Light Sport News

Recreational flying is the new craze of aspiring pilots and those pilots who are looking for a break from flying heavy aircraft. The planes used for fun flying are called Light Sport Aircrafts or LSAs. There are many people out there who want to fly just for the sheer thrill of the flying experience but cannot meet the rigorous physical training requirements for flying regular aircraft or do not want to take up flying as a profession. For those people, LSA has come as a boon. However to fly an LSA, these people have to first obtain Sport Pilot (SP) license. The SP certification takes about 20 hours and doesn’t cost more than $3500.

The LSA is a special aircraft having specific features like seating capacity of two, a maximum takeoff weight of 1320 pounds, a maximum stall speed of 45 knots, non-pressurized cockpit, single engine that is non-turbine, a fixed landing gear system and so on. LSAs are given FAA registration “N - number”. Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) is those LSAs meant for sale to the general public. Since this is emerging as a new sport, there are number of people looking to buy LSAs. One company from where you can procure LSA is SportairUSA. The company is the distributor for StingSport, Sirius airplanes and the amphibious aircraft SeaRay. The company is situated at Little Rock, Arizona.

The LSA from the stable of SportairUSA is the StingSport. It meets all the requirements prescribed for qualifying as an LSA. The aircraft does not need assembling, as it is ready for flying when it is delivered at your doorstep. The StingSport has got a Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA) certification on account of which new pilots can fly the plane safely. The StingSport can also be flown by private pilot certificate holders whose medical certification has lapsed. You can fly the StingSport if you have a driver’s license and a flight medical certificate. It can also be flown for those wanting credits for obtaining advanced certification. The StingSport from SportairUSA is fun to fly and is available for less than the cost of other such aircrafts in the market. The plane is easy to handle with light control touch and has power necessary for recreational flying. You will love flying the StingSport.

Another product from SportairUSA is the Sirius that is basically a high-wing SLSA that is manufactured in the Czech Republic by TL-Ultralight. It is made from the carbon fiber materials used for StingSport. Rotx 912 engines will power the plane. Sirius has been designed for more space with 48” cabin and has room even for your golf clubs. At the AERO Friedrichshafen held in Europe in 2007, the Sirius got rave reviews.

SeaRay is the amphibian aircraft distributed by SportairUSA. The plane can make 300 feet takeoffs and lands with absolute ease. It can make 50’ radius while flying at 35 mph turns without any problem. So if you are the kind who wants to fishing very often, then think of buying an amphibian airplane, think SeaRay. The plane is easy to fly and dependable.

The other products distributed by SportairUSA are Woodcomp propellers and the GreenLine^TM EMS, manufactured by I-K Technologies.

You can get in touch with the company at www.sportair.aero.

Do you ever dream of owning your own plane? There are many advantages of building your own plane.

The main advantage is the cost. The cost of a homebuilt plane can vary from $5,000 upwards to $200,000 depending on the kind of engine, performance characteristics and instruments. For instance, the Mooney Bravo which is basically a four-seater that can fly at 270 mph with a 1000 mile range, costs around $399,000 while the Lancair IV experimental plane which is also a four-seater, costs anything between $174,000 to $200,000, almost half the cost of the Mooney Bravo. The break-up of costs for the Lancair IV is like this; the standard kit costs around $52,000 while the fast-build kit costs $77,000, the engine costs $32,000, the propeller costs $10,000, avionics cost $60,000 while the interiors can cost $20,000. The Lancair can go up to 375 mph with a 1459 mile range that is better than the Mooney Bravo. The difference in cost is on account of the cost of labor, the cost of tools that you use and the costs of the certification that are saved when you build your own kit plane.

Another advantage of building you own kit plane is that you get access to the latest technology. With the flying space heating up, many manufacturers are coming out with new designs, albeit at a higher cost to comply with the standards of FAA. The new planes come equipped with the latest equipment and state-of-art technology. However, experimental planes are cheaper as they don’t have to go through elaborate certification regulations and hence have great speed and great looks.

