Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
This year's Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) show provided a mixed message for companies planning to certificate new light aircraft.
RANS reports a "good reaction" to its S-7C Courier two-seater after displaying the production prototype at the EAA show, which took place at Oshkosh, Wisconsin (26 July-1 August), but American Champion Aircraft (ACA) says interest in its rival Model 7ACA was "not as much as hoped."
The S-7C and 7ACA are tandem-seat, high-wing, taildraggers. RANS' aircraft is powered by a 75kW (100hp) Bombardier Rotax 912S and sells for $55,000. The Hays, Kansas-based company is hoping for primary category certification in December, with deliveries to begin immediately.
ACA's aircraft is flying with a 60kW Jabiru engine and is being offered for $60,000, but the Rochester, Wisconsin-based company has yet to commit to certification and production.
The target buyer for both types is someone who does not have the time or inclination to build a kitplane. Aimed at the same market is the Fascination D4, which made its US debut at Oshkosh.
Produced by Germany'sWD Flugzeugleichtbau, the aircraft started life as a kitplane, but is now certificated in Europe as an ultralight. Approval under European very light aircraft (VLA) rules is due in February, allowing the aircraft to receive normal category certification in the USA, says Jacksonville, Florida-based distributor Harper Aircraft.
The Fascination is powered by a Rotax 912S, but has side-by-side seating, low wing and retractable tricycle gear, resulting in higher performance and a higher price tag - $98,500 in the USA.
Competition consists of the US-built Zenith CH-2000, with a base price of $70,000, and the Canadian-produced all-composite Diamond Aircraft Katana, which costs around $120,000.
On the eve of Oshkosh, Diamond received Canadian certification for the Katana 100, an upgrade of the original DA20-A1 two-seater introducing the more powerful Rotax 912S engine. The engine, and other improvements, are available for retrofit into earlier Rotax-powered Katanas.
Certification of the London, Ontario-based company's four-seat DA40 Diamond Star is imminent, but competition could come from the MCR4S unveiled by American Ghiles Aircraft (AGA).
The four-seat MCR4S is a development of the MCR 01 two-seat kitplane from France's Dyn'Aero. The all-composite aircraft will be available from September as a quick-build kit costing $80,000, including the Rotax 912S.
Orlando, Florida-based AGA says Dyn'Aero plans to certificate the MCR4S under European VLA rules, clearing the way for US approval.
Source: Flight International
