www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 3 2 | October-November 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 4. 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 issue of Powered Sport Flying Magazine! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I had a busy couple of months. First I went to the pra Convention in Mentone, Indiana. Next, I went to the Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Expo and introduced Moral Support Canine Alec to an aviation event. Since that one’s so close and familiar, I considered it a safe beginning. He loved it and he even got to sit in a Magni Gyro (thanks, Greg and Stephanie Gremminger!). Since he did so well there, I next took him out to Erie Airpark for their 35th Anniversary Fly-In (although I grabbed a friend along the way for this one). I got my first ride in a Challenger, which was great – thanks, Jim Robinson, for that experience! I ended up that day with a flight from Mike Hudetz in his Airborne Trike – so awesome! So I got to end the season with some fun. What hasn’t been fun, however, has been the tempest created by an apparently off-the-cuff remark that instantly exploded across the recreational aviation media. Yep, I’m talking about the weight limit increase. Dan Johnson did some old-fashioned reporting and got to the bottom of the mess, and he’s written about it. Roy, too, has something to say on the matter in his column. Every year, Paul Fiebich is good enough to write a story for us on his AirVenture experiences, and this year he has reports on not only what fun things were happening, but also on some of the aircraft and engines on display. Paul Hollingworth had a neat adventure, getting to discover an American treasure in a way that few others can – by gyro. Chris Pine had an encounter with another American icon while flying his powered paraglider over some great scenery. Roy has a list of the Top 10 things that you should do to get your powered parachute ready for winter storage, so that you’re ready to fly again as soon as your season begins. For our Incidents column, Chris Santacroce steps in to give a report on some of the more notable incidents that have happened this year. And we have Part 2 of the adventures of Intrepid Explorer Jeff Hamann in Colombia. (And my apologies to everyone in that country – as was pointed out by alert reader Gustavo Santamaria, we spelled Colombia incorrectly on the cover of the last issue.) So now that it’s cold, mull some wine or some cider, find a nice warm spot, and enjoy this issue! Editorial
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 5 4 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying FREE CATALOG! 1-877-4SPRUCE www.aircraftspruce.com 7 7 7 8 2 3 ROTAX 912 iS ROTAX 914 UL TURBO ROTAX 915 iS 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 The 2018-2019 edition of the most authoritative guide on light aircraft is now available. The updated edition of the World Directory of Light Aviation was published this summer. The directory provides a unique service in the flying world because it is the only annual guide that covers all of the aircraft that are flown for fun. Anyone wanting to keep up with what is new in sport aviation needs to have current copies of this guide on their bookshelf. Student pilots turn to it as well to learn about the different aviation disciplines and what is available on the market. Certified aircraft, homebuilts, Light Sport Aircraft, microlights, ultralights, trikes, gliders and rotorcraft are covered, along with their descriptions, photos, technical data and prices. Not to mention instruments, accessories, propellers, flying organizations and yes, even more! In total, over 1000 aircraft are specified in a reference that has expanded to 298 color pages. The only areas absent are hang gliding and the para-sports. The World Directory of Light Aviation is a reference book drawn from the world’s hundreds of thousands of pilots, professionals and other interested parties with important information. The best news is that it is inexpensive, costing only $16.99 plus shipping. You can get your copy today by visiting www.lightaviationguide.com, or by visiting your local newsstand. World Directory of Light Aviation 2018/19 Available Now Aircraft Spruce Alaska Aircraft Spruce has announced the opening of its newest location in Wasilla, Alaska on September 17th, 2018. This exciting development gives the parts supplier a local presence in the active flying community of Alaska for the first time in company history. The company plans to inventory the branch with all of the latest and greatest items pilots, mechanics, or aircraft owners might need. “Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company has been serving the Alaskan general aviation market since 1965 by shipping orders from our California and Georgia warehouses. We will still ship orders direct from those two warehouses on request, but we will also be able to ship from our new Wasilla facility. In addition to shipping anywhere in Alaska we also look forward to serving walk-in customers at our Wasilla store” said Jim Irwin, President of Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. Alaskan customers are encouraged to stop into the store or call the branch to inquire about parts, pricing and ordering. Aircraft Spruce Alaska 4851 E Blue Lupine Dr., Suite DWasilla, AK 99654 Toll Free: 800-824-1