Yet another advantage of building your own plane is that you get to do its maintenance yourself. The maintenance of a manufactured plane is to be done by a certified aviation mechanic. This will cost around $60 to $100 per hour. Further, the annual inspection will set you back by $1000 to $5000. When you build your own plane, you save thousands of dollars over the years in maintenance and inspection costs as you would be doing this yourself. You can also pick up an auto engine like the rotary from Mazda or the Chevy or the air-cooled Volkswagen engine. The maintenance of these engines can be done at a lower cost as compared to normal engines fixed on planes.

One major worry about home-built planes is safety. FAA has rules that ensure that a plane built by you undergoes FAA tests and is test flown by the builder of the plane for about 40 hours in and around a range of 25 miles. The safety record of home-built planes is comparable to that of manufactured ones.

Cost is not the only factor to be considered when you build your own plane. You cam also involve the entire family in building the plane and this become family-bonding time.

Last but not least, the sheer joy of working with your hands and building the plane with commitment and perseverance will fill you with the pride of achievement. It is a challenge that many people enjoy.

You can join a club and fly the LSA or you can even buy one for your personal use. With LSA gaining a good following, let us examine the variety of aircraft that are available for you to buy or fly.

A22 Valor: The A22 Valor is a fun aircraft to fly and has great maneuverability. The turning radius of this plane is very small. It can land and take of with ease and the crosswind capability is good. The plane can cruise comfortably at 85-90 kts reaching the highest speed of 106 kts with ease. It can climb to a height of 1000 fpm

There is ample space inside the aircraft, ideal for those who feel claustrophobic. This plane works well for people interested in aerial photography.

The A22 Valor comes in 7 colors, White, Blue, Red, Silver, Yellow, Black and Green

Tecnam P2004 Bravo: If you want to fly cross-country over long distance, this is the ideal plane for you. The plane combines high performance with easy flying and is also ideal for just flying around, enjoying the feeling of being airborne. This plane comes from Italy and has a state-or-art design. This plane is suitable for new pilots as well as experienced ones. The plan can climb comfortably to a height of 900 fpm and can attain a top speed of 120 kts.

The manufacturers of Tecnam P2004 Bravo have drawn from their experience of assembling components for Boeing and ATR.

Tecnam P92 Echo Super: An LSA that has proved its reliability and safety, this plane has proved to be economical and stable. The Echo provides excellent visibility and serves well as a trainer aircraft. You can also spend time building hours of flying in the Echo. The plane can fly to a maximum height of 1067 fpm and attain top speed of 118 kts. The fuel consumption of the Echo is around an economical 3.8 gallon per hour. This is really a ‘flyable’ plane that can give you a fun flying experience.

Tecnam P2002 Sierra: Yet another LSA from the Tecnam series, this is plane comes with a spacious cockpit, great controls and stylish Italian design. The maximum climb attained by the Sierra is 750 fpm with a top speed of 120kts.

Evektor Sportstar: This plane comes with the backing of 35 years of experience. The plane is one of the best- designed ones that can be flown with ease. Made in Czechoslovakia, this has great flight characteristics and makes an ideal choice if you are thinking of buying an LSA.

Stingsport: The Stingsport from Czechoslavakia is one LSA that has a great list of standard features that focus on performance and safety.

These are just a few of the LSAs available in the market for recreational flying. With LSA becoming popular, many more companies are coming out with new models to add to your flying experience. So take a flight and enjoy it.

Do you dream of soaring like a bird high above the earth, carefree and euphoric? You do not need to fly expensive aircraft. Try a powered parachute for the ultimate experience in flying.

In 1964, the precursor of the present day powered parachute (PPC), was patented. It was called a “Multi-Cell Wing” or “Parafoil”. In 2004, the present day version was made by Don Shaw who mounted an engine from a two-wheel motor scooter with a propeller and a parafoil. Powered parachutes are also called motorized parachutes or PPC. This is a parachute with a difference. It has a motor and comes equipped with wheels. It can fly at speeds of 25-35 miles per hour. These parachutes can operate at heights close to the ground or as high as 18,000 feet or more.

