I saw very dated info on this airplane so wanted to start a new thread.

I'm in the market for a LSA and keep coming back to the AeroTrek A220. Or an A240 (because they're easier to find).

It has a Rotax 912ULS, STOL capabilities, a (self proclaimed) 120-130mph max cruise, a killer looking panel, and are under $95k brand new.

I've talked to Rob Rollison (AeroTrek dealer) and watched Dan Johnson's (among other) videos on the plane. I really can't find anything wrong with it. I know it is based off the Avid Flyer (like Kitfox). And I just think it's a beautiful plane.

I guess my question is: Does anyone have experience with the AeroTrek brand? Do they like it? Any downsides? I'm heading to the DeLand Aviation Show in November to see it in person. They used to be called AeroPro EuroFox until 2008 I believe (and still are in Europe).

I'm close to submitting the down-payment to get the production started. There's currently a 10 month wait time as they're being built in the Czech Republic. Maybe that's one of their downsides but anyone else's input would be appreciated! I've also found a used A240 that is in impeccable shape.

Lastly, anything I buy (new or used) will already be built. I do not intend on building my own. Look forward to y'alls input!

And to get ahead of any LSA preference questions, I'm wanting an LSA so my dad can fly with me again. He can no longer obtain a medical but has 2800 hours from 185s to Pilatus Porter's.

Thank you!!

Here's a thread started by someone that owns one.
https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/my-w ... ek#p181476

tcj wrote:Here's a thread started by someone that owns one.
https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/my-w ... ek#p181476

Yeah. That's the one I read and mentioned was dated. Since it has been almost 7 years, I just wanted to see if anyone had more info about them.

Thanks!

Looks like a nice airplane to me, great price for a new airplane.

Kurt

I've looked at them and they appear to be a nicely bult same airplane. They seem to be similar in size to the older Kitfox IV. There's a guy here in Mn or is it WI that has a very nice trailer thathe fits his Aerotek into and hauls it around. I spoke to him at great length and he is very happy with the plane. It is light wing loading so not the best in windy/turbulent conditions. Have you looked at one and sat in it? If you are a big guy, might be a little confining.

WWhunter wrote:I've looked at them and they appear to be a nicely bult same airplane. They seem to be similar in size to the older Kitfox IV. There's a guy here in Mn or is it WI that has a very nice trailer thathe fits his Aerotek into and hauls it around. I spoke to him at great length and he is very happy with the plane. It is light wing loading so not the best in windy/turbulent conditions. Have you looked at one and sat in it? If you are a big guy, might be a little confining.

I have. I sat in one Tuesday. I'm 5'9" 185lbs. Perfect fit for me.

My dad is 6'5" 230lbs though. It could be a tough fit for him. So I'm keeping my options open. It's nice that I'll be able to see all of them (except Kitfox) in person next month in DeLand.

The top LSA's I'm considering are:
AeroTrek A220 or A240
Just Highlander
Kitfox S7 (lead time is ridiculous though)
Rans S-21 OUTBOUND

As y'all know though, the market is hot right now for these STOL Bush LSAs. They don't just pop up all the time.

FWIW my brother-in-law has one and likes it a lot. I haven't flown it, but checked it out on the ground and it looks well-built.

Rob is awesome and the A220 is very well built. I haven’t flown one yet but have spent some time examining them. I’ve only heard good things about their flight characteristics from those who own them.

My two favorite Bush LSA’s are the Zlin Outback Shock (Shock Cub) and the Rans S-21 Outbound. Both models have amazing performance with the new 915 iS even with fixed pitch props.

But the Shock is one amazing STOL machine and would be a dream to fly in Idaho. 145 HP to 15,000ft!

I spent some time providing backcountry training in one a couple years ago in Idaho. I thought it was a nice airplane with darned good performance at density altitudes above 9000 feet. I'm 6'2", 175 lbs and found it perfectly comfortable all day long.

Once I get past the obvious ripping off of the Kitfox design (OK that's a bit harsh) I have heard nothing but good about them. Price and availability is hard to beat. Kinda like the "Savage Cub" ZlinAero ripoff of the RANS S-7 design, OF COURSE it's a good plane, being based on a long time successful design! Personally, I'd keep my dollars stateside. Then again, I drive a Toyota.

I'll have to remember to ask former Kitfox maven Dan Denny what he thinks about them, he called me the other day as it seems he is relocating to my area and needed some advice on real estate etc. First time in 30 years or so we had talked.. We all know what the Kitfox derived from, so his perception of the AeroTrek would be "interesting," ha ha.

New Shock Cub for sale locally, $152,000. Husky territory, but in Europe GA is in Greta’s gunsights, and these Rotax wonders duck the anti-GA sanctions.

[quote="Jetcat3"]Rob is awesome and the A220 is very well built. I haven’t flown one yet but have spent some time examining them. I’ve only heard good things about their flight characteristics from those who own them.

My two favorite Bush LSA’s are the Zlin Outback Shock (Shock Cub) and the Rans S-21 Outbound. Both models have amazing performance with the new 915 iS even with fixed pitch props.

