Episode 56 – AeroExpo 2012

BE-2C 'Biggles Biplane'

BE-2C ‘Biggles Biplane’

For today’s episode I travelled down to AeroExpo 2012 at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire. I had a wander round to see which exhibitors had something interesting on offer and got chatting to a fair few of them. I went down on the Friday and although there were a fair few people in attendance most exhibitors had plenty of time to spend with anyone with an interest in their products.

Listen to Episode 56

Conrad Beale – Conair Sports
First off I spoke to Conrad from Conair Sports who was exhibiting the new Rotax 912iS, fuel injected engine.
Conair are the only UK Rotax Approved Service Centre according to their web site.
I’d heard a fair bit about this new Rotax and I think it’s fair to say that it’s a welcome leap forward in light aircraft engine technology. Running on mogas or avgas, the engine is predicted to return an approximate 20% reduction in fuel consumption, which is most welcome with the sky-rocketing price of aviation fuel. Conrad says that first indications are that they can run this new engine on just 8 litres an hour. And with automatically controlled mixture the engine should run much more economically at higher altitudes too. An electronic display inside the aircraft will be a requirement with the new engine but their will be no requirement for a choke and starting will be more straightforward. Conversions from old Rotax engines to the new 912iS are possible, says Conrad, but the aircraft will need an all new fuel system and instrumentation. The 912iS will have the same power output of the old 912S/ULS – 100hp.
www.conairsports.co.uk

AeroExpo 2012, Sywell

Nigel Beale – Cosmik Aviation
Right next door to Conair was Conrad’s father Nigel on the Cosmik Aviation stand. Cosmik were displaying the ever popular Evektor Eurostar microlight and the Sportstar VLA. Cosmik have been involved with the Eurostar for 11 or 12 years, according to Nigel, originally as a kit and since 2003 as a factory built option. The Eurostar can be found at many microlight schools around the UK and, as I found out recently, has great performance from a grass strip. Nigel claims that due to its light weight construction the aircraft can out-perform the standard Cessna flying school aircraft. He has even taken part in competitions whereby the pilot has to take off and land inside a 100m box – fully laden!

Eurostar with Nigel Beale

Eurostar with Nigel Beale

The Eurostar has a mainly aluminium semi-monocoque construction and is left unpainted to enable it to fit within the UK’s 450kg microlight weight limit.
Also on the Cosmik Aviation stand was the Sportstar SW. Fitting into the 575kg VLA bracket it looks similar to the Eurostar but is wider, can be painted and is capable of carrying more load. The aircraft will be available as a kit, subject to LAA approval, or a factory built EASA ‘permit to fly’ aircraft.
www.cosmikaviation.co.uk

Rob Hart – Sky Demon
Inside one of the exhibition halls I found my old friend Rob from Sky Demon. Having done a podcast with Rob some time back I just wanted to know what’s new with their great flight planning and nav software. At the show the Sky Demon team were demonstrating a prototype plate delivery system, delivering AIP plates within the Sky Demon system. Rob says that they are talking to AFE about the possibility of getting their flying guides into Sky Demon as well. Whilst on the stand I had a quick look at the iPad version of the software and it is really well worth a look.
www.skydemon.aero

Vojtech Tuma and Oscar Starinsky – Czech Sport Aircraft The new PS28 Cruiser aircraft from Czech Sport Aircraft has just obtained its EASA LSA certification. Vojtech claims that the plane is the only one in the world with this new certification and it is ideal for initial and continuing PPL flight training with a cost saving of 50% over a C152 and 66% over a 172. An impressive claim. The PS28 is very similar in appearance to the old Sport Cruiser but has over 60 design changes.