The powered parachute (PPC) generally has fuel tank of 5 -10 gallons capacity and can be airborne for about 3 hours. They have short take offs and landings.

Did you know that the powered parachute is the least expensive among light sports aircrafts? It costs around $5000. A two-seater may cost you around $10,000 while a top end model may cost anything between $15,000- $ 20,000.

Do you want to fly but don’t have the time to obtain a pilot license? Then try flying a powered parachute. As per part 103 of the US Federal Aviation Regulations, single parachutes can be flown without license or for that matter without receiving flight instruction. However, it would be best to undergo minimum training. All a person needs is to learn flying instructions. This can be learnt in 5 to 10 hours.

A PPC with two seats is classified as light sport aircraft (LSA). For flying an LSA, one needs to have a sport pilot certificate. This is issued by the FAA. The flight training takes 12 hours.

With powered parachute (PPC), one can enjoy sightseeing. Photography from the powered parachute (PPC) is awesome. A powered parachute (PPC) can be used in agriculture for spraying operations. Law enforcement agencies also find a powered parachute (PPC) useful for surveillance.

You don’t require an airport for take off and landing operations. A powered parachute (PPC) can be flown from back yards, hay fields that have been recently mowed and small airports. Generally, night flying was not allowed for a powered parachute (PPC). However, in 2004, FAA amended the rules. A powered parachute (PPC) that is correctly equipped can fly legally.

Normal aircraft with fixed wings are not considered as safe as a powered parachute (PPC). A powered parachute (PPC) has inherent safety on account of stall resistance, limited response and because of the inherent stability. However, the main hazards for a powered parachute (PPC) is wind and other obstacles. It is best not to fly the powered parachute (PPC) when there are winds that exceed 10-15 mph.

The fun from flying a powered parachute (PPC) is incomparable. So get into your powered parachute (PPC), strap on your helmet, check the radio batteries and take off for the ultimate flying experience.

EAA ASKS FAA TO AUTHORIZE USE OF ELECTRIC MOTORS IN ULTRALIGHT AND LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT

ANNOUNCEMENT AT ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT SYMPOSIUM DRAWS APPLAUSE

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (April 26, 2008) — In an effort to gain attention and support for electric aircraft innovation and to help advance efforts to bring affordable electric aircraft to recreational aviators, EAA at today’s CAFE Foundation 2008 Electric Aircraft Symposium announced a significant advocacy measure. As the final speaker on the Symposium agenda, EAA Lifetime Member Craig Willan wrapped up the one-day event in San Francisco by announcing that EAA has filed a request to the FAA for regulatory exemptions that would allow the use of electric motors in ultralight and light-sport aircraft.

“The announcement drew enthusiastic applause,” Willan reported shortly after the event’s conclusion. “After a full day’s in-depth exploration of the cutting-edge work being done, the group was already energized by the promising developments in the science and engineering arenas. When I announced at the end of the day EAA’s action in the regulatory arena aimed at allowing the application of this technology, it was like an additional shot of adrenaline,” he said.

“I also informed the group that this is only a first step. I’m participating on an EAA task force charged with further facilitating progress in the use of electric energy to power aircraft,” he said. “The EAA community is committed to this direction. More announcements are coming.”

EAA’s petition to the FAA specifically proposes specifications for battery-pack weight limits on ultralight aircraft and the development and adoption of electric-motor ASTM standards for light-sport aircraft. “The request for those specifications, combined with suggested language changes to remove exclusive references to reciprocating engines, would make electric motors legal for these aircraft,” said Earl Lawrence, EAA’s vice president of industry and regulatory affairs.

The request for exemption highlights developments already made in the automotive, radio-controlled aircraft, and light-aircraft industries. “As electric technology advances, the practicality and, particularly, the flight range and duration of electric aircraft will drastically increase, while the weight of battery packs will decrease,” the petition reads.

