PDF Version October November 2008 - Midwest Flyer

chance to use the new tower, which
is more than twice as tall than the old
one. Around 10,000 aircraft flew in
over the weeklong event, which ended
Sunday, August 3.
New Certified Aircraft
The fastest growing segment of
general aviation is in the light aircraft
design category. There were a number
of new Very Light Jets (VLJs) and
Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) exhibited
at Oshkosh this year. The first to greet
the convention-goers at the main gate
was Cirrus Aircraft’s display, featuring
a mockup of their new “personal”
light jet – the “Vision” SJ50. The
functioning model was flown in
on Wednesday, July 30. I sat in the
mockup, which has excellent visibility
NewView 5/23/05 4:21 PM Page 1
and wide seats that slide back for ease
of entry. It seats four with a jump seat
and has the control stick located to the
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38 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
left of the pilot, ala modern jet combat
aircraft. The SJ50 is powered by a
Williams turbojet engine.
Cirrus had their full line of SR20s
and 22s on display. All have glass
cockpits and ballistic parachutes,
which, I was told, have been used
by owners 13 times to bring the
aircraft down safely. Cirrus also had
on display their LSA, the “SRS.”
Both the SRS and Cessna “C162
SkyCatcher” sell for around $100,000.
Other very light jets displayed at
Oshkosh 08 were Eclipse Aviation’s
400 single-engine jet, not yet in
production and awaiting certification.
Across from Cirrus, Cessna displayed
its new 400 fixed gear four-place
aircraft, billed as the fastest fixed gear
machine. Also on display was Cessna’s
various Citations and the Citation
“Mustang,” an entry level biz-jet.
Honda Aircraft Company once
again displayed the “HondaJet.”
According to a recent New York
Times article, hitchhiking onboard
biz and light jets is the latest fad.
Hitchhikers won’t have long to wait to
catch a ride in the Eclipse 400, Cirrus
SJ50 or HondaJet.
Lowers The Workload
Liberty Aerospace, Inc. displayed
their updated version of their XL2
“Vanguard.” The Liberty XL2 is the
first two-place aircraft in many years
to be certified fully IFR and the first
piston powered with FADEC digital
engine management systems. This
helps lighten the cabin workload
since fuel mix is accomplished by
the on board computer, the ignition
is solid state, controls are operated
by push rods, and the aircraft has a
flying tail and can be equipped with
finger brakes or toe brakes. The nose
wheel castors, again a reprise of the
Grumman two-place “Yankee.” Fully
equipped with the Aspen GPS and S
mode transponder, the updated Liberty
sells for $220,000. The flight manual
recommends 20 degrees of flaps for
takeoff and landing. Vanguard is
powered by the Continental IOF-240
B, 125 hp four-cylinder, flat opposed
aircraft engine and cruises at 115 mph.
Vanguard has a welded steel chassis
and carbon fiber fuselage and riveted
aluminum wings and empennage.
The Sport Pilot
When Paul Poberezny began
meeting his friends in his basement
in 1953, which eventually morphed
into EAA, there was no “Experimental
Category” of aircraft; warbirds
couldn’t be owned by private citizens;
there was no “Homebuilt Category”
recognized by the FAA; and there was
no Sport Pilot Certificate. Pilot training
was seen as a prelude to the ATP and
instrument flying was the next step
beyond the Private Pilot Certificate.
A lot has changed since then. After
a protracted effort by LAMA (Light
Aircraft Manufacturers Association)
and EAA, the FAA formalized the
Sport Pilot Certificate and the LSA
Category. A Sport Pilot Certificate
requires a current driver’s license, but
no third-class medical. However, if
a pilot takes and cannot pass a Part
67 medical examination, he or she
cannot obtain a Sport Pilot Certificate.
Flight is limited to day VFR, altitude
is limited to 10,000 feet and range is
limited. No night flight is permitted.
A number of manufacturers are
introducing aircraft suitable for the
Sport Pilot Certificate. The aircraft, of
course can be used by private pilots
also, so the Sport Pilot Certificate
can be used as entry level training
with the understanding that a pilot
can move on to the Private Pilot
Certificate if they can pass the third
class medical and the written and
practical test. I chatted with Donald
M. Ayres, President of U.S. Sport
Aircraft, Jensen Beach, Florida.
Ayres pointed out the finer points of
two Czech Republic-built aircraft
recently introduced by GoBOSH
Aviation, Middleton, Wisconsin.
Both the entry-level LSA 700S and
the more high-performance 800XP
were displayed. The 700S is based
on the Aero Ltd AT-3, designed and