Light Sport

Lesson 3 with First Landings Aviation got cut short. My effort to miss a likely afternoon thunderstorm by scheduling an 8 a.m. lesson didn’t work this time. The clouds were already starting to build, but not enough so we couldn’t get into the air for at least a half-hour lesson (thanks again to the close […]

The FAA visited some 30 Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) facilities before releasing its assessment of the industry. And the result? They need to tighten up. LSA manufacturers are responsible for complying with “consensus standards” that were developed by ASTM, and the FAA found that most could not adequately substantiate that they met the standards. Without […]

Since releasing its first product in 2003, Dynon Avionics says it leads all other manufacturers in converting light sport and experimental aircraft from conventional mechanical gauges to “glass panels.” Dynon units are installed in more than 10,000 homebuilts and LSAs, according to the company. Products start at $1,600 with the newest SkyView system priced at […]

I don’t usually turn to The Economist for aviation news, but the June 12 edition had a two-page article on the emergence of alternate-power aircraft. Examples included the ’round-the-world hopeful Solar Impulse and several electric-powered aircraft, including the Chinese Yuneec e430 which made its debut at EAA AirVenture last year. While allowing that the prospect […]

After completing several flights, it’s clear that the decision to train much closer to home at First Landings Aviation, Orlando-Apopka, was a sound one. Florida’s temperamental thunderstorms have arrived and the proximity has allowed me to reschedule canceled flights easily. And I’m really enjoying flying an LSA and the more flexible training environment. The Remos […]

A lot has changed with my training since my last blog. I had a successful Lesson 8, which was inspiring after the Lesson 7 letdown, and I was eager for the next flight. But my subsequent lessons kept getting canceled due to weather or last-minute work-related issues and the weeks between flights just kept ticking […]

On April 30, a pair of European pilots commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first flight of an aircraft in Switzerland. Their goal? To fly a pair of Flight Design CTLS light sport aircraft (LSAs) around the world. The two Swiss airline pilots, Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo, left Sion Switzerland on the first leg […]

American Legend has announced a new model, the Classic J3 Cub, aimed at delivering simple, fun flying at a price lower than most — $95,000. Described as a “slimmed down” version of its other Cub models, the new J3 is powered with a 100-hp Continental O-200.

The FAA has certified the Tecnam P2006T twin for VFR and analog IFR. Its Garmin G1000 suite is certified for IFR in Europe with FAA compliance expected later this year. Power comes from a pair of Rotax 912S3s rated at 98 horsepower each. Performance figures list maximum cruising speed at 148 knots, with a 53-knot […]

Flight Design president and chief operating officer Matthias Betsch arrived at Sun ‘n Fun direct from the Aero general aviation show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. He reported that the event included a meeting of several national aviation regulatory bodies including the FAA, Europe’s EASA, and governmental aviation regulatory agencies from China, Brazil, India and others. Betsch […]