Dan Johnson told me, “The first light-sport airplane arrived in the U.S. in April 2005. The first two FAA-accepted special light-sport aircraft were announced…almost exactly 15 years ago.” Johnson reviews recreational aircraft and posts those reports on his site, bydanjohnson.com. A flight school needs to use an S-LSA in order to operate a light-sport aircraft in commercial operations—and that’s one of the target markets for Texas Aircraft Manufacturing’s new Rotax-powered Colt S and SL models.
Can Texas Aircraft’s Colt Become a Real 21st-Century Trainer?
Key Takeaways:
- The Texas Aircraft Colt is a new, American-made Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) designed as a modern, cost-effective alternative for flight schools and private owners compared to older, more expensive certified training aircraft.
- It boasts advanced avionics (Dynon SkyView HDX), a comfortable and spacious cabin, and a robust all-aluminum airframe with safety features (e.g., chromoly survival cage, optional ballistic parachute), deliberately built to exceed ASTM standards for durability in demanding flight training.
- While offering significant operational cost savings (lower purchase price, maintenance, use of automotive fuel) and praised for its docile handling and good performance, it shares a limited useful load similar to older trainers and confronts initial perceptions about LSA suitability for intensive training.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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