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 7 6 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Press Pass MGL Avionics Color Singles The mgl Avionics Blaze range of 3 1/8” Color Singles has come to market. The Stratomaster Blaze range consists of fifteen 3 1/8” color display aviation instruments. Using a high-resolution ips backlit color graphics display, these instruments provide excellent daylight readability, even in direct sunlight. Each instrument includes a rotary control plus two independent keys for easy menu navigation and to access specific instrument features. The Blaze range has a wide supply voltage range of 8- to 30-vdc with built-in reverse and over-voltage protection. All Blaze instruments that have engine monitoring functions have the ability to interface to an mgl Avionics rdac unit via can bus. Blaze series features: • Large 2.6” high-res 320x240, sunlight-readable, color, wide viewing angle, ips lcd display • Standard 3 1/8” aircraft enclosure • Rotary control plus two independent buttons for easy menu navigation and control • Alarm output • Multiple display screens (model dependent) • On board voltage reversal and over-voltage protection for harsh electrical environment • Wide supply Voltage range (8- to 30-vdc) • Light-weight design • Field-upgradeable firmware For more information, visit www.mglavionics.com
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 9 8 | October-November 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 Radiant Technology’s latest fuel probe technology uses ultrasound to measure the height of fluid within virtually any enclosure. This non-invasive, non-contact technology eases installation while providing a fuel level signal, which is transmitted via a serial link to the fuel gauge. The entire unit is contained within a small puck, which measures slightly over 1” in diameter. The new technology is not expensive, priced at $99.95 for the sensor. Radiant is simultaneously introducing a radiant Fuel Gauge (digital) which accepts the sensor input and provides a fuel level indication on one or two tanks to the pilot. Direct efis integration is possible but would require efis vendor support to read the digital serial channel. A controller module is also available which converts the digital value into a more conventional 0- to 5-volt linear output. This output is compatible with all efis units and many stand-alone gauges. “This is a different, better way to measure fuel,” said James Wiebe, ceo of Radiant. “It allows fuel measurement without going inside the tank. It keeps the measured value in the digital domain, which reduces system error budgets.” To ensure universal compatibility, a separate controller is also available which converts the digital signal to classic 0- to 5-volt output. Shipping began in August. Pricing is as follows: • Ultrasonic Fuel Probe (rufp-1) is priced at $99.95. This is a stand-alone probe that produces a digital serial stream. It may be used with the Radiant Fuel Gauge (digital) or with a bundled controller. • Ultrasonic Fuel Probe and Controller (rufpc-1) is priced at $199.95. This product includes the Ultrasonic Fuel Probe and Controller that converts the output to classic 0- to 5-volt output. This output is compatible with most efis units and fuel gauges. • Ultrasonic Digital Fuel Gauge and Ultrasonic Fuel Probe Bundle (rfga-ufp-1) is priced at $349.95. This bundle includes a Digital Fuel Gauge designed for direct connect with the Ultrasonic Fuel Probe (included). No controller is required. A second Ultrasonic Fuel Probe can also be connected by purchasing an additional Ultrasonic Fuel Probe (rufp-1). The Ultrasonic Fuel Probe is one in the line of aviation instruments offered by Belite Enterprises through its Radiant Technology line of products. The Radiant instrument line combines many functions into simple, small, lightweight units and uses sunlight-readable fullcolor high-contrast lcd screens. Belite Enterprises manufactures the experimental aircraft, the Chipper, through Chipper Aerospace; and through radiant Technology, develops innovative instrumentation for aircraft. Radiant Technology Introduces Non-Contact, Non-Invasive Fuel Probe Support Our Advertisers Mark Solper Named Chairman Of EAA Ultralight/Light Sport Aircraft Council Mark Solper of Fort Pierce, Florida, who has long experience in ultralights and a variety of other aircraft types, has been named chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Ultralight and Light Sport Aircraft Council. He succeeds Carla Larsh, who is retiring from the post after having chaired that council for the past decade. Solper is a member of the Wisconsin Powered Parachute Association and also a member of eaa Chapter 1622 based in New Holstein, Wisconsin. He will chair the council that guides eaa policy and programs for ultralight and light sport aircraft enthusiasts. “Mark’s background in ultralight flying, flight safety, and pilot training makes him an excellent choice to chair that valuable eaa member-based council,” said Jack J. Pelton, eaa ceo and Chairman of the Board. “We also thank Carla Larsh for her many years of dedicated service to eaa and the ultralight/ light-sport aircraft community. Her leadership put this council in a very good position for the future.” Solper built on his childhood fascination with flight by earning his flight instructor certificate in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He later operated a flight school in Pulaski, Wisconsin, while also building a career that included experience with the faa, line captain and training standards manager for a major airline, and chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association accident investigation board. “Ultralight and light-sport aircraft flying offers a wonderfully fun, simple, and affordable way to be engaged in flight,” Solper said. “Our council is dedicated to preserving that accessibility, as well as working with eaa to enhance programs and activities that will enhance safety and fun for our members.” Among the aircraft Solper currently flies are a Powrachute Sky Rascal, a Santos Dumont-inspired Skonkwerks 24M, and an Aerolite 103.
