If you haven't already, check out this page on the AOPA website. It contains a list of brand new light sport aircraft the staff tested and flew recently.
The page lists several models including photos, descriptions and specifications. The price for these babies range anywhere from $60K to over $100K. (Light sport doesn't necessarily mean "light" in the pocket.)
I've always wanted to do some seat of the pants flying. That's one reason ultralights always intrigued me, though less so now after hearing of the death of John Walton, heir to the Wal-Mart throne, as a result of an ultralight crash. Jumping in the cockpit of a Piper Cub or Aeronca K might do just as well.
While I'm sure these aircraft are too sophisticated to be considered "seat of the pants" – one model, the P92 Echo Super has a full IFR package – I bet they're still a lot of fun to fly!
MEMORIAL SQUADRON
Jasta 4, Jasta 10 and Jasta 11
The Jasta 4, Jasta 10 and Jasta 11 squadrons were created in memory of Baron von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Werner Voss, Kurt Wolff and my father Baron Carl August von Schoenebeck. My father’s admiration, respect and love for his comrades knew no bounds.
My father Carl von Schoenebeck was only 17 years old when he was chosen by Baron von Richthofen to join Jasta 11.
My father marveled at the courage and skill of some of his closets friends, Baron von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Werner Voss and Kurt Wolff.
Clearly, Ernst Udet was my father’s closest friend and spoke of him fondly. In fact, Ernst Udet was best man when my father married my mother in 1937.
My fathers friendship with Werner Voss grew out of the fact that Werner Voss and my father were two of the youngest members of Richthoefen’s – Jagdgeschwader 1. Werner Voss was 8 months older than my father, Richthofen appointed Werner commanding officer of Jasta 10 at age 20.
What my father most admired about Werner was his courage and cool head under fire, he literally had no fear.
To sum up my father’s thoughts about Kurt Wolff, he was simply “brilliant”.
Read the account of Baron Carl August von Schoenebeck last flight with Kurt Wolff
Jasta 4, Jasta 10 and Jasta 11 Aircraft
The Jasta 4, 10 and Jasta 11 squadrons will have a special paint scheme in memory of Baron von Richthofen and Werner Voss’s aircraft.
Every squadron member will also receive a special tie modeled on the same design of the headband that each member of Jagdgeschwader 1 was given upon joining the Richthofen’s air wing.
Each squadron member will also receive a womens scarf with the same design as the tie and headband.
Each member of either Jasta 4, Jasta 10 and 11 will get a framed photo of my father sitting next to Baron von Richthofen, they are surrounded by members of his flying circus.
A silver engraved plaque with your squadron number and aircraft number within the squadron will be given to each member of Jasta 4, Jasta 10 and Jasta 11. There is no restriction on Bateleur aircraft type, when joining a squadron, you can join a squadron with a Bateleur kit, fixed undercarriage LSA or a certified Bateleur with retracts.
Squadrons will engage in activities similar to an auto club.
Submitting your request to join a specific squadron in your state along with a $5,000 deposit secures the requested squadron position. Upon receipt of your request, you will receive a confirmation from RMT Aviation America verifying your slot number.
The $5,000 is applied as a holding payment to secure a slot for your plane. The deposit is fully refundable after test flying the Bateleur, should it not meet your expectations.
Important Note:
All Bateleur aircraft will have the option of having sharks teeth nose art applied to the aircraft at no additional charge.
* The final draft of the shark teeth design for the Bateleur will be posted shortly.
Also, if you choose to shift your deposit from another aircraft manufacture to our aircraft, we will absorb the loss of your deposit, up to $250.00 maximum.
Only 12 aircrafts will be allowed per color scheme and per state. Each state will have a total of 48 Jasta aircrafts, since there are 4 color schemes within the Jasta group (Richthofen, Wolff, Udet and Voss).