EAA Chapter 25

by Jon Cumpton, Chapter 25 President

from On Final January 2006

Eight years ago, I joined my first EAA Chapter, Chapter 790 in Barrington, Illinois. It wasn’t very long before I began to realize that the members of that chapter were very special, interesting people, who shared a love of all things aviation. I got to know them while I also learned to fly – from one of my fellow chapter members. Although I had been to Airventure several times, these people showed me a new way to enjoy the event by volunteering. 790 members were instrumental to a group called EAA Ambassadors, and at one of the Airventure events I met a guy from far off Minneapolis, who had been similarly attracted to the group.

A couple of years later, I moved to the Twin Cities area, although admittedly on the eastern fringe in Cheeseland. I remained a member of Chapter 790 (as I still do today), but realized I needed to establish a local relationship with EAA folks. I remembered the guy (Read on …)

from On Final January 2006

This month, we decided it would be a good time to profile our new chapter vice-president. The picture at left was taken at American Wings Museum before our December meeting.

Early interest in flying
My father was a Naval Aviator in the late 60’s. There was always a flight suit and helmet in the closet while I was growing up. After the military, Dad worked as a CFI to supplement his income, and I got a few flights as ride-alongs. This is probably where my interest in GA was born.

Flight training
I was flying with Dad before I could walk. My first remembered time at the controls was straight and level in a V35 Bonanza at age 8. My first take-offs and landings were around age 14 in a 1947 Aeronca 7AC Champ. My ‘non-official’ training began around age 12 in the ‘47 Champ. I didn’t log any of that time, as my Dad’s CFI had expired and we were just out for fun. My first ‘official’ lessons began while I was in my senior year at college. As part of my aerospace engineering degree, I could earn credit hours by taking basic flight training. Since I was a poor college student at the time, it didn’t matter that I’d be a little poorer from flying lessons. (Read on …)

from On Final January 2006

Over the past several years we have been hearing a lot about light sport aircraft. With all of the new rules surrounding these aircraft and the training required to fly them, it can be pretty confusing. Current pilots may think that the new rules hold nothing for them, or they may be looking to the new rules simply to fly smaller traditional aircraft without a medical. But one thing is becoming clear as the market for light sport aircraft evolves: pilots who would like to buy a new factory- built aircraft have a whole lot more options than before.

That is because the new rules include a separate category called Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) for aircraft that are 100% factorybuilt. (Experimental, or E-LSA is the category for those partially built by the owner.) S-LSA aircraft are FAA certified, but because the new certification rules are less restrictive, new designs are appearing on the market like never before. The Flight Design CT is a prime example of the new S-LSA category. The first Flight Design CT was certified last April in the U.S. However, this aircraft has been certified for several years in Europe, and over 300 CT’s are now flying world wide.

According to Robert Goyer, who conducted a test flight of the CT, the new S-LSA certification rules amount to a deregulation of the aircraft manufacturing industry. (See his article from the May 2005 issue of Flying at http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp? section_id=17&article_id=541)

In his flight review of the CT, Robert makes it clear that these new aircraft are slick, sophisticated designs that should compete favorably in the home market against the more expensive new designs certified under Part 23 (Cirrus, Diamond). The specs on the right (from Robert’s article) tell the story.

Come to our January meeting to hear Franco Fiorillo of Aircraft Resource Center talk about his plans to make the Flight Design CT available at Airlake.