Texas Aircraft Manufacturing’s Colt LSA has been picking up speed over the summer, with a soft launch in the early summer, a public debut at Oshkosh, and now it has gained approval under the ASTM standards required to produce in the LSA category. The company has already begun production at its facility in Hondo, Texas.
“After a very successful introduction at Oshkosh AirVenture 2019, we have continued to see increasing interest from prospective buyers as well as flight schools,” says Texas Aircraft Manufacturing’s co-founder, Caio Jordão. “We are extremely thankful that so many people continue to tell us how much they love, not only how the Colt looks, but how well it flies.”
“Words cannot describe how it feels to have received the ASTM certification. The entire Texas Aircraft team has worked very long and hard to achieve this single goal,” says Texas Aircraft Manufacturing’s co-founder, Matheus Grande. “Receiving this document is truly a dream come true for everyone on our team.”
The Colt features an all-metal riveted design with an integrated steel-tube cage around the occupants. With a 100-HP Rotax 912 ULS under the hood, the Colt carries a claimed 110-knot cruise, 800-FPM maximum climb, and a 38-knot full-flap stall speed. Empty weight is listed as 839 pounds, so with the fuel tanks full (31.7 gallons), the payload is just over 290 pounds. Prices start at $167,000.
Watch our own Paul Bertorelli’s flight trial here:
I notice the Colt guy locked the top latch on his door, but Paul didn’t. Somewhere around 7:45 in the video, you can see air at the top rear of Paul’s door. Later during landing, I noticed it is also latched. Probably automatic. LOL. Not much payload with full fuel. I don’t know why the FAA doesn’t go ahead and raise the gross weight on the LSA category? I guess all the bureaucrats up there in FAA headquarters have to justify their existence for a while before they’ll do it. What a crock.
The Texas Colt LSA looks like a great airplane. I especially like the all metal design and steel tube cockpit. But I do have a question: With a 290 lb. useful load, how can two average males (one CFI and one student), fly the plane and stay within the 1320 gross weight?
Looks just like the Cessna 162.
I disagree with David B. Looks BETTER than a C-162 to me.
A LOT better.