In the fall of 2015, I wrote about four Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) you could buy for under $96,000. For many pilots, this price point seemed to strike a melodious chord. Unless you are flying for work purposes, you may prefer to spend only a modest amount to enjoy the view from on high. In this column, I’ll […]
Debates without (much) politics
The nation appears almost hypnotized by the ongoing spectacle of this year’s presidential debates. Sometimes these highly watched broadcasts have real substance to them, but many describe them as political theater, an apt term when a clash of personalities drives ratings as much as discussion of important current events. At the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, […]
Small shows with big impact
Twelve years ago when Light-Sport Aircraft burst on the aviation scene, pilots were hungry to learn more about these machines. Not only could they be flown without a medical, they were packed with new technologies. Glass cockpits and carbon fiber fuselages are now common, but LSA were among the first to adopt them. Most of […]
Global growth phenomenon
Now that 2015 has entered the history books, we will slowly begin to see statistics for the year. My guess is that most aviation media will completely miss one of the big picture perspectives. This oversight does not represent a knowledge failure, but instead reflects a U.S-centric focus on general aviation. In the world of […]
Flying Icon’s A5 LSA seaplane
The Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) sector is aviation’s newest and most prolific with numerous outstanding aircraft available from Europe and the United States. Europeans seemed to own the category at first because regulations on the other side of the Atlantic permitted companies to fully build very similar aircraft. When the FAA caught up by releasing the […]
Quicksilver closing factory, but…
Aviation news outlets and social media are buzzing with the news that Quicksilver Aeronautics is closing its factory. For example, one online news source is calling the event a “dissolution.” This is not incorrect as it comes directly from a document previously issued by Quicksilver’s lawyers (see more below). However, letters from lawyers often portray things in very […]
Four LSA under $96,000
Yet if you think $65,000-95,000 is still too much, I can identify several aircraft that sell brand-new, ready-to-fly for less than $49,000, but that will be an article for another time …
Electric aircraft … Going mainstream?
Can electric aircraft truly become part of the national or worldwide fleet? You might discount the possibility, but then consider Airbus. When I was a youngster, I remember a TV commercial with a song jingle that went, “Electricity does more for you each day.” (Despite the decades that have passed, the tune still plays in […]
AirVenture news: LAMA President’s Award, new Rotax engine
During AirVenture, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association gave a press conference to a full house. LAMA officials reported the association enjoyed a terrific opening day in its mission of advocacy for Light-Sport, light kit, and ultralight aircraft. Partnered with the U.S. Ultralight Association (USUA), LAMA participated in two very productive meetings, one with EAA’s advocacy […]