Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and the future of GA flying
Since their introduction about 10 years ago, the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category has been steadily adopted by the flight training and aircraft hire industries.
Even the 'big name' manufacturers tried to get in on the act with the Piper SportCruiser and Cessna 162 Skycatcher, but have since withdrawn in the face of competition from innovative aircraft manufactured by well-regarded Eastern European companies.
In comparison with popular Cessna and Piper trainers and hire aircraft, the new Skyleader LSA models are:
much cheaper to buy
much cheaper to insure
require less maintenance
use much less fuel (12 - 15 litre/hr)
run on 95 unleaded petrol or AvGas
cause less pollution
are quiet
have amazingly low stall speeds (under 40 kt)
are often faster cruising (typically 100 - 115kt)
Even the 'big name' manufacturers tried to get in on the act with the Piper SportCruiser and Cessna 162 Skycatcher, but have since withdrawn in the face of competition from innovative aircraft manufactured by well-regarded Eastern European companies.
In comparison with popular Cessna and Piper trainers and hire aircraft, the new Skyleader LSA models are:
much cheaper to buy
much cheaper to insure
require less maintenance
use much less fuel (12 - 15 litre/hr)
run on 95 unleaded petrol or AvGas
cause less pollution
are quiet
have amazingly low stall speeds (under 40 kt)
are often faster cruising (typically 100 - 115kt)
GP One light sport aircraft (LSA)
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SL-600 light sport aircraft (LSA)
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SL-500 light sport aircraft (LSA)
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Those flight schools and aero clubs who have made the switch to LSA trainers and advanced LSA models have discovered that students and licensed pilots love flying them and appreciate the lower hourly costs.
In New Zealand, LSA models can be used to train both private and commercial pilots. You can gain your PPL or CPL in a Light Sport Aircraft.
If you're hour-building towards becoming an airline captain, you're not wasting your time taking tourists for adventure aviation flights in an LSA or instructing at a local aero club in their LSA trainer - time spent flying an LSA counts, so enter it in your logbook.
In New Zealand, LSA models can be used to train both private and commercial pilots. You can gain your PPL or CPL in a Light Sport Aircraft.
If you're hour-building towards becoming an airline captain, you're not wasting your time taking tourists for adventure aviation flights in an LSA or instructing at a local aero club in their LSA trainer - time spent flying an LSA counts, so enter it in your logbook.
GP One LSA - an ideal trainer
Replacing the Tomahawk and 152 trainers
In a training role, the Skyleader light sport aircraft (LSA) models are excellent replacements for the very old Cessna 152 and Piper Tomahawk trainers commonly found in NZ flight schools. The low-wing SL 600 and SL 500, plus the high-wing GP One, have logged many thousands of hours in flight schools.
They are approved for a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg (580 kg for SL 500) giving them the capability of carrying a large instructor and a large student, plus 6 - 7 hours of usable fuel.
The robust landing gear can handle the inevitable hard landings and their well-designed fuselage/wing structure dissipates any shock loading.
In a training role, the Skyleader light sport aircraft (LSA) models are excellent replacements for the very old Cessna 152 and Piper Tomahawk trainers commonly found in NZ flight schools. The low-wing SL 600 and SL 500, plus the high-wing GP One, have logged many thousands of hours in flight schools.
They are approved for a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg (580 kg for SL 500) giving them the capability of carrying a large instructor and a large student, plus 6 - 7 hours of usable fuel.
The robust landing gear can handle the inevitable hard landings and their well-designed fuselage/wing structure dissipates any shock loading.
roomy cockpits + comfortable seats
Comfort
The Skyleader LSA models are appreciated by instructors and students alike. They are more user-friendly than existing trainers (and many other LSA models).
much more interior room (118cm - 130cm width at elbows)
better visibility
easier to get into and out of (e.g. No wing struts on GP One.
e.g. Full chord wing walks + overhead handhold on SL600 and SL500)
For southern climates, you can specify an effective cabin heater.
