General Aviation

[Zafer]

This thread is dedicated to General Aviation talk particularly focusing on small airplane operations that are accessible to private individuals.

General aviation is defined as "civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport".

General Aviation entry in Wikipedia

Why now? There is a big change happening in aviation particularly with the plethora of different aircraft designs enabled by electric propulsion and advancement in the aviation field in general. Regulations allowing the fielding of novel aircraft designs and innovations are also catching up. It is expected that this field will broaden massively and will be accessible to the masses.

An upcoming regulations change prepared by the FAA of USA is expected to be published in August 2025, two months from now. This act is called MOSAIC meaning Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification. This will broaden the scope of airplanes that can be operated at low cost to individuals. This regulations is expected to be adopted by other nations too. Türkiye in particular can benefit from adopting this new categorization.

Here is a youtube video to familiarize yourself with the realities of small airplane ownership in Türkiye published two years ago.

 

[Zafer]

 

[Zafer]

Engines suitable for Light Sport Aircraft use.
If the Baykar TM100 engine gets customized for LSA use rather than MALE tactical drone use it can be a good competitor in the market

Engine​	Price $​	hp​	kgs​	(hp/kgs)​	($/hp)​	Value​
Aeromomentum AM13 (standard)​	9.995​	100​	77,1​	1,30​	100​	1​
Viking 90 Mitsubishi Aero Conversion​	10.550​	90​	72,1​	1,25​	117​	2​
Rotax 912ULS​	22.893​	100​	78,9​	1,27​	229​	3​
Aeromomentum AM15 (standard)​	11.995​	117​	83,9​	1,39​	103​	4​
UL260iS​	23.980​	107​	72,1​	1,48​	224​	5​
Jabiru 2200​	17.900​	80​	62,1​	1,29​	224​	6​
UL350iS​	26.160​	130​	78,5​	1,66​	201​	7​
Rotax 912UL​	18.702​	80​	77,6​	1,03​	234​	8​
Jabiru 3300​	20.900​	120​	83,5​	1,44​	174​	9​
Viking 130 Honda Aero Conversion​	12.895​	130​	99,8​	1,30​	99​	10​
Rotax 914UL​	38.005​	115​	85,3​	1,35​	330​	11​
AeroVee 2180 VW Aero Conversion​	11.300​	80​	76,2​	1,05​	141​	12​
Rotax 915iS​	43.089​	141​	100,2​	1,41​	306​	13​
Continental O-200​	39.685​	100​	99,8​	1,00​	397​	14​
Rotax 912IS Sport​	27.541​	100​	75,4​	1,33​	275​	​
Baykar TM100​	​	100​	​	​	​	​

 

[Zafer]

Ultralight pilot tells about recent state of small plane ownership as he flies.

 

[Zafer]

What MOSAIC will bring to personal aviation;

1. The Sport Pilot will be the default certificate for flight training / Easier access without stringent medical examinations / like for automobiles
2. Older 4-seaters will get fixed up / 4 seaters will be the same as two seaters / 50k aircraft in the US joins the LSA ranks / pilot training will be cheaper
3. Existing LSAs will get a performance boost / modifications to existing aircraft will increase their perfomance
4. New high performance airplanes will arrive / performance envelop expansion allows higher performing designs
5. Growth beyond piston airplanes / electric propulsion and multi engine designs will be allowed

Manufacturers have already started to adapt to the MOSAIC performance envelope expansion and factories are building nonstop.

There are like 200 LSA manufacturers in the US alone and each of them are building on average 20 planes per year. LSA manufacture is more of a family business.

It will take half the time and cost half as much money to earn a certificate that will allow you to fly most of the general aviation aircraft on the airport ramp

 

[Zafer]

Airplane prices are insane! Dude talks about the light sport aircraft prices which are exorbitant at the moment (more like 8 months ago before Trump). and suggests that wanna be owners should go for partial ownership instead of whole ownership. Market researchers attribute the high demand towards small aircraft ownership to the increasing number of high networth individuals. From other videos too we know that the next 24 months production is already sold. Actually this news is before Trump so today's numbers are not exactly known. This situation makes entrance of new makers into the market very attractive but where are our local makers?

 

[Zafer]

Turkish companies involved in General Aviation aircraft development and looking for production opportunities



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[Zafer]

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[Zafer]

Bursa based Bplas Company owners acquired Germany based Aquilla with prospects of doing some of the production in Bursa

 

[Zafer]

An entrepreneur once wanted to build an Italian design 2 seat plane in cooperation with THK Uçak İmalat AŞ in Ankara, but the project failed to materialize

https://www.koc-consulting.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Speedfire-Aircraft-Presentation-for-Investment-1.pdf

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[Zafer]

TUSAŞ had intended to make pilot training aircraft but it seems to be put on hold as of now

TUSAŞ THY İçin 20 Adet Tek Motorlu Pilot Eğitim Uçağı Üretecek

Possibly a similar plane to the Diamond Aircraft solution shown below

 

[Zafer]

GA airplane sales post double-digit increases​

 

[Zafer]

There is another company that had started operations but tanked later complaining the currency crunch that happened a few years back and with a strange name to it. Meet Tengri Hava Araçları Tasarım İmalat ve Pazarlama A.Ş. or what is left of it. This company was serious and was also incentivized but it didn't end well. They meant to make 4 and 6 seat general aviation planes.

