www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 3 2 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying We have the new improved Rotax 912 oil filteRs in stock. Benefits include improved filtration during cold start up and new anti back-flow valve. $19.95 Part # 825 012 laRge inventoRy of Rotax parts and accessories with same day shipping on in stock orders placed by 1:00 pm EST. Call 1-800-laRotax Parts: 863-655-5100 Service: 863-655-6229 www.lockwood.aero Phil lockWood Shopping for ROTAX just got easier Visit Lockwood Aviation’s newwebsite at www.Lockwood.aero We’ve revamped our website to take advantage of the latest in internet innovations and technology. More than 4,000 of our parts and supplies are now available for OnLine ShOpping! Using more than 2000 photos of engines, airframe parts, tools and supplies, our customers can completely configure and purchase Rotax Aircraft engines online — including the new 912 iS! USER FRIENDLY REAL-TIME ONLINE INVENTORY Executive Editor Subscriptions Classified Sales Vickie Betts (800) 867-5430 E-mail: vickie@easyflight.com Web site: www.psfmagazine.com Technical Editor Layout & Design Display Ad Sales Roy Beisswenger PO Box 38 Greenville, IL 62246 800-867-5430 roy@easyflight.com Publisher Sport Aviation Press, llc 16192 Coastal Hwy Lewes, DE, 19958 Photography Valerie Layne Jim Smith Cliff Tucker Graphic Artist Tim Dilliner FeatureWriters Zen Boulden Kai Bode Dr. Bruce H. Charnov John S. Craparo Phil Dietro Jeff Goin Greg Gremminger Michael Hudetz Jeff Hamann Geoff Hill Dan Johnson Doug Maas Ira McComic Jim Smith Jim Sweeney Willi Tacke © 2018 Sport Aviation Press llc Powered Sport Flying™ Magazine is published monthly by Sport Aviation Press llc, PO Box 38, Greenville, IL 62246, (800) 867-5430. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorials. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Sport Aviation Press llc: Powered Sport Flying™ Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors. Periodicals Postage Paid number 000228 at Greenville, IL, 62246 and at an additional mailing office. postmaster: send address changes to: Sport Aviation Press, PO Box 38, Greenville, IL 62246. Volume 25, Number 2. Subscription Rates Annual subscription rates: $36.95 U.S. $48 Canada $90 International All monies US Funds Subscribe online at: www.PSFmagazine.com For more information call: (800) 867-5430 Welcome to another edition of Powered Sport Flying Magazine, the only remaining print magazine to focus on ultralight and light sport aircraft! I heard a rumor that it’s supposed to be Spring now, but I’m not believing it. I’ve seen that some of you are brave enough to go out and fly in the cold and snow, however. Personally, I’ll wait to try to catch a ride until it warms up! Before I get into this issue, I do want to make a correction on an article in the last issue. For the Rotorvox gyroplane, where it was stated that the seats are fixed and the pedals are adjustable, it should have been reversed: the seats are adjustable and the pedals are fixed. The price was also incorrectly reported, and should have been $165,000 usd, inclusive of the builders assistance program. Thanks to Cobus Burger, the usa dealer for the Rotorvox, for pointing this out to us! After 14 years, Kevin Szalapski decided that it was time to replace the prop on his trike. He’s given us a short review of the brand of prop that he chose. Christine Toevs has been making some long cross-country flights in her Titanium Explorer gyro, and she’s kindly written an article telling us about the adventure, with pictures to admire. From Roy, we have a list of the top 10 things that he likes to check during a mini-preflight. When he’s just stopped flying for a short time and will be going right back up, these are the things that he considers to be important to check back up on. For the 2017 Arizona Flying Circus, Jeff Hamann started a cross-country flight from his base in California to the event. His report on that was in the August/September 2017 issue of psf. In this issue, Jeff has Part II of his attempt, which he completed for the 2018 event. Poor Jeff, however, was a bit disappointed once he completed his journey! From Jim King, we have the story of the cause of Jeff’s disappointment. Jean Francois Chabaud decided that he might like to compete in the 2018 Icarus Trophy to be held in late July in Africa. Therefore, he conducted a practice run, from his home in New Mexico to the Salton Sea event in California earlier this year. Jean Francois contributed his pictures from his practice flight for this story. From Dan Johnson, we have reports on some interesting developments in the world of personal flight. The skies may be about to become rather crowded. And now, I’ll let you get to reading, while I go outside and walk my new Moral Support Canine Alec (who took over the job from my late Cody), before it begins to snow yet again. Happy Spring – eventually! Editorial
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 5 4 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying FREE 2017/2018 CATALOG! 1-877-4SPRUCE VISIT US ON OUR NEWMOBILE SITE www.aircraftspruce.com 7 7 7 8 2 3 ROTAX 912 iS ROTAX 914 UL TURBO ROTAX 912 ULS ROTAX ENGINE HEADQUARTERS The CPS Facility at the Corona Airport has the latest tools & equipment to service all Rotax engines. CPS also provides full service & maintenance on LSA’s. CALL 1-800-247-9653 • WWW.CPS-PARTS.COM BRYAN TOEPFER CPS Operations Manager California Power Systems 225 Airport Circle Corona, CA 92880 951-549-7786 24-Hour Fax: 951-372-0555 Tech Support Hotline: 951-317-8677 SALES • OVERHAUL SERVICES • ROTAX PARTS • ANNUAL INSPECTIONS • TECHNICAL SUPPORT • ROTAX CLASSES Press Pass On a Friday in January, a host of competitors took off from Lake Wales Municipal Airport for Icarus X Florida, a 232 nautical mile race, which traveled to Palm Bay and Lake Okeechobee before heading back to the finish line at Lake Wales. Icarus X Florida forms part of the Icarus X Series, which this year consists of four races, which can be entered individually or as a whole, in the usA, South Africa, uk and Australia. Few pilots had anticipated such cold temperatures when they signed up for the Florida race, however, and on the first day the chilly weather, part of the record breaking cold snap on the East Coast, led to one pilot having to pull out as he became too cold to carry on. The rest of the field battled on, resulting in a close-fought race with several pilots neck-and-neck as they bedded down for the first night, wherever they could find somewhere comfortable to sleep. Come Saturday morning one of the pre-race favorites, Jon Eisele, a veteran of the us Marine Corps, had a mechanical failure, which effectively ended his chance of a win. This left two main contenders in the air battling it out for glory, with American Bryan Richards eventually being first across the line on Saturday evening, taking the title and winning a place in the Icarus Trophy (the larger