Affordable Aviation

People keep waiting for the “inevitable market shakeout,” where smaller LSA companies begin leaving the business. In our current economic climate, business failures are far more common than usual. So, how many companies have gone away? Answer: hardly any. In fact, some that went dormant are coming back. And, several more companies and airplanes remain […]

This week we’ve heard of a couple price rollbacks based on the euro/dollar exchange rate favoring the dollar. Notably among them is the EuroFox by Aeropro sold in this country by Rollison Light Sport Aircraft . Buyers can save a whopping $10,000 on what was already one of the better-priced SLSA. Now at $58,950, the […]

In the 1990s I tried my hand at developing an airplane. While that business venture didn’t make me a millionaire, it provided a valuable lesson about what it takes to stay in the light-sport airplane business. Later, I realized the project needed someone who understood building techniques better than I did. That man was Dave […]

Legend has good reason for celebration (and no, this has nothing to do with Obama’s election). In the lifespan of Light-Sport Aircraft — the first deliveries reach their fourth anniversary next April — Legend was an early success…a story that continues to unfold. The Sulfur Springs, Texas producer has come a long way while handily […]

Recently I visited Cirrus Design. I saw progress on the Cirrus Vision jet and the new Garmin Perspective panel for the SR22. Both aircraft are full of high-end avionics. *** Down here in the world of Light-Sport Aircraft, we have far less costly choices for flat-screen avionic displays (panels in the Vision or SR22 literally […]

Most producers in the Light-Sport Aircraft sector welcomed the LSA market entry announced by Cessna and Cirrus at Oshkosh 2007. July of last year looks like the “good old days,” as aviation from LSA to VLJs — essentially all of GA — is roiled by global economic uncertainty. *** Compounding the challenges, Cessna had an […]

These days, “oversight” is a heavily used word on national media. But far from the strangeness of government bailouts is the world of Light-Sport Aircraft. For the new aviation sector, industry oversight is seen as critical by LAMA and many aviation leaders. *** A conversation with LAMA founder* Larry Burke shows the LSA industry organization […]

Everyone is talking about tough economic times and aviators note the effect on the LSA and GA industries. But that won’t stop a good selection of Light-Sport Aircraft from appearing at AOPA’s annual Expo, this year in San Jose, California over November 6-7-8. In fact, with 60+ display airplanes expected and 14-15 of them LSA […]

Earlier it appeared that the Flight Design MC would be the first Light-Sport Aircraft ever displayed at the giant National Business Aircraft Association show. NBAA is the organization representing business jets plus a large range of exhibitors serving executive transportation. The trade show happening now in Orlando is a stupendous event with many more exhibitors […]

Recently, I visited three brand-new LSA developments. All are American. All are propelled by young engineers and enthusiasts. All are remarkably sophisticated. All companies have been successful at raising funds. And, perhaps most notably, all projects were started specifically because of the emergence of the Light-Sport Aircraft rule. *** All three are emphatically not reconfigured […]