FLIGHTLINE
INDUSTRY AND
COMMUNITY NEWS
New, Fast, and Efficient:
Aerochia’s LT- 1
By Tim Kern, EAA 852075
IT’S REAL, IT’S FLYING, AND IT’S COMING to AirVenture Oshkosh
this year. We’re talking about the Aerochia LT- 1, a new experi-
mental amateur-built kit with a speed range from 60 to 160 mph
and an estimated kit price (firewall aft) in the $20,000 range.
Andy Chiavetta, EAA 508794, and seven-time Reno Air Races
Unlimited champion Darryl Greenamyer, EAA 691087, built the
experimental amateur-built LT- 1, which carries enough fuel for
up to eight hours of flight in its Steve Cox-designed elliptical
wing. It rides on a fixed tricycle gear. At less than 800 pounds
gross, it accelerates to top speed quicker than a P- 51. The LT- 1 is
designed to fly from 60 to 160 mph (wheels, brakes, and
ICON COMPLETES SPIN-RESISTANCE TESTING
ICON AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCED that its A5 LSA amphibious single has
passed the FAA’s requirements for spin resistance under the FAR
Part 23 certification standards. Because it is an LSA, the ICON does
not need to meet Part 23 rules, but its makers say that it has.
The basic requirements for spin-resistant certification is that
the airplane fly through a 360-degree heading change—or for
seven seconds, whichever comes first—with the elevator control in
the full nose-up position throughout the turn. During the maneuver the airplane must remain under control and not fall off into a
bank. And the maneuver must be demonstrated at the full CG
range, at various power settings, and with a variety of rudder and
aileron inputs, including crossed controls.
The key to ICON’s success in spin resistance is the wing, which
has cuffs on the outboard leading edge. The cuffs lower the angle of
attack of the wing’s outboard portion so that part of the wing continues to lift while the root area is stalled. That keeps the ailerons
effective into the stall so the airplane remains under control.
wheelpants aren’t finalized yet), and it burns
about 3 gph at cruise in its four-stroke HKS
engine (it can use either the normally aspirated 60-hp opposed twin or its
turbocharged brother).
Lancair test pilot Len Fox did first flights
in the LT- 1 in May 2010. Greenamyer flew off
the flight-test time for Phase 1 and handed
the plane over to Chiavetta. Total time on
the airframe is about 50 hours, with only the
basic spin matrix still blank.
ICON did not announce a schedule of
when the A5 will enter production or when
to expect first delivery, but said it “is working
aggressively on production preparations.”