According to Lawrence, this initiative matches well with the EAA community’s most fundamental values. “For 55 years we’ve championed affordability, access, and innovation in the world of aviation,” he said. “Today, the cost of fuel, its composition, and the difficulty in ensuring the availability of aviation-appropriate fuel threaten both the affordability of and access to general aviation flying.

In making the announcement, Willan pointed to the EAA community’s proven capacity for creativity as a call to action behind this initiative. After citing numerous examples of breakthroughs resulting from EAAers’ passion for designing, building, and flying their own aircraft, he quoted Thomas Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence: “Those who have the ability to take action also have the responsibility to take action.”

Willan added, “We have the responsibility to be part of the solution. We in the EAA family have the intellect, the drive, and the passion to do something that can change the world. We have the ability - now we must take the responsibility.”

EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 170,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building, and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org.

The FAA has created a certification program called ‘Repairman-Light-Sport aircraft’, with two ratings, one for Inspection and the other is for Maintenance. The requirements for undergoing this course are very simple. You need to be a US citizen or a permanent legal resident, above 18 years of age. You should be able to read, write and speak English. You should be able to put in the number of hours prescribed for the certification as a prior requisite for obtaining the certification. You should also be able to assess the condition of the (Light Sport Aircraft) LSA for performing maintenance operations.

When you get through the maintenance Rating module, you will be in a position to carry out maintenance and inspection of LSAs. Maintenance requirements for all kinds of LSAs form part of the training. There are prescribed time schedules for each component of the training. You will have to undergo classroom instruction on the LSA for 120 hours, followed by 104 hours of Weight-shift control. Additionally, you will also under 104 hours on Powered Parachute, 80 hours on Lighter than Air and training on Glider for 80 hours. The total number of hours of training is around 712 hours. By doing this course, you will be in a position to maintain, repair and inspect LSAs on a commercial basis. The repairs and maintenance that you can carry out are laid down in the manufacturers’ manual for LSAs.

If you want to go through the Inspection rating module which allows you to conduct the annual inspection of the LSA, than you will require to undergo a further 16 hour training course on the inspection of the class of LSA you own or want to inspect. By undergoing this training course, you can conduct the annual condition inspection of your own Experimental LSA.

While anyone who has undergone the maintenance-rating course can perform maintenance operations on LSAs, it is imperative that they follow the instructions given in the manual brought out by the aircraft manufacturer. The tasks given in the instructions of the manufacturer must be followed to a T. This is to ensure airworthiness of the LSA.

Once a person has obtained the necessary qualifications for performing maintenance operations, he or she can also perform maintenance operations on other aircrafts. If major repairs are to be performed, the necessary qualification has to be obtained as prescribed by FAA. LSAs could also be maintained by mechanics and repair stations that are authorized to do so.

Do you yearn to be Jonathan Livingston Seagull and fly just for the love of flying? Well for those who yearn to get away from the drone of their big planes and for those who just want to have fun flying small and light aircraft, Skyraider Aviation, is there to help you realize your dream.

The company is situated in Colorado at Erie Municipal Airport, north of Denver. The main focus of this company is to train people as Sport Pilots (SP) to man Light Sport Aircrafts (LSA). With the opening up of aviation for low-cost recreational flying, there are number of potential pilots out there who can realize their dreams of taking to the skies.

The company offers a range of services from training to selling planes, news on aviation to selling aviation merchandise.

Lets talk about LSA and SP training. A sports pilot can fly albeit with some restrictions. The restrictions pertain to the kind of aircraft they can fly, the time they can fly and where they can fly. With so many restrictions, it is easy to get a SP license as compared to a private pilot license. A sports pilot can fly the small, two-seater easy-to-fly LSA. Skyraider Aviation caters to this niche segment of aviators. By focusing on this segment alone, the company provides a fun-filled experience at a cost much lower than traditional aviation companies.

The sports pilot license requires 20 hours of flight training and the costs about $3310 to finally get your license. While there are regulations on where, what and how to fly, the offer from Skyraider Aviation is a steal. Just imagine training in the latest Light Sport Aircraft!

