It didn’t work out the first time. Breezer I wasn’t quite mature for the burgeoning Light Sport Aircraft market. The import structure was unwieldy, adding cost and distancing the customer from the source. As Breezer Aircraft took over manufacturing of the all-metal LSA, Breezer II arrived in 2008, joining new leadership in Europe with fresh representation in the USA.

Central Florida light aircraft guru Mike Zidziunas — known as “Mike Z” — is the point man for Breezer Aircraft USA. And he’s handling things differently from most LSA sellers. His plan is more like that used successfully by Cirrus. The source of the airplanes handles the whole country using representatives in various areas as touch points.

“I feel that the conventional dealer network is ponderous and it’s difficult to control the quality of service,” he said. “To address service after the sale, when we deliver the airplane we offer as part of the purchase a five-hour FITS-style pilot training program. Insurance companies love this. But we also train the customer’s maintenance person at their home airport.”

For more information: BreezerAircraft.de.

The great trek to Sun ‘n Fun is about to begin. The season-starting air show kicks off April 13 and organizers report display spaces are filling up.

The economy is taking a toll on all events, but Sun ‘n Fun is one of those reliable shows, sure to draw a crowd…a crowd emerging from the embrace of winter and ready to do some flying! That also makes the many Sun ‘n Fun forums a good place to tune up your skills, from flight to maintenance to information on the latest gear available.

Light Sport Aircraft will again be displayed all over the Sun ‘n Fun grounds, but many will conveniently collect for the third annual LSA Mall. Nearly all available spaces have been filled, so visitors can expect to see virtually all the top brands represented in one compact location. From the LSA Mall — located just inside the main entrance — you can be directed to any LSA company anywhere on the grounds.

For more on Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft: ByDanJohnson.com

Most of our tandem Special LSA — Legend Cub, Courier, SportCub, Hornet, Hawk, and SkyArrow — are recreational airplanes. Except for the last one (Italy’s smooth, composite Sky Arrow) most might also fall into the “bush” category in that they are slower-flying, fabric-covered, rugged aircraft suitable for landing on unimproved airstrips.

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After becoming a hit feature of AirVenture in 2006, LSA Malls have become a fixture at major U.S. airshows. Visitors to EAA’s big summer celebration of flight are now joined by crowds attending AOPA’s Aviation Summit as well as the season-opening Sun ‘n Fun “Spring Break for Pilots.”

Folks attending these top-drawing aviation trade shows have shown great enthusiasm for the LSA Mall concept, derived from also-popular auto malls in major metro areas. They are appreciated because the LSA Malls gather a large group of the best-selling Light Sport Aircraft for visitors to consider side-by-side. After perusing many of the top brands, visitors can then trek to a company’s primary display for additional detail.

In addition to positioning as many as 20 LSA in close proximity, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) tent houses other companies that can dispense information on financing, flight training, engines, instrument panel gear, other LSA events, and publications.

The LSA Mall at Sun ‘n Fun 2010 will, for the second year, feature a professional display from Rotax helping customers inquire about service and details for the popular engine. A Jabiru powerplant will be on display in the LAMA tent.

All this convenience for those intrigued by LSA is available just inside the entrance to the Sun ‘n Fun grounds. Slightly relocated to the Southeast Exhibit Area, some 70-80% of all airshow attendees are expected to stroll through the LSA Mall as they arrive or depart the April 13-18 event.

LAMA staff will be on hand to help any visitor find any exhibitor on the sprawling Sun ‘n Fun grounds, so everyone is encouraged to stop in at the LSA Mall and see the latest and greatest before dispersing throughout all that Sun ‘n Fun 2010 has to offer.

For more on Sport Pilot and LSA: ByDanJohnson.com

Winter will soon yield to spring and summer, that time of year when flying from water becomes the delight of many pilots who have sampled this pleasure. Competing for their purchase in the LSA space, we have the FK Lightplanes Floatplane, FPNA A-22 Cape Town, and Legend AmphibCub. Other entries include SeaRey (close to declaring ASTM compliance), Mermaid (production plans uncertain), Icon (still in development), Colyaer Freedom (no U.S. representative), plus two trike amphibs with SLSA status (the Krucker Cygnet and Ramphos Trident).

All this leaves out the SeaMax (pictured), which may actually be the strongest player among present SLSA amphibians. Logging its 10th year in 2009, AirMax has produced 98 SeaMaxes for worldwide sale. At $140,000, SeaMax once seemed rather expensive, though today many high-end SLSA command such prices.

Consider the general appeal of the seaplane or floatplane compared to a land-only flyer. The seaplane adds many tens of thousands of reasonable landing areas and can access interesting locations unavailable to land planes. Plus, when following a route like a long river, you can reasonably fly only a few hundred feet up for hours, enjoying a view of the planet few people on Earth will ever see. SeaMax USA partner, Malcolm Jones, gained such an experience last year as he flew home from AirVenture, following the mighty Mississippi River through several states.

SeaMax is a performance-oriented seaplane that’s roomy and upscale inside. It takes a bit of training to fly confidently (honestly, like most LSA) but delivers a very satisfying experience of water flying.

For more on Sport Pilot and LSA: ByDanJohnson.com

The FAA issued a 20-year forecast for aviation to 2030. According the the agency, Light Sport Aircraft sales will grow by 825 per year through 2013 and then taper off to 335 per year.

Hmmm? One wonders why it should fall so dramatically and so soon?

Except in a lousy 2009, the LSA industry has generously exceeded 335 units per year — and this while the industry also had to build its entire infrastructure: A system of certification, distribution channels, service centers, parts inventory, trained flight instructors, and much more.

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Talk about your “Wow! factor” — Paul Hamilton’s new video for Dynon Avionics really shows off the amazing capability of the company’s SkyView avionics system featuring synthetic vision. On his video, Paul takes you along for a flight during bright daylight (proving the screens are readable in direct light) and into the dimming sun over mountainous terrain. The video lets you see the real image out the windscreen and compare that to how SkyView synthesizes it. After viewing the system in flight, all I needed to say was, “Impressive!” Dynon’s SkyView setup costs about $5,500 for a single 10-inch screen, though this price is a small fraction of the cost of a Type Certificated system.

Flight Design USA president Tom Peghiny admitted, “I was skeptical about SkyView until Dynon made a presentation at our distributor-dealer meeting Monday after the Sebring Expo. Later I flew the SkyView-equipped CTLS and I was really impressed. I thought it kind of looked like a video game on the ground, but in the air the situational awareness is remarkable.” He added that a lower time pilot in worsening weather could find his way to safety much easier with SkyView installed, though he admits the buyer will need a somewhat thicker wallet to pay for the handsome hardware. That’s a strong endorsement from a man known for speaking honestly.

For more on Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft: ByDanJohnson.com