With the introduction of the new Light Sport Aircraft category many manufacturers outside of the U.S. are looking at the potential for sales of their aircraft. A Canadian manufacturer that has been setting up for the LSA category is Canadian Light Aircraft Sales and Services, manufacturers of the BushCaddy line of aircraft. BUSHCADDY SPORT (S-LSA) Two Place, side by side seating, with center Y stick, dual brakes. | Stall Speed | 32 MPH | Top Speed | 120 MPH | Cruise Speed | 105 MPH | Take off Run | 200 ft | Rate of Climb | 800 -1000 fpm | Cabin width | 44 inches | Cabin height | 44 inches | Length | 22.1 feet | Empty weight | 680 lbs | Useful load | 640 lbs | At Airventure 2006 they announced that Rick Pewtress of BushCaddy USA had been appointed as distributor for their Light Sport Aircraft products. Rick who holds a conventional license and is part owner of a 177 Cardinal, has been looking for a line of aircraft to distribute in the U.S. for nearly a decade. He narrowed his choices to three manufactures, with Canadian Light Aircraft's BushCaddy being his final choice. BushCaddy U.S.A. had on display the first Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) Bushcaddy, and will be offering 5 other models right on up to a 4 place. The BushCaddy LSA series of aircraft feature side by side seating in a wide roomy cabin, with adjustable seats and a large storage area. The control system is standard stick and rudder with a center mounted Y yoke. The craft features CNC pre-jigged construction, using aluminum angle and solid rivets. Currently BushCaddy U.S.A. is in the process of completing one of two BushCaddy R120 kits which were brought in from Canada. The R120 has a 1700 lbs gross weight, and has proven to be very popular with kit builders. According to Rick the R120 kit should take the average builder 1,000 hours to complete. He was able to complete his first one in just over 800 hours. Rick currently owns a 4,000 square foot shop with a grass strip and has signed a lease for an additional 6,000 square foot facility at the Morgan County Airport. Here BushCaddy U.S.A. will be handling manufacturing, distribution, and sales for all BushCaddy aircraft in the U.S. In the near future they will be operating a BushCaddy R80 out of the Morgan County Airport, in one of the first schools to train pilots for a light sport aircraft license. Rick plans on powering the LSA version of the Bushcaddy with the Rotax 912 80 horsepower and 912S 100 HP engines. He is also going to be using the direct drive air cooled Jabiru aircraft engines. The BushCaddy Sport R80 model complies with the USA Light Sport Airplane Rules, and can be supplied in kit form or factory built ready to fly. BushCaddy U.S.A currently employs three full time staff, plus two CFI's for flight training. For more information contact: |