Another development that may lead to lower
prices for those new to sport flying is the recent announcement from Rotax that
its two-stroke
65-hp R-582 engine has met ASTM standards. The two-stroke is commonly used
in smaller aircraft such as ultralights, trikes, and powered parachutes. Up
till now, those aircraft had to install a heavier four-stroke engine to qualify
for LSA certification, because no certified two-stroke was available.
"I'm excited that they finally did
this," LSA advocate Dan
Johnson told AVweb
yesterday. "It could mean more lower-priced sport aircraft entering the
market." There are also other implications to the new development. Of the
36 LSAs that are certified so far, only six are made in the U.S.A., Johnson
said. European models had an advantage because they'd been designed to fit
under rules similar to LSA for years.
In the U.S., the wide range of aircraft flown
under ultralight rules -- or sometimes, just beyond those rules -- were smaller
and lighter. "The powered parachutes and trikes that have been LSA
certified did it with four-stroke engines because that's all that was
available, but they'll get better performance with a two-stroke," Johnson
said.
Those lighter aircraft, if LSA certified,
could sell in the $40K and under range, more accessible to many than the
current models, most of which are $80K and up. Johnson added that the Rotax
engines could become more familiar to mechanics if the rumors prove true that
Cessna will go with a Rotax choice for its LSA model, to be unveiled at EAA
AirVenture next month. "When you look at all the options available, a
Rotax really would be the best choice," he said. "So we'll find out
at Oshkosh."