Affordable Aviation

At the second EAA Sport Pilot Tour SportAir USA and their local rep, Wicks Aircraft, brough a pair of their sharp Sting aircraft. Also known as the Carbon Sting or StingSport, the handsome low wing comes from the fifth of six companies to earn their Special-Light Sport Aircraft certificate. An estimated 300+ visitors got to […]

Sport pilot and light-sport aircraft, what’s it all about? If you’ve ever thought about learning to fly, returning to flying, or resuming flying lessons that you started years ago, congratulations; your timing is just about perfect! This rule provides new opportunities for you as well as anyone who has dreamed of owning an aircraft. This […]

Season-opening Sun ‘n Fun is crackling with excitement, enough so to make SPLOG posting a late-night effort. What a pleasure it is to be here, compared to my miss last year; thanks to many who welcomed me back! I’ve been working with Sun ‘n Fun boss John Burton regarding Light-Sport Aircraft and ultralights. John and […]

Lots of people want to know…customers, insurance companies, dealers, membership organizations, and, of course, all the manufacturers and importers. We all like to keep score. While I believe FAA data has some delay in reporting, it is a reputable source of info. Here’s what their registrations show through the end of March, 2007. *** Flight […]

First I wish to thank you for becoming a member of ByDanJohnson.com. This site is significantly supported by memberships. You are helping to make this information available. But, we could use your further help. If you would recommend others to join ByDanJohnson.com, we could be more financially secure. With a broader foundation, we can add […]

After I flew the A-20 and A-22 near Aeroprakt’s Ukraine factory, I felt sure these designs would find their way to the U.S. market. Now that Sebring-based Float Planes and Amphibs (FPNA) assumed import operations from Spectrum Aircraft, you can buy planes like the great-flying A-20 Vista or the tractor engine amphib A-24 Viking. FPNA […]

If you read the headline and thought, “Oh, Boy!,” you’re probably a hang glider pilot. If you read the headline and said, “Huh!?,” a wonderful experience still awaits you. For 15 years, I’ve sent many friends to Wallaby Ranch. Every single one said they were glad they went. Some went flying hang gliders (wheel-launched with […]

When you walk up to Skylark, you get an impression that usually lasts (a marketer’s dream come true). While uncommon in light sport aviation winglets are well established on fast airplanes from bizjets to airliners. As a design feature, winglets that stick in your mind make the wingtip device a winner for sales reasons; any […]

A month before Sun ‘n Fun helps to kick off the new year, I visited Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach as the big aero school hosted dozens of universities at the National Training Aircraft Symposium. The third of these events to gather academia with industry invited Light-Sport Aircraft to participate. University aeronautical […]

More than a decade ago, Tony Anderson started teaching students how to fly on floats. Today, his family enterprise spreads across three aviation businesses. In a recent visit I was most impressed to witness what the Andersons have built. From their home base with hangar right on an in-town lake to the North Perry Airport […]