Radar

FLYING takes a look at a few “under the radae” light sport airplanes that while not from the top-tier makers, all represent great styling, good value, ...

Ask anyone who has ever spent the afternoon out on the water in a boat and they’ll tell you it is a very pleasant way to relax. The BushCat was designed to handle the rugged African bush country by South African company SkyReach, with a “modular design” making it easy to assemble and repair in the backcountry. Arion Aircraft, located at Shelbyville Municipal Airport (KSYI) in Tennessee, spent three years making their Lightning kit aircraft as efficient and fast as possible, but when they wanted to produce a factory-built S-LSA version, it took “a complete reversal of thinking” to meet the current light sport performance numbers. The interior of the SD4 is equally refined, with premium seats and a well-designed panel offered in analog gauges or optional glass avionics from Dynon or Garmin with an optional autopilot. The lines of this Hungarian-built S-LSA are as good as it gets in light sport styling, but underneath that sleek skin, a big surprise is waiting. There is a lot to love with the SD4. That lovefest starts with the impressive lines of the exterior, which look great from any angle.