Sure, absolutely, personal choice and that’s key. I don’t think there’s even a fraction of the people who have or will choose the aircraft you describe for them to end up being “the future for the majority of private flying” anywhere except maybe southern Europe. There are so many other types of planes in production and/or currently in service that will play their own role in the big wide world.
Do you think Alaska is going to fly them on floats? 
For a while I was interested in e.g. Tecnam 2002s, with nice ones now available used for circa $60K. Even at that highly depreciated cost to buy, it didn’t make a lot of sense to me compared to what else can be bought for the same money. Of course there will be a few people who see that differently and spend 140K for a new one, and good luck to them.
Silvaire wrote:
At four times the cost.
Exactly.
I see the same fundamental issue with these sorts of aeroplanes as I see with the electric cars we are told will dominate sales from tomorrow/next week or whenever.
It doesn’t take into account that a very significant proportion of the market, perhaps the majority (in aviation the vast majority) doesn’t have anything like the funds available to buy these things new. Or if they do, considers it a poor use of funds and prefers to play in the used market.
If I’m an average aviator with average funding, I’m never going to drop 100k+ on a ultralight aircraft. Just like as an average driver I’m never going to drop 40-50k on an electric vehicle.
These fast ultralights are definitely expensive to acquire, but they have superb fuel economy, being competitive against both cars and airlines. If I were to commute on a weekly basis between, say, Prague and London, this kind of aircraft would certainly come into consideration.
The problem with the “vanilla” 600 kg airplane and a standard 100 HP Rotax 912 is it is under powered (not all of them, but most of them). At least compared with the sibling 450 kg UL, and also your typical 160/180 HP Cessna/Piper with two persons on board. Works OK for flying below 5k feet.
If I were to commute on a weekly basis between, say, Prague and London, this kind of aircraft would certainly come into consideration.
You would have some issues with the weather and the permits.
.aheum….I am flying a Bonanza btw HU and BE and still find it challenging coping with weather in IFR after 7 years. Since Covid a did this route far less. I have a descent A/P, TKS and 8 hours of fuel. I don’t see how I could do this in an LSA on a weekly basis. I did it seven times VFR in a motorglider, four times in a M20J (VFR) and that was enough :-). Dreaming about a ME aircraft for this now :-) preferably turbo charged and de-iced to avoid convective weather meanly TCU forming around the Alps and icing..If you take this as a holiday it’s different, you can make some youtube videos from all the nice places you visit enroute :-). I love flying light aircraft including motorgliders…but the right tools for the mission.
It’s a different “flying style” than IFR over Alps with ME+FIKI
I think the idea of LSA doing long distance Prague-London “low VFR” is that you have more options of landing en-route: just like a car drive, you follow the roads and stop every 2h to put AVAGS, if weather blocks the door, you land at the car petrol station, pee & put some MOGAS and have a shower & sleep for the night
If weather does not knock you out, low level turbulence and 10h of planning for PPR & CAS & NOTAMS will…
I am sure first 3 times will be bloody fun but you will be thinking 200KTAS+20kft+IFR+FIKI+MEP after !
It’s nice to add GA LSA commute to CAT, train & car commutes, it keeps motivation going 
Worst case you drive the car
I am sure first 3 times will be bloody fun but you will be thinking of 200KTAS+20kft+FIKI+MEP after !
Exactly :-)
Eleven years ago :-)
Vref wrote:
Eleven years ago :-)
Wow that is nice, it would have been far more fun, challenging & cheaper than the car with the engine off ;-)
Just to shed some negativity lately, but all the great GA flying that can be done. You don’t have to be rich to go for it….just a lot of passion and a form of OCD for details helps also :-). So yes its all about the carrot and keep your self motivated to run after it….(not sure if this free translation holds in English..:-). I hate commercial flying and all the hassle that comes with that now………….I love the words radar contact and my recent DCT from just past Frankfurt DCT SNU VOR…230Nm….nothing can beat that…not even a Ferrari on the A3 from Frankfurt till Passau :-)
