LSA/Sport

CubCrafters has announced that the 2013 model of the Carbon Cub SS LSA will include several upgrades that could enhance creature comfort and improve the performance of some systems. And despite the improvements, CubCrafters claims the new Carbon Cub SS weighs less than the preceding version. The cowling has been redesigned to provide better cooling […]

Icon Aircraft, the California developer of the Icon A5 amphibious light sport airplane, has enlisted Cirrus Aircraft to produce a “significant portion” of the composite airframes for the LSA. As part of the agreement announced on Monday, Cirrus will build the composite airframe components for the Icon A5 at its factory in Grand Forks, North […]

One of the delights of Oshkosh is seeing new, innovative airplanes. The Lisa Akoya, an amphibious model destined for the LSA category, fits that bill to a tee. The airplane, which will sell for around $350,000, features a range of approaches never before seen in any airplane. I spent a delightful hour with the folks […]

Cessna announced it is moving its 162 Skycatcher out of the light sport category and into the primary category. But before you lose any sleep worrying what the change will mean for you – if you fly a Skycatcher, that is – rest assured, the shift is nothing more than a way to ease approval […]

The Akoya LSA – launched commercially by French manufacturer Lisa Airplanes last fall – recently took its first passengers up for a flight in the sleek-looking two-seat amphibian. The founders of the young company, Erick Herzberger and Luc Bernole, were the first to get their feet wet in the Akoya, an all-composite aircraft powered by […]

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the first three airplanes in a newly created certification category for light sport aircraft. Airplanes approved under the new framework are the Czech Sport Aircraft PS-28 Cruiser, Flight Design CTLS-ELA and Evektor SportStar RTC. Airplanes in the European LSA category are limited to two seats and a […]

On the heels of Pipistrel’s four-seat Panthera announcement about a month ago, the Slovenian airplane manufacturer has introduced a new LSA – the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer. The airplane was designed specifically for the rugged training environment, with stronger landing gear and a steerable nosewheel set lower compared with Pipistrel’s previous LSA offerings to improve the […]

Cessna Aircraft has temporarily suspended sales of the single-engine 162 Skycatcher in Europe as the lightplane maker works with European airworthiness officials on certification for the model. As a result, Cessna is honoring requests to return deposits to customers in Europe who hold Skycatcher delivery positions. French Cessna dealer Aeromecanic caused a minor furor when […]

(February 2012) On Oct. 4, 1982, the FAA did something that federal bureaucracies almost never do: The agency deregulated an entire segment of an industry that it previously oversaw. The legislation that did this, Part 103 of the FARs, defined ultralights (empty weight of 254 pounds, max stalling speed of 24 knots and a single […]

(February 2012) The first time I climbed into the Remos G-3 it was for my Sport Pilot discovery flight. The “shiny” Dynon Avionics glass and Garmin GPS, navcom and radio did not go unnoticed as I scanned the panel. “Wow, this Sport Pilot stuff is cool,” I thought. Especially since prior to this flight I […]