Affordable Aviation

Explore Affordable Aviation by Dan Johnson on Plane & Pilot Magazine — your guide to light-sport, ultralight, and experimental aircraft. With decades of Dan’s experience, this section offers pilot reports, model comparisons, buying guides, and expert tips designed to help you get airborne affordably and confidently.

Sinus LSA-type Motorglider Soars Magnificently

One aircraft I’d waited anxiously to fly is the Sinus from Pipistrel in Slovenia. Forget the weird-sounding name (they say to pronounce it “seen-us”) because this is one impressive flying machine. I first saw it in France four years ago and my pilot report will appear in the October 2005 issue of Ultralight FLYING!. You’ll […]

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Earthstar and Thunder Gull Go Global

For years, many pilots have admired the Thunder Gull line of light aircraft from Earthstar Aircraft. However, obtaining one in a short time has been difficult because Earthstar remains a small company focused on groundbreaking developments by talented owner/designer, Mark Beierle. Avicom in Israel recently announced a venture to fully manufacture the Light-Sport Aircraft models […]

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Sebring Expo 2005 Will Be Huge for LSA

Last year the Sebring (FL) Airport broke new ground with their U.S. Sport Aviation Expo at the end of October. Expo is on again for 2005 and will have the largest collection of Light-Sport Aircraft anywhere. Organizer Bob Wood reports, “I expect over 130 aircraft on display.” By any measure, that deserves a “Wow!” Sebring […]

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Super Sanitary Trike: Prowler

Don Cooney’s Prowler is one clean machine with a number of cleverly designed components that set this uncommon American trike apart from the rest, even Europe’s highly engineered brands. The small double-surfaced wing resembles Britain’s Chaser but has been subtly modified to improve the shape. The trike carriage has a elegantly simple rear structure and […]

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SpaceShipOne and White Knight at Oshkosh 2005

It was just too cool for a space buff like me…that is, me and hundreds of thousands more at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. I know this isn’t Sport Pilot or Light-Sport Aircraft stuff but I feel SpaceShipOne represents one of the great accomplishments of our age and I can’t resist showing you what it looked like […]

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Come See the Russian Sigma

EAA’s great aviation celebration called AirVenture Oshkosh is about to begin (Monday, July 25th through Sunday, July 31st). Get more info at the AirVenture website, and if you can attend you’ll get to see the new Russian Sigma Light-Sport Aircraft. This unique light plane will be on display along with 35 others in EAA’s special […]

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A Blizzard of Paragliders

According to news released by the Associated Press, dozens of paragliders (the unpowered sort) flew in competition above the picturesque Swiss Alps during the Swiss Paragliding Championships in late May this year. One of the competitors, Martin Scheel, snapped this impressive photo. It is not a doctored or “PhotoShopped” image but reveals the close-in flying […]

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More S-LSA Approved by FAA

IndUS Aviation of Dallas, Texas received FAA approval for their Thorpedo model as a Special-Light Sport Aircraft. IndUS is the first U.S.-based manufacturer to earn a S-LSA certificate; the company takes airframe components fabricated in India and assembles them at their Texas facility. IndUS can now sell fully built LSA that can be used for […]

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Light-Sport Aircraft at AOPA Headquarters

After concluding three strong events on the EAA Sport Pilot Tour, a dozen LSA traveled from Franklin, PA (north of Pittsburgh) to the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association headquarters in Frederick, MD. AOPA senior management took a chance to examine and fly in several of these aircraft, then adding coverage to their website. The meeting […]

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Sport Pilot Tour Is Underway

EAA’s Sport Pilot Tour got started at the Golden West Fly-in north of Sacramento, California over the first weekend in June. The Sport Pilot Tour intends to bring Light-Sport Aircraft from a variety of manufacturers together for pilots and newcomers to see, touch, and fly. Instead of you traveling across the country to a big […]

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