Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/323139
EAA Experimenter 37 Tecnam also announced it will open a new assembly plant and service center at the Sebring Regional Florida Airport in Sebring, Florida. Astore specs and details are available at www.Tecnam.net . Jim Bede designs have returned with the BD-17L single- seat, low-wing, light-sport aircraft (LSA) version of the original BD-17. I climbed in easily with my artifi cial knee after watching a gentleman climb aboard with an artifi cial leg. The 23-inch- wide cockpit is roomy and the right-hand side stick control is very nice. The construction is traditional Bede style with bonded ½-inch aluminum sandwich panels. The company will soon introduce a new two-seat LSA, called the BD-22, which is based partly on the original BD-4 design. The Bede staf said Jim is still going strong, and they have designs up to number 30 already in the pipeline. Bede kits are sold as experimental amateur-built aircraft. See more at www.JimBede.com . T RIK E NE W S Paradise City has long been the place to see and fl y weight- shift trikes, and Sun 'n Fun 2014 lived up to expectations. Evo- lution Trikes, the top U.S. manufacturer of special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA) trikes, celebrated its fi fth anniversary by dis- playing a total of eight Revo trikes at Paradise City. About 60 Revo trikes have been produced. The latest changes include: an angled instrument panel for better viewing of the 8.5-inch MGL touch-screen display, more legroom, a redesigned pod to provide easy access to instruments and wiring, and panel switches moved to a lower position so you never have to reach over the control bar. The Rival-S wing features advanced geometry that chang- es with in-fl ight trim adjustment and an adjusting ring on the keel tube for lateral trim. Revo is experimenting with an in- fl ight adjustable trim tab on the wheel fi ns, and designer Larry Mednick revealed he is working on a new design, something "very dif erent and tubular." Get details about the Revo trike at www.EvolutionTrikes.com . Tony Castillo of P&M; Aviation USA , importer of the British QuikR and Quik-GTR trikes, is moving his facility from Cummings, Georgia, to beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama, and partnering with Gary Berdeaux of BeachFlight Aviation ( www.BeachFlight.com ) at the Jack Edwards National Airport. Tony displayed two Quik trikes but teased the upcoming arrival of the futuristic P&M; PulsR with billboard displays. The PulsR features a monocoque, carbon-fi ber shell with wraparound windshield and no front strut. The new GTR wing features auto- matic adjusting washout rods for stability and in-fl ight roll trim. SilverLight Aviation of Zephyrhills, Florida, announced the return of the Apollo Delta Jet trike along with the Hungarian- built Apollo fi xed-wing airplane and AG-1 gyroplane. Apollo trikes have been successful in competition and record setting, and they have inspired others including the American-made Revo. Company spokesman Abid Farooqui said the Delta Jet components are custom-built to U.S. standards and then shipped to the United States for assembly. The wings are built by North- wings. Todd Halver of Papa Tango Aviation in North Carolina will handle the sales and service for the Delta Jet trike. P OW ERED PA R ACHU T E S A ND PA R AGL IDERS The biggest of all powered parachutes, the Maverick LSA Fly- ing Car, fl ew numerous times during the week, and it fl ew well. Spectators got a close look at the process of unfurling, rais- ing, and launching the wing, and Maverick deserves credit for willingness to demonstrate the craft in all conditions. Shifting crosswinds at launch are challenging for any parachute wing and even more so when your chute is on top of a carbon-fi ber pole. Contact Beyond Roads and see videos at MaverickLSA.com . Powered paragliders, both foot-launched and those on tricycle landing gear, ruled the sky during the dawn and sunset flying sessions, and they were joined by a few slower ultralights. The activity of the paragliders on the runway is a surefire crowd-pleaser and a great way to attract people to all aspects of light-sport aviation. Nothing does that better than watching Paul Czarnecki of PlanetPPG doing a tandem foot launch with a student. Seeing them running along the Checking out the Apollo Delta Jet with Todd Halver. Photo by Don Feldhake. Paul Czarnecki begins another successful tandem launch at Sun 'n Fun. E A A E X P _ J u n e 1 4 . i n d d 3 7 EAAEXP_June14.indd 37 6 / 3 / 1 4 8 : 4 1 A M 6/3/14 8:41 AM