Aerobatic Panther Kit Enjoyed the Sights at SNF 2023 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Tue, Apr 04, 2023

Aerobatic Panther Kit Enjoyed the Sights at SNF 2023

Panther Team Readies Tandem Model

The low-wing, tailwheel, Panther showed up to Sun 'n Fun 2023 with the team in tow, letting their little speedster shine in the Florida sun.

The highly affordable, aerobatic-ready Panther provides buyers with no shortage of smiles per mile, containing the best aspects of a versatile but cost-effective homebuilt, with the high-speed performance of bigger, costlier aircraft.

The design got its start in typical aviation fashion when designer Dan Wesman began sketching out his ideal aircraft on the back of a napkin. He was looking for something mid-sized, roomy, a single seater kit with enough pizazz to play at some aerobatics after towing the plane to the field behind the family car. In the end, according to those in the know - that sketch didn't need much tidying up before building number one. "Initially, we thought we'd make maybe 30 or 40 airplanes, to break the ice," said Paul Salter, longtime member of the Panther team.  "Before you know it it's been 10 years and 160 some-odd kits sold." Right now, the Panther's build ratio is 3:1 - not too shabby for such a purpose-driven machine.

"Once we have the Cougar going, we should really see a lot of interest, it's about 5 to 1 in favor of 2 seats." Salter is definitely experienced in the homebuilt market - the 2nd seat is just as much a way to sell the plane to the spouse as it is a viable carriage setup. "Most of the time, the 2nd seat is just there to be available, most everybody flies solo most of the time. But having tandem seats gives you more options."

The Panther on display sports a Lycoming O-340, a snazzy red paint job, a small GRT Avionics panel, and 2-axis autopilot with a pretty nifty pricepoint - supposedly the team built the aircraft for "about $35,000' according to Salter. Most customers end up falling somewhere around there, too, depending on engines and avionics. "Building is pretty close to a quick-build, all the ribs bulkheads and channels are pre-formed, mostly match tooled, the spars are machined ready for assembly. Overall, we expect about 500 to 600 hours of build time."

FMI: www.flywithspa.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.29.25)

Aero Linx: Transport Canada We are a federal institution, leading the Transport Canada portfolio and working with our partners. Transport Canada is responsible for transportation p>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (06.29.25): Gross Navigation Error (GNE)

Gross Navigation Error (GNE) A lateral deviation from a cleared track, normally in excess of 25 Nautical Miles (NM). More stringent standards (for example, 10NM in some parts of th>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Anticipating Futurespace - Blue Origin Visits Airventure 2017

From AirVenture 2017 (YouTube Edition): Flight-Proven Booster On Display At AirVenture… EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is known primarily as a celebration of experimental and amateu>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Cirrus SR22

Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) Was Deployed About 293 Ft Above Ground Level, Which Was Too Low To Allow For Full Deployment Of The Parachute System Analysis: The day before the a>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 06.26.25: PA18 Upgrades, ‘Delta Force’, Rhinebeck

Also: 48th Annual Air Race Classic, Hot Air Balloon Fire, FAA v Banning 100LL, Complete Remote Pilot The news Piper PA-18 Super Cub owners have been waiting for has finally arrived>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC