New US Sky Arrow distributor

Talk about airplanes! At last count, there are 39 (and growing) FAA certificated S-LSA (special light sport aircraft). These are factory-built ready to fly airplanes. If you can't afford a factory-built LSA, consider buying an E-LSA kit (experimental LSA - up to 99% complete).

Moderator: drseti

User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by FastEddieB »

One other thing I consider a plus...

...rods instead of cables for both the ailerons and elevator.

Gives a very solid feel, and though cables work just fine - and cables are used for the rudder - rods just seem a more secure method to me.

I think it’s very clever the way they articulate movement of the sidestick to the appropriate control movements:

https://youtu.be/FIMr4pzoY1o
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
User avatar
MrMorden
Posts: 2184
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:28 am
Location: Athens, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by MrMorden »

Warmi wrote:Yeah, it is open... I was more wondering about first time flyers needing that human contact/face to reassure them that all these funky noises and sensations they experience are quite normal :D
And don't forget in a tandem they puke on the back of your neck instead of in their own lap, as well. :lol:
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
HAPPYDAN
Posts: 390
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:49 am

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by HAPPYDAN »

dstclair wrote:I carry this for emergency use, including breaking the canopy: https://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/stor ... l?s=GB1629

Neat article on breaking a Plexiglas canopy: http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Cha ... eting.html
Thanks for the video. That was a good demonstration. If I recall correctly, Mythbusters used something like that with equally great success to break a car window under water and escape. Looks like a worthwhile addition, and probably safer to use than a handgun. :shock:
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by drseti »

FastEddieB wrote:Engine maintenance and access is a tad more difficult, requiring a ladder and de-cowling for some pretty basic tasks.
Bumping this thread. I've been working on a Sky Arrow for the past few weeks. From a maintenance standpoint, I find it an absolute pain. Things that should take an hour (such as changing carb floats) end up taking me all day - up on a ladder, with my arms extended above my head and no visibility whatever! It's a great flying machine, but was just not designed with accessibility or maintainability in mind.

I feel like I'm trying to work on an Italian sports car. Oh, wait...
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by FastEddieB »

Wait until you have to access the voltage regulator one day! Then again, some things are well thought out from a maintenance perspective, but as you say others are quite aggravating. But at least prop strikes are a thing of the past!

Just curious, did you leave the carbs mounted and just drop the drip trays to access the floats?
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by drseti »

Just curious, did you leave the carbs mounted and just drop the drip trays to access the floats?
Yes, but it was a bitch getting the drip tray hardware off. (That's probably why the floats had never been weighed.) So, I reinstalled them using zip ties!
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by drseti »

FastEddieB wrote: at least prop strikes are a thing of the past!
I figure that's only possible if you land inverted.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by FastEddieB »

After wrestling with the tiny nuts and bolts holding the drip trays in place, I used a Dremel tool to “slot” the holes. Now, I just have to loosen the nuts a turn or two, and the trays slide right off.
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by drseti »

I like that solution, Eddie!
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by FastEddieB »

Took a little while to find it, but a picture is worth 1,000 words:

Image
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
Helen
Posts: 185
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: Maryland

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by Helen »

If anyone is interested in a very nice Sky Arrow, I have one for sale. 410-604-1717

As for the new distributor, I am less than impressed. I called him and asked if he'd like to broker my bird. He agreed but would never set up a time to take the plane. Every time I called he had some emergency come up, had to hang up, and promised to call me right back, which he NEVER did, not even once. Sure wish we had more honest people in this business.

BTW, in case folks didn't hear, John Hansen, the former Sky Arrow dealer (who was honest IMHO), just passed away.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Helen Woods
Chesapeake Sport Pilot
Quality Flight Training, Rentals, and Service
Factory Authorized RV-12 Training and Service Center
http://www.chesapeakesportpilot.com
Sling 2 Pilot
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:53 pm

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by Sling 2 Pilot »

Helen wrote:If anyone is interested in a very nice Sky Arrow, I have one for sale. 410-604-1717

As for the new distributor, I am less than impressed. I called him and asked if he'd like to broker my bird. He agreed but would never set up a time to take the plane. Every time I called he had some emergency come up, had to hang up, and promised to call me right back, which he NEVER did, not even once. Sure wish we had more honest people in this business.

BTW, in case folks didn't hear, John Hansen, the former Sky Arrow dealer (who was honest IMHO), just passed away.
So sorry to hear Helen, condolences to the Hansen family. I’ve spoken with John numerous times over the past few years, regarding the Sky Arrow. I flew 271SA, serial # CN0001 in ‘99, demo’d it for my agency. I fell in love with the SAmand wanted one for my own, however I had a twin at the time. I call Johnas recently as The summer of ‘17. He cautioned me, as you did about buying Italian, and I’m Italian.

Magnaghi, like 3I before them, made poor choices when it came to distributors here in the US, except for Hansen. I called Italy when I didn’t get a response from USAero in Denver. They got back to me real quick after calling Italy, but their pricing and enthusiasm was out of touch. I hear, as you have seen, Low Country May not be any better.

John offered to get me a plane, but he had no luck. He wasn’t told he couldn’t sell them, they just never gave him a straight answer.

I moved on and bought a Sling 2, as VAN’s took too long to complete the -12iS update and re start production. Sad, I really like it.
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by drseti »

Helen wrote:BTW, in case folks didn't hear, John Hansen, the former Sky Arrow dealer (who was honest IMHO), just passed away.
I hadn't heard, Helen. Sad news. Hansen was the real deal.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
FastEddieB
Posts: 2880
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by FastEddieB »

Helen wrote: As for the new distributor, I am less than impressed.
I emailed Italy about engine mounts for my Sky Arrow. They suggested I contact the distributor in SC. I did, about 2 weeks ago. The fellow said he’d check on them. After not hearing back for about a week, I called back. They said they’d have something on it shortly. Now, a week later, still nothing. So far, not impressed. Too bad, as they’re not too far away.
BTW, in case folks didn't hear, John Hansen, the former Sky Arrow dealer (who was honest IMHO), just passed away.
Too bad, I had not heard. Was a nice guy and not afraid to get personally involved with the planes he sold!

Here, in the process of installing required shims on my Sky Arrow soon after delivery in 2007.

Image
Fast Eddie B.
Sky Arrow 600 E-LSA • N467SA
CFI, CFII, CFIME
[email protected]
Sling 2 Pilot
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:53 pm

Re: New US Sky Arrow distributor

Post by Sling 2 Pilot »

Eddie, we have spoken before, I love the SA! At the end of the day, the Mrs who loves to fly with me, wanted a side by side arrangement, like our previous A/C’s. Happy wife, happy life, so, no tandem for me...

At the end of the day, the fact that I could never get a straight answer from their distributors, was, in my fact, the deal breaker.
Post Reply