AOPA Pilot Blog: Reporting Points

Now you really have choices. South Africa sent its Sling to America, through a dealer at the Torrance, Calif., airport, and it has passed ASTM standards. It is built like a tank, wide and comfortable, Rotax powered, gets 108 knots, and costs less than the leading light sport aircraft. Most of them top out at $160,000 (well, one hits $400,000), but the Sling starts at $125,000 and tops out with full glass panels and an airframe parachute in the nose for $145,000.The dealer thinks he can speed it up with a new prop he will test soon. I just made a video here. I took it for a flight above the Pacific Ocean off Long Beach and Torrance. Now, about all those choices. Dan Johnson, head of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, says he knows of a dozen more LSAs on the way to market. But as he has pointed out in the past, only 30 or 40 are serious contenders for the market.

Newspapers in Florida report the locals are excited about competing for the location of a new Icon Aircraft light sport aircraft factory. Most recently, Icon officials were in Tavares, “The Seaplane City,” but city fathers in DeLand are hopeful, too. The company could go into production in Los Angeles as soon as January, and have a decision by spring on a new factory. Reports indicate the company would like to move in by the end of 2013. However, the company says it could be a year sooner than that. Officials in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas are also hopeful of attracting the Icon factory to their states.

Take the Flight Design CTLS for a flight above Sebring, Florida. This airplane dances to Latin music, so if you’re at work, turn down the volume control. If not, congratulations and enjoy!

If the video does not start, click here.