By Dan Johnson
Flight Testing Light-Sport Aircraft; How It’s Done
Much has been written about Cessna's SkyCatcher incidents, those spin investigations that caused the loss of one airplane and a parachute deployment from another. Of course, the giant producer knows well the design of light aircraft so it was only a matter of time before all problems were solved. In doing these spin tests, Cessna said they went beyond the ASTM standards, which also call for spin evaluation. A new video from Flight Design does a professional job of showing viewers around the aircraft and its test equipment. Check out the YouTube version. Produced by Flight Design test pilot Tim-Peter Voss and his brother Ben, the videographer, we learn that the process no longer depends on a test pilot manually recording results because electronic devices measure more accurately and in real time. After downloading the data from a flash drive to a laptop, engineers evaluate the results. While the facts and explanation are interesting, the video also takes us through a few maneuvers. Some folks believe ASTM standards are simplistic specifications to certify an aircraft. But that shortchanges those industry consensus requirements. As the draft author of the standard for airframe parachutes I can assure you that ASTM requirements go beyond FAA's Special Conditions for installing a 'chute on Type Certified aircraft. Get more info on ASTM standards.
Sleekest Tecnam Light-Sport Aircraft Yet
Tecnam can lay claim to being the "largest LSA manufacturer" by virtue of producing more than 3,000 ready-to-fly aircraft (with approximately 120 of them flying in the USA as "official LSA" -- the U.S. is a relatively new market the Italian company). In my travels to Europe and other countries, I've seen a lot of Tecnam models sold under the rules of those countries. And the company was formed back in 1948. But even with all those aircraft built and many interesting designs -- such as the Echo Super, Sierra, Bravo, Eaglet, and even a new twin that isn't a LSA -- for my money, the P2008 is easily the prettiest two seater the company has ever designed. It resulted from a marriage of Tecnam, an all-metal airplane company, to Spain's CAG or Composite Aeronautic Group. The latter, bought by Tecnam, was the short-time producer of the Toxo Sportster, a handsome all-composite LSA. Tecnam won't be producing the Toxo but P2008 pairs Tecnam's prodigious design ability with CAG's expertise in composite manufacturing. In America, Tecnam is represented by Tecnam North America, a talent-heavy group based in Richmond, Virginia. Among other interesting announcements (at least one of which I'm not at liberty to disclose) you'll get your first chance to see the P2008 at Sebring 2010 ...and maybe they'll even add a friendly name to the number of this gorgeous airplane. Only a single Toxo ever entered the USA.
Homebuilt Aircraft in China Begin to Take Off
"Chinese New Year" invokes images of fireworks but here's another take. We hear little or no recreational flying occurs in China, but that turns out to be wrong. According to an article in Wired magazine by Michele Travierso, the Do-It-Yourself spirit exists even in that highly controlled country. A Chinese DIYer named Mao Yiqing has built a human-powered aircraft, which he calls Mozi (after the 5th century inventor of the kite), using his skills running Oxai, a company that builds RC planes. Mozi was built using many of the same techniques and materials -- balsa wood, styrofoam and carbon fiber -- as his model planes. Wired reports, "His workshop is covered with pictures of Eric Raymond, an American pilot who flew his solar glider across the United States and, in June, over the Alps." Yiqing is preparing his plane, which weighs 84 pounds and has a wingspan of 81 feet, for a 4-mile flight across Dianshan Lake near Shanghai. According to the Wired journalist, "Garage builders and innovators are, like their products, often called shanzhai. Literally translated, the term means "mountain strongholds," but it has come to mean nonprofessional or clandestine manufacturers turning out products from the basic to the highly sophisticated. The Wired website also offers a short YouTube movie of another DIYer flying his gyroplane, which he built for the modest sum of $1,600. It makes a good New Year's Eve read... go enjoy!
Ticket to Ride... er, Fly... Well, Both... Maybe
You've surely seen news coverage of Terrafugia's Transition, the "roadable" LSA from a brain trust of award-winning MIT engineers in Woburn, Massachusetts. This modern version of the well-worn flying car concept has attracted plenty of media attention, and deservedly so, I think. I have been reviewing all their materials and info for an article to appear in Light Sport and Ultralight Flying magazine and I'm impressed with the task's complexities. *** Step one is the effort to create a powered-folding-wing, four-wheel aircraft that flies as the designers wish. That's hardly a trivial project especially as the folding wing must work in such a way that you can then drive down the road without removing those wings. (In comparison, Icon's A5 also has powered folding wings but they stay full length, sweeping back against the seaplane's fuselage.) Step two is making a road-capable drive train using the same Rotax 912 powerplant. Now, others have accomplished such things, perhaps, but did those projects meet a set of rules called the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards? After reviewing what's involved, my guess is they did not. The long list of required items includes such as airbags; roll cages; crumple zones; crash-capable bumpers; head restraints; highway-speed brake systems; pothole-tolerant suspension; plus features like rear-view mirrors; automotive lighting including turn signals; and windshield wipers. Step three... since all that hardware adds weight -- and since none of those things are needed on a LSA -- Terrafugia has petitioned FAA for a higher weight limit. No decision has yet been reached by the agency.
More for You Visitors... Same Price: Free!
The Internet has transformed life in countless ways. Running an e-commerce website involves providing useful services, most commonly at no cost to visitors. In keeping with this new paradigm, several of the most popular features on ByDanJohnson.com are free -- PlaneFinder 2.0; LSA Videos; SLSA List; FIRM List; LSA Market Info, Industry database; many articles; and, of course, "SPLOG." Call it our Christmas present to you... SPLOG now welcomes Plane & Pilot magazine LSA Editor James Lawrence and his "Hangar Flyin" blog. Jim and I write often about LSA topics and you will now be able to read all of our posts in this one location on ByDanJohnson.com ...all archived back to the beginning of LSA.
You can expect to read 200 posts a year or one every other day, keeping you aware of the latest and greatest in Light-Sport Aircraft Jim is an extraordinarily talented fellow. If you've looked at beautiful photos gracing aviation magazine covers or the pilot reports inside, you've probably seen Jim's work. He's done more than 500 air-to-air shoots. And he has a friendly and entertaining writing style I think you'll love. Near the end of each of Jim's blog posts we'll provide a link to his complete blog at Plane & Pilot magazine's website.
Flight Design... "Keeps Growing"
Flight Design has sold 1,500 flyng aircraft worldwide. You see more CTs at airfields than any other brand by more than double; the next closest is the American Legend Cub. This success is thanks to the capable work of Flight Design USA and its boss, Tom Peghiny. Flight Design. The company pioneered use of something called Permit to Fly in Europe. CTLS; it delivered the first LSA aircraft approved in India. Flight Design won the first Type Design Approval for a LSA in China. At the same time, the company developed another design using all-metal construction called the MC (CT is 98% carbon fiber), and it is working to create a hybrid engine using a powerful electric motor for boost power.