Tengri Hatip

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

 

[Zafer]

Maintenance problem, the hidden reason why more aircraft are crashing

 

[Zafer]

Havasan started the development of a 4 seat helicopter in 2016, but their website shows no content at the moment.

http://havasan.com.tr/

https://www.star.com.tr/teknoloji/iste-yerli-goktug-helikopteri-haber-1359437/

 

[Sanchez]

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If this is related to TAI's cancelled THY trainer project I will be a very happy man.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1772604210854469987

Looks like it wasn't really related and Uçaksan is still unable to get a first flight license.

Emre BALCI, Founder at Uçaksan Aircraft Systems

Let me give you a brief summary of the video I shared in my previous post. First of all, institutions currently under state administration are in the process of procuring training aircraft. They procure any aircraft or similar vehicle from our foundation companies if they produce it. However, if it is a vehicle not produced by the foundation company, they primarily turn to foreign companies. They make it difficult for private companies to enter this market.

This is the situation that Uçaksan is currently experiencing. While we are at a level where we can compete with aircraft in its segment worldwide, the managers at the head of our institutions want to use foreign preference. We are completely transparent in comparisons on this issue. The product is ready. Although we said that we would deliver it with documents and certification, they want to procure it from foreigners. In fact, they may openly say to our faces that we can already procure it from foreigners. Theirs is better. Why should we buy it from you?

We all agree that our country needs high-tech products. We need world-class brands. The Chinese model is a very good example for this. While we are doing our part, the fact that our state does not support these projects is a matter that saddens us. We are sending the same thing again. We do not want support. We expect them to be fair. We cannot reach our administrators on this issue.

We love our country. Do not make us give up this thing we love...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1935993499842699443

 

[Zafer]

Looks like it wasn't really related and Uçaksan is still unable to get a first flight license.

Emre BALCI, Founder at Uçaksan Aircraft Systems

Let me give you a brief summary of the video I shared in my previous post. First of all, institutions currently under state administration are in the process of procuring training aircraft. They procure any aircraft or similar vehicle from our foundation companies if they produce it. However, if it is a vehicle not produced by the foundation company, they primarily turn to foreign companies. They make it difficult for private companies to enter this market.

This is the situation that Uçaksan is currently experiencing. While we are at a level where we can compete with aircraft in its segment worldwide, the managers at the head of our institutions want to use foreign preference. We are completely transparent in comparisons on this issue. The product is ready. Although we said that we would deliver it with documents and certification, they want to procure it from foreigners. In fact, they may openly say to our faces that we can already procure it from foreigners. Theirs is better. Why should we buy it from you?

We all agree that our country needs high-tech products. We need world-class brands. The Chinese model is a very good example for this. While we are doing our part, the fact that our state does not support these projects is a matter that saddens us. We are sending the same thing again. We do not want support. We expect them to be fair. We cannot reach our administrators on this issue.

We love our country. Do not make us give up this thing we love...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1935993499842699443

Uçaksan made an aircraft and want everyone to buy it. They haven't even flown yet and we still don't know the reason. This statement was the first installment of his plane making experience series of videos. There will be two more, so stay tuned.

 

[TR_123456]

Havasan started the development of a 4 seat helicopter in 2016, but their website shows no content at the moment.

http://havasan.com.tr/

https://www.star.com.tr/teknoloji/iste-yerli-goktug-helikopteri-haber-1359437/

They should come up with a better product,this looks like an upgraded 70's helicopter.

 

[Zafer]

They should come up with a better product,this looks like an upgraded 70's helicopter.

View attachment 75991

This is like the Robinson R44 which is the most basic 4 seater helicopter which is still in production and about 7000 delivered so far. Not a high quality helicopter bu which is also the cheapest. So they have a proven trackrecord which is attractive to follow. However eVTOL taxis should be the prime focus for any statup in aviation. With the new Xiomi battery technology patent which can give 3000 km range on a car with a 5 minute charge battery helicopters are bound to become a thing in a 5 year timeframe. However with the multitude of aviation engines now being developed in Türkiye it is also very attractive to develop aircraft for these domestic engines. I for one am dreaming of a multitude of design for these domestic engines. Not military but civilian though. I think Turkish general aviation should go into a boom phase as it is in a miserable condition now.

There are a number of leverages that can create a boom in LSA sector in Türkiye one of which is a possible introduction of a Part 103 type regulation in our law which the aviation sector should push for. This will enable a boom in the single seat aircraft sector. With some incentivization a new sector of economy can be created in Türkiye.

 

[mTT]

Havasan started the development of a 4 seat helicopter in 2016, but their website shows no content at the moment.

http://havasan.com.tr/

https://www.star.com.tr/teknoloji/iste-yerli-goktug-helikopteri-haber-1359437/

Could this company have gone bankrupt?