Should You Buy An LSA?

WHY NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIGHTER SIDE OF GENERAL AVIATION

- Stephen Pope

Small, simple, affordable: From vintage Piper Cubs to Aeronca Champs, Ercoupes, Taylorcrafts and Luscombes, these are the airplanes that kindled America’s love affair with general aviation in the 1930's and post-war 1940's. Their common appeal, of course, centered on their minimalist approach to construction, which made them easy to repair when they broke down or suffered damage. Docile flight characteristics and economics that put them within reach of a large cross-section of the population cemented their lasting popularity with pilots who favored fun over utility.

Foreseeing the potential for a modern renaissance in GA built around this same premise, the FAA in 2004 introduced a new category of airplane, the light-sport aircraft (LSA), and the corresponding sport pilot certificate in the hopes of rejuvenating the lighter side of personal aviation by tapping into what originally attracted aviators from that bygone era. At the time, many in aviation held out hope that the introduction of the LSA category and sport pilot license would lead to the introduction of a new crop of small and inexpensive airplanes to attract younger pilots who would fall in love with flying and then, presumably, step up into larger and more expensive airplanes as their experience — and bank accounts — grew. And because the sport pilot license didn’t require an FAA medical certificate, many predicted that thousands of older pilots would return to aviation as well, fueling a resurgence for the beleaguered light-aviation industry.