www.PSFmagazine.com | May-June 2019 | 13 12 | May-June 2019 | Powered Sport Flying Support Our Advertisers Sun 'n Fun 2019 two seats, Hawks won a place in the hearts of many aviators and that continues unabated to this day. In our interview with Bob, he related that the example pictured flew into Paradise City’s grass strip and they are ready to launch into production of the modestly-priced aircraft. Trifly — As is the case for other producers of Part 103 aircraft, Kolb Aircraft boss Bryan Melborn reported strong business with Firefly, the long established airplane manufacturer’s leading model. Like nearly all Kolb Aircraft, Firefly is a taildragger …although the company’s models represent some of the easiest-to-handle taildraggers you’ll find in all of aviation. Cool as taildraggers may be, the fact remains that most pilots trained in the last couple of generations have overwhelmingly learned to fly in tricycle gear aircraft. Most have zero experience with taildraggers, but they’ve heard stories about ground looping and other challenges of handling taildragger designs. To address potential customers telling him they were unsure about their success with a taildragger, Bryan engineered a tricycle-gear version of Firefly. He inventively calls it Trifly. In truth Trifly also comes with a tailwheel; Bryan reports you can definitely perform a three-point landing (main gear touching down in concert with the tailwheel) in Firefly. Or, if you prefer, land Trifly like any Cessna; that works well, too. Kolb’s Trifly can be delivered as a kit or ready-to-fly direct from the manufacturer. CX5 — From dedicated designer David Thatcher comes an established and familiar design, the Thatcher CX models 4 and 5. Displayed at Sun ‘n Fun was the tandem seating CX5. Using Revmaster’s 85-horsepower VW-derived-but-further-developed four-stroke engine, Thatcher CX5 can get in the air for a sum in the $30,000 range. Able to hold two large Americans and fly better than 100 mph very economically, this proven design has attracted enthusiastic supporters. Carefully designed to be an easy build, CX5 rewards the builder with an elegant wing featuring a tapered, upward-angled outer wing with dual taper trailing edge and inboard tapering ailerons. Lastly, while we did not interview U-Fly-It boss Dennis Carley, a conversation with him brought the news that his DeLand, Florida company continues to run at full capacity building bargain-priced Aerolite 103s. Contrary to so-called conventional wisdom, the highly affordable world of Part 103 ultralight aircraft appears to be thriving. Budget-conscious pilots, rejoice! Sun ‘n Fun Day 2 — As Summertime Approaches, Light Sport Seaplanes Draw Interest Seaplane flying is a specialty within aviation but it is one that has steady appeal and develops passionate aviators. I prefer to modify that “gear-up landing” line to… “There are pilots who love seaplane flying and there are those who will love it.” Be forewarned: Once you touch your seaplane* or floatplane* to the water, it may forever change you. If you think I’m being too dramatic, you probably haven’t flown off the water. Great, so it’s magical to see the countryside from a few hundred feet up. Even better, enjoy flying low across the clear, blue, warm waters of the Bahamas. Examine the shoreline of a big lake in a way you’d never do in a landplane. Compared to airports, seaplane pilots have many times more lakes or rivers able to handle a landing. All are fair game in an emergency and many U.S. waterways will permit normal water operations. Are you convinced yet? Water flying does require earning a Seaplane rating for Private Pilots flying a certified floatplane or seaplane. However, for Sport Pilots or those using higher-level certificates to exercise the privileges of Sport Pilot, only training plus a logbook endorsement is needed. Purchase cost of a seaplane can be, well… breathtaking. If you or someone you know has ever priced a general aviation aircraft on floats, you’re aware they can be quite expensive. Flying from water demands a more robust airframe and amphibians add weight and complexity.
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