Te steel tube and fabric Apollo LSA was inspired by the Avid and Kitfox designs.
Paul Mather fying the Breese 2 S-LSA at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012.
sic Light will appeal to budget-conscious buyers who
want a metal airplane from a major manufacturer.
American Bargain S-LSA
Apollo LSA – $67,500
Steel tube and fabric airplanes have been the heart
and soul of sport flying since the introduction of the
Piper Cub. The Avid Flyer introduced by Dean Wilson
in 1983 has inspired many follow-on varieties, including the factory-built Apollo LSA from Hungary. It brings
the basic Avid or Kitfox type airframe up to the ASTM
standards. Available for some time overseas as the
Apollo Fox, the U.S. version (the Apollo LSA) has been
given a taller vertical stabilizer and control surface
gap seals to improve the handling. Most hardware was
changed from metric to AN aviation grade for easier
maintenance. Maximum takeoff weight is 1,260 pounds,
and with an empty weight of 715 pounds, the Apollo
LSA has a useful load of 550 pounds. It can cruise at
98 knots on 75-percent power, and the ready-to-fly
price is $67,500 with the 80-hp Rotax engine and
$69,950 with the 100-hp Rotax engine. Learn more
at www.SilverLightAviation.com.
The Aerotrek A220/A240 – $84,500
Another economical choice in the tube-and-fabric, foldingwing format is the Aerotrek A220/A240, built by Aeropro
CZ in the Czech Republic. They have produced about 200
aircraft since the 1990s. The 100-hp Aerotrek has a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, a typical empty weight
of 655 pounds, and a useful load of 580 pounds. Aerotrek is
available with tricycle or taildragger gear, has a long list of
attractive features, and is priced at $84,500.
If you want a U.S.-manufactured S-LSA in the tube and
fabric class, consider the 100-hp Rans S-7LS Courier
with a flyaway price of $87,500 or about $95,000 with
lights and a deluxe analog instrument package, or the
Kitfox S-LSA with a base price of $95,000.
M-Squared Breese 2 – $34,995
Paul Mather of M-Squared Inc. has retained the feel
and the fun of ultralight flying with the factory-built
Breese 2 S-LSA that can be used for hire, training, or
just plain fun. Simple, proven construction methods
yield a tough airframe that can take abuse. A 65-hp Rotax 582 engine at 75-percent power with a Warp Drive
prop will yield a cruise speed of 65 mph and maximum
level flight speed of 74 mph. The company website proclaims, "An M-Squared aircraft isn't fast…It's fun!"
Empty weight is 565 pounds, and maximum takeoff
weight is 1,320, leaving an astounding useful load of
775 pounds. Check the math if you don't believe it.
Takeoff distance is 165 feet. The Breeze 2 is the lowest-priced fixed-wing S-LSA on the market, and Paul
says you can actually make money with this aircraft.
Learn more at www.MsquaredAircraft.com.
Challenger XS-50 (Kit With Engine) – Under $30,000
The Quad City Challenger is not an LSA, but the popular amateur-built aircraft deserves to be mentioned
in any list of low-cost aircraft for sport pilots. Thousands have been built and flown, and builder support
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