LSA's For Initial flight training

[KSCessnaDriver]

Understood, but who normally fly with 7 hours of fuel in a GA plane??? Put in 4 hours of fuel and you save around 100 lbs.

But also remember the airplane was normally certificated at 1600 lbs. It can fly that weight if needed although it is not light sport weight.

Surely your not advocating flying over the gross weight, are you?

Honestly, I'd rather see them come out and get the thing Part 23 certificated, and put 4 seats in it, like in Australia. To me, it seems crazy to build all that structure, and not use it. Build the thing for 2 seats, and you get a lighter airframe. Lighter airframe leads to a higher useful load. And, it seems in the LSA world, that's a big marketing number.

 

[flyingmaniac]

Surely your not advocating flying over the gross weight, are you?

Honestly, I'd rather see them come out and get the thing Part 23 certificated, and put 4 seats in it, like in Australia. To me, it seems crazy to build all that structure, and not use it. Build the thing for 2 seats, and you get a lighter airframe. Lighter airframe leads to a higher useful load. And, it seems in the LSA world, that's a big marketing number.

Yeah I know. You can fly the four seat version experimentally if your up to it.

If you think that the space is a waste then you can fly the J170 and burn 4 gallons an hour with a 680 lb useful load.

Funny thing, I've been up to 13,500' in a J250SP because of mountains to avoid.

P.S. I would never fly over LSA gross weight...

 

[Bernoulli Fan]

The problem lies in the fact that it's really not any cheaper. If you're comparing flying a LSA to a brand new 172, sure it's cheaper, but when you compare the LSA (of which the only option is a new or almost new aircraft) to a not-so-new 172 or PA-28, it winds up being a wash.

If the costs are the same, is your first-time customer going to pick a new plane....or a 35-year-old plane?

I don't really have a dog in the fight, but I know most beginning students are attracted to new airplanes. Seems like a good choice for an FBO, even if the costs are the same.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

Yeah I know. You can fly the four seat version experimentally if your up to it.

If you think that the space is a waste then you can fly the J170 and burn 4 gallons an hour with a 680 lb useful load.

Funny thing, I've been up to 13,500' in a J250SP because of mountains to avoid.

P.S. I would never fly over LSA gross weight...

Fair enough. Would I rent a Jabiru, probably. Would I buy one, probably not. Right now, I really, really like the Tecnam's. Mostly the P2002 Sierra, but I also like the new P2008. An IFR equipped P2002 would be ideal, as the company is allowing them to operate in IMC.

 

[flyingmaniac]

Fair enough. Would I rent a Jabiru, probably. Would I buy one, probably not. Right now, I really, really like the Tecnam's. Mostly the P2002 Sierra, but I also like the new P2008. An IFR equipped P2002 would be ideal, as the company is allowing them to operate in IMC.

Yeah the Jabiru J250 has just about all the necessities to fly in the clouds. Meaning the avionics (Grand Rapids Technologies) is 100% better than Dynon.

I have flown them both and I don't understand why people waste their money on Dynon.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

Yeah the Jabiru J250 has just about all the necessities to fly in the clouds. Meaning the avionics (Grand Rapids Technologies) is 100% better than Dynon.

I have flown them both and I don't understand why people waste their money on Dynon.

Yes, but is Jabiru allowing for IFR flight? The Dynon is a much better system, I believe, but its a personal opinion. G1000 versus Avidyne. Have you seen their newest avionics package?

 

[Alaska45]

Wow! Those pictures of that turbine Luscombe.... :drool:
I think that the folding wing feature of the Remos is a big plus for the flight school environment where you could fit 3 Remos airplanes in the space of one C-172.

 

[flyingmaniac]

Wow! Those pictures of that turbine Luscombe.... :drool:
I think that the folding wing feature of the Remos is a big plus for the flight school environment where you could fit 3 Remos airplanes in the space of one C-172.

Having a foldable wings in a flight school student environment can cause problems down the road. Just imagine the student or instructor forgetting to put the pins in to lock the wings...Bad result.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

Back on the topic of price. There are new S-LSA's out there under $80,000, its just they don't look like a Remos, CTLS or Tecnam. They're tube & fabric, day VFR only airplanes. Heck, there was one advertising for $59,900 at Sebring last weekend. Sure they may not look as cool and may not be quite as fast, but they are a lot cheaper.