Splog

With the MOSAIC program now through the comment phase and in the hands of the FAA, we thought it would be a good time to recap some of its key elements and use our considerable powers of observation and prognostication to provide a little context where needed. Join me, Dan Johnson and LAMA president Scott […]

Dragonfly was born in Florida in the early 1990s. Back-of-the-napkin sketches started in the 1980s following the dynamic 1970s when hang gliding swooped into national awareness. What one designer did with Dragonfly would become one of the most celebrated developments in hang gliding. Throughout the ’70s, hang glider designs accelerated smartly in glide performance and […]

There’s little question we’ve covered MOSAIC extensively here on ByDanJohnson.com and have been looking ahead to a day when the proposal is a rule, sport pilots gain access to a whole raft of new aircraft, legacy LSAs have a chance to expand their operating envelopes and many of the companies planning to make new models […]

With my feet failing fast, and the lederhosen beginning to chafe in a most disagreeable fashion, I viewed the end of AERO 2024 with mixed emotions. My legs said enough is enough, but my head, heart and eyes still wanted more—because what a show it was! From replica rocket-powered fighters to jet packs, LSAs fitted […]

I’ll take the opportunity in this installment to take a look at some of the lighter aircraft to be seen at AERO Friedrichshafen this year. ICP Ventura 2 and Ventura 4 Italian airframer ICP had several aircraft on display including the Ventura 2 ultralight powered by various permutations of Rotax, and also the Experimental, which […]

The cavernous halls of the Messe truly do contain the aspirations and, let’s be honest, the dreams of literally dozens of designers. There were quite possibly more new types than I have ever seen, and I’ve been attending the Friedrichshafen show for over 20 years. Anyone who claims general aviation is dying would only need […]

Day Two of AERO at Friedrichshafen, and after a slow start footfall-wise yesterday there were considerably more visitors thronging the massive Messe today. Aura Aircraft The day started with a visit to the Aura Aircraft press conference, where the French airframer announced that it was signing a deal with the Deutsch aeroclub to use its […]

Editor’s Note: Correspondent Dave Unwin is at the AERO show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, this week and will be reporting on news from the show. Here’s his first report. Europe’s top general aviation event, AERO at Friedrichshafen, Germany opened on Wednesday, April 17, and runs through Sunday. It is no exaggeration to say that AERO has […]

At Sun ‘n Fun 2024, Aeromarine’s Chip Erwin demonstrated just how quickly the TrueLite’s wing can be folded. Of course, he’s pretty practiced at it and there’s still one more to do, but it’s impressive nonetheless.

Top Rudder Aircraft, maker of the new Solo (Part 103) and Ruckus (LSA) aircraft, has one of the hottest booths at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun.