L i g h t P l a n e Wor l d
All-composite Alpha trainer built in Slovenia by the
motorglider manufacturer Pipistrel.
Low-Cost Light-Sport Aircraft
They do exist!
By Dan Grunloh
There has never been a time when light-sport
aviation enthusiasts have had so many choices.
More than 130 light-sport aircraft (LSA) designs have
been offered, and at least 100 are in active production. With much of the publicity on special light-sport
aircraft (S-LSA) focusing on the high-priced models,
it's only fair to put the spotlight on some of the more
affordable options.
Manufacturers are responding to downward pressure
on price by offering simpler models with fewer frills.
Major air shows and aviation trade shows are a good
place to find bargains as dealers need to move their
stock to make way for the latest models. The preowned LSA market is also very lively, with amazing
deals being completed that never make it to the
public sale arena. Some of us might think we could
never afford a new LSA, but in aviation as in life you
Photography by Dan Grunloh
should never say never, or you may miss your dreams.
Here is a sample of five low-cost LSA in the under
$100,000 range.
Pipistrel Alpha Trainer – $85,000
Carbon-fiber composite construction is often reserved
for high-performance and luxury LSA where light
weight is important and where the extra cost is worth
the benefits. The European motorglider manufacturer
Pipistrel introduced the Alpha trainer, which is based
on its previous Virus SW model, and brought composite construction and fuel efficiency into the lower
price range. It's designed for training, but those same
features of ruggedness and low cost are also appealing for purely sport use. With an 80-hp engine and
basic instrumentation, you get the kind of fuel economy and performance that previously cost much more.
EAA Experimenter
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