By Dan Johnson
Catching Up with Cessna's SkyCatcher Plans
Cessna's next major program milestone will be when Chinese producer Shenyang completes their first SkyCatcher followed by its first flight. First deliveries are still expected in the last half of 2009. Everyone interested in Light-Sport Aircraft is aware of Cessna's loss of prototype #1 when it entered an "unrecoverable spin." After Cirrus Design announced a slowdown in the development of their SRS, people have been wondering if Cessna would alter their plans for SkyCatcher. Short answer: No. All is proceeding according to schedule. At AOPA Expo 2008, the Wichita giant reported that the now-lost SkyCatcher prototype accumulated 220 hours in flight-testing. Cessna will enlist their first production model to complete these primary evaluations. A third SkyCatcher airframe will undergo various static tests. The company remains dedicated to ASTM standards. However, as general aviation's leading producer, Cessna prefers to go beyond industry consensus standards so they also plan ground vibration tests (which can check for flutter) and airframe fatigue testing. Both employ elaborate test equipment to evaluate an airframe's integrity and response to repeated in-flight loads. Both are complex studies that Cessna's large organization can accomplish. Cessna also reported that production assembly jigs and tooling have been completed at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the Chinese factory that will do the fabrication. They plan to ship SkyCatcher's engine, avionics, and raw materials from the USA while Cessna personnel on-site will provide ongoing quality assurance.
Light-Sport Aircraft Mature--Legend's Celebration
Stating that "propeller performance has more to do with a piston aircraft's abilities--short of the pilot in command," their new 72-inch ground adjustable composite propeller by Sensenich provides as much as 10 mph more performance on a Legend Cub. Legend has good reason for celebration (and no, this has nothing to do with Obama's election). In the lifespan of Light-Sport Aircraft -- the first deliveries reach their fourth anniversary next April -- Legend was an early success...a story that continues to unfold. The Sulfur Springs, Texas producer has come a long way while handily maintaining their status as, by far, the largest American-based producer of LSA. Recently, Legend celebrated the third anniversary of its first Legend Cub customer delivery. In August 2005, the builder handed over the keys to the company's first newly manufactured Legend Cub to Rich Giannotti of Long Island, New York, launching the startup company. In the three years following, American Legend and their sibling kit company, Texas Sport Aircraft, report deliveries of more than 160 aircraft (not all SLSA). *** Along the way Legend has consistently added new features or options to the classic design. A couple of the latest include giant Alaskan Bushwheel tires. At a whopping 26 inches, the oversized tire choice is essentially a low-inflation air bag. Legend said the bush tires are "reinforced and ready for rough fields; designed to expect the unexpected." Legend now also offers a large six-foot diameter prop.
Free Straight & Level Button for Sting S3 Owners
Bill Canino is the U.S. importer for TL Ultralight and their Sting S3 and TL-3000 Sirius. David Dobogai is an American living in the Czech Republic to run TL. SportairUSA reports more than 70 Stings have been delivered in the USA and 500 are flying worldwide. Visitors saw the Sting S3 right at the entrance to the aircraft display at AOPA Expo '08. Recently I visited Cirrus Design. I saw progress on the Cirrus Vision jet and the new Garmin Perspective panel for the SR22. Both aircraft are full of high-end avionics. *** Down here in the world of Light-Sport Aircraft, we have far less costly choices for flat-screen avionic displays (panels in the Vision or SR22 literally cost more than an entire LSA). Yet the data each set of instruments uses is identical. LSA are also often equipped with autopilots...again, far less expensively compared to the certified units GA builders install. *** Recently SportairUSA announced their new "Straight & Level" button. If you find yourself in the soup unexpectedly, the pilot or passenger can push one button causing the autopilot to take over by guiding the airplane while the occupants assess their next move. It's a brilliant idea to give pilots a breather. "The Straight and Level system is a significant advance in flight safety for Sting owners," says Bill Canino, operator of SportairUSA. "That's why we are providing it at no additional cost on all of our TruTrak EFIS/autopilot equipped Stings." The SL button even turns the autopilot on if it was off...a mighty smart airplane at a fraction of the cost of similarly equipped GA airplanes.
Flying through Turbulence; Even Big Boys Affected
Most producers in the Light-Sport Aircraft sector welcomed the LSA market entry announced by Cessna and Cirrus at Oshkosh 2007. July of last year looks like the "good old days," as aviation from LSA to VLJs -- essentially all of GA -- is roiled by global economic uncertainty. Compounding the challenges, Cessna had an "unrecoverable" spin incident with their SkyCatcher 162. Even BRS got drawn in with a rocket-deployed parachute that for reasons yet unknown didn't save the airframe. Both companies are sure to work out these issues; test failures are an accepted part of aircraft development. *** Cirrus stepped down to a 3-day workweek to cope with slowing sales. Like Cessna, Cirrus is managing multiple developments. Their jet project consumes plenty of resources so when watching costs, it's little surprise that the Duluth company might put their SRS Light-Sport project on the back burner. *** LSA producers already active in the field may gain from these development setbacks, as they will give the newer, smaller companies more time to build their infrastructure. Meanwhile, marketing efforts continue...AOPA Expo starts in one week with 15 or so LSA expected, and planning is well underway for the year-starting Sebring LSA Expo and the season-launching Sun 'n Fun LSA Mall.