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Six hours in a Cirrus

June 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’d like to think I pondered the offer of a ride in a new Cirrus to Idaho Falls and back to Seattle for more than a few seconds, but in reality, I don’t think Cirrus Aircraft Sales Rep Ivy McIver actually finished her offer before I replied… “YES!”

Ivy grinned and said, “My Mom is flying in from Florida and will be coming as well, so as long as you don’t mind flying with my Mom, we are good to go.” “Are you kidding? I have a Mom…I love Moms.”

And with that I just weaseled my way out of a 12-plus hour car ride, and into a 2012 Cirrus SR22T, for my trip to the Trade Show Aviation Idaho.

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From Kiev with love: Flying the Aeroprakt LSA

June 7, 2012 by 2 Comments

BY J. DOUGLAS HINTON

With the meltdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gained its independence, causing private enterprise to bloom, including Kiev-based Aeroprakt company, founded the same year and bolstered by an investment by Saudi Sheik Hussein. The result was several Light-Sport Aircraft, principally the Aeroprakt A22-LS.

Designed by Yuri Yakovlev, the LSA has become so popular around the world that it is currently the only model on Aeroprakt’s production line.

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Flying the G8 Airvan

April 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

By J. DOUGLAS HINTON

A casual glance at a map of Australia shows that virtually all of the population centers are concentrated along the coast, mostly in the south and southeast. So what’s in the interior? Thousands of square miles of desert, sparsely settled by cattle ranchers and miners, people in need of supplies and medical care.

Recognizing a need for air support, GippsAero developed and certified the G8 Airvan a few years ago. It also produces the GA200C agricultural aircraft and is reviving the Nomad twin turboprop as an 18-place commuter. The company’s plans were accelerated in 2009 when it was acquired by the Mahindra Group, an India-based company involved in everything from construction to finance and insurance. [Read more...]

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Flying the Evektor Harmony

February 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

The Light-Sport Aircraft movement is coming of age. During the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo held in Sebring, Florida, last month, many LSA manufacturers showed off the next generation of their designs, including Evektor Aircraft.

The Czech Republic-based company, which has the distinction of producing the first LSA certified in the U.S., showcased the Evektor Harmony at the Sebring show. Like its predecessor the popular Evektor SportStar, the Harmony is a low-wing metal design. Although there is a familial resemblance in the design, it’s obvious the engineers at the Evektor factory have been working to improve a good thing. The Harmony has a more refined, elegant look to it.

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