Days Of Celebration, Days Of Dreams

This is a year for anniversaries: the 50th of the Cessna 150, 60th of the North American T-28 Trojan, 80th of the Pietenpol and 100th of Canadian aviation. But it will also go down in the history books as the year when the future snuck in on a whir of silent propellers: commercially produced electric-powered aircraft made their dramatic debuts.

Much as we remember the flights of the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk a century ago, we'll point to the first flights of commercially produced electric-powered airplanes as the time when the world changed forever---again. The future is here, and it is now.

The 10 aircraft below represent our take on recent aviation notables, but you can take away this capsule overview: Economic doldrums seem to be fading, and the human spirit of endurance, adaptation and innovation is alive and as exuberantly indomitable as ever.

Cessna 162 SkyCatcher
The long-watched, patiently awaited (more than 1,000 orders are on the books) Cessna SkyCatcher, powered by the 100 hp Continental O-200D, emerged from flight-testing setbacks with its ASTM certification sticker---the 100th LSA model to do so. Deliveries of the China-produced LSA should start by year's end. Visit www.cessna.com.

Tecnam P2006T
Long-time Italian producer Tecnam offers its P2006T, a "compact," twin-engine high-winger that takes an impressive new slant on four-seat personal or business travel. Powered by FAR 33--certified Rotax 912S engines, the bird has a 9 gph total burn; that's with both engines running. It also features retractable gear, full-feathering constant-speed props and an optional all-glass avionics cockpit---all for less than $500,000 fully equipped. Visit www.tecnamaircraft.com.

Red Tail P-51
The famed Tuskegee Airmen, World War II's celebrated African-American troop of P-51 fighter pilots, are enjoying yet another celebration of their storied past with the return of one of their own: a C-model Mustang like the one they flew so long ago. Following a fatal crash, the airplane was rebuilt through tens of thousands of hours of work and donations amounting to $25,000 over the project's five years. Visit www.redtail.org.

P-750 XSTOL
From New Zealand comes this rugged-looking XSTOL (extremely short takeoff and landing) airplane with an impressive range of potential mission modes, including passenger/cargo/utility hauling, skydiving, crop dusting and aerial surveying! The P-750 offers 10 seats, takeoff and landing in less than 800 feet, rough-strip operations and a 4,000-pound useful load even in high-
density-altitude conditions. Visit www.aerospace.co.nz.

ATP & D-Jet
Diamond Aircraft has chosen Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) as its flight-training provider, with 20 D-Jets currently on order. ATP will provide factory-authorized type-rating and recurrent training and support services for the new VLJ at several of its centers nationwide. The flight training is aimed primarily at the owner-pilot market, which focuses on an initial pilot-candidate assessment and six- to nine-day comprehensive programs. Visit www.atpflightschool.com and www.diamondaircraft.com.

Diamond DA20
Diamond's sporty, two-seat, T-tail flivver received a panel makeover with Garmin's newly certified G500 PFD/MFD. Priced at $15,995, the G500 is targeted at more than 600 single- and twin-engine aircraft. Options include a version of Garmin's Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) software and the GAD 43 autopilot interface. Visit www.diamondaircraft.com and www.garmin.com.

Yuneec E430
The all-composite E430 LSA is the world's first commercially produced, two-seat electric aircraft. It flies for well over an hour on just $2.50 of electric charge! Look for it on the market within the next year, and expect refinements---the E430 was brought from design to first flight in only four months! Visit yuneeccouk.site.securepod.com.

Dornier Seastar CD2
Dornier's all-composite, twin Seastar CD2 amphibian can be configured in various ways, with a max passenger load of 12! Fully certified, its power train features two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A in-line turboprops with 650 shp each. Max climb is 1,300 fpm; max cruise is 180 knots. Visit www.dornierseaplane.com.

Icon Aircraft A5
The much-anticipated Icon Aircraft A5 amphibious S-LSA had its land-launch debut at EAA AirVenture's seaplane base in July. Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts watched the production prototype---the company says 400 orders are on the books---nimbly carve high-bank turns overhead and then perform numerous takeoffs and smooth landings on water. It was an impressive public showing. Visit www.iconaircraft.com.

Sonex & Stratos Personal Jets
Longtime kit aircraft maker Sonex could sell its SubSonex single-place jet for less than $50,000; it weighs 330 pounds and has a 750-pound gross weight. The engine comes from RC modeling ranks! Projected Vne is 300 mph. Also in development is the Stratos 714, a four-seat very light personal jet (VLPJ) project with performance that includes operations at FL410. Visit www.sonexaircraft.com and www.stratosaircraft.com.