LSA's Come And Go, Tragic Accidents Mar The Industry

2011 was not a very good year for the air show industry, with several high-profile accidents leading to the NTSB to call for a special hearing on air show and air race safety ... which will take place in January 2012.

Meanwhile, Piper dropped its Piper Sport offering, leaving Cessna as the only legacy manufacturer with an LSA in its stable ... and that airplane got a lot more expensive. But other LSA manufacturers had a pretty good year.  Here are Sport Aviation's top stories of 2011.

January

In what are certainly still difficult economic times, LSA manufacturer Flight Design says it is nearly ready to unveil its new four-place CT series airplane. Company CEO Matthias Betsch said that the company is nearing completion on a proof-of-concept four seat model of the CT.

Piper Aircraft Inc. said in a news release it was terminating its business relationship with Czech Republic-based Czech Sport Aircraft to market that company’s Light Sport Aircraft, citing differences in business philosophies.

Flight Design earned Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the EASA. The approval allows Flight Design to pursue Type Certification of Aircraft with EASA for non-complex aircraft up to 1.200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) MTOW. The EASA approval included Flight Design divisions involved with the production in Kherson, Ukraine plus final assembly and flight testing in Kamenz, Germany.

Stick and Rudder Aviation owner Paul Leadabrand made a 2100 mile flight from Boise, ID to Sebring, FL in a 100% factory-built Kitfox LSA. One might think it's to escape what has been a fairly brutal Idaho winter, but Leadabrand says the purpose of the flight was to show off the Kitfox's capabilities, reliability, and economy.

A new "Personal Air Vehicle" (PAV) being developed by Wichita Falls, TX-based Carter Aviation Technologies (Carter)  completed its first milestone in flight-testing. The PAV is Carter's second generation, proof-of-concept aircraft set to demonstrate their revolutionary SR/CTM technology - a combination of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aerodynamics. The milestone flight designation is outlined in an economic development incentive agreement that Carter has with the city of Wichita Falls.

At the start of the annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, FL, Cessna told ANN that it has received more than 60 Skycatcher light sport aircraft from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. In conjunction with its reassembly site at Yingling Aviation in Wichita, KS, Cessna has delivered more than 30 Skycatchers.

Dallas-based IndUS Aviation, along with its Chinese partner IPI Technologies and private investors in China, progressed towards the move of production of the Thorpedo Light Sport Aircraft to the new LuYangHu General Aviation Development Zone in Weinan, China.

One of the sweetest-flying bipes of all time, the Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2, returned to the world of certified serial production. The Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2 is a fully aerobatic 180 horsepower aircraft targeted at pilots and flight schools looking for a highly capable aerobatic aircraft with docile handling attributes. The aircraft was most recently produced in the 1980, and is type certificated in the aerobatic category.

February

The owner of an 80-acre olive farm near Santa Rosa, California continued to pursue a 2009 lawsuit which grounded most ballooning activities in the region, as well as pest control and other aviation activities. JCM Farming later  added a real estate company as defendants, and subpoenaed a couple who were passengers in a balloon operated by Magical Adventure Balloon Rides.

Wichita Falls, TX-based Carter Aerospace Development said they completed the first phase of flight-testing of their new Personal Air Vehicle (PAV). The PAV began flight-testing in October 2010 with the goal of testing and refining the flight control systems for the aircraft.

Four major general aviation organizations often referred to as "the letter groups" are calling on the FAA to change its rules to make it easier for Sport Pilots to pursue additional training and higher level pilot certificates. The EAA, GAMA, AOPA, and NAFI petitioned the FAA to amend the federal aviation regulations (14 CFR Part 61) so that flight hours accrued while earning a Sport Pilot certificate can count toward additional ratings and certificates.

The second generation of the electric-powered two-seat self-launching glider Taurus Electro is now in serial production and available to customers world-wide. Pipistrel announced that more than 20 owners will receive their aircraft by the end of 2011.

March

Quest Aircraft Company, manufacturer of the Kodiak, announced that as part of its long term corporate strategy it has completed a financing transaction for recapitalization and new investment. The additional funding is from private investors and will provide the company with continued financial stability.

Kyle and Amanda Franklin, he the son of the legendary Jimmy Franklin, and she the daughter of renowned airshow flyer Bobby Younkin (as well as Matt Younkin's sister) were flying their well-known "Pirated Skies" act when the accident took place. The accident occurred as the result of an engine failure suffered by the Franklin's well-known Waco biplane. Reports indicate that the engine failed, bringing the bipe down off-airport, where impact damage created a fire and issues in extracting Amanda... in the process, burning both Kyle and Amanda 'extensively.'

