for their Rally. Both models are represented in the USA by Air Elite Aviation. The Italian […]

Seaplane enthusiasts comprise a niche of American aviation but are some of the most passionate of all powered aircraft pilots. Among these, owners of almost 500 SeaRey aircraft belong to one of the tightest knit communities I’ve seen. Kerry and Wayne Richter, the son and father team that gave birth to the SeaRey (and several […]

Research and practical applications are developing rapidly for electric-powered aircraft. Given my personal fascination, I’ll follow this regularly. So far, most electric power has been supplied by batteries — even in such as Flight Design’s hybrid aircraft engine unveiled at Aero 2009 However, that’s only one way to generate electric “fuel.” Hydrogen is another. Forget […]

The troubles of Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) in their titanic battle with financier Slavia Capital are known to some readers. Despite this challenge the American-run, Czech-based company increased the fleet of their SportCruisers by 69% in 2008 (a notable achievement given the terrible economic conditions). *** One of CZAW’s key people didn’t stay through the […]

Most American pilots don’t recognize the brand FK Lightplanes, though many do know of one of their models. Cirrus Design based their celebrated entry into Light-Sport Aircraft upon the Fk14 Polaris. This lovely low wing looks enough like a Cirrus that the Duluth, Minnesota manufacturer selected it as their platform to offer what they called […]

Tecnam has long been known for building handsome, well-flying, all-metal Light-Sport Aircraft. The company has certified four models of SLSA (Echo Super, Sierra, Bravo, and Eaglet) tying them for the most. That will soon change and the 61-year-old Italian company formed in 1948 — once the producer of the Partenavia twin-engine aircraft — will soon […]

In the picturesque south of Germany, Aero Friedrichshafen has become a popular show that has long presented light aircraft in a prominent way. (That makes sense as “sport” flying dominates 80% of European aviation.) Housed in several cavernous halls, Aero offers an enormous range of interesting aircraft; Aero runs April 2-5. *** Though I love […]