Plane & Pilot 2017 Buyer's Guide: Light Sport Aircraft

From amphibians to trainers, there's an LSA for everyone.

Plane & Pilot

Wednesday, February 08, 2017 at 06:49 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category has significantly expanded, offering an impressive variety of models from amphibians to backcountry planes due to eased certification standards.
LSA designs often push the category's performance limits, featuring capabilities like high climb rates, short-field takeoffs/landings, and cruising speeds up to the 120-knot maximum.
Many modern LSA models integrate advanced avionics, such as glass cockpits and autopilots, and offer important safety features like whole-plane recovery parachutes.
Despite technological advancements, several LSA types still require pilots to possess strong "stick-and-rudder skills" and undergo specific training for consistent and safe handling, especially in challenging conditions.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Super Petrel

First released by Brazil-based EDRA Aeronautica in 2001, the Super Petrel design was subsequently updated and modified to conform to the light sport requirements in the U.S. and Europe. It appeared as the Super Petrel LS in 2009, though was only LSA-certified in the U.S. two years ago. The LS model is an amphibious biplane equipped to carry two passengers at a top cruise speed of around 100 knots. Dual-axis autopilot and Dynon glass come standard, creating a modern, user-friendly cockpit. The Super Petrel LS’s primarily composite design, complete with carbon Kevlar hull, makes it sturdy and impact-resistant while still capable of maintaining respectable performance numbers for the category. In our flight report on the plane, we lauded its handling, both in the air and on the water.

Niche: Seaplane/Amphibian

Base Price: $155,000

Competitors: Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey, ICON A5

Super Petrel Specifications

Learn more at Super Petrel.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10