Sonex Aircraft has begun accepting refundable deposits to reserve kit production slots for the Onex single-place, folding-wing, aerobatic sport aircraft. Onex airframe kit deliveries were expected to begin by mid-year, with tail kit deliveries beginning much sooner.

After years of complaints and an impressive amount of online consumer activism, Doug Hart, who was consistently been proven to have taken money for aircraft kits and parts that have not been delivered, in whole or in part; has been stopped from victimizing any more fellow flyers. This result occurred thanks to an active aero-consumer effort (primarily online) and the action of the MO AG's office.

The EASA has granted Type Certification for the Sbach 342, a two seat aerobatic aircraft. The Sbach 342 can claim many firsts, including the first certified all-carbon fiber aerobatic aircraft, the first subjected to full occupant crash testing, the first with the main fuel tank located in a separately vented compartment away from the cockpit.

April

The long-suffering folks building the much-delayed Seawind Amphibian say they are "alive and well" and progressing through certification with two important milestones now behind them. The company completed flutter testing on the airplane March 24. With the successful completion of the flutter testing and a number of other developmental test flights, the design configuration of the airplane is now frozen.

Van's Aircraft introduced their new Light Sport Aircraft, the RV-12, just over three years ago. Well over five hundred kits have been sold since then, and in April, the 198th kit to ship became 100th RV-12 to fly.

In a positive development for recreational aviation, at least in the state of New Mexico, Governor Susana Martinez signed House Bill 12 into law on April 6th. This law adds "operation of aircraft" to the state's existing Recreational Use Statute. "This is a great step for the recreational pilots, the backcountry, and of course, the state of New Mexico" said New Mexico Pilot Association (NMPA) President Joyce Woods.

Flight Design, which has been building two-place LSA aircraft and has shown some staying power in the LSA market, released the specs for its planned four-place C4 airplane. The data was presented Thursday in Germany at the AERO Friedrichshafen air show.

May

A jury in Kansas awarded $48 million to the families of five of the six people fatally injured when a DHC-6 Twin Otter carrying skydivers suffered a catastrophic engine failure just after takeoff and went down near Sullivan Airport in rural Missouri southwest of St. Louis. The family of one of those killed in the accident did not participate in the lawsuit.

A Piper Sport LSA went down on a ferry flight from Florida to Illinois. Early police reports indicated that the wreckage went down in widely separated portions and that the pilot was found out of, and away, from the primary impact site.

June

Organizers of air shows at the Millville Army Air Field Museum in New Jersey said they are done with "acrobatic jet teams" after a short-notice cancellation by the Navy's Blue Angels reportedly cut deeply into the show's bottom line. The Navy's demonstration team canceled appearances at several venues after the team recovered from a maneuver too low at an air show in Virginia in May. The commander of the Blue Angels has since stepped down from his post.

A five-person FAA National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) concluded a two day visit to Zenith Aircraft Company in Mexico, Missouri. In a letter dated June 24, 2011, Terry Allen, manager of the FAA Production and Airworthiness Division, stated that the Evaluation Team determined that the kit will allow an amateur builder to meet the major portion requirement the "51-percent" requirement to register the aircraft as Amateur-Built - Experimental.

ICON Aircraft announced that it closed a $25 million round of equity funding in June. The round will fund the company through the completion of its ongoing engineering development program, manufacturing setup, and the beginning of production of its A5 amphibious sport plane.

July

The BD-Micro Technologies, (BMT) FLS Microjet completed Phase I flight testing, and all performance expectations were either met or exceeded. Better known as the “James Bond jet”, the BD-5J for the first time ever is available as a complete, ready to assemble, integrated airframe, avionics, and powerplant systems package. BMT is currently taking orders for a limited production run of the FLS Microjet kit.

The Transition Roadable Aircraft officially received a grant of all of the special exemptions it had requested from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Terrafugia’s Transition is the first combined flying-driving vehicle to receive such special consideration from the Department of Transportation since the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards came into being in the 1970s.

SportairUSA, the American marketer and distributor of the Dallair FR-100 Snap!, had the American production prototype of the aerobatic LSA at AirVenture 2011. The Snap! will be unveiled during a presentation at the International Aerobics Club (IAC) headquarters, at 1200 CDT, Tuesday, July 26th, and will be on display at the LSA Mall for the remainder of the week.

