Affordable Aviation

Many of you are aware of FAA’s confused state over “repositionable gear” for LSA floatplanes. At present the agency is stalled regarding the issue. I understand from highly placed officials that a solution could be to allow one gear movement per flight. That would fix the problem but changes move very slowly in the federal […]

With 191 Mermaid orders on the books, Sport Aircraft Works (SAW) is understandably anxious to start deliveries. The trouble is — or the advantage is, if you’re a willing buyer — that Mermaid is an amphibian. That means it has gear that moves, or…”repositions.” The repositionable gear dilemma remains unresolved, despite the petition for exemption […]

With their fourth Special Light-Sport Aircraft approval, Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) and their U.S. partner, Sport Aircraft Works, have taken the lead for one company to win SLSA certificates for the most models. Tecnam has been tied with CZAW at three until Friday, March 24th when Sport Aircraft Works made the announcement. Sport Cruiser also […]

One of my favorite lines comes from a man associated with trying to perfect the airplane convertible to a car. Molt Taylor is reported to have said, “An airplane will get you from one place you don’t want to be to another place you don’t want to be: the airport.” Indeed too many American airports […]

Back when the term “ultralight” was new…back in spring of 1982 before FAA issued their now-classic Part 103 regulation…and during the time when ultralights still had to prove themselves by being foot launchable…that’s when bold designer Chuck Slusarczyk introduced the first CGS Hawk at the then-new Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in. It was fully enclosed (you […]

The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in October 2004 was the first event to focus exclusively on Light-Sport Aircraft. ou never get a second chance to make a first impression. With that in mind, you might ask how visitors regarded the first U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, held in Sebring, Florida, from October 28-31, 2004. The Expo […]

even in a Light-Sport Aircraft World. Despite the intense focus on the FAA’s new Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft rule, EAA’s big summertime airshow brought the introduction of at least four intriguing, legitimate ultralights—aircraft that truly meet the 254-pound rule. Many observers believed LSA would sound the death knell for Part 103. I guess not! Not only […]

A lot of folks have asked what happened in the accident I sustained (April 17th SPLOG). It’s a fair question. Pilots can learn from accidents. So, here’s my replay: First, any accident I’ve ever investigated had multiple causes and so did this one. The Czech Aircraft Works prototype Parrot is a fine plane with which […]

Many visitors have now heard about the airplane crash I had just before Sun ‘n Fun where I broke my back, landing me in a West Palm Beach, Florida hospital since April 2nd. I’m happy to report that although I have two or three months of hard work ahead of me to regain my muscle […]

John K. Moody is widely acclaimed as the “Father of Ultralights,” and he makes effective use of that unique title to publicize his new millennium act featuring his last millennium ultralight. Is Moody really the father of  ultralights or the first to fly one? Several other enthusiasts were experimenting with power units for various kinds […]