Czech PS28 Cruiser

Czech PS28 Cruiser

Since the demise of their relationship with Piper in Jan 2011 the company has been building its own distribution network and with the split with their UK dealers recently they’re also looking for a new UK agent to market their aircraft here. The aircraft on display featured a full glass cockpit. The performance is very impressive. Cruise is 98kt with fuel consumption of 17ltrs/hr. Max speed in level flight is 118kt, VNE 138kt and stall speed 31kts. The aircraft is only available as a factory built option and I wish them well with their project. www.czechsportaircraft.com

AeroExpo 2012, Sywell

Tim Orchard – Tecnam UK Tim is the MD of Tecnam UK and today, as distributor for Tecnam’s range of factory built aircraft in the UK, he was exhibiting a couple of Tecnam planes – the single 2002 and the twin engined 2006. Both aircraft are fully certified in the UK and so can be used for flight training and as both have Rotax engines they are very economical to operate. I was particularly interested in the 2006 which is the only twin engined Rotax aeroplane in the world apparently. Tim describes how Professor Pasquale still goes into the Tecnam factory every day and designs a new aircraft every year. The factory then actually produces one of these aircraft every other year and the model number of the aeroplane indicates the year of its inception. So the 2006 first hit the drawing board in that year.

Tecnam P2006T

Tecnam P2006T

Tim says that the twin has just recorded its 100th sale. We were sat across from the Vulcanair stand and the 2006’s heritage was fairly obvious from the old Partenavia twin. The performance of the 2006 is particularly impressive, being able to climb at 250’/min even on one of its 100hp engines, a tribute to the design, aerodynamics and low weight of the aircraft. It’s very frugal too, burning less than 8 gallons per hour whilst cruising at 135-150kt. I asked Tim what market the 2006 was aimed at and he said that there were 2 particular niches for the twin – the multi engined training market and the individual who wants a reliable, economical aircraft to take himself, and possibly his family, long distances or over water. With the wings and engines behind the cockpit the visibility is excellent and there’s a surprising amount of space for the occupants too. Add in the short field performance and low noise footprint then you have a very impressive aircraft. Tim says that he has personally landed and taken off on a 500m strip without backtracking! www.tecnamuk.com

Paul Ford – Jasta Binks Aviation Whilst admiring a couple replica WW1 aircraft I came across Paul Ford soaking up some sunshine next to his DR1 Fokker Triplane – ‘The Red Baron’. Fokker Triplane, G-FOKK, is a full scale replica of the famous German WW1 fighter aircraft, the Fokker Dr1 Dreidecker and very impressive it is too. Not in the bright red we’ve come to associate with the Red Baron but a deliberately subdued and battle-worn blood red.

G-FOKK Fokker Dreidecker Dr1

G-FOKK Fokker Dreidecker Dr1

Paul’s company, Jasta Binks Aviation, based at Sywell, has the enviable task of building, restoring and maintaining these beautiful aircraft. Based alongside Mathew Boddington’s BE2C ‘Biggles Biplane’, the 2 aircraft made for a stunning sight in the blazing May sunshine. Paul says that his Fokker took him 4 years to build from scratch and the attention to detail is impressive, even down to the simulated rotary engine up front disguising the Lycoming 0-320. The other concession to modernity is the use of Ceconite fabric to cover the steel tube fuselage and wooden wings. His early passion for the Fokker lead him to source the plans from the States, building the aircraft over 3000 hours and then converting to type over a period of years. Paul says that there are no original triplanes in existence and only 4 replicas in the UK to date. I asked Paul what the Fokker was like to fly and he says that it is a very unforgiving aeroplane which must be landed direct into wind otherwise you’ll ground loop. If you ever get to see Paul and his Fokker at an airshow be sure to say hello, he certainly is a very friendly bloke. www.jastabinksaviation.com

Freddie Rogers – Beaver UK / American Legend Aircraft Beaver UK have been awarded the rights to distribute the American Legend Cub in the UK and Europe. The gorgeous retake of the famous Piper Cub is all but approved as a kit by the LAA and should be available soon. Freddie claims that the kit, built in Texas, will be attractively priced in the UK.

Original Piper Cub with Legend Cub behind

Original Piper Cub with Legend Cub behind

The kit, not including engine, is currently $62,750 or approx £45,000+VAT including shipping. The company will be happy to help builders with the project whilst staying within the 51% self-build rules, assisting with rigging, covering and painting the aircraft. The kit comes with pre-built wings and a one piece fuselage and, claims Freddie, can be built in your garage at home. The company can, if you wish, supply a Continental 0-200 engine for approx £16,000+VAT As authorised sales agents for the American Legend Aircraft Company here in Europe, the guys will be showing the Cub at as many shows as possible so you should be seeing more of this fabulous kit plane. www.legend.aero

One thought on “Episode 56 – AeroExpo 2012

Comments are closed.