“Now, wait a minute,” I hear some object. “You can’t do aerobatics in a Light-Sport Aircraft. It’s not allowed.”
Are you sure about that?
True, most LSA are not recommended for aerobatic flying or training. However, one of the main reasons for that is that Rotax does not want its LSA 9-series engines used for aerobatics. If the engine manufacturer does not permit it, we’re done talking. It cannot be used that way. The airframe maker can also stipulate no such operations.
However, neither FAA regulations nor ASTM standards expressly prohibit aerobatics. We’ve already seen one entry that is capable of aerobatics — the FK-12 Comet biplane — but when that model uses a Rotax powerplant, going upside down on purpose is not permitted.
Has Magnus Aircraft got a valid reason for pursuing aerobatics in its Fusion 212? Are company officials trying to invite owners to fly this way?
A better rationale: With a capable aircraft, a qualified instructor can offer what some call “Upset Recovery Training.” Others may say “unusual attitude training,” but the purpose is to prepare pilots who may find themselves in unfamiliar — “upset” or “unusual” — situations, so they know how to exit that condition.
Engines and Loops
Rotax isn’t simply protecting its brand (though it is certainly doing that, too).
To promote this activity without adequate preparation is folly.
Rotax has no way to control how its engines are used. It has no control over the pilots flying aircraft powered by Rotax. Plus the Austrian market leader has not built an engine that keeps running while inverted.
Instead, Magnus will use an engine from ULPower. ULPower anticipated this use and the Belgian company recently declared that it meets all ASTM standards applicable to aircraft engines — specifically the F2339-19A standard for reciprocating spark engines for LSA.
In April 2022, Magnus Aircraft announced that its Fusion 212 is approved for intentional spin.
“Complete stall and spin awareness training, which is required for all CFIs as per FAR 61.183, can be done on the Fusion 212,” said László Boros, CEO of Hungarian-based Magnus.
“I am pleased to inform you about the spin test results of the Fusion airplane,” added U.S. representative Doma Adreka. “Since April 4, 2022, all Fusions are approved for intentional spins, and with an ASTM-compliant ULPower 350iS engine, approved for upset recovery and basic aerobatics (+6/-3Gs). With these capabilities the Fusion is the first Special LSA approved for all of these maneuvers and advanced training.”
“UL Power confirmed its ASTM declaration stating that the 350 and 520 engines are ASTM-compliant and can be used on Special-LSA,” Doma added.
Officially, ULPower Aero Engines NV declared on March 1, 2022, its engines are being produced in accordance with ASTM standards for reciprocating spark engines for LSA. This covers its UL350i with dual electronic control units and includes variations identified as the UL350iS and UL350iHPS, which is for rotary aircraft. In addition several models of the UL 520 engine are covered under the company’s declaration meeting ASTM standards.
ULPower’s 350 series relies on four cylinders to produce between 118 and 130 horsepower, while the 520 series has six cylinders producing between 180 and 220 horsepower.
Fusion Spin Training
To get to this point, Magnus “successfully completed a comprehensive intentional spin and recovery test series,” according to Doma.
“According to the FAA recommendations, we tested the behavior of the aircraft in nearly 250 situations of stall and spin maneuvers with full recovery of the aircraft,” he continued. “We tested the Fusion 212 in extreme center of gravity situations, with different throttle and flaps settings. During the tests we went to the edges by intentionally making ‘mistakes’ in the maneuvers and delaying recoveries.”
“From now on — including all Fusion 212 aircraft that have already been sold — Fusion 212’s Airplane Flight Manual officially includes the approval for performing intentional spin and recovery maneuvers,” Doma clarified.
“Upset recovery training has become widespread in pilot education in order to help pilots overcome unusual situations,” he said. “With our Fusion 212 aircraft, pilots can master their skills and learn techniques to handle such dangerous situations safely.”
Manufacturer Magnus Aircraft and The Aviator Family, distributor of the Fusion 212 in America, will start a special training program for upset recovery, spin, and basic aerobatic training at DeLand Municipal Airport-Sidney H. Taylor Field (KDED) in DeLand, Florida, soon. Of course, it also plans to offer more conventional training.
One final word: “Fusion 212 provides the peace of mind that comes with having an onboard parachute,” Doma concluded.
About Doma and The Aviator Family
Before Doma hooked up with Magnus, he was Chief of Protocol for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary and later worked with the International Sport Federation in Europe. He noted he has worked with presidents, prime ministers, and many politicians and diplomats.
However, he fell in love with aviation while working for Magnus in Europe and later in the USA, first residing in Texas. He and his family have now relocated to Florida. Doma earned his pilot certificate in 2020 and is working towards his instructor ticket.
Today, he lives with his wife, Vicky, and daughter, Lili Anna, in the Spruce Creek Fly-In community near Daytona Beach.
“After almost five years in Texas we moved to Florida in 2021,” he said. “We absolutely adore living here!”
With that kind of youth and enthusiasm, I expect we’ll see Doma and Fusion at an airshow near you.
Learn More
Here is my interview of Magnus Aircraft’s U.S. importer Doma Andreka at the 2021 Midwest LSA Expo. We discusss the aerobatic capability of Fusion among many other points.
And, here is my interview with the U.S. representative for ULPower, Robert Helms, at the 2021 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. At this time he gave us information about ULPower’s project to declare compliance to ASTM standards.
