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When we’re our own worst enemy

Two of the best-promoted and most interesting LSA projects – and two of the most delayed getting to market – are back in the news. Icon Aircraft, a startup company created to produce the sexy composite A5 amphibian, just snagged  $25 million in funding to help complete remaining design issues, tool up for production and begin […]

Plenty of folks think LSA are mainly carbon fiber speedsters with autopilots and huge computer screen instrumentation. No doubt, we have some beauties that are equipped like luxury sport planes. If you’ve got the budget, the Light-Sport industry has the aircraft. Yet not everyone can afford those birds and not everyone wants one. *** FAA […]

Most of the 118 Special Light-Sport Aircraft have been developed on a very modest budget… not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. By far, the highest figure I’ve heard was about $2 million to create a new SLSA model. Yet that number doesn’t include starting a company from scratch and going all the […]

Premier Aircraft of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has created its own ultra version of the Diamond DA40 XLS

Diamond DA40 XLS Base Price: $344,950 Engine 180 hp Lycoming IO-360-M1A Max takeoff weight (lbs.): 2645 Max landing weight (lbs.): 2407 Empty weight (lbs.): 1785 Useful load, std. (lbs.): 860 Usable fuel, opt. (gals./lbs.): 50/300 Payload, full fuel (lbs.): 560 Wingspan: 39 ft. 6 in. Overall length: 26 ft. 5 in. Overall height: 6 ft. […]

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