EAA designated July 25, 2011 as the Official Chris Heintz Day and over 50 owners and builders of the aircraft he designed convened at AirVenture this week to honor Chris and be part of the world’s largest gathering of experimental aircraft. Through the company he started, literally in his garage, Zenair Ltd., Chris has introduced more than twelve successful kit aircraft designs that are estimated to have produced more than 800 aircraft presently flying around the world in 48 different countries.

August

SportairUSA, the American marketer and distributor light sport aircraft, announced EPA power engines and performance parts for Rotax. SportairUSA is currently showing the Dallair FR-100 Light Sport Aerobat, powered by EPApower, at AirVenture 2011.

Sonex Aircraft said that the SubSonex jet aircraft prototype, JSX-1, made its maiden flight at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, WI. The SubSonex was piloted by Bob Carlton, an air show performer and owner of Desert Aerospace LLC.

ICON Aircraft announced that it received 143 deposits for its A5 amphibious Light Sport Aircraft during the week-long 2011 EAA AirVenture Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The new orders take ICON’s order book to position #694, and represent record levels of interest for sport flying and the ICON A5 specifically.

The Ultimate Air Racing Championships that ANN profiled several weeks ago appears to be stuck in 'idle.' FAA Spokesperson, Ian Gregor, has confirmed that the UARC request for approval of an aggressive multi-plane, multi-obstacle, air racing platform could not be proven to be safe enough to meet the FAA's required standards.

It was been a long road back for Kyle Franklin. But seven months after the tragic accident which eventually claimed his wife Amanda, Kyle has announced on Facebook that he is returning to the air show circuit.

Bryan Jensen failed to recover from a maneuver described by various local media sources as a spin or descending 'spiral' and impacted the ground in a grass field away from spectators. The show was closed thereafter and for the rest of the day. It was the second of three accidents at airshows that weekend.

Wing walker Todd Green was engaged in a plane to helicopter transfer and fell from a height estimated at 200 feet. The accident occurred at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base during a weekend airshow at a location some 20 miles NE of Detroit.

September

Using a "prototype LSA Audit Program", the FAA inspected Criquet Aviation USA, Inc., the manufacturers of the Storch FI-156 LSA. The result of this July 13th audit, one of the first of its kind, was the rescinding of Criquet Aviation's ability to offer products with Special Flight Permits, S-LSA or E-LSA airworthiness certificates. In other words... grounded.

Hot air balloonists in California achieved what may be a hollow victory over JCM Farming, Inc. of Solana Beach. The corporation constructed a fortified compound and erected signs warning of guard dogs and armed response to trespassers on land zoned for agricultural use.

The attempt of an Irish cancer survivor to become the first person in history to circumnavigate the globe in an autogyro is again at risk for being interrupted for the winter.

The NTSB's preliminary report in the accident which fatally injured air show stuntman Todd Green suggests he attempted to reach for the skid of the helicopter before it was in the correct position to complete the stunt. Green lost his footing on the Stearman biplane in the attempt to transfer between it and a helicopter flying overhead during an air show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on August 21st.

After over 40 years of ownership and several unsuccessful attempts to sell previously, Revo Inc. again offered the assets of Lake Aircraft for sale. Reportedly the only FAA-certified single-engine amphibious airplane produced in the world, the offering included all of the intellectual property and equipment needed to manufacture the Lake Renegade, Seafury and Seawolf airplanes.

One aircraft from the Trojan Horsemen Warbird Formation Acrobatic Team went down at the Thunder Over the Blueridge Open House And Airshow. According to media reports, the accident occurred when two of the aircraft, flying in opposing maneuvers formation, passed and separated, with the westbound aircraft having 'lost control, rolled and crashed on the runway in front of the hangars.'

At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, during Unlimited Class qualifying, the P-51 Mustang “Galloping Ghost,” piloted by Jimmy Leeward, crashed into the box seat area in front of the main grandstand.

Lisa Airplanes developed what it says is a unique light airplane able to land on either pavement, grass, water or snow. And after presenting the aircraft on several occasions in its home country of France, the company said it was ready to bring the Akoya to the international market.

The leading theory, and we're quick to stress that it is only a theory, behind what may have led to the accident at the Reno Air Race points to the possibility that pilot Jimmy Leeward blacked out after his modified P-51 pitched up sharply before nosing over and impacting the ground. Analysis points to the loss of an elevator trim tab as a possible factor in the accident.

