Compiled By ANN Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell
We made some changes
this year in the manner in which we name the most notable aircraft
of the year. Normally announced at Oshkosh, we decided to fold
these announcements into our Year-End Wrap-Up in order to take
advantage of the rest of the year's events and input as well as to
make such an announcement truly representative of the full
year.
We've also spread out some of the goodies... with special awards
to Certificated as well as SportPlanes, an award for the Most
Impressive manufacturer, a "special" award for the best SpacePlane
of the Year (like there was a lot of competition... eh?), a
round-up of the Duds and disappointments, and a look forward to
what looks promising for 2005. Sit back, check it out and let us
know what you think of our choices for the year.
SportPlane Nominees
FlightStar SC
An oldie and ever-so-much a goodie, the FlightStar SC is Tom
Peghiny's quasi-enclosed two seat FlightStar rendition of a classic
ultralight and light airframe. One of the oldest basic designs in
the business, Peghiny's high-class operation has kept up with the
times with excellent engineering, even better customer-support, and
a solid manufacturing program that has continually produced a
high-quality, easy to build airframe that does all that it promises
and does so with excellent manners.
A sweetie in the air and a solid performer on the ground, the
FlightStar series is quickly becoming our favorite
ultralight-type aircraft. Best of all, though, is the little
company that produces it... high-quality, thoroughly ethical folks
that this industry can be proud of. They're winners all...
airframe, company and lucky owners. Win, win, win... we love being
able to say that about a sport aviation company. Highly
recommended.
Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey
Here's another "classic" design that continues to thrive in an
industry that has seen far better days and circumstances. The
little two place SeaRey pusher amphibian is one of the most
delightful offerings in all of sport aviation. While barely a 100
mph cruiser, the Rotax 912/94 powered SeaRey is a gentle flyer with
excellent stability and control properties, amazingly good water
manners, and is one of the more forgiving taildraggers extant.
The SeaRey is pretty much alone in its class... no other amphib
does as much, as well, or as pleasantly as the little Florida
flyer. Backed up by a family operation with decades of experience
in the sport aviation business, the customer service record is
good, the kit is well done and the bang for the buck is the best
you can find in a water-capable aircraft. But most of all, the
SeaRey is fun... a lot of fun and I gotta tell you that one of my
favorite memories of all time is bootlegging a step turn across a
little pond in Central Florida with a pretty red-head giggling next
to me as we flew off and hop-scotched ourselves across a dozen
little lakes and ponds in as many minutes. The SeaRey is a gas.
Highly recommended.
Sportsman 2+2
This is not your Father's GlaStar... it's something even
better.
Fly this with your eyes closed and you'll swear that you're flying
a GlaStar… which is a really good thing… but open
your eyes, and see all the extra room and payload, and you'll know
that the seemingly perfect little GlaStar SportPlane has finally
been topped… by it's own kin.
The stretched and tweaked Sportsman 2+2 is every bit as
good as the GlaStar was (high-praise--it was on my Top Ten list for
years)... and maybe just a little bit nicer, in terms of
load-carrying, and overall stability and control (the very tight
static/dynamic pitch profile is even better defined... which we
weren't sure was possible til we flew it). A solid company
backs this bird and the value is exceptional... especially when you
add in the availability of their new builder's program and
financing packages. Highly recommended.
Van's RV-8
We're not prepared to just come out and say that Dick Van
Grunsven can do no wrong... but darn it if Dick Van Grunsven can do
no wrong... this two place tandem hot-rod is an excellent STOL
flyer, pretty much a rocket-ship in cruise (200 mph or so), as
mild-mannered as they come in slow-flight but with a rowdy soul if
ya gotta get acrobatic for a while. It rocks, it rolls... it
makes julien fries... NOT-- but what a hot-sh*t little airplane, we
kid you not.
Sleek, pretty and incredibly functional, the RV-8 is one of
Dick's best designs... though we beg all those who are interested
in the bird to stick to the taildragger persuasion... as God
himself intended, because a bird this cool and this rough and
ready, simply looks at a nosewheel as an insult (grin). The kits
are exceptionally well-done (especially the quick-build versions),
customer support is well-executed, and the camaraderie of OVER 4000
other RV builders is a benefit that can NOT possibly be
overvalued.
Velocity SE
Not the most powerful and speedy of the Velocity line, the
Velocity SE (once known as the Velocity SUV) is one of the nicest
and most accomplished four seaters to EVER hit the SportPlane
market... and that's saying a lot. It's also one of the most
cost-effective four seaters in the biz... an attribute that we
cash-strapped aero-writers tend to pay a LOT of attention to.
Featuring easy-entry dual gull-wing doors, this model
accommodates 180 to 220 HP powerplants, providing a cruise of 162
to 187 knots, depending on horsepower, prop and landing gear
selected. As with the XL model, this kit is available with fixed or
retract gear. I was particularly impressed with the basic fixed
gear SE... which is still a very fast little flyer, boasts a
surprisingly roomy cabin, rides rowdy air with aplomb, and makes
for an excellent x-country or basic IFR platform. But the best
attribute this bird brings is a parent company with a superlative
customer service record, and a very stable history. Highly
recommended.
ZenithAir Zodiac XL
I go a LONG way back with this design series... As a matter of
fact, I demo'd the first of the Zodiac series the first day it
showed up at Oshkosh many years ago and have rarely passed up the
chance to fly one of them since. In the years that have passed,
this series has matured nicely from a very basic low-wing two
seater to a still-affordable but significantly more capable bird
that would seem to still have quite a future ahead of it.
The XL boasts a newer canopy design, flaps, bigger baggage area,
and more payload, a redesigned wing, and either trike or
taildragger gear. The XL can be powered by the six cylinder Jabiru
3300, a Lycoming O-235 or the Rotax 912/914 series. The bird
is backed by a well-known and long-lived company that has earned a
solid rep for good customer service and a solid product line. The
XL series cruises from 134-138 mph (depending on powerplant) and
has a stall speed of 44 mph. Highly recommended.
Next... ANN enumerates our most notable
certified aircraft nominees and then names the Top Birds in this
and other categories... don't miss it!
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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