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Really? You know someone buying one?

I think the whole thing is gonna flop bigger than Adam Aircraft.

A lot of people who are buying LSA's are pilots that used to fly very high performance planes and want to fly something simple for a change. A guy a few hangars from me used to fly in the airlines and for the military. He flew some pretty big stuff and he owns an LSA. He said "I flew high performance and big stuff my whole life, now I want something simple to fly".

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OK, I'll make a prediction.....

Now that there's 100 choices in LSA planes, I predict that the market will mature with several choices going under and the better ones will survive.

And the better ones will REALLY be better. Nice wide, quiet cockpits, glass panels (if you want) autopilots, weather and good instrumentation. There will also be choices for very efficient cruisers to amphibs. And the engines will continue to improve. And it will be a simple and inexpensive way to fly.

There's FOR SURE a market for this kind of plane.

Now, with the limitations, it may not be the best choice for a traveling machine, but does offer some options, if weather and night are not a factor. And, good training will still be a priority, as in any flying machine....

Overall, I'm glad to see them flourish.

"And the better ones will REALLY be better. Nice wide, quiet cockpits, glass panels (if you want) autopilots, weather and good instrumentation. There will also be choices for very efficient cruisers to amphibs. And the engines will continue to improve. And it will be a simple and inexpensive way to fly."


Larry

IMO, The price when they get there with those options will be $200,000+. But, then a new Bonanza will be $1,000,000 and a new Baron $2,000,000. I guess inexpensive is always a relative term.

Russ

Or . . . $30,000 for a nice ragwing tailwheel plane.

Some of this may be in part due to pilots of high performance aircraft stepping into LSA's without proper transition training. They think that since they have 1000's of hours flying around the country in larger aircraft shooting ILSs to minimums that a flight in a little LSA is just going to be dirt simple. Not necessarily the case, as LSAs are very lightly wing loaded and a gust on landing that you'd barely feel in a Bonanza is going to require immediate, prompt and correct control response in an LSA.

At least one insurer, Avemco, has noted a decline in LSA losses by mandating all pilots received 5 hours dual in any LSA they insure, regardless of their past piloting experience:

http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/4616118

Now, I don't know why I feel compelled to constantly defend LSAs, I don't really like them myself (but I would take a vintage cub in a heartbeat!). I just think there is plenty of room in GA for them, and if the LSA concept fails then so be it, but if it succeeds then I think the whole of GA would benefit.

Well, here's an LSA that will outperform a Super Cub.

It does cost nearly $200,000, but is a HOSS!

http://cubcrafters.com/supersportcub/

180 hp, now that is one serious LSA! Who needs a runway just use your driveway.

Russ

I went from a LSA (Jabiru SP230) to a G36. Does that count?

I wonder how many people that knock these planes have actually gone out and flown one? Flying just for the pure fun of flying instead of flying to get from point A to point B is a different experience that you really need to try.

"Don't condemn a pilot until you've flown a mile in his plane..."

Then you are a mile away and you have his airplane!

Alejandro probably has the data on this, but from the reports I have read it is the knuckleheaded 'real-plane' pilots who just hop into an LSA thinking its just another small plane who rack up the worst safety record.

Alejandro probably has the data on this, but from the reports I have read it is the knuckleheaded 'real-plane' pilots who just hop into an LSA thinking its just another small plane who rack up the worst safety record.

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Is it just me, that piece by Kermit Weeks is very strange (External and Internal flying). It makes me want to cancel my P&P subscription, but then I saw the article about all the new things glass. That is something I can lust for.

Really? You know someone buying one?

I think the whole thing is gonna flop bigger than Adam Aircraft.

I doubt that.

They could operate a nice 172 or Cherokee 180, not a Bo (if they have a medical, and the resources to get the private ticket....).

You can rent an LSA for $100/hr wet. If you can find me a Bo at that price, I'll buy a 100hr block.

Terrafluggia anyone?

Oh yeah! That is one sexy airplane. Landing a seaplane on water is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.