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This website is supported by a gift in honor of Ed Lynch

Site maintained by Flying
Club 1 Member Steve Beste

Light Sport Airplanes

Pros Cons
  • Travel cross-country
  • 150 makes & models available
  • Only a Sport Pilot license needed
  • No medical exam needed
  • Leaseback possibilities
  • Relatively low insurance cost
  • Only 2 seats
  • For unusual models:
    • Vendor support is thin
    • You must own to solo
    • No local instructors
  • Open models require heated clothing in winter

Sample Light Sport Airplanes   (Click on the picture to go to their website.)

  Vans RV-12
Vans RV-12 		SeaRey
SeaRey 		Quicksilver
Quicksilver
Purchase cost
  • New
  • Used

$140,000
$50,000+
$150,000
$50,000+
$40,000
$5 - 10,000
Capabilities
  • # of seats
  • Cruising speed

2
135 mph
2
90 mph
2
60 mph
Training
  • FAA license needed
  • Medical?
  • Training cost
  • Demo flight?
  • Nearest instructor

Sport Pilot
Driver's license
$5,000+
Easily
Most airports
Sport Pilot
Driver's license
$5,000+
Florida
Fredericksburg
Sport Pilot
Driver's license
$5,000+
Flying Club 1
Indiana / Florida
Can I rent?
  • During intial training
  • To solo
  • After license

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Where to store it Hangar Hangar Hangar

For instruction and demo flights, see our Instructors page.

The Most Popular Light Sport Airplanes   (The numbers after each name are the number newly registered with the FAA in 2019. Click on the picture to go to their website.)

Vans RV12
Vans RV12 (56) 		Icon A5
Icon A5 (46) 		Vashon Ranger R7
Vashon Ranger R7 (19)
American Legend Cub
American Legend Cub (17) 		BRM Bristell
BRM Bristell (11) 		Czech Sport Aircraft Sport Cruiser
Czech Sport Aircraft Sport Cruiser (10)

Further Information

  • The AOPA training guide lays out the whole process of getting an FAA pilot's license for airplanes at either the Sport Pilot or Private Pilot level.