LSA's - I don't see the point

[scottfromiowa]

Quote: N601RX

Here is a video of a LSA that I owned a few years ago.  Lots of fun, no insurance, no hanger fee, and $2 dollar a gallon pump gas.  I put over 300 hrs on it and probably gave over 100 rides.  Flew in and out of the back yard.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1526863115&ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?v=1027689662293&set=t.1526863115&type=3&theater

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1526863115&ref=tn_tnmn#!/photo.php?v=1018404190162&set=t.1526863115&type=3&theater

[aviatoreb]

Quote: Mazerbase

Erik, the Icon appears to be a cool airplane but it isn't available yet and it is pretty expensive for what you get.  The other, and maybe most important issue, is the way the canopy opens.  It tilts forward.  The most common accident in amphibians is landing on the water with the gear down which flips the plane forward and over.  In shallow water, you would be trapped. My SeaRey, available now and for considerably less money, has two sliding canopies that can be opened in flight and, regardless of how the plane ends up, one or both will be able to be opened. The Icon hasn't been flown with landing gear yet to my knowledge and I'm not sure if it is a conventional or tricycle gear.  The conventional gear is far superior to tricycle when trying to get up muddy banks where you can fold over the small nose gear.

[DaV8or]

I believe that an LSA can be legally flown IFR if the pilot has an IR and a current medical and the aircraft is approved by the manufacturer for IMC flight. Most LSAs are not approved by the manufacturers, but some are. Since most of the market seems to be guys without medicals, most manufacturers don't bother. Some of the market is for training though and so companies do the extra to meet IMC requirements and get the approval.

[DaV8or]

Quote: GeorgePerry

Grand total  +/- just a shade north of $100K...Not bad considering what it'll do and what they go for used.

http://web.mac.com/greenlandings/Arion_Lightning/Lightning_Pricing_Options.html

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: DaV8or

Grand total  +/- just a shade north of $100K...Not bad considering what it'll do and what they go for used.

http://web.mac.com/greenlandings/Arion_Lightning/Lightning_Pricing_Options.html

[Bennett]

I really like the Lightning, and I have sat in several of them, and seriously considered assembling one.  My only comment is I believe that the spec sheet showing 160 MPH is for the Experimental vesrion, not the LSA version.  The LSA version has a longer wing, and at last Oshkosh, the wing extensions were outboard of the ailerons.  Looked strange to me, and I would have thought it better to move the ailerons towards the tips.  Other than that the LSA version is quite nice, and as I posted earlier I believe that there are some good reasons for flying an LSA.  If, however, the propsed new rule that would eliminate the necessity for a FAA medical: pilot and pasengermax (although 4 palce aircraft would qualify) aircraft, day VFR, fxed gear, comes about, I think it would really impact the LSA market. Too many good used aircraft at inexpensive prices might well kill resale values for existing LSAs.  As it is, they depreciate horribly in my personal experience.