Cessna Greenlights LSA

Jay,

Anyone else hear that CT -- the current LSA sales leader -- is
experiencing some real problems after a major structural break-up in
Europe?

You are probably confusing this with Fläming Air and their Smaragd.

I was told that in Europe CTs are being speed-limited,

The critical limit for ultralights in Germany is MTOW, not speed.

are having their certification re-examined.

Fläming Air, not CT.

(I heard this through a third-party grapevine, so don't quote it as
accurate!)

Well, it doesn't stop everybody...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Jim,

Unfortunately for Cessna, that plane already exists.
It's called the Evektor SportStar.


Yes, but it doesn't carry the Cessna brand name.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:04:47 -0400, "Morgans"

Now, if they would put something in it other than a Rotax.


I have heard several pilots and my A&P express disdain for Rotax
engines. Why is this? They certainly seem to be popular with the
homebuilt and LSA crew. I have no experience with the aviation
versions.

-Nathan

Morgans wrote:
"Jim Stewart" wrote

Unfortunately for Cessna, that plane already exists.
It's called the Evektor SportStar. Oh wait, it's
made in the Chez republic...

Now, if they would put something in it other than a Rotax.

I'll bet Cessna doesn't use a Rotax! g

Don't want a Rotax how about an O-200 in an IFR certified LSA.

http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/601_SLSA/601.html

Nathan,

I have heard several pilots and my A&P express disdain for Rotax
engines. Why is this?


It's new. It's different. It's not "the way we have always done it".

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:20:57 GMT, Nathan Young
wrote:

On Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:04:47 -0400, "Morgans"

Now, if they would put something in it other than a Rotax.

I have heard several pilots and my A&P express disdain for Rotax
engines. Why is this? They certainly seem to be popular with the
homebuilt and LSA crew. I have no experience with the aviation
versions.

One reason: They don't like 100LL. They're approved (and certified) to operate
on it, but the lead forms an abrasive sludge that means the oil has to be
changed more frequently.

Not that big of a deal with a private owner, but an FBO won't like having to
take a rental off the line twice as often to change the oil. The solution is to
run unleaded car gas, but the FBOs would have to add the infrastructure to
manage it as well as 100LL. It's for this reason I suspect the production
version of Cessna's LSA will have a Continental or Lycoming.

I believe Diamond's original Katana was the first certified Rotax-powered
aircraft sold in the US. However, FBOs had enough problems that the
Continental-powered version replaced it.

Keep in mind, though, not all LSAs are using Rotaxes. The ones that come from
Europe do (where they have more a tradition of running on car gas), but the
Cub-clones made in the US don't.

Ron Wanttaja

I wonder if this is the accident in question:
http://www.avionews.com/index.php?co...hp&news_id=107...

I believe that is the one I heard about. The folks who told me about
this (not surprisingly) own the US distribution rights for several
other competing LSAs.

The story goes (supposedly) that upon investigation (again, this is in
Europe) it was found that the CT was never properly certified to the
structural required limits, and their entire certification is now in
question.

Having flown a CT last summer, I can vouch for the fact that it is an
awesome little plane, and it would truly be a shame if this hurt
them. It's always hard to sift the wheat from the chaff in these
stories, though. If anyone knows the straight dope, please post it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

("Ron Wanttaja" wrote)
Keep in mind, though, not all LSAs are using Rotaxes. The ones that come
from
Europe do (where they have more a tradition of running on car gas), but
the
Cub-clones made in the US don't.


This is a sweet sounding engine, out on the ramp.

http://www.usjabiru.com/jabiru_3300.htm
120 hp Jabiru 3300 (100LL or 92+ mogas)

http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/xl/3300.html
The Jabiru 3300 is a six-cylinder direct-drive air-cooled aircraft engine

http://www.ionaircraft.com/
ION Aircraft has the Jabiru in a pusher configuration


Paul-Mont
Off to ION World Headquarters this afternoon @ 2
(I think there might be wing polishing in my future...)

"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
Nathan,

I have heard several pilots and my A&P express disdain for Rotax
engines. Why is this?


It's new. It's different. It's not "the way we have always done it".

Maybe that's partly the reason. There are probably also some left-over bad
feelings about Rotax engines from their earlier days in ultralight
applications where failures were rather common and they developed somewhat
of a bad reputation for reliability and support.

BDS

Ron Wanttaja schrieb:

One reason: They don't like 100LL.

Being designed to run on unleaded car gas is a disadvantage? Hilarious.
The world gets crazier every day.