Since the beginning of aviation (or at least since near the beginning) government has approved any aircraft the public may buy and fly. A newly designed model, after proving its airworthiness to company engineers and management, had to gain government approval before sales could begin. The cost curve has been steeply upward. Cirrus Design is […]
Smaller is (sometimes) better
Air shows drive the calendar of many people involved with aviation, certainly so for the business men and women. Everyone knows about the large events, such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at the end of July or Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, at the end of March, or AOPA’s Aviation Summit, which is approaching at […]
Positive reports continue out of Oshkosh
Reports continue positively for results at AirVenture 2011…despite FAA’s partial shutdown, a media frenzy over the debt ceiling, a roller coaster ride in the stock markets, and a continuing bum housing market. If you can smile after all that, things must be improving. Here’s more evidence of improvement: Icon Aircraft announced it secured 143 delivery […]
3% today…30% in years? 100% in decades?
After a prolonged absence, mogas is returning to airports, thanks to steady efforts by a consortium lead by Dean Billing and Kent Misegades, our very own GAFuels bloggers. The numbers appear small today, even if they function to help you find cheaper and cleaner mogas as an alternative to 100LL. About 3% of airports presently […]
Ugly ducklings
Aviator opinion is widespread about CH 701 and CH 750 being ugly ducklings. Fortunately, plenty of pilots don’t care about looks so long as an airplane flies well (750 does!) and for some the, ahem… distinctive look of 750 is a thing of pride. Think Hummer or the old Volkswagen Thing. Indeed, Zenith Aircraft Company […]
Allegro keeps on training…3,500 hours logged
LSA America now produces the Allegro in Littleton, N.C., and despite Czech-based Fantasy Air’s ceasing manufacturing several years ago, Allegro did well enough in the first couple years to still retain the #14 rank on our LSA sales leaders. Exciting as this now-Made-in-the-USA story may be, this article has a different focus. I want to […]
SLSA #120 approved
Way over in Paris, a new airplane has arrived — only this Paris is in Tennessee. SLSA #120 Spirit comes from a new company but one whose leader earned his SLSA pedigree gaining four model approvals. That would be Skykits and its STOL variations. All are designs from ICP of Italy (Savannah, plus ADV and […]
OSH sales report
This year I had easily 30 conversations at AirVenture revealing either outright positive successful results or varyingly robust mood indicators such as, “Looks like aviation has life in it again.” A number of aircraft purveyors said they took cash deposits and wrote firm contracts. I estimate about 30 aircraft sales by this method. Companies like […]
Sales robust at Oshkosh
Oshkosh is over and before it ended many expressed a common thought: We love to go to Oshkosh; and we really love to go home when it’s over. While stated with a somewhat humorous overtone, the truth is that AirVenture is a tough slog for those who work the show. Twelve-hour days are standard and […]