Explore the world of general aviation aircraft with our reviews. Written from a pilot’s perspective, these reviews provide fantastic insight into what these general aviation planes are really like.
Not since the 1930s has airplane innovation been impacted as much as it was yesterday when ICON unveiled their hotly anticipated A5 amphibious aircraft to the public through a handful of pilot journalists.
SportCruiser LSA SPECIFICATIONS Engine: Rotax 912 ULS Power: 100 hp at 5800 rpm Fuel: Mogas 91 AKI min or Avgas 100LL Propeller: Woodcomp Classic Wingspan (ft.): 28.22 Length (ft.): 21.72 Height (ft.): 7.60 Cockpit width (in.): 46.2 Max. takeoff weight (lbs.): 1320 Empty weight (min. equip., lbs.): 824 Max. baggage weight in rear compartment (lbs.): more »
All too often, we hear about general aviation businesses hanging on by a thread, scraping by in a fight to survive.
You know you’re not in for any surprises when flying a Cirrus.
Cirrus SR22T GTS SPECIFICATIONS Base price: $599,900 As flown: approx. $833,700 Engine: Continental 315 hp TSIO-550-K Turbocharged Max gross weight (lbs.): 3,600 Base weight (lbs.): 2,342 Useful load weight (lbs.): 1,258 Fuel capacity (gals.): 92 Wingspan: 38 ft. 4 in. Length (ft.): 26 Height: 8 ft. 11 in. Cabin width (in.): 49 Cabin height (in.): more »
As the U.S. distributor of the mega-selling and insanely popular CT series of German-manufactured, all-composite light-sport aircraft, Peghiny has watched an industry he helped create transform itself into the brightest spot in GA.
Flight Design SPECIFICATIONS Base price: $156,000 (CTLS) $167,700 (CTLSi) Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (carbureted) or 912 iS (fuel-injected) Power: 100 hp Length: 21 ft. 5 in. Height: 8 ft. 6 in. Wingspan: 31 ft. 2 in. Wing Area (sq. ft.): 121.6 Aspect Ratio: 7.29:1 Cabin Width (in.): 49 Empty Weight (lbs.): 795 Gross Weight (lbs.): more »
David Shaw is a bit of a perfectionist. His hangar has a wide collection of tools and parts, and all are neatly arranged.
I’m going to admit it right up front: I’ve always admired the Cessna CJ3 from afar but frankly, it’s a bit, (okay, a lot) out of my price range, so it’s a plane that I’ve only dreamed about. But dreams are good, and wow, what an airplane!
Citation CJ3+ SPECIFICATIONS Base price: $7.995 million Typically Equipped Priced: $8.2-$8.4 million Overall Length (ft.): 51.1 Height (ft.): 15.1 Wingspan (ft.): 53.3 Wing Area (ft.): 294.1 Max Wing Loading (lbs./sq. ft.): 47.2 Cabin Length (ft.): 20.6 Seating Capacity As Tested: 8+2 Cabin Width (in.): 58 Cabin Height (in.): 57 Baggage Capacity (lbs.): 1000 Baggage Volume more »
Manufacturers’ displays of new aircraft models are hardly novel at Sebring’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, but showcasing a new aircraft facility as Tecnam did this year, hosting an open house at its new U.S. headquarters at the airport, is a first.
Tecnam Astore SPECIFICATIONS Price: Standard, $147,000 with carbureted 912ULS, to $176,000 with optional avionics packages. Turbocharged Rotax 914UL2, as flown, $24,900. Engine: 115 hp Rotax 914UL2 Propeller: Three-blade Sensenich, 5.67-ft. diameter Length (ft.): 23.0 Height (ft.): 7.54 Wingspan (ft.): 28.4 Wing area (sq. ft.): 131 Standard empty weight (lbs.): 809 Max. takeoff weight (lbs.): 1320 more »
With the use of seaplanes climbing worldwide and the supply of available stalwarts like the Cessna 206 and the de Havilland Twin Otter shrinking, the marketplace has begun to respond to consumer demand.
Wipaire Boss C 182 SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 315 hp Lycoming IO-580 Propeller: Hartzell three-blade carbon-composite Trailblazer Length: 29 ft. 6 in. Wingspan (ft.): 36 Height, wheels down (ft.): 13 Height to wingtip, wheels down: 10 ft. 9 in. Length, amphib float: 20 ft. 8 in. Hull height: 2 ft. 5 in. Hull width: 2 ft. 8 more »
Since the introduction of the sport-pilot certificate in 2005, light-sport aircraft (LSA) have been eyed with a mixture of hopeful optimism and cautious indifference.
Bristell TDO SPECIFICATIONS Powerplant: 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS/iS Wingspan (ft.): 27 Wing Area: 113 sq. ft. Wing Loading: 10 lbs./sq. ft. Length: 21 ft. 2 in. Height: 7 ft. 6 in. Cabin Width: 51 in. Gross Weight (lbs.): 1320 Empty Weight (lbs.): 675 Useful Load (lbs.): 645 Fuel Quantity: 31.6 gals. usable Endurance (hrs.): more »
If you wonder why it took Mancuso so long to find the Bristell, the manufacturer, BRM Aero of the Czech Republic, wasn’t established until late in 2009.
Sixty years ago when Piper introduced the first everyman’s business twin, the PA-23 Apache, everyone automatically accepted the premise that twins were naturally safer than singles.