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 11 10 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft Editor’s Note: Dan Johnson has done the best and clearest reporting on the faa’s efforts to update the world of ‘special’ airworthiness certificates. Those are the certificates that are used by everyone but type certificated (TC’d) aircraft. This is because he is in the unique position of being both a participant in the process as well as a journalist. The industry is going through change, and Dan Johnson is trying to keep everyone up to speed, as well as he can. Following are his reports, which are broken into three sections. lama’s Advocacy Report Things are looking up for Light Sport Aircraft, rather fantastically so in my admittedly biased opinion. While this space is usually dedicated to cool new airplanes — not boring government policy reviews …yawn! — this article will provide some rays of light to an industry approaching its 15th birthday (in September 2019). I think some of this may surprise you. lama, the Light AircraftManufacturers Association (kind of a gama for the light aircraft sector) and its partner —usua, the U.S. Ultralight Association—have been headsdown working on improving the opportunities for lsa. Core-Four-Plus-One In June 2018, a series of many meetings that began in 2014 came to an early but very promising point. Here is what I think this means for the Light Sport Aircraft manufacturing industry and those who own and operate lsa. lama took a long list of suggestions about the then-10year-old industry and reduced it to four initiatives. We were wisely counseled that too long a list would go nowhere. On the tightest of budgets*, we have been pursuing these objectives for four and a half years. The four core goals are: A very big thank you must go to those helping LAMA and USUA pursue these goals. Multiple trips toWashington DC cost real money and we are grateful for the help from… LAMA founder Larry Burke and Rotax Aircraft Engines in Austria and their U.S. distributor. Each supplied generous funds used solely for travel expenses. Other companies also financially assisted this on-going effort. New Opportunities Coming for Light Sport Aircraft 1. Encouraging faa to allow special Light Sport Aircraft to perform aerial work (beyond flight instruction and towing) 2. Introducing the safety benefits (and performance gains) that come with adjustable propellers controlled solely by a single lever 3. Urging faa to permit electric propulsion and instruction in aircraft designed for such motors by Dan Johnson 4. Solving the longstanding problem that requires modern gyroplanes to be built only as kits (with the attendant problem that no commercial training is possible). After many meetings with high-level faa executives and project managers, we are pleased to report that all these objectives and one more — increasing the gross weight of lsa — are included in faa’s present actions regarding rule making. Note that gross weight will probably be determined by a new system other than a fixed-weight number but the exact formula is pending while faa finalizes their regulation plans. To repeat, all these objectives are on faa’s list for inclusion in eventual rule making. “Eventual” is a key word, however… Work Far from Done In 2018, neither aircraft manufacturers nor pilots can take advantage of these new opportunities. While the future appears to hold great promise, lama and usua have sought a faster solution. The changes sought should broaden the appeal of lsa leading to not only more sales but a higher value for the aircraft you buy. We are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish on the skinniest of budgets but we did not fly solo. We also sought, and received, support for our initiatives from big organizations such as eaa, aopa, and gama. While these giants of aviation first serve their own members, lama is 100% focused on light aircraft. Rulemaking will consume at least three years and it could be even longer before such rules go into force, assuming no changes of present course. Three to five years is a long time to wait for change for an industry not even 15 years old. So, following a direct request from top faa executives, we submitted a comprehensive business case for a program that we hope will much sooner allow manufacturers,
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 13 12 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft dealers, owners, operators, and pilots to exercise the corefour-plus-one privileges. The program we proposed is an evaluation and data-gathering period, which will give faa precisely what managers and executives say they need (“more data”) in order to get approval to change current regulations. lama’s plan will help industry and pilots but it will also help faa. Allowing industry and pilots to gain new opportunities under controlled circumstances can give everyone privileges in the near(er) term while generating valuable data for faa to use in justifying regulation change. lama and usua are pleased to supply such a great outlook but caution that it took more than four years of hard work to get to this point and, as a much-revered author once wrote, “Anything can happen. Nothing has to happen.” Nonetheless, we pledge to keep moving forward toward these goals. Wait! What’s All This About a Weight Increase for Light Sport Aircraft? In early October a firestorm erupted out of the blue. A wave of questions began ringing my phone, piling up text messages, and populating my social media accounts. Because it seemed premature, I preferred not to weigh in on lsa weight but given the volume of comments, neither was I able to remain silent. In addition, a shockingly near-term timeline for faa to issue rulemaking further enforces the need to speak out now. I will provide information gleaned from contacts made to the faa. In case you missed the story, here’s what aopa reported: “eaa chairman and ceo Jack Pelton [was invited] onto the stage. On January 19, 2019, Pelton said, the faa will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking that seeks to raise the weight limit for Light Sport Aircraft from the current 1,320 pounds to 3,600 pounds.” aopa went on to quote Pelton, “That will allow you to fly in a 172, have four seats in the airplane, and fly 150 mph.” Stop the Presses This news was flabbergasting to many and upsetting