scale paramotoring race taking place in southern Africa in July), before fading light stopped play for the day. While some of the remaining pilots managed to cross the line on Sunday, including Joshua Gantt who won the Spirit of Adventure Award for being the first person to complete an Icarus event in a trike, strong headwinds meant others had to sit out the day and wait until Monday to finish. Despite the chilly start, most pilots had an incredible time, resulting in a fantastic race above some of Florida’s most iconic landscapes. The organizers hope to bring the race back to Florida again soon. How to get involved Novice or expert you can get involved in the Icarus X Series or Icarus Trophy, as there are Race and Adventure divisions in both events. Head over to www.icarustrophy.com to find out more or to enter the 2018 Icarus Trophy or one of the Icarus-X Series events that will be happening over various weekends in the uk, usA, Australia and, the latest addition, South Africa. That is also where you can learn about the Icarus Trophy. Cold Weather Plays its Part in Icarus X Florida “Hey guys! Well the awards wrapped up at noon and everyone was in good spirits and seemed happy. Such a great group of guys. Bryan Richards won the Race Trophy, and Joshua Gantt won the Spirit of Adventure Trophy. He’s actually the first person that I know of to complete any Icarus event unsupported in a trike so quite an accomplishment. It was a pleasure, and the team and I look forward to the next one.”–Shane Denherder, Icarus X Series Chief
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 7 6 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Press Pass The 2018 Sebring Sport Aviation Expo Completed the 14th Annual Event This past January 24-27 at Sebring Regional Airport, event organizers reported an increase in ticket sales, happy exhibitors, warm temperatures, and many new offerings for participants during the 14th annual Sport Aviation Expo. The Expo serves to promote light sport aviation, help put vendors and purchasers together, and promote the Sebring Airport facility, itself. All of those goals were met. Exhibitors had good things to say about the event. Lou Mancuso, President of Bristell Aircraft had this to say, “We have two deposits on planes and three more people interested…” Tom Peghiny, President of Flight Design said, “I’m pleased at the weekend... Many qualified buyers coming to our booth. …great job promoting the event.” Jan with Viking Aircraft Engines remarked, “…quality people, good traffic.” Many companies had an opportunity to see what the Sebring Regional Airport had to offer. In fact the airport gained a new tenant and is in the process of confirming a second one as a direct result of the successful event. Dr. James Drury, a certified faa Flight Surgeon, will have an office on-site and will be offering pilots the ability to get their 2nd and 3rd class medical exams. The annual event introduced Hendricks, the new mascot. The pink flamingo was displayed as a life-sized directional sign, was a photo op for visitors, and reproduced as a cuddly stuffed animal. All exhibitors were given a Hendricks plush toy with which to participate in a contest to win a free booth for 2019, up to $1000 in value. “The contest has proven to be wildly successful,” said Beverly Glarner, the concept’s creator. Exhibitors were invited to snap a photo, using the furry creature creatively, and photos have been pouring in to the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo office. Hendricks, who is colorful and dynamic, embodies many of the same traits as the hundreds of aviators and aviation enthusiasts that attend the iconic event every year. The name Hendricks is a historical one and pays homage to the B-17 pilot school that once operated at Sebring Regional Airport – Hendricks Field. The flight school operated from 1942 to 1945 and was named in honor of 1st Lt Laird Woodruff Hendricks, Jr. A few of the offerings that attendees were able to take part in over the four-days: • Guests were invited to recall the energy, passion, and excitement of the roaring ’20s by flying aboard the Ford Tri-Motor, known as the first luxury airliner. This offering was sponsored by eaa; • Take flight in the original Batcopter from the 1966 Batman TV series; and • Youth participated in school-sponsored field trips to hear inspiring speakers such as Captain Niloofar Rahmani, the first female fixed-wing pilot in the Afghan Air Force; Dr. Story Musgrave, a 30-year astronaut with nasa; and Julie Wang, the first Asian woman to pilot an airplane around the world solo. The 15th annual Sport Aviation Expo is scheduled for January 23-26, 2019. To learn more, visit www.sportaviationexpo.com.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 9 8 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying P +61 2 4944 9199 E fly@airborne.com.au airborne.com.au ADVENTURES ARE MADE EVERYDAY WITH AIRBORNE! Prices starting under $35,000 Airborne’s new M3 Sport, more comfort, excellent stability, 3 wing options. Dealer inquiries from established flight schools welcome. Pictured: XT-582 Ezy (front) , XT-582 Outback (back) Press Pass This February it was announced that Turkey will be the official host country for the fai World Air Games 2020, according to a contract signed yesterday by Kursat Atilgan, President of the Turkish fai Member Türk Hava Kurumu (thk), and Frits Brink, President of the fai, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Scheduled for September 2020, the Games will take place in some of the most iconic locations in Turkey, with the event split between Ankara, Antalya, Eskisehir, Efes/ Selcuk, Ölüdeniz/Fethiye and Pammukale/Honaz. The spectacular Opening Ceremony will take place in Turkey’s cosmopolitan capital city Ankara, while the Closing Ceremony will be in the popular tourist destination of Antalya. Kürşat Atilgan, President of thk, said: “More than 2 billion people from around the world can reach the centrally-located tourist destination of Turkey in under four hours flight, making it an excellent venue for the fai World Air Games 2020. “We believe that holding the prestigious fai World Air Games 2020 in Turkey will allow us to attract a younger generation of air sports fans, both within Turkey and worldwide.” The signing of the contract naming Turkey as the fai World Air Games 2020 host country took place at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. This location reflects the fai’s status as an International Olympic Committee (ioc) Recognized Federation, and part of the Olympic Movement. FAI President Frits Brink said: “It gives me great pleasure to sign this contract naming Turkey as the host country for the fai World Air Games 2020. “A longstanding fai Member, thk has a lot of experience in organizing air sports competitions, not least the very first fai World Air Games in 1997. “I feel confident that the Federation will put on a fabulous show for the World Air Games – the biggest and most exciting event on the fai calendar.” Now that the agreement has been confirmed, preparations for the event will begin, with thk planning a round of investment to ensure that facilities are of the highest standard. Atilgan pointed out, “Since being set up in 1925, thk has invested a lot in air sports infrastructures. Turkey named as the 2020 Host Country For The World’s Biggest And Brightest Air Sports Event: The FAI World Air Games Signing ceremony participants outside the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland Support Our Advertisers “Over the next two years, we are planning to invest further. For example, by buying new equipment and creating new airfields for each sport.” The fai World Air Games is the premier, international, multi-discipline air sports event conducted under fai rules. It attracts the world’s top air sports athletes, all vying to be awarded the title of fai World Air Games Champion in their chosen discipline. FAI activities on the fai World Air Games agenda include Aerobatics, Aeromodelling, Drone racing, Gliding, Indoor Skydiving, and Paragliding – to name just a few. The aims of the event include showcasing air sports to the general public and attracting new participants, as well as promoting fai events to other sports organizations and creating an attractive platform for TV, media and other external stakeholders. Running since 1997, previous editions of the Games took place in Turkey (1997), Spain (2001), Italy (2009) and Dubai, uae (2015). The latest edition of the Games, in 2015, was organized by the Emirates Aerosports Federation under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and took place from 1 to 12 December 2015. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (fai), also known as the World Air Sports Federation, is the world governing body for air sports and for certifying world aviation and space records. The fai was founded in 1905 and is a non-governmental and non-profit-making organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (ioc). FAI activities include aerobatics, aeromodelling, airships, amateur-built and experimental aircraft, balloons, drones, gliding, hang gliding, helicopters, manpowered flying, microlights, parachuting, paragliding, paramotors, power flying and all other aeronautic sporting activities and space records.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 11 10 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft Will Aviation’s Big Money Create Fun Flying Machines …for the Rest of Us? Let’s be clear. Boeing, Airbus, Google, Amazon, and other immensely deep pockets are not seeking to build fun flying machines for you and me. Well… not initially, at least. And even that statement is somewhat wrong based on the development of the Kitty Hawk Flyer. Big money doesn’t begin investing hoping to sell 100-200 aircraft per year. Such a performance would be more than acceptable to most manufacturers of Light Sport Aircraft, light kit aircraft, or ultralights. Indeed, 200 deliveries a year would qualify as a major success for most such builders. The billionaire class dreams much bigger, probably thinking they can sell many thousands of aircraft or much higher-cost aircraft than we recreational aviators want to buy. Most will center on doing transportation or package delivery. Most will not seek to increase your weekend flying fun. You know what, though? Neither did the Wright Brothers or the other pioneers of flight have recreation in mind. Even Francis Rogallo‘s work that lead to modern hang gliders was done to help nasa bring back payloads from space. Recreation came later. As with most developments in a dynamic economy, spin-offs happen. One idea fails but produces another that catches fire. Discoveries in one field can lead to progress in a seemingly unrelated field. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to think we may be on the cusp of a new revolution in flight. How Far We Have Come I have spent an entire career in recreational aviation. I was on the front lines for hang gliders as they became amazingly sophisticated. I was deeply involved as engines were added to hang gliders to become ultralights, which themselves Left: The KittyHawk Flyer Right: One of Airbus' concept vehicles by Dan Johnson gradually became increasingly capable. Most recently, I’ve been a cheerleader for Light Sport Aircraft and light kitbuilt aircraft as they ushered in numerous developments that are now being considered for Type Certified aircraft. This history —which I would not trade for anything — leads me to wonder if we might be on the verge of a new chapter in flying for fun. Could it be electric? Might it be a multi-copter? Is it possible the next aviation revolution will not look like those aircraft that previously gave me pleasure? Perhaps! Will that still be ‘real’ flying? Such a judgment depends on the beholder. I considered hang gliding to be extremely ‘real’ flying. I was similarly inspired by ultralights (even if I did lose some hearing after flying with two-stroke engines). Likewise, I’ve been highly impressed with lsa designers who have thought up dozens of variations, some of which are remarkably handsome aircraft. Each time the new kid arrived on the block, somebody from the previous generation was dismissive. I’m trying not to be one of those as I observe these new creations. I hope you will join me in keeping an open mind. I can hear multiple gripes about the Kitty Hawk Flyer but I have to say that I’d love to give this thing a try once I believe it to be sufficiently wrung out by braver pilots than me. Honestly, on a hot Florida day while having fun with friends at one of the state’s many lakes, Flyer looks like a hoot. Big boys with their pockets bulging with money could… just might lead to things I’d enjoy flying in the future.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 13 12 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft Aviation Future Shock? Questions & Answers with a Australian Editor Recently I had an exchange with Australian Flying magazine editor, Steve Hitchen. He asked some great questions and after giving my responses I realized some of his question were common ones I hear being discussed. So why not share our give-and-take? Steve’s questions are in red. • “I’d like to talk about power. With lsa restricted to 120 kias, it seems unlikely we’ ll get much engine development to increase power unless regulations change to either allow an increase in speed or gross weight.” lsa are getting more power, to wit, Rotax’s new 915iS with 135-horsepower and the Continental Titan line with 180 horsepower. I do not think this is the end of the horsepower boosts …plus lsa speed and/or weight changes could conceivably follow in the usa but are currently not limitations in other countries that accept the astm standards as a basis for approval or certification. • “What would be the point of more powerful engines on lsa?” Well, besides pilots’ interest in having more power, aircraft operating at higher elevations and seaplane or floatplanes benefit from more power even when they cannot fly faster. • “There’s already a lot of technology in lsa thanks to the need to save weight, which has me wondering where the sector is going. Can you provide me with some thoughts?” Well, that topic could take us down quite a lengthy path. Let me offer a somewhat shorter reply. You are right about many tech developments — and on that I point you to an article published recently in General Aviation News’ “The Pulse of Aviation.” Two thoughts: (1) I believe the lsa sector has reached an interesting level of maturity. The pace of major innovations may have slowed but the most important developments are now common on most lsa (and light kits). This situation is not so different than smartphones that totally upended mobile a decade ago with the introduction of the iPhone. In a similar time period, that industry has also matured and development has lost its torrid pace. (2) The funny thing about innovation is you often don’t know how or when it might emerge. Electric propulsion is one possibility, and then we are seeing the first glimmer of a new class of aircraft with a collection of spinning blades or rotating wings. Who can guess where precisely that is headed? Whatever the coming changes, they will work first on lighter aircraft. My article referenced above tries to speculate a bit. By the way, the use of technology seeks not only to save weight. New methods are used because they can, that is, developers don’t need to jump through the regulatory hoops as demanded in Part 23. lsa developers can quickly implement new ideas and materials. • “Composite versus metal. Is there something else? What type of composites are in common use and what types are under development? What drives composite development? Does metal still have a future in lsa? Is mix-and-match of both the way to go?” One definition of composite is “made of various materials.” In the past “composite” implied fiberglass. lsa already rely on fiberglass, aluminum, and steel but add high-tech materials such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, and titanium. Today, the most advanced designs have significantly carbon fiber airframes, partly for weight but also strength as well as aerodynamic efficiency and design beauty. However, metal seems here to stay, being highly established and proven. Its advantages in easy repair, easier-to-determine fatigue, and a widespread familiarity of working the material — along with low weight —will keep aluminum in play. • “What are the major construction methods? Is there room for the construction method to contribute to the aircraft performance in terms of weight saving? Aircraft like the Ekolot Topaz have fuselages formed in two halves then adhered together like a Revell P-51 model. Is this the way of the future? Is there room for mass production?” That’s one beauty of fiberglass and carbon. You can have beautiful shapes and strength with weight savings. Assembly ease is a factor, too. Those materials will surely persist for those reasons and for future production efficiencies. However, since nearly all airplanes are low-production — essentially hand-built with modest use of robotics, even at the Boeing or Airbus level — prospects for genuine mass production seem distant. • “Avionics development has seen technology cascade down from GA, but there are some that have been designed from scratch for the lsa sector, such as AoA Indicators. Which way will the technology flow in the future? Is efis going to become standard for lsas or do the traditional clocks still have a place? Have we reached a pinnacle in lsa simply because the sector can operate without technology such as huds?” Actually, I don’t believe it is accurate to say instrument technology cascaded down from GA. Instead, I think the best tech has cascaded UP, if you will, from lesser-regulated machines. Many airline pilots look at a modern lsa and say, “Wow, this is as good or better instrumentation than what I have in my airline cockpit!” For example, synthetic vision has been around for years already in lsa. Today, efis is pretty much standard in all lsa and, to some extent, that is spreading to Type Certified aircraft in the form of iPads that can now show full adahars info plus traffic and weather. Since these can be handheld or yoke mounted, they need no faa/caa approvals. hud is also coming but at more affordable prices. Who can predict what future tech is on the way. AoA has been around for years as well, and commonly the cost to add an AoA system is $200± per aircraft (as the digital screens can easily adapt to minor hardware additions); this is a small fraction of the cost on TC’d aircraft. One thing I feel sure of — the newest tech will appear in the least regulated aircraft first. As one more example, the very first use I know of for gps, anywhere in aviation, was on hang gliders of all places. • “Weight-saving is always an issue for manufacturers. In Australia a land-based lsa can lift no more than 600 kg (1,320 pounds), so what can manufacturers do to increase their useful load? Are we reaching a dangerous situation where the aircraft are getting too light or are too heavy to include some desirable safety features, such as parachutes?” Perhaps we are pushing some boundaries if new ideas and materials are not forthcoming. However, they are forthcoming. I’m not too worried about it. For example, crush zone technology in cars did not add weight — in fact removed it compared to other methods — and this greatly added to safety. • “Are regulations stifling lsas? Should lsas be able to fly at up to 750 kg mtow (1,650 pounds gross) to give manufacturers more design freedom? Is there anything that has to change to enable more technology to be used in lsa, and if so, what is it?” As a rule, I’d rather see less regulation to encourage more innovation. Even faa appears to agree, based on their Part 23 rewrite recently released. Many tend to think regulation makes for safer aircraft, but (1) that is a matter of diminishing return — how much safety is gained from more regulation? — and (2) regulation is not the only way safety has advanced. Insurance companies have demanded improvements that faa didn’t consider. Media people help improve designs by their critiques. Other industries contribute tech that improves safety, if regulations don’t prevent it. Consumers are another bulwark against dumb ideas and for more creative and cost-efficient safety solutions. Finally, competition stimulates improvements, the best of which quickly flash around an industry. Look how similar airliners or smartphones appear. The most successful ideas tend to be used by everyone in time. • “There’s a lot there, but there’s also a lot to think about. Until the rewrite of far23, the lsa sector led general aviation in technology, especially in the use of composites. The new far23 is sort of like catch-up regulation for GA, but where does the technology leader, lsa, go to from here?” You are right that lsa is leading the innovation charge in many ways. Where can the industry go from here? We (lama) have spoken to faa a lot in the last three years as we seek new opportunities within the present regulatory framework. It is perfectly clear that lsa were a significant reason why faa went ahead with the Part 23 rewrite and use of industry consensus standards. The freshest new tech in aviation may come from outside aviation but I would never discount the passionate, imaginative, and motivated designers and developers operating in light aviation today.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 15 14 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Approach of the Drones — Is an Airspace Clash or Cooperation Coming? The aviation industry — led by a flock of alphabet member organizations — is clinking champagne glasses over the ‘defeat’ of atc Privatization. To some observers, this looks like a case of contented naval-gazing. Meanwhile, another development made the mainstream news today. It may not be reported in the aviation press. Most of the above-referenced alphabets fought the battle — ostensibly against the airlines — over access to the air traffic control system that means so much to those flying, say, their Cirrus SR22 Turbo from Chicago to Washington, DC. ifr support from atc may be somewhat less vital to recreational flyers. While sport aviators also go cross-country and a few employ the ifr system, most of us who fly for fun probably spend more time knocking around the airspace close to home, spotting fun things on the ground, giving short rides to friends, or pairing up with our flying buddies to trek off to a pancake breakfast or for a too-expensive hamburger. The truth is, we simply need atc to enter Class B airspace less often. Meanwhile… Although the smiley-faced alphabets are happy to have beaten back the hated and vilified Privatization (which it was not, as any decent free-market economist could explain in a sentence or two), something else is happening in air traffic control. I just found out about it and you may not know until now. Over 1,000 people attended a conference on …get this — a completely (and genuinely) private air traffic control effort. What do I mean? Here’s today’s lead in an article in theWall Street Journal: “The commercial drone industry wants to create a privately funded and operated air-traffic control network, separate from the current federal system, to enable widespread operations at low altitudes.” And by “commercial drone industry,” we’re talking about some truly immense companies, not dinky light aircraft corporations… like Diamond, Cirrus, or Mooney (all Chinese owned, as a side comment). The enterprises supporting this much-truer ‘privatization’ include such towering behemoths as Amazon, Google, Airbus, and Boeing. These entities have many billions of dollars at their ready disposal. Here’s looking at you, kids. Can you see this while flying for fun? Your Dynon or Garmin or mgl might be able to help. “Proponents envision one day using automated cellular and web applications to track and prevent collisions among swarms of small unmanned aircraft flying a few hundred feet above the ground,” wrote wsj’s Andy Pasztor. “The intent is to develop a ‘ totally different, new way of doing things,’ Parimal Kopardekar, nasa’s senior air-transport technologist who first suggested the idea of an industry-devised solution.” Amazing Commentary Pasztor continued his story, “The faa —which has relied on designing and deploying custom-built technologies and often taken a decade or more to belatedly roll them out —would not finance or run the anticipated system for drones.” ATC without FAA? Really!? “For many of the engineering challenges, ‘ the technology to do this is basically off the shelf,’ including communication principles and software repurposed from cellphone companies, according to Gur Kimchi, vice president of Amazon Prime Air,” who added that “answers for some of the most vexing technical questions could ‘ take a year or two.’” Think how seamlessly you are handed off from cellphone tower to tower as you motor around the metro area. Just “a year or two?” That may represent the difference between private groups doing things compared to faa’s publicly-funded, multi-decade Next Gen development. Light Sport Aircraft Support Our Advertisers Why the rush? “Recreational operators have registered more than a million unmanned aerial vehicles with the faa, and many times that number are expected to use domestic airspace by the end of the decade. Some 70,000 U.S. drones are registered for commercial purposes." Who Cares? The alphabets that are trying to assure that speedy, transport-oriented GA planes get fair and affordable access to atc may not care too much about what happens at low altitudes. Sport flyers may feel differently, though. Can you envision a potential for conflict? As they watch out for each other, we hope drones also watch out for us. If you spend your time flying around at 1,000-1,500 feet agl, you may be in between the other spaces —atc’s higher altitude, in-the-clouds operation or drones buzzing hither and yon at 400 feet. Our smaller airplanes operating at lower altitudes might be impacted more significantly by delivery drones. Pasztor continued, “The pace and scope of such [drone atc] advances are ‘really not an faa decision,” according to Jay Merkle, a senior faa program manager and airspace planner. Any new approach to air-traffic control is a decision for the entire drone community, he told the conference, and success is bound to depend on “how well the industry will come together.” Here’s an important aspect of this article: “Amazon and other companies have explicitly said industry will shoulder the bulk of the costs,” wrote Pasztor. “To promote broad-based support,” he explained, “Amazon and other companies with big ambitions in the drone world stress that their focus is on finding answers to serve the widest possible range of operators.” I hope that last part remains true and that it includes those of us flying manned aircraft for fun.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 17 16 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft Newest SLSA (#145) Is Evolution Trikes’ Revolt The newest slsa on our List is a weight-shift control aircraft from Evolution Trikes, the folks who put the trike world on a pedestal with their remarkably deluxe and superbly finished Revo. Following that bmw of trikes (Revo), Evolution released Rev, a Part 103-capable single-seat trike. And then a year ago, the company debuted a new model, called Revolt. In less than a year, this model went from pre-flying debut to a fully astm-compliant aircraft. Evolution, lead by Larry Mednick, started astm work in June 2017. Testing was completed by December 15, 2017 and they felt ready for an faa inspector but it took time to arrange a visit from an agency. In the case of any new model, faa in Washington, DC can choose to require an official, full-blown audit, meaning three or four full days’ work by three or four faa staffers. Illustrating that (1) the industry has matured and now does astm compliance work well, and (2) that Evolution has done their job well, faa decided no full audit was needed. Instead they sent someone from faa’s Orlando, Florida mido* office. FAA sent Tom Hayden from Orlando’s mido. Experienced faa auditors Terry Chasteen and Bob Franklin gave Tom the go-ahead to do this himself. Hayden spent about five hours at Evolution, said Larry. He looked at required documentation (maintenance manuals, quality program, and more) to find everything in order thanks partly to Evolution’s successful faa audit of Revo two years ago. This is a great example of how good, dedicated work by lsa builders pays off when they introduce new models. Remarkably, faa had no findings and therefore no corrections were needed. This is admirable. Normally, any company will slip up on some minor point or two (perhaps easily corrected) but it’s fairly rare for a company to get a clean bill of health immediately. Amy Saunders, a key member of the Evolution team explained, “We prepared for a full audit.” That kind of good preparation clearly paid off. Not Their First (Audit) Rodeo Evolution was not only prepared but had qualified help. Dan Saunders aided Larry and Amy as they got ready for the inspection. Dan has already proved his credentials as he worked with Abid Farooqui of SilverLight when Progressive Aerodyne underwent a full audit for their Searey amphibious Evolution’s Revolt two-seat trike. The newest model from the Florida builder fits between Revo and Rev. Support Our Advertisers lsa. They had some minor findings but all were addressed before faa left so they were accepted that day. faa big shots still refer to this achievement as a first but it proves Dan and Abid know their stuff. It further shows an industry that now well understands how astm compliance works. Dan was involved with using Solid Works engineering software to prepare Revolt. He was also brought in for the audit of Revo but has been involved since the beginning of Revolt. “He set up all the testing (drop tests, etc.) and certifications plus he reviewed all our documents,” said Larry. Evolution was so sure they had this nailed — correctly as it turned out — that the Zephyr Hills airport-based Evolution has already built 10 Revolt aircraft. “We were certain we had done it correctly,” observed Larry. “From debut to test flying to faa approval took only about one year,” added Larry. “We had remarkably few changes to the aircraft though we’ve added a few options that were not shown at 2017 Sun ‘n Fun.” Amy did the production test flight as required, flying in winds gusting 16 knots. For a weight shift aircraft, this can demand good skills and Amy rose to the task well. Read more about Revolt at evolutiontrikes.com/revolt, priced beginning at $45,900. Even better, come to Sun ‘n Fun 2018 and see the fully approved model, as shown in the nearby photos. Hearty congratulations to Team Evolution for a job well done! MIDO is short for Manufacturing Inspections District Office
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 19 18 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying • All Carbon Fiber Construction • Ground Adjustable • Individually Replaceable Blades • Optional Inlaid Nickel LE • $100 Trade-In Credit • Low Price • Smooth and • Superior Durability • Over 140,000 Blades Sold • In Business Since 1988 • Lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee Factory Website Manufactured in the USA Warp Drive Inc. 1207 Highway 18 E Ventura, IA 50482 The only Solid Carbon Fiber Composite Propeller Phone: 641-357-6000 Fax: 641-357-7592 Toll Free: 800-833-9357 Warp Drive Propellers www.WarpDriveInc.com Check the Mailing Label on the Back Cover to See if Your Subscription is Running Out n Parts, Repair, Overhaul n Maintenance n A&P Technicians on Staff n Large Inventory of Engines LEADING EDGE AIR FOILS LLC The Central USA independent SERVICE CENTRE PSF57 Check Our Our Easy-to-Use WEBSTORE at leadingedgeairfoils.com 1216 North Road Lyons, WI 53148 1.800.532.3462 Light Sport Aircraft First Rotax 915iS Engines Arrive in USA; Shipped to Customers As the 2018 flying season launches, a long-awaited powerplant from Rotax Aircraft Engines is beginning to arrive in the usa and to be shipped on to customers for installation. Pilots and builders seeking more power can welcome the Rotax 915iS fuel-injected, turbo-charged, intercooler-equipped 135-horsepower engine. Talk about a kick in the pants! The engine recently won certification for use on aircraft where such approvals are valuable. “California Power Systems is proud to announce the first customer delivery of a Rotax 915iS going to Mark and Alina Pringle of Rocky Mountain Kit Planes to install in a Rans S-21 Outbound,” reported Bryan Toepfer, operations manager of cps, an enterprise related to mail order behemoth, Aircraft Spruce. “We have another one shipping today for a customer building a Just Aircraft Superstol,” Bryan noted. He continued, “Two more are on the way from Rotax in Austria to be installed in a couple of gyros.” According to California Power Systems — a major supplier and service organization for Rotax — customer demand has been high. “We have had many customers excited for this engine,” Bryan explained. “I am very pleased to see this new market evolve for Rotax as well as cps.” Flying the 915iS We’ve reported that several airframe manufacturers — “oems” in Rotax’s preferred language — have been flying with the newest engine from market-leading Rotax. Enthusiasm for the 915iS is broad. The rollout of this engine was carefully planned by Rotax to ensure good end-customer experiences. As the powerplant has added complexity with the turbo charger and intercooler and carries a higher price tag, good preparation is essential. Bryan enthusiastically reported, “I had a recent opportunity to fly with the 915is on Rotax guru Ronnie Smith‘s Rans S-7 that he is testing. I was very impressed!” Ronnie, proprietor of South Mississippi Light Aircraft, has been a Rotax expert for many years and you can often see him and his signature smile — and his Mississippi drawl — in the Rotax booth just inside the main entrance at Sun ‘n Fun. Bryan is likewise doing his job as head of operations for cps. “I was also able to visit the factory in October 2017 to do some training on the new engine. I am very pleased with the design and performance it offers.” So keen is his approval that Bryan added, “I am sure within the next few months one of these beautiful wooden crates will be arriving with my name on it.” Can you feel his smile? For pilots, builders, or repair shops interested in information on the 915is, or for those ready to place an order please visit the California Power Systems website (www.cps-parts.com), or call 800-247-9653.• Bryan Toepfer, the operations manager of CPS, with the goods!
