11 April 2008
A number of aircraft have made their first appearance – or first public appearance at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun fly-in, currently under way in Florida.
The Lancair Evolution (being touted as the fastest kitplane in the world) only <a href=’http://flyer.co.uk/news/newsfeed.php?artnum=712′ target=’_blank’>made its first flight</a> at the end of March, but has flown into the show this week. “It’s a rocket,” is what Lancair General Manager Tim Ong said of the aircraft, which he flew down from Oregon, reporting that he flew at 240kt, throttled back. The Evolution is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A.
At the other end of the scale, a number of LSAs (Light Sport Aircraft) were being unveiled at the show, including the Brazilian <a href=’http://www.paradiseaircraft.us/’ target=’_blank’>Paradise P-I</a> (something of a Cessna 152 look-alike) and the <a href=’http://www.urbanairusa.com’ target=’_blank’>Urban Air</a> Lambada, a Czech design which has been in development outside the US for the past ten years or so, but which is only now becoming available as the first LSA motor glider.