to others. Having worked rather closely with faa over the last four and a half years, in my role as lama president, I was sure parts of this were incorrect. I reached out to contacts in the agency and got a reply even though government is closed for Columbus Day. Here’s what I learned from the group tasked with preparing this rule. First — The announced date of “January 19, 2019” simply cannot happen. The team creating the rule does not possibly have the time to complete work by then. In fact, it is more likely “three to four years away.” The new rule is a huge, sweeping effort that touches on many far parts; it cannot be completed on such a rushed schedule, nor would doing so be prudent. Second — An effort is being made to align this major new regulation with the Basic Med rule, meaning that, yes, gross weight may go as high as was stated — and extra The FAA is reworking airworthiness requirements based on risk. That is, kinetic energy and exposure to other aircraft and people. This is all very preliminary and this is not an official FAA document. seats may be added — but, this is by no means determined yet. It will not even go before faa’s high-level rulemaking council for initial determination until December …if then. At this time, “this is just at the discussion stage,” reported my contact. Third — lsa gross weight will rise but “not to a hard number” like 3,600 pounds. It will involve a maximum horsepower, a given stall speed, among other considerations, all of which will rely on the laws of physics to keep the aircraft design reasonable. In a July report, I described changes that faa told us were coming. That report was shown to the rule-writing group before publication and they replied, “No changes necessary.” It still stands as a valid report. Naturally, Industry Is Concerned Remember in the fall of 2011, when eaa and aopa announced a change in aviation medicals? The surprise announcement —which subsequently took years to enact (becoming what we call Basic Med) — caused an immediate drop in orders. Orders already placed were canceled. Other orders never got placed as pilots began to ponder what would happen next. About this weekend’s news, one U.S. supplier said, “I’m pretty worried.” He’s concerned people may hold off a purchase, waiting to see what happens. “I’ve seen it before,” he added. However, since the new rule remains years away, no buyer ought to halt the joy of acquiring and flying a new aircraft. Another industry expert said, “I hate being caught flatfooted like this.” He remembered clearly what happened with the early announcement of medical changes. While all the buzz today may be about gross weight, the light aircraft industry has other concerns about the regulations that lama and usua will continue to vigorously pursue. Weekend News Firestorm (about lsa weight) Continues to Blaze An article from the Columbus Day weekend’s news about a massive jump in lsa weight propelled my website to an all-time record as light aviation enthusiasts from around the nation and the globe signed on to make comments and shared the article with their friends. Words you read there proved to be correct as more information emerged. Specifically, one large error was a quoted date for a new nprm on this subject. Some outlets reported it would be released on January 19, 2019. nprm is an abbreviation for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and precedes any new regulation, allowing for comment and revision. Before such a nprm is released, faa has normally spoken to many parties that could be affected. That largely has not happened yet and for a good reason. The nprm is nowhere near ready to be published, certainly not on such a specific date as January 19th next year. Other Quality Reporting Besides my own investigation with sources in faa working on this specific regulation, AVweb journalist Paul Bertorelli also followed up on this story. The short summary: No nprm will come out in three months. Under the current FAA MOSAIC (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates) concept, aircraft will be given increased privileges dependent on several factors. Confidence in manufacture is one, purpose for the aircraft, and even pilot qualifications may be considered. This is all very preliminary and this is not an official FAA document. However, it is important to note that commercial assist operations are recognized to be safer than typical amateur-built aircraft and may ultimately be awarded more privileges than a homebuilt experimental amateur-built.
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 15 14 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying Light Sport Aircraft Paul interviewed eaa’s VP of advocacy and safety, Sean Elliot, who agreed that faa’s work is “unlikely to yield any specific Notices of Proposed Rule Making until at least 2020, if not beyond.” Good! Whatever the eventual content of faa’s proposed rulemaking, an absolutely essential ingredient is discussing changes with industry and other key participants first, revising the proposal, and allowing various government and non-governmental groups to offer their input. faa does not rush a proposal to nprm status because doing so could generate lots of unfavorable comment, and in such a case, regulators would have to go back to the drawing board. In addition, and as I already reported, this is a very sweeping regulation that touches on many parts of the current Federal Aviation Regulations (fars) and all that language change must be carefully considered. Updates for lsa are only one part of this large regulatory project. Q&A on Weight and More To other specific questions I’ve been asked, I have further responses… Specific Weight? — The number 3,600 pounds has been reported. It will not be a specific, fixed number and the formula that will produce a gross weight has not yet been finalized. Yes, it could be that high; no one knows yet …but the formula will likely involve engine power, stall speed, and probably other parameters. More Seats? — Yes, this is also a possibility. It is not specifically an attempt to bring Cessna 172s and other legacy aircraft into lsa. It is an attempt to bring this new regulation closer to that established for Basic Med. Many aircraft— such as weight shift, powered parachutes, gyroplanes, and motorgliders —don’t need or want (or maybe can’t handle) four seats. Even those