L i g h t P l a n e Wor l d
list of previous winners. In a short acceptance speech he
said we might not have had ultralights if it were not for the
EAA. (Many of the early innovators were EAA members.)
Taras is a certificated private pilot with instrument and glider
ratings, but it's clear that his first love is soaring. He has given
lectures on dynamic soaring, and you can read some of his
technical articles at www.IcarusEngineering.com. Prior to
the award ceremony he told of his experience soaring
in a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser with the prop stopped
in wave lift over California. Always at the leading edge
of technology, his latest interest is electric flight with
regenerative capability. He thinks it could revolutionize
the sport of soaring. An electric regenerative motorglider
could recharge its batteries during a descent, or simply
hold a steady altitude in lift, and thus store up enough
energy to reach more distant thermals. It's not hard to
imagine an electric sailplane parked in wave lift charging
its batteries for a long-distance flight.
Sebring 2013 Windup
Who wouldn't jump at the chance to go to Florida in January
to attend the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring instead
of staying in Illinois and shoveling snow? The 9th annual
expo will be even bigger than in the past, now featuring a
new manufacturer showcase, a big-name twilight air show,
and more daily activities. It will be an opportunity to gain
more knowledge about the tremendous range of technology
available in the U.S. market. We thought there were lots of
models during the ultralight boom when anybody with a twocar garage could start a business. Now it's the entire world
bringing in their best hardware.
With the introduction of lower-priced models like the
Tecnam P92 Echo Classic Light, the price pressure is
downward. I plan to check out the new Sam LS, which is
expected to be shown there for the first time. It can be
flown open cockpit, similar to my old friend's Ercoupe.
We would slide the canopy back and enjoy a pleasant
open-air afternoon cruise. Watch for more news and
photos from the Sebring Expo at www.EAA.org and on
the EAA Facebook page. Please send your comments and
suggestions for this column to dgrunloh@illicom.net.
Dan Grunloh, EAA 173888, is a retired scientist who
began flying ultralights and light planes in 1982.
He won the 2002 and 2004 U.S. National Microlight
Championships in a trike and flew with the U.S. World
Team in two FAI World Microlight Championships.
SAM LS designer Tierry Zibi with the recently completed SAM-LS prototype expected to be displayed at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring Florida.
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Vol.2 No.1 / January 2013
Photography courtesy Haim Aviation