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 21 20 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Trike Upgrades A New Prop For My Trike Kevin Szalapski talks about his research into a new propeller for his trike. I recently bought a new prop for my trike. My existing one works just fine; however, in the 14 years since it was installed on the trike there have been many advancements in newer, lighter props that deliver more performance. I was made aware of E props by Larry Mednick from Evolution trikes. He had always installed Sensenich props on his Revo Trikes. There are no issues with these 2-bladed aircraft props and they work just fine, but the two blades are big, thick, and heavy compared to the E props. Larry contacted several prop manufacturers to see if he could find a better choice than the Sensenich. Several companies sent him their models designed to bolt onto the Rotax 912 drive shaft. They work well on both the 80 HP and 100 HP Rotax engines. He installed several of these props on his Revo trike to see how they all performed. He really liked everything about the Excalibur prop by Helices, which is made in France, and they stood out beyond all the others. Details about the Prop This model comes in 3-, 4-, and 6-blade versions in a pusher configuration for many Light Sport Aircraft. They also have a Durandal model for tractor configuration. One big advantage I liked about these props is that they come factory balanced, so I do not have to pay a prop balancer guy to balance the prop after installation. The hub is color coded so both halves will go together the correct way. I bought the 4-bladed version, and every blade and slot is also color coded, so the prop goes together exactly the way it was balanced at the factory. Setting the pitch of the blades is very critical to getting a smooth-running engine. I was always intimidated by this setup process, and I knew it had to be very precise. Larry made an instructional video that was very helpful for installation and pitching of the prop. One nice addition to the prop kit is that the Helices company sends you a digital protractor with every prop that is mounted on a bracket, and it has a lip A six-blade version of the Excalibur prop on a gyroplane. by Kevin Szalapski Support Our Advertisers Left: Four blades on half of a prop hub, notice the color coding between the blades and the positions on the hubs. Above: Carbon Fiber Hub.
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 23 22 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Trike Upgrades that rests over the prop blade for the pitch adjustment. This protractor also has a level at the top so that you can make sure the blade is level while you set the pitch angle. You measure 15.75 inches out from the blade base and mark it, so that your protractor is in the same position when adjusting the pitch for all four blades. The bolts use Nordlock washers, so no safety wire is needed after torque is set, and the washers can also be reused. Performance and Reduced Load on the Engine The blades and the prop hub are both made of carbon fiber. On the Excalibur model, the 70-inch-long blades are very thin and lightweight. When starting a 912 with most props, the gearbox chatters loudly until the prop RPM catches up with the engine. The startup with the Excalibur prop is very easy on the gearbox, as the engine sees very little of a load from the prop. The unique dihedral hub design angles the blades forward and uses centrifugal force to counter the effects of blade flex under load. The tolerance for the pitch setting is .3 degrees plus or minus from the desired pitch angle. The closer that you can pitch the angle on every blade will make the running smoother, which is great for the engine gearbox and aircraft performance. I should see an increase in my rate of climb and a shorter takeoff distance, which adds to safety on departure. Cost and Delivery The cost of a 4-bladed prop and spinner was $2250 including shipping, and was shipped from France directly to my house. It came very well-packaged and arrived with no damage to the contents. Many Revo pilots and some Airborne owners also have swapped out their older Sensenich props for the Excalbur props and are really enjoying the way they fly. They are used in many of the Rotax engine 912 versions as well as on trikes, gyrocopters, airplanes, and paramotors. For more information and the link to Larry’s interview and installation videos can be found at: http://evolutiontrikes.com/e-props/ • Support Our Advertisers
www.PSFmagazine.com | March-April 2018 | 25 24 | March-April 2018 | Powered Sport Flying What Is Happening Where One of the best ways to get started with flying is to visit others already involved in the sport. And one of the most relaxed ways to do that is by participating in fly-ins and other events. You can normally find someone there who will be glad to help you and get you started in the right direction. If you would you like to see your event listed here, visit www.psfmagazine.com/list-your-flying-event. May 3-6, 2018 Bad Apple Flyers. Andersonville, Georgia. Break out of winter and join us in southern Georgia for our first ever PPG fly-in. RV hookups and tent camping are available at this well maintained field located among rural farmland. badappleshodgesfieldflyin.com. May 3-6, 2018 Carolina BarnStormers Barry Daze. Anson County Airport, Wadesboro, North Carolina. Expect to see interesting gyroplanes from all over the Southeast (and beyond), fixed wing aircraft and a variety of projects in various stages of production. The Saturday afternoon lunch fare is recommended! For more information, visit peachstaterotorcraft.org May 4-6, 2018 Central Sierra Helicopter Meet. Groveland, California. The only all-helicopter meet in the West is gearing up for its 13th year. All factory, home