airframes that can accommodate more seats will surely then be more expensive. Higher Speed? — Yes, higher speed may also be on the agenda. Nothing is particularly sacred about 120 knots (138 mph). However, like all parts of this regulation proposal, it is only in discussion stages at this time. Again, this has to do with trying to align the new regulation with the earlier one for Basic Med. What Medical? — At this time, no change is expected for lsa. Your Sport Pilot certificate will still only require a driver’s license and self-signoff, or use that medical approach with your higher-level certificate and exercise the privileges of Sport Pilot. Again, as with all parts of this rulein-progress, the plans are subject to change. Adjustable Propeller? — Yes, again. As reported in an earlier lama report, single lever control was favorably received by faa management and the association is hopeful this will be part of the resulting new regulation. SLC is a type of automatic prop adjustment, similar to that found on SilverLight Aviation‘s AR-1 gyroplane, now available with a removable enclosure, must presently be assembled from a kit, though LAMA continues work to bring these aircraft into the world of Special LSA. Support Our Advertisers every Cirrus aircraft. What’s Important? — lama wants faa to listen to the lsa producer community and the lsa user community. Give the industry and pilots a chance to provide input and the result will be a better product. That takes time and that’s why the absurd date only three months away was so unrealistic. Finally, I want to again point you to the lama advocacy report (Editor’s note: also published in the June/July 2018 issue of psf). The industry association continues to work with faa to advance several goals mentioned in that report. These bear a short review. Another goal is aerial work or commercial use for lsa. Most readers will recognize slsa can already be used for commercial work: professional flight instruction, rental of lsa to students and others, and towing. lama merely wants to add to that list — and honestly, more gross weight will add to the work value of these aircraft in addition to giving sellers and buyers new opportunities to use lsa productively. Finally, we aren’t giving up on slsa gyroplanes although I will admit this one is proving to be the toughest, with ongoing resistance from the rotorcraft branch of faa— meaning no professional flight instruction is allowed. Yes, training can be done with a loda (Letter of Deviation Authority), if you can get one, but that method does not allow a student to solo in the aircraft being used for his or her training. the good news… industry groups like lama and member organizations like eaa, among others, have more time to continue work with faa and more time for agency personnel to listen to the community of users and the professionals serving them. •
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 17 16 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying AirVenture 2018 by Paul Fiebich EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is almost a living thing; constantly changing, evolving, and always better than the previous year. This year half a million people enjoyed what has become known as the world’s “Greatest Aviation Celebration.” eaa founder Paul Poberezny once described it as a huge family fly-in. My trip to AirVenture began at 4:00 am when I left Derby, Kansas for the 14-hour drive to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I was on the road before the sun rose and enjoyed seeing it rise in my windshield. I arrived at 6:00 pm at the eaa Chapter Picnic Shelter in Camp Scholler in time to enjoy the corn and bratwurst feed. Shortly after, eaa ceo Jack Pelton and Chapter Representative Charlie Becker made the building’s dedication. Monday was a new day. At 2:30 the daily afternoon air shows begin; Monday’s feature was Warbirds In Review. That evening Dustin Lynch and Maddie & Tae performed at the opening night concert adjacent to Boeing Plaza. Takeoffs and landing of light aircraft delighted others at the Fun Fly Zone. In full darkness, half a dozen lighter-than-air craft added illuminated color during the balloon glow. The week was off to a great start. Like the saying goes; “ya shudda been there!” Of all the interesting activities at AirVenture, I will address several airplane vendors and some related items of greatest interest. Most interesting was finding what was new in the light plane world; this of course meant perusing the Fun Fly Zone, formerly called the Ultralight Field. Team Aircraft’s side-by-side lsa, the Epic Sport, is nearing completion and Director of Operations, David Cooper, plans to have it flying this fall. Features incorporated since 2017 are a skylight, bench seat, four-point harnesses, and hinged engine cowl doors. Bubble side doors are planned for this prototype and likely will be an option on the kit production versions. Contact David.Cooper@teamminimax.com for more information. Fisher Flying Products had two planes on display, one a Dakota Hawk and their Classic biplane with serial #1 owned AirVenture Experience Support Our Advertisers by Doug and Judy Range of Kansas. Fisher Flying Products plans to use the D-motor in several of their planes. Visit www.d-motor.eu for more information. Just Aircraft’s “Just 103” was absent this year; I had hoped to do a follow-up after seeing only the welded tubular frame on display last year. Major changes were still underway and the plane wasn’t ready for AirVenture. Those changes include eliminating the singular tubular aft fuselage and replacing it with one made of built-up chrome-moly. A decision has been made to use the Polini 40-HP 2-stroker. Following a ruinous landing in Alaska during a demonstration tour this past year, James Wiebe, ceo of Belite aircraft, seized the opportunity to make several design changes on Chipper, his most recent design. He created a new plane identified as Chipper too which will be flying by the time you read this. It will be available both as a taildragger and with tricycle gear. The new Chipper too features leading edge slats, brakes on all four pedals, Radiant Technology instruments, Sensenich 3D carbon fiber propeller, 130 HP UL Power 350IS engine and was displayed with 22'' balloon tires. The plane is named “Spirit of Wichita” and displays a huge Wichita city flag on its flank.
