20+ years ago within 10 hrs of earning my PP I embarked on my first aircraft purchase. I wanted (I was going to say 'needed' but we all know that isn't truedesignrs wrote:Dave, can you please tell us more about your mission, usage and LSA experience summary over 6 years?dstclair wrote:Count me in to the population that could've purchased any plane (within my budget) and I chose an LSA. We've beat this to death but it all comes down to your mission and the Sting met mine 6 years ago and still does.
Thanks!
) an airplane capable of hauling my family of 4 to the neighboring states of Texas including the mountains of NM. Picked a 23 year old Cherokee 180 which easily fit my wife, young daughters, 48 gallons of usable fuel and more baggage than an SUV 
. Cruised at 125kts burning 10gph. Could fly with another couple if you filled up to the 'tabs' for 36 usable gallons. Got my instrument ticket as soon as I had the hours.After nearly 5 years of owning Alphie, we moved to the East Coast and the mission changed a bit to include longer distances. We upgraded to a Bellanca Super Viking. Beautiful, handcrafted interior, autopilot and the first GPScom from Garmin. Serious long distance machine and a solid instrument platform. 75 gallons in 3 tanks, burning 15gph at 170kts. Flew this until the 300hp Continental decided to seize up over a South Georgia swamp. Funny, how engines don't run well without oil
My wife decided we'd take a break from flying. I never lost my love flying but honestly didn't have the same time to devote to it. Around 7 years ago, I learned about Light Sport Aircraft and thought this was my way back into flying. The kids were going off to college so only needed two seats. Most came with chutes and all had low stall speeds which reduces kinetic energy around the ground. Would've come in handy on final into the swamp.....
I got current in 5 hrs in an Evektor SportStar and was sold on LSA.
Had a long conversation with my fellow engineer wife and brought her up to speed on LSA. She liked the chute, the stall speed and cruise speeds (that were close to the 180) but at less than half the cost. I showed her a very nice 76 Cheetah and Archer II that were half the cost of the LSAs at the time. She didn't blink - she wanted something designed and built this century and not something 30 years old. She then asked would an LSA take her to her daughter in Colorado Springs and I said "yes ma'am"!
My mission for my LSA has been constant: haul my wife and I, 3.5 hrs of cruise, cruise speed at 110kts or greater, chute (absolute requirement from my wife) and baggage for two. New requirement added two years ago was to fit a 10lb spoiled Shih tzu. The 2007 Sting S3 fit the mission practically and legally.
We've flown from Dallas to Destin, most parts of Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and most of Texas.
Most of the time, I've been a PP with a 3rd class medical although it usually spends a few months lapsed before I get around to renewing.
Also, the Sting is MUCH more fun to fly, especially around the path, than my prior planes. I also believe it takes more skill to land which just adds to the fun.
I've also added bells and whistles over the years that would not be practical in certified aircraft. Added a two axis autopilot for $1500. Upgraded to a 795 GPS for under $2k and added full-time traffic this year for $900. You'd be pushing $20k to do this in a certified plane. No, you don't NEED all this to fly but you have the possibility. In my case, my wife was the one that mentioned these upgrades. She wanted to be able to hit the AP if something happened to me in the cockpit. She also loves being able to see traffic on a big screen. Who was I to argue?
