Light Plane World
and other considerations permitting, and a six-balloon sendoff early Saturday morning. Powered parachutes (PPCs), paragliders, and slow ultralights operated early morning and late evening each day, while rotorcraft operated from noon until 3 p.m. Weight-shift control (WSC) trikes and conventional light-sport aircraft operated from the grass strip between these times. The wide variety of aircraft on display and fl ying is always of interest.
Photo by Jim Raeder
T e Aerolite 103 is available as an aff ordable kit or as a completed airplane. It is a true FAR 103 ultralight with a folding wing as well as good performance and handling qualities. No medical, BFR, checkride requirements, or tail wheel endorsements needed, only a few gallons of gas, an open fi eld and a desire to fl y.
in light, foot-launched or towed gliders and the addition of lightweight two-cycle engines to those gliders caused the FAA to revise the regulations. Thus the term "ultralight vehicle" was incorporated into FAR 103 to defi ne and control operation of the popular but previously illegal lightweight and limited-performance powered and unpowered aircraft.
Ultralight aircraft in attendance included Terry Raber with his Aerolite 103 and streamline strut fairings, the Lazair electric ultralight, two of Ed Sweeney's twin-engine Hummingbirds circa 1983, and a new design called Bodacius which won the Reserve Grand Champion Ultralight Award. It's a one-off prototype wood-and-fabric high wing with the Oratex prefi nished covering system. Keith Sharon brought his Rogallo- winged twin-engine Wasp Wing antique powered hang glider to the show. His father originally built the glider in 1976. It's one of three still in existence.
The Mosquito helicopter and the Butterfl y gyrocopter kept the buzz going (literally and fi guratively) in the rotorcraft area. The farm was also the home for hot air balloons with evening tethered infl ations, weather
38 NO. 1 / SEPTEMBER 2012
The PlaneDriven PD-2, a 210-hp Glasair Sportsman GS-2 roadable airplane project was fl own to KOSH from Florida and then on to Washington State after the show. Most show days, it was driven to a local restaurant after the daily air show to demonstrate its road- handling characteristics and crowd appeal.
The LISA Akoya amphibious aircraft, capable of operating from land, snow, or water, was on static display allowing inspection of the surface-piercing hydrofoil sea legs unique to this stunning 125-knot, two- seat, advanced-technology composite design airplane. LISA is an acronym for Light Innovative Sport Aircraft, and Akoya is a type of pearl. Water operations with the sea wings have verifi ed their functionality and improved rough water capabilities.
Just Aircraft had a signifi cant presence of its product line. Highlander N376CG was the star of the show with its extended air-shock landing gear and high-lift STOL wing, incorporating leading-edge slats and Fowler fl aps and enabling exceptional slow fl ight and STOL.
T e e-volo VC2 volocopter (vertical takeoff and landing copter) was one of the stars of the AeroInnovations hangars where the latest in aviation technology was on display. T e e-volo VC1 made its fi rst fl ight in October of 2011.
Photo by Jim Raeder