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 19 18 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying AirVenture 2018 Three Chipper too models are available; Chipper Tricycle, Chipper Taildragger, and Chipper stol Taildragger. Numerous options are available as well as a customized package. Less engine, each will sell for slightly under $12,500. For more information go to www.BeliteAircraft.com and www.chipper.aero. Verner Motor is the U.S. distributor for the Czech Republic radial engine series. The smallest engine, VM 133MK, is designed for use in ultralight and E-AB aircraft. It is a 4-stroke, horizontally opposed 2-cylinder, air cooled engine producing a peak 84 HP. More information is available at vernerradialengines.com. Checkout their website: ScaleBirds.com for engine information and data on the P-36 project. Peter Sripol, from Dayton, OH, displayed his biplane creation to serve as a test bed for more ideas. His plane, called the Sky Pupper, combines foam and wood covered with one layer of fiberglass. The twin pusher electric motors are mounted adjacent to the cockpit while the Lithium Polymer batteries are located under the pilot’s seat. The motors can be throttled independently for differential steering when needed. The 200 pound plane took about 2-1/2 months to build using wire-cut foam and laser-cut plywood engine pods. The Sky Pupper will fly for 15 minutes with a cruise speed of 35 mph. The green foam was purchased from Lowe’s “Aviation Department” while the yellowish/white foam is #1 density E.P.S. Check out Peter Sripol on YouTube and monitor how his development progresses. Activity at the Fun Fly Zone was continuous. In the very early morning a dozen or so powered paragliders and powered parachutes were airborne, creating noise normally Top: The foam built and electric powered Sky Pupper twin-engine biplane Below: The Sky Pupper motor mount. associated with a beehive. Then the ultralights, followed by helicopters, did their demonstration flights. As the wind picked up, the lsa and small Experimental planes flew until the daily air show at 2:30. The evening hours once again found the very light aircraft getting airborne. One evening the Valdez pilots flew in their stol takeoff and landing contest. It was incredible to watch these planes take off in 50 or 60 feet and land in similar distances. Of course, some of the planes were powered by up to 400 HP engines. Still, it was exciting to watch and cheer as the measured distances were called out. The promising prototype quadcopter, Chang, which I reported on last year, did not show this year. However, a flying prototype produced by Opener and located in the Innovation tent was on display. Made primarily of carbon fiber and powered with eight motors, it can carry two persons. Let’s keep our eyes on this multi-bladed aircraft called the “Black Fly.” This fixed-wing electric powered aircraft is both amphibious and vtol. Because its fixed wings are angled to the fuselage, once taking off vertically, it rotates (rocks) for forward flight. This permits much greater forward speed than the normal quadcopter. Much research and flight testing has gone into the “Black Fly” aircraft. ceo Marcus Leng states they have accumulated over 12,000 flight hours. Another vtol craft called SureFly was on display. It is amazing how the electric powered craft are progressing and we likely will see their spin-off technology gravitate into the lsa and
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 21 20 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying AirVenture 2018 ultralight category of aircraft. Hopefully the faa rules committees can keep up with technology. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary signaling the end of wwi, numerous replica aircraft from Kermit Weeks’ Fantasy of Flight collection were on display. These included the German Fokker D-vii, Albatross D-111, and a British SE5-a. Carrying the Sopwith factory name were the Pup and a Snipe. Also there was a Camel by Genius Garage, and finally, a 1915 Bleriot in Royal Flying Corps paint scheme. Close examination of these aircraft makes one wonder how such fragile machines could have been used in combat. But they were, albeit with a high percentage of fatalities. All of them could surely fit into the lsa category of today. Although not in the light plane category, one restored wwi antique was on display. The De Havilland DH-4 was the first American-made combat aircraft of some significance. The American built V-12 400 HP water-cooled Liberty engine powers the DH-4. Intended as a bomber, it could also defend itself with twin machine guns mounted on a swivel in the aft cockpit and twin machine guns firing through the propeller. For the first time, light-equipped drones flew in various formations during the two evening air shows. Up to 50 drones created night sky images such as a heart, twin tornados, the American Flag, and several other patterns. We likely will see similar displays as their popularity and the creativeness of their “handlers” develop, although I doubt if they will ever replace the noise, flashes of color, heat, and smoke of traditional fireworks. But we will see their applications where traditional fireworks are not appropriate. Amid my continual stream of activities and responsibilities, I did manage to attend one seminar about wing stalls presented by eaa Chapter 88 member Ron Blum, and several presentations in the museum theaters. Particularly interesting was one by Gary Top: Yes, this is a Sopwith Camel. Middle: De Havilland with an attractive aft gunner Bottom: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Powers Jr. (son of Gary Powers, U2 pilot) and another about the wasp of wwii. It is incredible how much the wasp contributed to supporting the war effort and at the time got neither recognition nor financial support when their members died during the service. Not until 2010 when former President Obama awarded the organization and those still alive the Congressional Gold Medal of Freedom, did they receive due recognition. Again this year I volunteered almost every day as a tram conductor ensuring passenger safety while identifying passing points of interest and announcing coming events for that