But the Shock is one amazing STOL machine and would be a dream to fly in Idaho. 145 HP to 15,000ft![/quote

I'm pretty sure the 915 REQUIRES a constant speed prop, which means non LSA compliant.

courierguy wrote:Once I get past the obvious ripping off of the Kitfox design (OK that's a bit harsh) I have heard nothing but good about them. Price and availability is hard to beat. Kinda like the "Savage Cub" ZlinAero ripoff of the RANS S-7 design, OF COURSE it's a good plane, being based on a long time successful design! Personally, I'd keep my dollars stateside. Then again, I drive a Toyota.

I'll have to remember to ask former Kitfox maven Dan Denny what he thinks about them, he called me the other day as it seems he is relocating to my area and needed some advice on real estate etc. First time in 30 years or so we had talked.. We all know what the Kitfox derived from, so his perception of the AeroTrek would be "interesting," ha ha.

Since you brought up “ripping off”, didn’t Dan Denny rip off the Avid or was it the other way around?

G44 wrote:

courierguy wrote:Once I get past the obvious ripping off of the Kitfox design (OK that's a bit harsh) I have heard nothing but good about them. Price and availability is hard to beat. Kinda like the "Savage Cub" ZlinAero ripoff of the RANS S-7 design, OF COURSE it's a good plane, being based on a long time successful design! Personally, I'd keep my dollars stateside. Then again, I drive a Toyota.

I'll have to remember to ask former Kitfox maven Dan Denny what he thinks about them, he called me the other day as it seems he is relocating to my area and needed some advice on real estate etc. First time in 30 years or so we had talked.. We all know what the Kitfox derived from, so his perception of the AeroTrek would be "interesting," ha ha.

Since you brought up “ripping off”, didn’t Dan Denny rip off the Avid or was it the other way around?

No, Avid was first, Dean Wilson was The Man, the original designer of the breed, but Denny was a better marketer, he sexed it up! That round cowl, reminiscent of the radial engine era, still makes me hot. Kind of like how Zlin, simply by virtue of rounding off the control surfaces of the S-7 to make it appear more cub like, and even having the cojones to use the word "cub" in it's name, gathered a customer base that the Kansas based Rans, counting on it's own innate good design for sales success and not trying to piggyback on another's, overlooked. It's called marketing, ( and hand in hand with good marketing is the ability to achieve the needed production, which Denny also did, largely) and I do admire the way Zlin has capitalized on the basic S-7 design. But even the latest variant, the Shock Cub, appears to this 20 plus year Rans flier, to be without question largely based on the S-7. WHICH MEANS: it's probably a great flying bird! And yes, I realize, this "borrowing" of design work done by others has been going on since the Wright Bros. and Glen Curtiss, (screw you Spelchek, ... that's how it's spelled) and no doubt before that as some aviation historical geek may chime in, but when this borrowing crosses oceans, I feel the need to educate others who may not know, being a Idaho resident probably has something to do with that! Yeah, Homedale is clear across the state, and I am decades away from being a Kitfox flier, but I still feel some loyalty to the brand.

Also, mentioning the S-21 and the Shock Cub, or the Just Aircraft Super Stol, in the same sentence, makes me want to say, "make up your mind, what type of plane do you want?" Totally different missions and capabilities, point being, do you want to cruise at 75 or well over 100+ mph? The maxxed out STOL bird designs pay a price, with extra initial cost, less range, less payload, extra drag, and of course extra weight. You need to ask yourself: how much of your flying time is going to be needing that last little bit of STOL, versus the other 99% of the time spent actually flying? Anyone else notice, Steve Henry, big time Just aircraft flier, is NOT flying a SS, but a regular Highlander? The law of diminishing returns applies to aviation big time, and short of making YouTube videos, flying in STOL competitive events, or exclusively flying into sub 100' LZ's, the Shock Cub doesn't do it for me, as much as I admire it's design. I'd rather carry extra fuel and beer then have hyper extended, super draggy, landing gear and slats, that in actual practice will allow landing .01% of the places I can't land with my lighter, less draggy, longer ranged, less expensive, faster, stock S-7S. I realize I have drifted far away from the OP's Aerotek query, but my point is, buy the plane for 99% of your flying!

Agree with Tom. WHile it seems that lots of planes are copies of previous designs, it is hard to accept it at times but then again, generally the new offering can be aan 'improvement' or meets the needs of those that want certian aspects to fulfill their needs. The natural progressin of things I suppose.

Again, I was considering the Aero Trek at one time also. It seems like a very nicely buld aircraft. I was lookig at it when I was flying under Light SPort. After I went to Basic Med, I decided to persue a little heavier class of airplane. The LS class generally are quite light wing loading and can be a little bouncy in turbulence and windy conditions.

The A220 is a very nice airplane -- well built, nice flying, has a good take off and landing profile, and is relatively fast (and affordable). It is also a side by side seating and while that is nice, it doesn't leave much room for any amount of cargo.

My neighbor flies a Shock Cub into our airstrip almost daily during the summer time, and quite frankly, that airplane is a real performer on take off and landing. It is a tandem seating airplane and that, of course, has its pluses and minuses.

If your motivation is to get into the back country, the Shock Cub is the way to go. The A220 is a bit more conventional, but can also get into the back country. I've considered selling my Husky and 172 Superhawk and downsizing to the Shock Cub but my annual flight profile probably doesn't justify such a move.

But the A220 is a great airplane if it fits your flying profile.

I think 6'5" and 230 lbs. won't fit. Otherwise, I love my A220.

Pierre