First International Sport Pilot Fly-In

Dan Johnson | Splog | December 21, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

“Too much fun!” was a common exclamation of my Alaska ultralight friend Mike Jacober. His signature phrase ran through my head as 18 airplanes, mostly LSA, arrived at the Freeport, Bahamas, airport for the first International Sport Pilot Fly-in over Dec. 10-12.

For many this was their first flight over the ocean (including yours truly). It isn’t far — 85 nautical miles, less than one hour — and it isn’t hard (unless you go for a swim en route…none of us did, thank goodness!). But flying out of sight of land, even for a short time, is rather attention-getting.

Continue Reading »

All-Things Garmin

Dan Johnson | Splog | December 6, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

Tim Casey is just plain full of it. Garmin‘s jovial, well-recognized manager of the instrument company’s aviation hand-held and LSA line of avionics products is one knowledgeable character. In fact, he is so full of information that his one-hour seminar at the Midwest LSA Expo only scratched the surface of the seemingly limitless capabilities of the company’s digital instrument line. For example, synthetic vision comes preinstalled on the G3X and if you want, the Garmin unit can even be wired to show the closure of doors.

Continue Reading »

Q: Aviation’s challenge? A: Airplane prices

Dan Johnson | Splog | December 5, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

David Kruger is what you might call a data-intensive fellow. A technical background gives him a keener-than-usual understanding of the value of research. Also an enthusiast of flying LSA, David has invested considerable study into the influence of airplane cost on the pilot population. His analysis suggests partner ownership of an airplane offers a means to confront the problem.

Continue Reading »

Flying high with Jabiru

Dan Johnson | Splog | November 30, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

What do sugar cane harvesting equipment and light aircraft and engines have to do with one another? The former was the original work of Jabiru founders Rod Stiff and Phil Ainsworth. The latter is what occurred after a trip to Europe back in 1988. While they traveled, the other partners voted them out of the company and on their return they got a check for their equity, so Rod and Phil did what entrepreneurs do: They took their dough and started a new company. This is the story Jabiru USA boss Pete Krotje told to begin his talk about the engines and airplanes the duo created.

Continue Reading »

So long GPSMAP 496, Hello aera!

Dan Johnson | Splog | November 28, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

Over the years, Garmin has become a staple of LSAs. Stick your head inside the cockpit of virtually any SLSA and you’ll probably see a Garmin 296, 396, 496, or 495. The handheld gizmos are ubiquitous, often nestled securely in panel-mounted Air Gizmo docks. However, the great run of the X96 series is flying off into the sunset.

Continue Reading »

Whirring into the air on electricity

Dan Johnson | Splog | November 22, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

You’re probably aware of the auto industry’s billion-dollar bet on electric cars. Skeptics are plentiful. Same for airplanes. Despite doubts, even Cessna and Bye Energy are teaming up on an electric 172. Other LSA electric projects are also underway and it’s all good in my mind.

Most e-powered aircraft remain in the future. Yet here today is the E-Spyder. Continue Reading »

Coming of age

Dan Johnson | Splog | November 21, 2010

Are Light-Sport Aircraft truly coming of age? I think so and, while I’m biased by my closeness to the industry, I have observed three noteworthy changes Continue Reading »

AOPA Aviation Summit kicks off today

Dan Johnson | Splog | November 11, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

On the aviation calendar, AOPA’s Aviation Summit represents the year’s last national event. Formerly known as Expo or Convention, unlike well-anchored airshows such as Sun ‘n Fun or AirVenture Oshkosh, AOPA’s annual gathering moves around the country, albeit repeating at a few destinations that have proven to be a good fit. This year, AOPA members collect in Long Beach, California, starting today.

Continue Reading »

Jabiru-powered RANS S-19 is simply superb

Janice Wood | Splog | October 31, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

Pilots seem to love more power. All other things being equal, a more potent engine is preferred to one with less power. Pilots also like sweet-handling airplanes. So, put 20 more horses in front of the S-19 Venterra and you’ve really got something.

Continue Reading »

Ekolot Topaz makes first U.S. appearance

Dan Johnson | Splog | October 24, 2010

Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft.

Just when you thought the LSA industry was running out of models (109 presently show on our SLSA List), here comes one of the sharpest examples I’ve seen. NIU Group used the Midwest LSA Expo as the venue to debut an airplane I’ve seen in Europe, the Topaz, with more than 100 flying. Previously in the U.S., we have seen the Junior from the same company.

Continue Reading »