day. It was also an opportunity to have a captive audience for my numerous lame jokes and conundrums. Those in particular included why the cows returned to the marijuana fields: “the pot called the cattle back.” Or another was the nasa rocket launch of cattle into low earth orbit: “ it was identified as the herd shot around the world.” Or amid all the discoveries on the sunken Titanic, it was determined that the swimming pool was still filled with water. Well, you had to be there. National eaa ceo Jack Pelton calls these “terrible jokes” and he is right. While a tram conductor, I was able to interact with those sitting immediately in front of me. On three occasions, the people were from my own eaa chapter 88 of Wichita, Kansas! Out of the 77,000 daily spectators, I encountered several people I knew! One particularly rewarding encounter occurred while walking past a line of people waiting to board a bus. A fellow stopped me and re-read my name tag, he recognized me from an article I had written about making a smoke system for my AirBike. He made a similar one for his plane. I think his name was Jimmie Williams. Another rider was Mark Pierce of the Kansas City Dawn Patrol fliers who was in full uniform and greeted me once I identified myself as AirBike Ace. I volunteered at the Fun Fly Zone one evening pumping gas for those making demonstration Top: Tram driver Paul. Middle: Volunteer pumping fuel at the Fun Fly Zone. Bottom: Ultralight Red Barn
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 23 22 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying flights. Previous years I have volunteered the entire week at KidVenture. After attending AirVenture 20+ years, the last seven or so have been spent as both a volunteer and spectator, and more recently also as a freelance magazine reporter for Powered Sport Flying. What a great combination! Even though AirVenture is an eaa event, one does not need to be a member to volunteer; go online to eaa.org and type “volunteering” in the search panel. There are many benefits to volunteering, and most will save you money. Social activities abound during this week-long immersion into aviation. There were the Corn and Brat feeds three nights, banquets for eaa Chapter Leaders, Life Members, Young Eagle chairpersons, a Saturday Chapter Leaders’ breakfast, and daily chapter sponsored breakfasts in the Chapter’s shelter. My Australian friend, Hunter, could not make it this year but offered me his admission ticket to the International Visitors banquet held in the Nature Center. There I met Paul and Helen Goring and family from Lincoln, England and shared their table. At these gatherings one makes new friends, learns of European cultures, and visits with people throughout the world. Later I stopped in at the South African encampment of eaa Chapter 322 where I met Edna, who acted as a host. She explained the sign on their temporary cook shack stating “Plakkerfonetin” as meaning a quiet peaceful place. The 250 campers in their group were jovial but not too quiet with all their boisterous laughter filling the air. While there I spoke with people who easily became friends. I distinctly enjoyed listening to various English dialects and the countrymen’s local humor. By the way, they call the Bar-B-Q a “Bra.” They also had a unique way of identifying the women’s Porta-Potty to ensure it was a women’s only facility. No man would ever go near it. AirVenture people are friendly and willing to talk. I found it very interesting to meet people such as Karsten from Germany, and a group of men from Argentina. They included an R/C pilot, a gynecologist, a mechanical engineer, a software engineer, an organ transplant surgeon and the doctor-father of one of them. What a hoot speaking with them as we rode the tram! Aviators and their associates make up a valuable community from which we can gain knowledge, share experiences, and build camaraderie. In whatever manner we fit into this community, we all are renewed by the continued enjoyable “brotherhood.” Blue skies and tail winds to everyone. Man, I sure love this flying stuff! Paul Fiebich is an occasional contributor of aviation articles, flies an AirBike with over 1100 hours on it and volunteers at the Kansas Aviation Museum. • Top: South African ladies' potty. Middle: South African cook shack. Bottom: Something to buy or sell? The ultralight area's swap shop is the place to take your consignment items. Support Our Advertisers At AirVenture 2018, there was a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Quad City Challenger II.
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 25 24 | October-November 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) Weight Shift Control • Claim Number: 18278 • Sub-Class: rwl2t / Microlights: Weight-shift Control / Landplane / Flown with two persons / Thermal Engine • Category: Not applicable • Group: Not applicable • Type of Record: Distance in a straight line without landing • Course/Location: Bremgarten (Germany)– Neubrandenburg (Germany) • Performance: 749.8 km (465.9 miles) • Pilot: Hans–Ulrich Dörr (Germany) • Aircraft: Eagle V / _other • Date: 10/21/2017 • Previous Record: 705.16 km (438.17 miles)(9/6/2013) Powered Parachute • Claim Number: 18392 • Sub-Class: rpl2t / Paramotors: Paraglider Control / Landplane / Flown with two persons / Thermal Engine • Category: Not applicable • Group: Not applicable • Type of Record: Distance in a straight line without landing • Course/Location: Zafra–Cuenca (Spain) • Performance: 406.99 km (252.89 miles) • Pilot: Andres Francisco Sánchez Martínez (Spain) • Members: Vicente Mendoza Cardenal (Spain) • Aircraft: Hercules 380 / Sol Paragliders • Date: 2/24/2018 • Previous Record: 291.32 km (181.02 miles) (6/23/2005–Nikolay Karabchuk, Russia) If you are in the United States and would like to set an aviation world record, you should first read the current FAI Sporting Code. For Microlights, it is called Section 10 and can be downloaded for no charge from the microlight section of www.fai.org For Rotorcraft, the part of the Sporting Code you need to refer to is Section 9. It can also be downloaded for no charge. Then, contact the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to learn more about how you can set your own record! Visit them at www.naa.aero FAI has ratified the following Class R (Microlights and Paramotors) World records. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the National Aeronautic Association, the United States Ultralight Association and Powered Sport Flying Magazine all congratulate the Pilots on their splendid achievements. USUA News World Records and Attempts Support Our Advertisers Weight Shift Control • Claim Number: 18612 • Sub-Class: rwl1t / Microlights: Weight-shift Control / Landplane / Flown with one person / Thermal Engine • Category: Not applicable • Group: Not applicable • Type of Record: Distance in a straight line without engine power • Course/Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire /United Kingdom) • Performance: 34.544 km (21.464 miles) • Pilot: David Broom (United Kingdom) • Aircraft: 3DC / Grif Italia • Date: 6/15/2018 • Current record: no record set yet
