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 other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/81495
Cessna to Change Skycatcher Certifi cation Cessna will transition its Model 162 Skycatcher from the LSA category to the Primary Category under Part 21 of the FARs. With that move, countries that do not currently recognize the LSA category will now certify the Skycatcher. "What they ask for is a [type certifi cate] and a [production certifi cate]," said Tracy Leopold, business leader for the Cessna 162. "With LSA we don't have PC." The European Aviation Safety Association's CS-LSA requirements were included in the transition effort. Continental Goes Diesel Continental Motors announced an ambitious expansion of its GA diesel engine development and certifi cation program, with the goal of creating turbo diesel engines to cover the entire power range of its current engine line. "We will certify our fi rst diesel series this year," said Continental Motors President Rhett Ross. "More importantly we will be in production in Q1 of 2013, at an initial rate in excess of 200 engines per year." The turbo diesel series will initially incorporate three models: the TD220 (160- to 180-hp range); TD300 (200 to 250 hp); and TD450 (300 to 350 hp), with the TD300 fi rst in line for certifi cation and production. The TD300 is scheduled to commence production in Q1 2015, followed by the TD220 in late 2016 or early 2017. Lycoming also will begin certifi cation on a 200-hp and below engine that will operate on unleaded fuels, including 91 octane. Continental's development of the diesel and unleaded fuel-burning engines is driven by the pressure to move away from 100LL, and the absence of this avgas in many parts of the world. Quicksilver Under New Ownership The new owners of Quicksilver Manufacturing, renamed Quicksilver Aeronautics LLC, recently announced plans to take the product line into the light-sport aircraft arena. President Will Escutia and co-owner and Chief Operations Offi cer Daniel Perez now manage the company. Quicksilver began as a hang glider manufacturer in the late 1970s, and today, with more than 15,000 aircraft delivered, is one of the kit aircraft industry's most successful companies. Its MX series includes the single-seat Sprint and Sport, two-place Sprint II, Sport II and Sport IIS, while its GT series includes the single-seat GT 400 and two-place GT 500. Perez said the company plans to introduce several of its models as LSA. Quicksilver plans to certifi cate the GT 500 and Sport IIS as Primary Category aircraft, which will help sales in Europe. The GT 500 was the fi rst aircraft certifi cated in the Primary Category 25 years ago. With that inclusion, Cessna expects European acceptance of the Skycatcher through a simple validation effort once FAA approvals are complete. The Skycatcher still qualifi es as an LSA in the countries that recognize the category, including the United States. Sport pilot training in the airplane and operation under light-sport rules will continue unchanged. ยป For more information, visit www.Cessna.com/ single-engine/skycatcher.html. EAA EXPERIMENTER 11