General Aviation Aircraft

Diamond’s innovative, four-place Star offers performance and efficiency beyond its price

Diamond DA40 XLS Engine make/model: Lycoming IO-360-M1A Horsepower: 180 @ SL Fuel type: 100L Landing gear type: tri/fixed Gross weight (lbs.): 2645 (1200 kg) Empty weight (lbs.): 1795 Useful load, std. (lbs.): 850 Usable fuel, std. (gals.): 50 Payload, full fuel (lbs.): 550 Wingspan: 39 ft. 6 in. Overall length: 26 ft. 5 in. Height: […]

Roving reporter Dave wraps up coverage of the Rocky Mountain LSA Expo event. —DJ |||| “Cessna is one of the most recognized names in the aviation industry. Last year it lead the LSA market for new registrations. So I was surprised to hear again and again, ‘Look, there’s a Skycatcher; this is the first time […]

Twisting through the sky in the first SLSA two-seat aerobat!

FK12 Comet LSA Price: $120,000 (Rotax engine); $135,000 (Lycoming AEIO 233 aerobatic engine) Wingspan (ft.): 22 Empty weight in base configuration (lbs.): 650 Maximum takeoff weight (lbs.): 1190 Length: 18 ft. 5 in. Height: 6 ft. 5 in. Vs (kts.): 35 Vne (kts.): 118 Cruise (75%, kts.): 93 Demonstrated ultimate loads: +14g/-7g Best climb (fpm): […]

Now-and-forever LSA: Whither goest the industry’€”and why?

The best sources to fund your flight training

*** While out west on business travel I had the chance to fly the latest SLSA on the List, the South African Sling. Earlier I’ve written about the all metal LSA’s round-the-world flight but now this low wing design is being made available for sale to Americans. *** On a gorgeous Southern California day, Matt […]

Normally I don’t write about record attempts or exceptional flights until they are completed and even then only if they are significant. Too many grand voyages end prematurely. But I’ve known Mike Blyth for decades and he’s already accomplished several daring flights. For example, his South to South expedition went from the southern tip of […]

On Memorial Day I had a chance to visit Icon Aircraft and spend some time with CEO Kirk Hawkins. We met seven years ago — just after the SP/LSA rule was released — near the beginning of his ambitions to create an entirely clean-sheet LSA amphibian. *** Recently, Icon released the video appearing below to […]