www.PSFmagazine.com | May-June 2019 | 11 10 | May-June 2019 | Powered Sport Flying T r i k e s Sun 'n Fun 2019 Sun ‘n Fun 2019 What’s new at Sun ‘n Fun? That’s the question everyone asks before the show opens. Sun ‘n Fun has long been known as the big show that serves as the debut for new designs, features, and sometimes entire companies. That is because wintertime is a natural time for aircraft development and Sun ‘n Fun is the first big airshow of the season. aero serves the same purpose for European designers and aircraft builders. Again, I was at the show early. And again, as I’ve observed at previous airshows, it appeared impossible for all exhibitors to be ready by gates-open on Tuesday April 2nd, 2019. And again, as usual, it somehow, magically came together and most attendees were none the wiser. Other early arrivers know the truth of which I speak. Now Streaming Your Way One fresh entry at Sun ‘n Fun 2019 is one almost no Americans have seen and not too many Europeans. I saw it at Aero as did a few other Yanks, but to 99% of interested aviators, here’s one out of the blue sky yonder. Welcome to Stream, a carbon fiber, low wing, tandem seating, retractable gear lightplane. Stream is clearly part of the TL family but is completely different than the preceding two models — that Americans already know. Sting has been their lead example through four iterations of the sleek low wing design: Sting-S2-S3-S4. Years ago Sting was offered with retractable gear but then came Light Sport Aircraft rules so fixed gear became the norm. Later came the similarly built but high wing, yoke-controlled Sirius. Now, Stream… TL Ultralight has been active in the lsa world for many years and was first represented by Sportairusa. At Sun ‘n Fun 2019 three very different models of Czech Republic manufacturer TL Ultralight were on display near (and in) the lsa Mall. A big difference: the large TL display was mounted by newer representative, TL Aircraft usa, run by Michal Margolien. The U.S. based company, with roots in the origin country of Czech Republic, displayed a Sting, a turbo Sting, the company’s high wing Sirius, and Stream. The example was built, as it must be for the American market, as an Experimental Amateur Built model. A husband and wife team just returned from a month in Czech Republic where they fulfilled all requirements for faa approval. It was their airplane on display. by Dan Johnson Sun ‘n Fun Day 1 — Affordable Aircraft: Evolution RevX, CGS Hawk Ultra, Kolb Trifly, Thatcher CX5 Videoman Dave and I never left Paradise City’s exhibits during our first day of video interviews. Yet we found several airplanes worth reviewing that fit comfortably into the affordable aviation space I enjoy reporting on. RevX — Evolution Trikes has now broadened their line to four trike models: Revo, the top-of-the-line deluxe cruiser; Rev, a Part 103 entry that folds up compactly and securely for trailer transport; Revolt, the tough two-seater to bridge the expanse between Revo and Rev; and now, the newest, RevX, a powerful single seater. This Tampa Bay-area, Florida company based at Zephyr Hills airport has been a fountain of development since its start. How long has that been? Ten years as it turns out, and to celebrate, they’re bringing their latest. Way back when, I wrote a full-length pilot report about Larry Mednick‘s first offering at Sun ‘n Fun 2011, only a couple years after their original model was conceived. In my article I was exceptionally pleased with the trike’s development. I wasn’t the only one. Judges awarded Revo the Grand Champion Light Sport Aircraft at the 2011 Sun ‘n Fun airshow. Since that colorful splash, the company has introduced their Rev (single-place Part 103-capable), Revolt (two-place ruggedized model) and now the RevX. Even with most desirable features delivered as part of the base package, RevX is a relative bargain at around $33,000. Multiple positive qualities suggest RevX could be a big seller, but perhaps the real value is how well it performs. A Rotax 582 with 65 horsepower gives RevX a very short launch roll and steep climbs but it may be the smaller 28-foot-span, 12 square meter wing with its higher wing loading that leaves Evolution factory pilots grinning from ear to ear after a flight. Given its weight with the beefy Rotax, RevX must be delivered as Experimental Amateur Built but Evolution offers a Builder Assist operation to help do the job quicker and better. Hawk Ultra — Despite some speculative rumors, all is well with the dual CGS Hawk project involving two-seat Hawk specialist and primary components fabricator Terry Short, paired with the father and son team of Bob and LB Santom handling the single place Hawk 103, Hawk Ultra and Hawk Plus. Hawks developed a strong following in the U.S. and several countries with more than 2,000 flying. As the design emerged in 1983, it was only single-place. Once Part 103 aircraft were growing and need for a two-seat trainer became apparent, the Hawk Arrow series debuted in several variations. With one or
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