The Skyleader LSA models are appreciated by instructors and students alike. They are more user-friendly than existing trainers (and many other LSA models).
much more interior room (118cm - 130cm width at elbows)
better visibility
easier to get into and out of (e.g. No wing struts on GP One.
e.g. Full chord wing walks + overhead handhold on SL600 and SL500)
For southern climates, you can specify an effective cabin heater.
'Whole-of-plane' recovery parachute system
Safety
The GRS 'whole-of-plane' recovery twin-canopy parachute, fitted as standard to the Skyleader GP One, will reassure your more nervous students. GRS ballistic parachutes can also be fitted to Skyleader's low-wing LSA models.
Other safety features include:
optional Dual brakes (pilot + co-pilot)
VHF radio/Intercom, ELT + transponder
Strobes + Position (NAV) lights
Wing or nose landing lights
The GRS 'whole-of-plane' recovery twin-canopy parachute, fitted as standard to the Skyleader GP One, will reassure your more nervous students. GRS ballistic parachutes can also be fitted to Skyleader's low-wing LSA models.
Other safety features include:
optional Dual brakes (pilot + co-pilot)
VHF radio/Intercom, ELT + transponder
Strobes + Position (NAV) lights
Wing or nose landing lights
Rotax 912 ULS 100 hp engine
Reliable, proven Rotax four-stroke engines
Skyleader's LSA models are powered by four-stroke Rotax 912 and 914 engines which have earned respect worldwide alongside legacy aviation engines made by Lycoming and Continental. If you prefer, you can order the Certified version of your Rotax engine.
In over 24 years of production, these Rotax engines have proven to be:
reliable (dual electronic ignition; well-engineered)
low maintenance (TBO interval = 2000 hours or 15 years)
low fuel consumption (use 50% less fuel than a standard 100hp aircraft engine)
low emissions (emit 87% less CO than a 150hp trainer)
low noise
Skyleader's LSA models are powered by four-stroke Rotax 912 and 914 engines which have earned respect worldwide alongside legacy aviation engines made by Lycoming and Continental. If you prefer, you can order the Certified version of your Rotax engine.
In over 24 years of production, these Rotax engines have proven to be:
reliable (dual electronic ignition; well-engineered)
low maintenance (TBO interval = 2000 hours or 15 years)
low fuel consumption (use 50% less fuel than a standard 100hp aircraft engine)
low emissions (emit 87% less CO than a 150hp trainer)
low noise
glass cockpit option on SL-600
Instrumentation
Depending on your training needs, you can choose analogue gauges or a glass cockpit with a range of modern EFIS, EMS & GPS instruments.
Depending on your training needs, you can choose analogue gauges or a glass cockpit with a range of modern EFIS, EMS & GPS instruments.
LAME-maintained
Flight schools, aero clubs and adventure aviation operators will register their Skyleader aircraft as Light Sport Aircraft, since their safety management systems require them to have a LAME do all their aircraft maintenance.
Because all Light Sport Aircraft are maintained by LAMEs, they have good re-sale value. When the time for replacement comes, flight schools can sell their LSA to private pilots who are then allowed to transfer them onto the Microlight register (and do their own maintenance).
Flight schools, aero clubs and adventure aviation operators will register their Skyleader aircraft as Light Sport Aircraft, since their safety management systems require them to have a LAME do all their aircraft maintenance.
Because all Light Sport Aircraft are maintained by LAMEs, they have good re-sale value. When the time for replacement comes, flight schools can sell their LSA to private pilots who are then allowed to transfer them onto the Microlight register (and do their own maintenance).
Full-motion LSA simulator for flight schools
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LSA Flight training simulators
Skyleader manufactures LSA, glider, SE, ME and JET aircraft simulators for pilot training. The new full-motion LSA simulator based on an actual light sport aircraft cockpit, such as the SKYLEADER 600 or GP One, is a fraction of the cost of the actual aircraft. It can also be set up with cockpits from other LSA manufacturers. Flight schools who train pilots for twin-engine prop or jet aircraft should consider the HiBird C3 simulator. |
HiBird C3 simulator (SE, ME + Jet)
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