My wife closed on her new airplane yesterday: an Aerotrek 220 LSA. This little airplane is a blast to fly and will go most anywhere that I can go with my Husky. It is essentially a European replica of the Kitfox with a 100 hp 912 uls Rotex engine. It cruises at 120 mph and burns less then 5 gph. With the 26" Airsteaks, she can get into most any rough landing spot that the Husky will go. However, although its useful load is about the same as the Husky, it has very little storage space. We'll put wheel penetration skis on it for winter flying and I am in the process of building a second hangar to keep it pretty.

Notice the big smile on the pilot's face.

Nizina

Very nice! She looks happy.

Congratulations on your new plane!

I had never even heard of this aircraft before, but their website has lots of videos and information.

How is the build quality?

Super cool! Nice that she shares your flying passion, too. That's the one thing about Wife 1 that I miss. The only thing.

Cary

Wow......very nice indeed. Post more when you have time

I think that's just grand. My wife loves to fly but I've never been able to get her to take even the buddy course. I'm sure Avidflyer has some hints on stowing stuff. He seems to do just fine with a 100lb pack in the passenger seat. You might even be able to carry some solar panels in the wing struts...

EB

That sure looks like a nice airplane, and your wife sure looks happy. What a great combination! Congrats!!!

Eduardo

Very cool! Your a lucky Man. I still kinda hope to find a women like that someday.

Sweet looking bird! You bet they are blast to fly! So light and nimble on the controls compared to anything else I've flown.

Emory Bored wrote:I think that's just grand. My wife loves to fly but I've never been able to get her to take even the buddy course. I'm sure Avidflyer has some hints on stowing stuff. He seems to do just fine with a 100lb pack in the passenger seat. You might even be able to carry some solar panels in the wing struts...

EB

The trick for a true baggage area is to utilize the wasted space under the turtle deck behind the seat. Check out Page 10 of the Kitfox parts Catalog to see what they offer. It's a huge area. http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/Product_C ... atalog.pdf

Another option depending on if the fuse is the same as the Avid/Kitfox is this cargo bag that will hold a tent, sleeping, bag, some clothes, and whatever else I need for an overnight trip.







The pattern is available from Fisher Upholstery in Eagle, Idaho.

Or make your own:

Same gross as a Husky? I thought the Aerotrek A220 was a S-LSA, which should mean gross weight of 1320 max.
I've seen Kitfoxes with baggage pods, don't know if it would be approved for the S-LSA Aerotrek but maybe worth looking into?
That is a good looking airplane. Brand new? What is the real life price out the door if you don't mind me asking? Like automobiles, some of those ready-to-fly LSA's have attractive base prices but but when they're ready to go that base price is usually left in the dust.

hotrod150 wrote:Same gross as a Husky? I thought the Aerotrek A220 was a S-LSA, which should mean gross weight of 1320 max.

Me bad -- meant useful load.

Don't think that we will do the belly pod with the Aerotrek as we will do the heavy hauling with the Husky.

FOB lower 48 is $86k, but we added the Airstreaks and a few other mods that brought the price up close to $90k. Wheel penetration skis will add another $4k.

Nizina

Is this another Dean Wilson "inspired" design?
Dean Wilson dropped a rock into the aviation pond, and the ripples continue to propagate on into the future. This is proof of a great design.
Of course Dean was improving on C. G. Taylor's, Walter Jamouneau's, and Piper's designs.

Interesting family tree. Isn't a Maule just a bastard child??
lc

Littlecub wrote:Is this another Dean Wilson "inspired" design?
Dean Wilson dropped a rock into the aviation pond, and the ripples continue to propagate on into the future. This is proof of a great design.
Of course Dean was improving on C. G. Taylor's, Walter Jamouneau's, and Piper's designs.

Interesting family tree. Isn't a Maule just a bastard child??
lc

Don't know if this is a Dean Wilson inspired design, but the workmanship on the airplane is absolutely perfect -- its beautifully made, flies nicely, and I haven't found any bad maneuvering habits with it yet. There are about 340 of them flying around the world now and I noticed that they have started to advertise in AOPA Pilot magazine.

Avidflyer and Skysteve: Thanks for the info on the storage bags. I forwarded them on to Patty and she is researching them now.

Emory: I can get moose horns on the struts of the Husky, and maybe solar panels, but I suspect that the Aerotrek will stay clean.

Below is a picture of Patty practicing in Palmer and a shot of the cleared site at the Nizina for its new t-hangar.

Dean Wilson/Avid Fler --> Dan Denney/Kitfox --> Ridgerunner, Just HIghlander, Aerotrek, Eurofox, etc.
I'm glad to see that your real-life out the door price wasn't much more than the base price. AOPA PIlot magazine (?) had a piece on Kitfox's ready-to-fly S-LSA, Nice airplane, I think the base price was similar but the price "as tested" was about $20K more as I recall.

Nizina wrote:Avidflyer and Skysteve: Thanks for the info on the storage bags. I forwarded them on to Patty and she is researching them now.

I bet Alaska Tent and Tarp would do a nice job sewing one up for you if they had some dimensions.

Congrats on the addition.

-DP

Nice plane! I really like the colors.

Eric,

Does Patti still have her airplane? If so, how is it working out?

Kurt

I just acquired a 2011 A220 with 250 hours TT. Like new condition. Bought a trailer to haul it in behind my truck camper. At 61, I just don't sleep well on the ground any more, so we plan to explore NV, UT, OR, WA, and ID with the truck camper towing the A220. Also, we're very particular about food, and the camper kitchen allows Karen to prep and cook our WFPB meals away from home. (Which is keeping me from following two older siblings with bypass surgery and meds!)

Other than a 406 ELT, and replacing the little tires and wheel pants with 21's, it was ready to go. Planning on upgrading the tailwheel. Rollison (the U.S. importer) approves a Matco. I've asked him about me testing a T3 coil sprung TW. Anyone have opinions on the T3 or other TW upgrade?

For now I plan to keep it as-is and retain the SLSA status. To make any unapproved mods would require changing to ELSA status. I may want to offer instruction in the future so SLSA is desirable.

I previously owned a Kitfox III/IV so the flaperons and light handling characteristics are familiar. A very fun sightseer. I'll only fly it on calm or light wind days. Excellent build.

I think a pair of skis are in the near future!

Pierre

Does Patti still have her airplane? If so, how is it working out?

I looked up the registration and looks like it went to Wisconsin in 2017.