When the Phantom was introduced to the ultralight market at Sun ‘n Fun in 1982, it won the Best New Design award, not only for good looks and strong performance but for its structural integrity! Indeed, it was touted as having been tested to +9 and –6.6 Gs. Though dismissed by some pilots, wire-braced designs are actually very tough.
Phantom is a kit built from anodized aluminum tubing, bolted and riveted together. The wings, tail surfaces and ailerons are covered in Dacron sail cloth envelopes and Phantom used a double surfaced wing for better cross wind control and handling.
A wire-braced, high-wing, tricycle-gear ultralight aircraft in a tractor configuration, Phantom has a pilot pod with windscreen and a steerable nosewheel. (These were not common in those early days of ultralight vehicles.) Controls are standard stick and rudder — a left hand throttle and right hand joystick — with full span ailerons.
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One-Five-Oh! — Newest Special Light-Sport Aircraft: InnovAviation’s FX1, SLSA #150
If you are an ultralight enthusiast (as I certainly am!), then you are probably celebrating with me as FX1 joins the Special LSA fleet — which it does as Number 150 on our popular SLSA List.
Here’s a secret: the SLSA List is one of the most-visited features on ByDanJohnson.com. Those who frequent that page know they can find all the Special LSA that have been accepted by FAA with links to the manufacturer, their importer if appropriate, contact info and all our content about any of the long list of aircraft.
We are nearly at the 15-year anniversary since FAA released the regulation for what is now known as Sport Pilot / Light-Sport Aircraft; the rule came out in early September 2004. It was grandly previewed at Airventure Oshkosh that summer. The first approvals — Evektor‘s SportStar and Flight Design‘s CT2K — were granted in April of 2005 at the Sun ‘n Fun event.
Industry Pros Nominate a Deserving Individual for LAMA President’s Award
Every year, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association asks industry professionals to nominate a deserving person to receive the LAMA President’s Award. Rest assured this has nothing to do with the POTUS spectacle about to begin. Instead this vote is for an individual that has made significant contributions to the light aviation field and is perhaps more relevant to your daily enjoymemt of the art of flying.
Many Deserving Persons
I think we are very lucky aviators. Americans, Europeans, and aviators in many countries have literally hundreds of great Light-Sport Aircraft or Sport Pilot kits to choose between. The list is so extensive that making a choice of the one you can probably afford is challenging, enough so that we created PlaneFinder 2.0 to help airplane shoppers narrow the list. (It’s fun; give it a try, no cost involved.) Many of the Award winners have been aircraft designers and/or manufacturers.
Stunning Upgrade to 1990s-Era Aircraft; FX1 Is a Carbon Beauty
Years ago, back in the late 1990s, I flew an aircraft called JetFox 97. It resembled the Flightstar of the day and both were modeled on talented European designer Hans Gygax’s designs. Along came Light-Sport Aircraft in 2004; years passed with not much word about the increasingly aged JetFox 97.
It’s back and looking handsome, cloaked in a carbon fiber fuselage. Since this is an Italian design, it has the beauty we often associate with products from that country. I am describing Alfredo Di Cesare‘s FX1.
You can read this article for more details of the history of this handsome aircraft along with many points of interest about it and some in-flight video. An earlier article provides more background from American John Hunter, a longtime light aircraft enthusiast and expert who assisted Alfredo as he completed the design.
FX1 at Aero Friedrichshafen 2018
I had some correspondence with Alfredo but we had not met until this year’s Aero show in the south of Germany.
Italy’s JetFox Redux — InnovAviation FX1 Moving toward SLSA Acceptance
We reported on FX1 shortly after it began flight trials in the hands of American light aviation expert John Hunter. This article offers John’s perspective on flight characteristics along with specifications; you should definitely read this if FX1 stirs your imagination.
InnovAviation is an Italian company founded in 2001 by Alfredo Di Cesare, who began his aviation career in the early 1980s as an importer and kit builder of Striplin Aircraft from the USA. Later that decade, Alfredo started importing Germany’s Comco Ikarus C22, which lead to C42 that became that country’s most popular light aircraft.
Alfredo saw room for improvement.
He probably also saw the success of America’s Flightstar, which was significantly based on work by Hans Gygax, the brain behind Comco’s C42. While resembling Flightstar, you can also see FX1 is much more developed.
FX1’s cabin is fully enclosed and sports large, curved doors.
LAMA President’s Award Nominations
Thanks for registering on our LAMA Award page, a service to LAMA to allow voting for a deserving person to receive the LAMA President’s Award for an Outstanding Individual.
Please fill out the simple form below to be registered to vote for an Outstanding Individual.
When you hit “Submit,” this form is sent to MailChimp. You will receive a second opt-in request.
MailChimp allows you to unsubscribe with every email we send.
After you are registered with MailChimp, you will receive email with instructions allowing you to vote for the 2018 Award. Notice that votes are sent ONLY to Larry Burke, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of LAMA.
THANKS!
