Aeroprakt, Aeroprakt A22, Aeroprakt A32 Light Sport Aircraft, Aeroprakt U.S.A. www.aeropraktusa.com

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A22 Importer Dennis Long said that people refer to his Aeroprakt side-by-side two seater as “the see-through airplane.” Certainly, this Light-Sport Aircraft has more clear plastic in its cockpit covering than any other LSA. It’s no surprise that this entry has some of the best visibility you can find in any aircraft. What you may not see while you’re looking through it is the size. A22 has a cabin about 50 inches wide making it one of the roomiest models available.

Yet the one factor most folks discover is the attractive price, starting at $79,900 for a ready-to-fly Special LSA. So often I hear pilots lament that Light-Sport Aircraft were supposed to be less expensive, meaning affordable by a greater share of the population. At 80 Grand, this is still a fairly costly purchase for many potential buyers, at least when compared to an automobile: the average price of a new car is presently about $33,000 according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, cars are made in production runs of literally hundreds of thousands where all the airplanes flying anywhere in the world don’t add up to the number of Toyota Camry cars built in a single year. Proving the point, Toyota sold 429,185 in 2015 in the U.S. alone and this number refers solely to the “Made in America” vehicles.

My point is that no reasonable person should expect Aeroprakt — or any other aircraft producer, even the so-called big boys — to make airplanes as efficiently or as cheaply as car companies can. Airplanes are overwhelmingly hand-built machines.

Taking the expense issue a step further, people expected a LSA might cost $50-60,000 when the category was announced 2004. Given the steadily-weakening value of the dollar, that range today would be $65-78,000 after adjusting for inflation.

Dennis Long‘s Aeroprakt A22 at under $80,000 is the starting price. I believe many pilots could easily live with the base priced aircraft although nearly all buyers will elect some options that push it up a bit higher. What do you get for the money?

Aeroprakt uses the Rotax 912 engines to include either the 80 horsepower UL model, the 100 horsepower ULS carbureted model or the fuel injected 912 iS also producing 100 horsepower. Many potential buyers never even consider the 80 horsepower engine as it saves only a couple thousand, but this light airplane flies very well with that engine.

Flying with Dennis — we’re both of at least average weight — the takeoff roll was much shorter, more like 150 feet though headwind obviously affects it. The landing roll was spot on the money at about 350 feet compared to the 328 feet (100 meters) listed in the POH.

Secondly, climb rate is shown as 650 feet per minute (at best angle) or 690 feet per minute (best rate). I saw nearly 1,000 feet per minute after takeoff and we sustained a climb at around 800 feet per minute. Any pilot can appreciate a POH with numbers you can depend on more than a marketing document showing the best performance ever achieved.

For those lucky enough to live in places where float flying is common, they are available; again, the factory knowing of your interest in advance — even if you don’t order them with the aircraft — might make life easier later. If you live in snow country, skis are available.


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aeroprakt, a22, aeroprakt a22, aeroprakt a22 amphib, aeroprakt a22 foxbat, aeroprakt canada, aeroprakt a22 for sale, aeroprakt 22ls for sale, lightsport aircraft, Dennis Long,

Aeroprakt A22 light sport aircraft

[georgeschuttler]

Dennis really is a great guy. Got to meet him at OSH one year.

[kevinhornbuckle]

He's a good spokesman for Aeroprakt.

[benstockert]

It’s a stunning a/c, I personally fly the Airbus for a living & my own Foxbat (that’s what it’s called in Australia) for fun. It’s wider than a C172 with visibility of a helicopter, outstanding STOL performance coupled with superb handling qualities. Love it.

[rayboyer]

If you have never seen this aircraft up close you need to. It will amaze you with its visibility

[nathanielcohen]

dennis long is a very nice gentlemen and skilled pilot. the aeroprakt is one of the best in LSA market. the LORD willing and creek don't rise, i'll get one of these. I got a new paradise p1 ng, I will sell you. has all bells whistles. need to sell it so I can buy an aeroprakt.