The latest U.S.-built entry in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market, called American Flyer, is being launched this week at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. The aircraft is built by Mountain Aircraft, of Nampa, Idaho, but will be marketed in North America by Sportsplanes.com. The aircraft is not yet in production a nd will undergo extensive flight testing in the next couple of months with production beginning within three months. Spokesman Dan Rozsa said the aircraft uses tube, wood and fabric construction coupled with the venerable Rotax 912S engine to create a light, responsive aircraft.
The American Flyer has an empty weight of just 600 lbs., giving it a payload of 720 lbs. The company says the plane needs a ground run of only 150 feet and climbs at 1,300 fpm. Cruise is pegged at 105 mph and it stalls at 30 to 35 mph. The wings fold for storage. Sun 'n Fun Fly-In Inc., organizer of the show that bears the same name, will give away a copy of the American Flyer LSA next year. The sweepstakes tickets ($5 for one or $20 for five) are now on sale and can be purchased at the Gift of Flight kiosks at Sun 'n Fun or online at Sun-N-Fun.org.
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