builds and experimental helicopters are welcome. Bring your ships, finished or not, or bring a photo album. Camping available on site, motels are nearby, This year will be an exciting event, there will be Representatives from Helicycle, Mosquito and also people to help with Rotorway. If you have questions, call Hap or Nancy at (707) 833-5905. www.cshelimeet.com Calendar MAY 5-6, 2018 Alaska State Aviation Trade Show and Conference. Anchorage, Alaska. Over 275 aviation exhibitors featuring the latest technology, state-of-the-art products, new innovations and comprehensive safety conference. Indoor & Outdoor Static Displays featuring every type of aircraft – sport, general aviation, vintage, experimental, commercial, corporate and military. Since 1997. Hosted by Alaska Airman Association www.greatalaskaaviationgathering.org. May 10-12, 2018 Byrd’s Spring Camp and Fly-In. Byrd’s Adventure Center, Ozark, Arkansas. Enjoy breathtaking flying in the Ozarks. All pilots and aircraft welcome. Byrd's features two grass runways along the wild and scenic Mulberry River. Our 2,500-foot strip is suitable for many single-engine airplanes, while our short runway is dedicated to powered parachutes and trikes. Pilots are encouraged to monitor channel 123.45. Bring gear for non-flying activities too, including ATV trail riding, waterfall hikes, fly fishing, and campfire cookouts. For more information call (479) 6674066. www.byrdsadventurecenter.com May 19, 2018 from 8 AM-4 PM Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company East Customer Appreciation Day. Peachtree City, Georgia. This is the time of year when we go all out by offering spectacular discounts on our most popular products and provide a chance for our loyal customers to meet our vendors. So come join the fun and get a chance to win big prizes. Enjoy a free grilled hot dog and cold soda on us! For more information visit www.aircraftspruce.com May 21-28, 2018 13th Annual Memorial Day Fly-In 2018 “The Endless Foot Drag". Fredonia Airport, Fredonia, Kansas. Paramotor instructor Michael Holliday and the city of Fredonia are hosting this moved event at the Fredonia airport. There will be aerial formations, foot drags, bands, food, and more! If all goes well it will turn into an annual event. www.usppa.org May 26-27, 2017 from 8 AM to 2 PM 24th Annual “World’s Smallest “ Air Show. Brian Ranch Airport, 34810 Largo Vista Rd, Llano, California. The 20th annual “World’s Smallest” Air Show will be held at Brian Ranch Airport. There will be ultralight, light sport, & general aviation flying & static displays, RC airplanes, a rocket demonstration, sky divers, & other events. Food & memorabilia will be available. There will be activities for kids. Admission & parking are free. For more information, call (661) 261-3216, email jack@brianranch.com or visit: www.brianranch.com June 14-16, 2018 AeroExpo UK. Wycombe Airpark, High Wycombe, Bucks, UK. Get up close and even demo-fly the latest aircraft on the market and browse a range of related aviation products & services. An aerobatic air display, free seminar series, pleasure and demo flight opportunities, Lifestyle area and evening entertainment mean there really is something for everyone at this year’s AeroExpo UK. www.expo.aero/uk June 15-17, 2018 29th Annual Father’s Day Fly-in. Shreveport North, Wellsville, Pennsylvania. The Mason Dixon Sport Flyers welcome any aircraft capable of operating from a well maintained, lighted 70x2600 foot turf runway. On the grounds of the Footlight Ranch. Activities include a parade of Sports Cars, pilot games, Bear-from-the-Air stuffed animal drop, food vendors, and airplane rides. Snacks and lunch are available all weekend on the flight line. Flight line movies with popcorn every night. Visit www.mdsfclub20.com June 16, 2018 from 8 AM-3 PM Aircraft Spruce Canada Customer Appreciation Day. Aircraft Spruce Canada, Brantford Municipal Airport, Brantford, Ontario. This is the time of year when we go all out by offering spectacular discounts on our most popular products and provide a chance for our loyal customers to meet our vendors. So come join the fun and get a chance to win big prizes. Enjoy a free grilled hot dog and cold soda on us! For more information visit www.aircraftspruce.com June 16-27, 2018 12-Day Sport Pilot Training Course for Powered Parachutes. Greenville Municipal Airport, Greenville, Illinois. This 12-Day Sport Pilot course provides the required training for pilots wishing to fly powered parachutes. Class includes all ground schooling, flight training, and testing needed to earn a Sport Pilot license for Powered Parachutes. www.easyflight.com June 19-23, 2018 33rd Annual Sentimental Journey to Cub Haven Fly-In. Piper Memorial Airport, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Educational Forums, Static Displays, Food Vendors, Exhibitors, Flying Contests, Poker Run, Local Fly-Out Destinations, Camping, Live Entertainment, Movies, Airplanes. Lots of Antique and Classic Airplanes on Display. Piper Aviation Museum Located on the Airport. (570) 893-4200 www.sentimentaljourneyfly-in.com June 21-24, 2018 Holland Beach Run Fly. Park Township Airport, Holland Park, Michigan. More details coming. The fly-in will be incorporated with a car show. www.usppa.org June 23-24, 2018 Annual Wisconsin Powered Parachute Association Fly-In. Wautoma Municipal Airport, Wautoma, Wisconsin. A new location for the Fly-In this year. Flying, clinics, demonstrations, camping, food, and much more. www.wisconsinppa.org Your trusted source for all your powered paragliding needs since 1988. Paramotor training all year round in sunny Miami. Paramotors, paragliders, helmets, engines, parts and general accessories. Best prices guaranteed! WWW.AEROLIGHT.COM / 305-256 5650 Support Our Advertisers
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