U.S. Congressman Sam Graves, Co-Chair of the House Aviation Caucus, came out strongly against any new regulations for air shows in the wake of the tragedies in Selfridge, MI, Reno, NV, and Martinsburg, WV. He issued a statement Thursday responding to calls to examine whether more regulations are needed for air shows.

October

At the NASA Green Flight Challenge, Erik Lindbergh, founder of LEAP, announced the first winner of the Lindbergh Prize for Quietest Aircraft. The prize was awarded to e-Genius, a two-seat electric airplane designed and built by University of Stuttgart Institute of Aircraft Design under the leadership of Professor Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann and his two assistants Len Schumann and Steffen Geinitz, and piloted by Eric Raymond and Klaus Ohlmann.

The NTSB released its preliminary report for the accident which fatally injured the pilot of a North American T-28C performing as part of the Trojan Horsemen aerobatic team. The report does not indicate anything overtly wrong with the accident aircraft based on high-definition still and video images captured during the performance.

A new unofficial world speed record was set by Windsor, Ontario, Canada racing pilot Will Whiteside in a Yak 3U. The flight took place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Whiteside flew his modified Yak to an unofficial speed of 416 MPH.

The FAA has listened to those commenting on its proposed changes to FAR Section 61.85 and has proposed an amendment to the new rule pushing back the implementation of proficiency check requirements for pilots of single-place and experimental turbojets for a year.

Following a nationwide search, the Board of Directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) have announced Carl Hicks, 58 of Gig Harbor Washington, as their first Executive Director.

Adventurer Norman Surplus has been delayed for another winter in his quest to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an autogyro. He's conceded the need to park his yellow AutoGyro MT03, G-YROX, in Japan to wait for the late arctic spring to arrive again before crossing the Bering Straits to Alaska.

A post on the WACO Classic blog said they have officially received the Type Certificate for the Great Lakes 2T-1A series of aircraft. Now, with the TC in hand, WACO Classic is able to better work with the FAA to return the Great Lakes to the air. 

The FAA announced in the Federal Register in July the availability of ASTM International standard F2746–09, Specification for Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) for Light Sport Airplanes, as well as ASTM F2245-10c, Specification for Design and Performance of a Light Sport Airplane. Manufacturers of fixed wing light sport aircraft were required to revise their POHs for new production airplanes in accordance with these new standards by no later than Nov. 12, 2011.

November

A Sussex County, DE, Councilman required back surgery after his Aeros Trike went down on his first solo flight. He was listed in serious condition at a Virginia Hospital following the accident.

A grass-roots partnership of the primary sporting soaring associations in the US, with the help of Kitty Hawk-based First Flight Foundation, celebrated the centennial of Orville Wright’s record soaring flight of 9 minutes 45 seconds set on October 24, 1911. The event, called SOARING100, attracted over 10,000 visitors to the Outer Banks, NC venues of Jockey’s Ridge State Park and Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Barbara Tolbert, who serves as executive director for the very successful Arlington Fly-In in the Pacific Northwest, was been elected Mayor of Arlington. Tolbert won 1,290 votes of the 2,365 cast in the race, or 54.55 percent.

The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) said it would award the Louis Bleriot Medal to air racing pilot Richard “Smokey” Young, director of Orange Coast College's pilot aviation training program, at a ceremony in Los Angeles November 17th. Young set a world speed record last year in a piston-engine aircraft fueled by a new high-octane biofuel.

ANN received copies of a letter allegedly sent to a number (if not all) of the current list of Skycatcher depositors in which Cessna has raised the price, effective as of January 1, 2012 to a whopping $149,900... well over $40K above the price first quoted when the aircraft was introduced in 2006 -- $109,500.

The NTSB released what many will likely find to be an unsatisfying probable cause report in the accident which eventually cost Amanda Franklin her life. In its official report, the board said the airplane lost engine power "for undetermined reasons."

December

The NTSB announced plans to hold a hearing on air race and air show safety on January 10th. The Board said that the hearing would focus on bringing public attention to the safety issues involved in aviation event operations, and provide NTSB Members and investigative staff with a deeper understanding of regulations, protocols and practices used in the planning and operations of air shows and air races. Information gathered in the hearing will assist NTSB staff in the investigation of air show and air race incidents and accidents.

FMI: www.aero-news.net