Which LSA is best for me?

[SkyHog]

My medical expires at the end of April. Due to a slew of health issues that I predict will probably keep me from getting my medical renewed as a class 3 (don't ask, I really don't want to rehash them, but 5 years is a loooong time looking back)...

So - I'm probably going to go LSA now. Problem is, there's no rental LSAs around here that I know of. I'm still a cheapo (even moreso now that my son is enroute), so I need to go as inexpensive as possible. Here's my mission:

1. I weigh 260lbs. I'm losing that weight fairly quickly, but I'm going to plan on staying there for the purposes of the airplane in case I gain it back.
2. Most of my flying will be within 300 miles, if not less.
3. Speed is only important in that I need to be able to get places faster than driving
4. Typically will have one passenger alongside, either a baby or a mother, weighing around 210lbs at the highest (pregnant) point.
5. NO TAILWHEEL airplanes.
6. MUST BE LSA Legal
7. Must be < $30K, but the lower the better.

Experimental is ok, provided it fits the bill. Ideas? I really want to emphasize that the most important factor is price because I need to keep my money as liquid as possible for the next few years.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Get a copy of the Kitplanes 2012 buyer's guide (in the December 2011 issue of that magazine.)

Very first alphabetical entry already yields one possible contender (keep in mind that your cost criteria will require you to make sacrifices):

A.S.A.P.
Beaver RX-550 Plus
Cruise, mph 73
Stall, mph 37
Range, s.m. 230
Rate of Climb, fpm 1050
Takeoff/Landing Distance, ft. 250/250
Engine Used Rotax 582
HP/HP Range 65/50-80
Fuel Capacity, gal. 10
Empty/Gross Weight, lb. 430/1050
Length, ft. 20.7
Wingspan, ft. 32
Wing Area, sq. ft. 154.5
No. of Seats 2T
Cockpit Width, in. n.a
Landing Gear trigear
Bldg. Materials F, T
Beginner Build Time, hr. 220
No. Completed & Flown 2060
Cost $12,995
Estimated Completed Cost $21K-$28K
Quickbuild/Plans Available? N/N
LSA Legal
www.ultralight.ca
250/549-1102

 

[Jim Logajan]

Other possibilities (copy-and-pasted from Kitplanes 2012 Buyer's Guide):

Blue Yonder Aviation, Inc.
EZ Flyer
Cruise, mph 75
Stall, mph 38
Range, s.m. 380
Rate of Climb, fpm 700
Takeoff/Landing Distance, ft. 100/175
Engine Used Rotax 582
HP/HP Range 65/52-130
Fuel Capacity, gal. 24
Empty/Gross Weight, lb. 495/1320
Length, ft. 21
Wingspan, ft. 31
Wing Area, sq. ft. 176
No. of Seats 2T
Cockpit Width, in. n.p.
Landing Gear trigear
Bldg. Materials F, T
Beginner Build Time, hr. 250
No. Completed & Flown 64
Cost $26,600 (includes engine)
Estimated Completed Cost $27K-$30K
Quickbuild/Plans Available? N/N
LSA Legal
www.ezflyer.com


CGS Aviation
Hawk II Arrow
Cruise, mph 70
Stall, mph 35
Range, s.m. 180
Rate of Climb, fpm 1100
Takeoff/Landing Distance, ft. 150/250
Engine Used Rotax 582
HP/HP Range 65/50-80
Fuel Capacity, gal. 10
Empty/Gross Weight, lb. 450/990
Length, ft. 22.1
Wingspan, ft. 31.6
Wing Area, sq. ft. 147
No. of Seats 2T
Cockpit Width, in. 26
Landing Gear tri or tail
Bldg. Materials F, T
Beginner Build Time, hr. 350
No. Completed & Flown 186
Cost $14,350
Estimated Completed Cost $24K-$26K
Quickbuild/Plans Available? Y/N
LSA Legal
www.cgsaviation.com
251/454-0579


Earthstar Aircraft
Odyssey
Cruise, mph 87
Stall, mph 37
Range, s.m. 348
Rate of Climb, fpm 900
Takeoff/Landing Distance, ft. 200/175
Engine Used HKS 700E
HP/HP Range 60/60-100
Fuel Capacity, gal. 10
Empty/Gross Weight, lb. 460/1000
Length, ft. 18.3
Wingspan, ft. 26
Wing Area, sq. ft. 124
No. of Seats 2
Cockpit Width, in. 41
Landing Gear trigear
Bldg. Materials C, F, M, T
Beginner Build Time, hr. 300
No. Completed & Flown 15
Cost $18,500
Estimated Completed Cost $22K-$35K
Quickbuild/Plans Available? Y/N
LSA Legal
www.thundergull.com
805/438-4938


Excalibur Aircraft
Excalibur Stretch
Cruise, mph 90
Stall, mph 32
Range, s.m. 290
Rate of Climb, fpm 1200
Takeoff/Landing Distance, ft. 96/300
Engine Used Rotax 503
HP/HP Range 52/52-65
Fuel Capacity, gal. 10
Empty/Gross Weight, lb. 450/1000
Length, ft. 20
Wingspan, ft. 31.5
Wing Area, sq. ft. 185
No. of Seats 2T
Cockpit Width, in. 32
Landing Gear trigear
Bldg. Materials F, T
Beginner Build Time, hr. 175
No. Completed & Flown 750
Cost $23,650 (includes engine)
Estimated Completed Cost $24K-$25K
Quickbuild/Plans Available? N/N
LSA Legal
www.excaliburaircraft.com
863/385-9486


There are more of course, but I'll stop there.

 

[Jim Logajan]

I went back and added it....

So - lets do it this way then - lets take the budget higher - does < $50K get me anywhere? I'm ok with used as well.

I think you were right the first time to keep the budget under $30k.

According to AOPA any of the certificated models listed on this page can be flown under light sport rules:

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/sport_aircraft.html

 

[Jim Logajan]

No Champ? Also, GT500 is certificated?! Mother of God.

As I undestand it, Quicksilver along with some other kit aircraft manufacturers (e.g. Zenair CH-2000) certificated their airplanes under the Sportplane class, which predates the Light Sport category:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksilver_GT500