If you already know how to fly an LSA and own a Sports Pilot License, Skyraider Aviation has aircraft for you to fly on rental basis. You do have to be a member to take advantage of aircraft rental. You have a choice between flying the Gobosh G700 and Evektor SportStar. Both these models come fully equipped with GPS, radios and transponders and all that is necessary for a safe and thrilling flying experience.

For those who want to own the machines they fly, Skyraider Aviation sells planes to. Just costs about $100,000. Financing is available. There is even a leaseback arrangement from the company, or you can choose to buy the plane with a few others under the fractional ownership option. That sounds good enough to start flying.

If you want to get in touch with the company, here are the contact details.

Phone: 303-926-0114 (Office), FAX: 303-926-0610 ,

E-mail: info@skyraideraviation.com

Address: 395 Airport Drive; Erie, CO 80516

Enjoy flying and stay safe!

Good news for seaplane pilots, light sport aviation applies to seaplanes as well. Recently, many new seaplanes that can qualify as being light sport. With a light sport license, pilots can go out and pick up a seaplane certification. Many seaplanes are affordable and offer a different aspect to flying. If a seaplane seems like it would constrict your flying freedom, remember many seaplanes are amphibious allowing for both runway and waterway landings. Many of the amphibious aircraft are relatively the same price and have the same horsepower. Some pilots are apprehensive of taking off and landing in water. It is definitely a unique experience, however both are relatively easy.

Getting a seaplane certification maybe easier than you think. There are several schools around the U.S. offering lessons to become certified. Many of the schools are located in Florida, which is the equivalent to seaplane paradise. These schools generally take about 2 weeks of rather extensive training. This training would include some ground school and a basic inspection of the aircraft. A student would spend around 15 hours in the air doing basic maneuvers and mastering the landing and taking off. After spending these 2 weeks learning the ins and outs of flying a seaplane, the former student could spend the rest of their lives enjoying it.

If you never have experienced the thrill of flying in a seaplane, then you should consider adding this to the “bucket list”. Fly up to Canada and land in an exclusive lake. Pull out the fishing rod and fish all afternoon, head home before night. Maybe island hopping from tropical paradise to the next is your idea of flying fun. Either way, seaplanes offer this freedom to light sport pilots. The possibilities of utilizing a light sport certificate with a seaplane are endless as long as the pilot is up for the task.

We had a chance to look at the Kappa KP-5 sport plane at the opening weekend of Sport Planes West’s newest office at the Camarillo Airport (CMA), about a half hour north of Los Angeles, CA.

The Kappa is a sleek aircraft that appears to have a lot of potential for fun flying. With a good looking profile and pleanty of room for two passengers and a couple small bags for the weekend, the Kappa is sure to be a popular plane among light sport aircraft enthusiasts.

“This is one of the easiest light sports to get in and out of,” said long-time pilot Tom Wittman as he grabbed the unique roll bar/grab handle down the middle of the cockpit’s canopy area. Another noticeable feature is the Fowler Flaps which help the Kappa acheive its impressive stall speed of 38 knots. The plane also comes with 17 gallons of standard fuel capacity with an option to add another 8 gallons in “long range” tanks.

Under the hood is a Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower engine that gives you a 138 mph cruise speed with a 1100 ft./min. climb rate. Empty weight for the plane is 695 lbs. and you have a usefull load capacity of 538 lbs. Pretty good for a couple folks and bit of luggage. The interior arrangement allows for bags to be stored behind the seats and has a small shelf above that for easy to reach items (or maybe a little four-legged friend along for the ride?). Speaking of seats, the pilot seat is mounted about 4 inches further forward than the passenger seat. This arrangement feels quite comfortable with a couple 6 foot plus guys sitting in the plane…no “shoulder smashing” as you might get in some more cramped light sport cockpits.

Overall, the Kappa KP-5 looks like a fun sport plane that we can’t wait to fly.

We’ve created a Light Sport News channel on YouTube and will be posting many of the videos from that channel on LightSportNews.com in the coming weeks. You can view the videos on our channel now at: http://youtube.com/profile?user=lightsportnews