An Inside Look at Modern LSA Ownership

New Bristell LSA owner Don McKenzie takes FLYING deep inside the ownership experience, and details what it is like to own and fly one of general aviation’s best-looking light-sport models.

Dan Pimentel

Friday, December 03, 2021 at 11:22 AM ET

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Don's Bristell has some of the best lines of any light sport airplane and looks good from any angle. Courtesy: Don McKenzie

Key Takeaways:

The article challenges common negative perceptions about Light Sport Airplanes (LSAs) like being too slow or "twitchy," demonstrating they are suitable for diverse missions, including cross-country travel.
Owner Don McKenzie's Bristell LSA offers significant economic advantages through lower fuel consumption (7 GPH vs. 9.5-15 GPH) and the flexibility to use more affordable mogas or 94UL fuel.
Modern LSAs provide a "sports car"-like flying experience with crisp handling, feature advanced glass panel avionics enabling IFR operations, and can be a more cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing alternative to older, heavier aircraft.

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Since light sport airplanes became available to purchase in the general aviation marketplace, we’ve all heard pilots of larger, heavier, and faster legacy makes and models sometimes make negative comments under the assumption that LSAs were too slow, too “twitchy,” and, yes, even too ugly.

To dispel those myths, FLYING went inside the ownership experience with Don McKenzie, owner/pilot of a new 2021 BRM Aero Bristell LSA. After speaking to him, it is clear that much of what you might have thought about light sport airplanes is wrong.