PAST WINNERS OF THE LAMA PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL
2017: Sebastien Heintz (Zenith Aircraft)
2016: Professor Luigi Pascale (Tecnam Aircraft)
2015: Jeremy Monnett (Sonex Aircraft)
2014: Dual Award — Roy Beisswenger (“Powered Sport Aircraft” magazine) & Laura Vaughn (Sun ‘n Fun show)
2013: Bill Canino, (SportAir USA)
2012: Jan Fridrich (Chairman, LAMA Europe)
2011: Jack Pelton (Cessna Aircraft)
2010: Tom Gunnarson (FAA Small Airplane Directorate)
2009: Mary Jones (Experimental Aircraft Association)
2008: Matthias Betsch (Flight Design, Germany)
2007: Eric Tucker (Rotax Aircraft Engines)
2006: Dan Johnson (ByDanJohnson.com)
2005: Earl Lawrence (EAA, now with FAA)
2004: Phil Lockwood (Lockwood Aviation Supply)
2003: Mike Loehle (Loehle Aircraft)
2002: Chuck Slusarczyk (CGS Aircraft)
2001: Chris Heintz (Zenair Aircraft)
2000: Darryl Murphy (Murphy Aircraft)
1999: Bob Gavinsky (Stoddard-Hamilton Aircraft)
1998: Tom Peghiny (Flightstar Aircraft)
1997: Dennis Soder (Kolb Aircraft)
1996: Homer Kolb (Kolb Aircraft)
1995: Phil Reed (Skystar Aircraft)
1994: Lance Neibauer (Lancair Aircraft)
1993: Randy Schlitter (Rans Aircraft)
1992: Dick VanGrunsven (Van’s Aircraft)
LAMA Board Directors:
Dan Johnson — President & Chairman of the Board
Tom Peghiny — Director and President of Flight Design USA
Phil Lockwood — Director and President of Lockwood Aircraft Supply
Christian Mundigler — Director and Vice President of FAAC Incorporated
Phil Solomon — Director and CFO of Heart of Virginia Aviation
Roy Beisswenger — Director and Publisher of “Powered Sport Flying” magazine
Scott Severen — Director and Representative for Jabiru Aircraft in North America
Marc Becker — Manager of Rotax Aircraft Engines
Larry Burke — Chairman Emeritus & Founder
More info: http://www.lama.bz/board-of-directors
Here Comes FX1 Light Aircraft from Italy
In the late 1990s, the Italian JetFox 97 flew as an evolved ultralight. Resembling the FlightStar that sold around 1,000 units in all configurations, JetFox differed by enclosing the engine and cabin. Instead of a simple tail boom the European ultralight had an aft fuselage among other refinements. As Light-Sport erupted into the marketplace, JetFox appeared to slip away. However, good ideas can be recycled and revived. Such appears to be the case for FX1.
John Hunter has extensive experience with Drifter, AirCam, and several Aeroprakt models. Recently, he has been in Italy visiting Innovaviation to conduct the first test flights.
Created by JetFox designer, Alfredo Di Cesare, FX 1 is a modern aircraft cabin and fuselage structure made primarily of light weight carbon-graphite composite with wings and tail built from aluminum. Under the shapely skin is a cage of welded chromoly steel that provides robust occupant protection.
Alfredo wrote, “FX1 is a fourth-generation sport plane [that] evolved from successful European designs of the last three decades.” Using computer-aided design FX1 “has been carefully engineered to optimize all aspects of a proven configuration.”
Additional details including many more photos plus design considerations can be found on Innovaviation’s website.
Watch for a Whole New Look… Very Soon!
For thirteen years, ByDanJohnson.com has served the light aircraft community, covering Light-Sport Aircraft, light kit-built aircraft, and ultralight aircraft. Along the way, we’ve covered all manner of interesting light aircraft from the tiniest drones to the emerging new-style certified GA aircraft from producers of LSA. As my outgoing webmaster said, “It’s been quite a ride!”
Of, course, since ByDanJohnson.com has been live for 13 years (almost to the day, which will be April 1st, 2017), this website preceded social media and even giants like YouTube. The website you have been so loyally visiting was assembled using the fairly crude tools available at the beginning of this new millennia. However, now that we are 17 years into the new century, it is time for a change… a BIG change.
In just a few days, after we check and recheck, adjust and tweak, we will hit the button for our “beta launch” of an entirely new look and feel.
Yunec International — eSpyder electric airplane (2013)
You might see the Flightstar ultralight in this aircraft and you’d be correct. Now owned by Yuneec International, the design has evolved into the eSpyder, a solely electric-powered aircraft and we believe it is the very first to win certification as an electric airplane (by the German-sanctioned authority called DULV). We speak with Flightstar designer Tom Peghiny about his creation and its systems.
Chinese Pilot Seeks to Fly for Fun
WEEKEND UPDATE — Next week I leave for my first visit to China, specifically to Anyang City, by train a couple hours south of Beijing where the seventh running of an annual airshow is planned. I have only a sketchy idea what to expect even though Shu Dong Li of the Aero Sport Association has briefed me as has my European counterpart (in our work for LAMA), Jan Fridrich. In the last year alone, Jan has made nine trips to China as the Czech government is assisting Chinese authorities in work to build personal aviation in that country.
At the invitation of Shu Dong and Anyang City officials I was asked to speak at the event and I will join several other Americans all invited for the occasion. I expect this will prove interesting. While no one expect China to suddenly explode with light aviation activity, various groups are vigorously pursuing the future of recreational flying and this country has accomplished a great deal in a short time.
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