Splog

Since 2002 when the F37 Light-Sport Aircraft Committee was formed to write standards used to certify these new aircraft, competitors have sat shoulder to shoulder in meetings. Though pursuing the same customer base, these businesses cooperated in a model closely watched by the general aviation industry, the FAA, and many foreign regulators. They’ve done admirably […]

At Sun ‘n Fun 2007 and Aero 2007, LAMA announced its voluntary ASTM compliance audit program. For consumers this will be known through the LAMA decal applied to all Special Light-Sport Aircraft after a manufacturer successfully completes an audit. Admittedly a dry subject, LAMA audits give consumers additional assurance that a manufacturer actually meets the […]

I admit to being somewhat surprised at the success of the LSA Cubs. We have no less than three brands with SLSA approval: American Legend, Zlin Savage, and CubCrafters. Two of these (Legend and CubCrafters) are in the top ten of Light-Sport registrations and account for an astounding one in six LSA in the USA […]

Over a short evaluation period of 25 months we’ve seen fairly consistent results in the top ten of LSA producers based on FAA registrations (see 5/21/07 SPLOG). But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Take Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW) and their best seller, the $75,000 Sport Cruiser. U.S. marketing and sales manager Bob Anderson reported, […]

Right at the two year point since the first Special Light-Sport Aircraft approval, Powrachute’s AirWolf 912 powered parachute brings the certified fleet total to 50 SLSA models. Forty two of them are airplanes (the fixed wing variety) with five being weight shift (trikes), and three powered parachutes. Among PPCs, the Canadian Summit II was first […]

Based on FAA data* from early May, 92 new SLSA registrations brought total SLSA to 930 aircraft, up 11% in one month and up 46% since January 2007. *** For sellers in the market, it has become more crowded. Eighteen months ago the LSA community had certified 16 new models; now, we’re at 50. More […]

A standard measuring stick for aircraft design is the ratio of minimum speed to maximum speed. Powerful jets like the Blue Angels’ F/A-18 (along with a government credit card to fuel them) can perform in airshows from 120 mph to 700 mph, almost a 6:1 ratio. But for airplanes you and I can afford, a […]

Jay Kurtz is the owner of South Lakeland airport (X49), where vendors often conduct customer demonstration flights a mere four miles away from Sun ‘n Fun. A longtime participant in ultralight aviation, Jay’s built RANS models, Capella designs, and a “regular” RV-9A. But it’s his second RV-9 that really has him revved up; this one […]

Sun ‘n Fun 2007 brought several interesting announcements; you’ll want to keep reading SPLOG in the days ahead. One surprise was what Cessna did with the Sport, their possible entry into the LSA field. Comments ranged from, “Now, that’s the right engine to use” to “What an ugly cowling” to other vivid expressions. Cessna shoehorned […]

Only three weeks earlier, our nation had endured wrenching emotion from the September 11 attacks. But life must go on. So Powrachute of Columbus, Kansas, went on with its third annual Extravaganza. One look at the grounds promised that this was to be no ordinary company fly-in. Most of them resemble a family picnic; this […]