www.PSFmagazine.com | October-November 2018 | 27 26 | October-November 2018 | Powered Sport Flying 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 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. November 1-3, 2017 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase. DeLand Municipal Airport, DeLand, Florida. The DeLand Showcase is an annual event focused entirely on recreational flying and sport aviation. The host town, DeLand, is known as "The Athens of Florida" for its rich, creative culture featuring arts venues, unique stores, international cuisine, night life and live entertainment. Plus, the weather in early November is perfect for a fun Florida weekend. More than one hundred exhibitors will be featuring all kinds of sport aircraft, ultralights, trikes, rotorcraft, powered parachutes and paragliders, engines, avionics, pilot gear and flight schools. Enjoy demo flights, instructional workshops, educational forums, keynote speakers, food concessions, live music, underwing camping and more! Visit sportaviationvillage.com November 4, 2018 10am–4pm Sunset Grille Splash-In. Sunset Grille, 2650 US 27, Sebring, FL; 863-471-3900. N27-28.400 W081-27.000. Lake Jackson is spring-fed and the most beautiful and clearest lake around. Over 2 miles in diameter with parking for 100+ seaplanes with white sand and green grass shoreline. Recommend 123.40 for Lake Jackson operation, left-hand traffic. Uncontrolled airspace and waterway. Contact Steve Walsh, (561) 305-2190. First Sunday in November every year since 1993! Calendar November 11, 2018 9:00am-4:00pm 9th Annual Searey Inaugural Flight Anniversary Splash-In. Bowden’s Landing at Island Lake Private Seaplane Base, Umatilla, Florida. Food, Flying, Fun, Door Prizes. Food will be supplied by EAA Chapter 534. This is a Free Event. A Donation Box will be at the EAA Chapter 534 Table for the Food they will be supplying. The EAA will keep 100% of the proceeds that goes in that box. For more information contact Thomas Bowden (352) 669-3752 or tab380@aol.com November 24-December 8, 2018 Cross PPG Puerto Rico with Team Kamikazes. Puerto Rico. Our traditional “Kamikaze” party for the end of the year is Back! This time, we plan a complete week of flying finishing with our traditional party. We will be flying in different locations across the island. No passport required for American Citizens. Learn more by calling 1 (787) 717-2384 or visit www.volarpr.com January 14-22, 2019 Rotax Service and Maintenance Training Courses. Sebring, Florida. During this nine-day period, Lockwood Aviation will be offering service and maintenance courses for the Rotax line of aviation engines including: 9 Series Service 9 Series Maintenance 9 Series Injected Installation Course 2 Stroke Maintenance Renewal 9 Series Service Renewal 9 Series Maintenance Renewal 9 Series Heavy Maintenance For specific dates, prerequisites, pricing and more, call (863) 655-5100 or visit training.lockwood.aero. January 21-30, 2019 Rotax Service and Maintenance Training Courses. Lucedale Mississippi. During this tenday period, South Mississippi Light Aircraft will be offering service and maintenance courses for the Rotax line of aviation engines including: 2 Stroke Maintenance 9 Series Service 9 Series Maintenance 2 Stroke Maintenance Renewal 9 Series Service Renewal 9 Series Maintenance Renewal 9 Series Heavy Maintenance For specific dates, prerequisites, pricing and more, call (601) 947-4953 or visit visit www.flysmla.com January 23-26, 2019 US Sport Aviation Expo. Sebring Regional Airport, Sebring, Florida. The Expo is the place to see, try, buy and sell Light Sport Aircraft. It is also where to go to establish new business relationships and learn about Light Sport Aircraft, the Sport Pilot Certificate and other LSA related certifications. This was the first and is the largest annual event totally focused on LSA and Sport Pilot. www.sport-aviation-expo.com January 28-February 1, 2019 Rotax Service and Maintenance Training Courses. Sebring, Florida. During this five-day period, Lockwood Aviation will be offering service and maintenance courses for the Rotax line of aviation engines including: 9 Series Service 9 Series Maintenance 9 Series Injected Installation Course For specific dates, prerequisites, pricing and more, call (863) 655-5100 or visit training.lockwood.aero. February 8-10, 2019 Copperstate Fly-In & Aviation Expo. Buckeye Municipal Airport, Buckeye, Arizona. Free admission, air show, 100 plus vendors, STEM contingent, technical forums and lots of food. In excess of 400 aircraft on display with aircraft judging. www.copperstate.org February 5-7, 2019 Salton Sea "Gathering". Salton City, California. Pilots from all over the country and even the world will be coming to fly here. This is an informal gathering of pilots with no official organizer. We will be flying here for a few days, then likely transitioning to Glamis Dunes for a few days before moving on to the Arizona Flying Circus on the following weekend. Visit trikebuggy.com. February 5-7, 2019 Salton Sea, California.If you are already an experienced pilot with a PPG 3 rating and are interested in becoming a USPPA certified instructor, consider this instructor clinic by Chad Bastian. www.americanparagliding.com/instructor/
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