Affordable Aviation

When most pilots think of imports, they assume a foreign manufacturer builds an aircraft in another country, finds a U.S. representative, and sends their product here. That’s certainly the standard practice. For years, especially after the fall of Communism and the opening of Eastern European nations, rates of pay for highly qualified workers was so […]

On a single day of recording several videos at Sun ‘n Fun 2018, Videoman Dave and I came across two light kit aircraft designs operating as STOL — Short Take Off and Landing — aircraft. By itself that is hardly unusual. STOL designs are plentiful and popular. However, when you hear that two STOL-focused airplanes […]

After a damp opening day, the sun returned on day #2 at Sun ‘n Fun 2018. A beautiful blue sky was enjoyed by crowds that appeared to grow quickly. Many likely saw yesterday’s forecast and put off attending for that day. By the end of Wednesday, though, parking aircraft filled the grounds, nearly every one of 58 […]

Day One of Sun ‘n Fun got off to a solid start even if a number of light aircraft arrivals are still pending. Rans Aircraft boss Randy Schlitter is one stuck behind a solid band of weather in northern Florida and he is not the only one. Day One also brought afternoon showers that drenched […]

After earlier news about the change of representation for Jabiru aircraft, a fresh announcement was made as Sun ‘n Fun 2018 was about to start. “Arion Aircraft, LLC has been appointed North American Distributor for Jabiru Engines, firewall-forward kits, and engine parts,” according to a joint press release issues by all parties to the arrangement. […]

One bone of contention among LSA sellers is that legacy flight schools — the sort that typically uses Cessna or Piper trainers — sometimes disregard LSA as trainer aircraft. “They’re built too lightly.” “The nose wheels are too weak.” “My mechanic doesn’t know the Rotax engine.” Some may have even more creative excuses. I’ve interviewed […]

Let me be clear. I have no issue with sharks in the sea. Besides, I don’t write about sea creatures. This Shark is one I’ve long admired since meeting its creator, Jaro Dostal many years ago at the German airshow Aero Friedrichshafen …which will begin in mere days — we’ll be scouring the event for […]

Besides LSA seaplanes, one area of furious development (and sales) is gyroplanes, the term modern industry prefers to “gyrocopter,” which was actually a branded name used since the days of Igor Benson. A new player, arriving on the scene about five years ago, is Rotorvox. Americans have not seen this aircraft but will soon get […]

After you finish Easter Sunday dinner with the family, how about going out for a spin on your new Scorpion 3 Hoverbike? Is this merely an April fools joke? Apparently not. Video appears to prove this machine, though with the state of the art in digital effects, anything you see can be fiction. As many […]

The newest SLSA on our List is a weight-shift control aircraft from Evolution Trikes, the folks who put the trike world on a pedestal with their remarkably deluxe and superbly finished Revo (see our Video Pilot Report of Revo and Part 2). Following that BMW of trikes (Revo) Evolution released Rev, a Part 103-capable single seat […]