Aero-TV Exclusive First Look: Piper Goes LSA - Introduces PiperSport

New PiperSport Is An "LSA Cherokee"
Finally, we can spill the beans... known for a number of weeks here at ANN HQ, we're pleased to finally be able to tell you that mighty Piper, the company that first energized GA with the (truly) legendary Piper Cub, is ready to do it again with their new PiperSport. We've been a fan of the chosen airframe for a while and during some really nice (but TOP SECRET) evening air-to-air sessions last week, the PiperSport showed its stuff nicely in a very tight formation photo shoot with our modified Cirrus SR22 (we have a one-of-a-kind Cirrus-designed window hatch mod for both our back windows). It was tough to keep the secret, but the threat of being thrown into Kevin Gould's secret torture chamber (where we would have been forced to look at ugly non-Piper airplanes for hour upon excruciating hour) was enough to keep us quiet -- at least for a few days.
The PiperSport boogies toward Valhalla at 1200 feet per minute and has a max cruise speed of 138 miles per hour -- with a max operating altitude of 10,000 feet. With a gross weight of 1,320 pounds and 600 pounds of useful load, the PiperSport also boasts serious utility. And better yet, with the ability to sip sedately on automotive fuel, the PiperSport's 30-gallon fuel capacity gives the aircraft a range of 600 nautical miles and the ability to refuel virtually anywhere in the world that offers either 100LL or premium, unleaded automotive fuel (and no fair landing at those long ramps near truck stops to buy the cheaper 100LL... not that anyone here at ANN has done such a thing... at least, recently).
The PiperSport will be available within a few weeks and in three variants -- The PiperSport, which sells for $119,900; the PiperSport LT (primarily a training model), which sells for $129,900; and the PiperSport LTD (professional model), which sells for $139,900. Each model features leather seats, a 100-hp Rotax 912 engine, and a BRS complete aircraft parachute recovery system.
Come ride along with Aero-TV as we rendezvous in the skies over the Atlantic Ocean with the new PiperSport!
Copyright 2010, Aero-News Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
FMI: www.piper.com, www.aero-tv.net, / aerotvnetwork , / aeronews

[@DaveFisherLSAeronaut]

@fbisono Many of us simply don't have the resources to 'go buy a Cirrus'. Many of us are still renting planes built in the '70s. With the GA community getting smaller each day, this might be exactly what is needed to get new folks interested in aviation. Thanks Piper, for giving us a choice.

[@BlueBaron3339]

They were so excited that they discontinued it as a Piper product after one year making this video even sillier than it was originally. It's still imported from the Czech Republic where it's manufactured under its original name, the Sport Cruiser.

[@themagicshortbus1715]

Designed and built by Czech Sport Aircraft. Piper was their way into U.S. LS market

[@Transam941]

LSAs are keeping GA alive.

[@SabrinaHill]

I looked around, and found a flying Taylorcraft BC-65 for ten thousand dollars. The thing flies like a dream, lands like a motor glider, and is a CLASSIC, not a 100 thousand dollar piece of plastic.

[@wmfife1]

Some observations: 1- What look like position lights are wingtip strobes. As LSA cert regs forbid night flying no position lights are required so strobes are elective safety feature (?) 2- The Avidyne fully-integrated flight deck implies an onboard navigator. Pilot's eyes should be outside not inside. Dazzling look but not how to train new pilots IMHO. 3- I learned in Short-Winged Pipers. The low-aspect wing reminds me of the Cherokee with glide angle of a brick. Wonder how this compares...

[@DSC800]

Old post, I know, correct me if I'm wrong but the LSA plane can fly at night, it is the light sport pilot license that limits flying to day only.

[@chwilliams5]

WOW, but it needs to make 130 kts. I can see alot of things hanging in the wind slowing this plane down. If the speed mods come so will the the followers... like me. Good job Piper

[@SoCalSurfer69]

I love it when they say an entry point aircraft between 120 -140k when I am looking at older Pipers for less then 60. Not many people have 120k of disposable income. Vans RV for 1/2 the cost, heck you could build and RV10 for that and cary 4 real people on FAA people.

[@maxmccain8950]

Nice but I wish it was made in this country.

[@thomasabramson100]

Ehhh...You had the BEST LSA aircraft EVER in the history of aviation it was called the J3 cub the little yellow plane with the most docile handling and trained more pilots than any other. Followed up by the super cub also one of the best trainers ever. Both of which you discontinued if you had keep producing cubs the aviation community would be a much better place

[@otterpat]

is the cub an lsa?

[@ralphwishart]

I see two bright points here. One, there's a misconception among GA pilots that LSA is unrealiable and I hope that it vanishes with the introduction the sky catcher and Piper Sport. the other point is that it's not built in China like the Sky catcher. It's not a Piper. but who cares? CZAW is fine also

[@felixtorres1895]

Here’s another management type telling us how excited “they are”. They all go to the same school of excitement political correctness ,you don’t need to be excited you need to excite us the public the ones that have the money we don’t want to hear how excited you are we want to hear how exciting it will be for us . I just came from another channel Cessna aircraft spokesman was also excited !

[@33jarhead88]

Everyone gripes about the cost of GA airplanes. Let's remember that small aircraft manufacturers are barely staying afloat..which is due in no small part to their astronomical insurance costs..which many would argue is thanks to the greed of many lawyers, who ironically, can afford to own personal airplanes. Every time someone is injured in an airplane, no matter the cause, there are unscrupulous people lining-up to cash in. We all pay in one way or another.

[@marktuyet]

made in china ?

[@robertl30]

+marktuyet Czech Republic