admin

Shawn

of course you are correct, sir.

the lack of factory customer support is NOT new.  This factory support problem has been a continuing problem since about 2011,  and especially a greater problem since Patrick and the awesome folks at US Sport Aircraft (now ThrustFlight) finally came to their senses and decided life was too short to try and help improve the CONTINUING Czech Factory Support problem scenarios.

Unfortunately, I am at the point that I can no longer recommend ANYONE to buy an S-LSA SportCruiser aircraft, 

UNLESS

the person buying a new S-LSA SportCruiser has the desire, capability, resolve, and resources to immediately convert their new aircraft to an Experimental E-LSA Special Airworthiness Certificate in the USA.

Going E-LSA with a new SportCruiser is really the only viable way to keep the SportCruiser Upgraded and Competitive with the rapidly evolving USA S-LSA Light Sport Aircraft Market.    There may actually be a case to be made that the E-LSA SportCruiser option easily PAYS OFF vs buying a new more expensive Bristell S-LSA.   But the E-LSA aircraft owner investment required (time and money) in doing these upgrades themselves (with excellent Mechanic support)  is SIGNIFICANT. 
 

Technology moves on - with or without Factory Built SportCruiser S-LSA aircraft !

This Lack of Factory Support situation makes me sad.  There is money to be made by the Czech SportCruiser factory organization to SELL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS for S-LSA Factory built aircraft !

If I were buying a new S-LSA aircraft today,  the SportCruiser would NOT be on my Short List today,  as it WAS in 2010.

However,  I do love the challenge and REWARDS possible with continuing to upgrade my E-LSA SportCruiser aircraft, and I will continue to do so as long as possible.

Dave

Still a STRONG SportCruiser Aircraft SUPPORTER !

Provided for the over 652 Worldwide members of the SCFLIER SportCruiser forum:

Many existing SportCruiser / PS-28  S-LSA aircraft owners have experienced very poor CruiserAircraft factory Support.

A consistent Example includes essentially No Response to requests for simple SportCruiser aircraft replacement parts orders.

While existing SportCruiser S-LSA aircraft owners love the easy flying capabilities and look and feel of the SportCruiser aircraft design, when a simple aircraft Part fails, the inability to get ANY response to requests for replacement parts is very frustrating. 

Of course the competition in the Light Sport Aircraft market includes other opportunities to buy another brand S-LSA aircraft:

• Bristell BRM-Aero offers the “Next Generation” SportCruiser also designed by Milan Bristella.  Advantages include several Rotax engine options (Rotax 912 ULS, Rotax 912iS Fuel Injected, Rotax 914 Turbocharged, Rotax 915iS Fuel Injected / Turbocharged / Intercooled),  and outstanding upgraded Garmin Avionics capabilities.  Disadvantages of Bristell S-LSA offerings include a higher price,  but factory support is reported to be outstanding, and aircraft performance with the new Rotax 915iS engine is at the top of the LSA AIrcraft scale !
• TECNAM offers several exciting S-LSA aircraft Options including advanced Rotax engines, newest Garmin Avionics,  and both a low wing (Astore) and high wing S-LSA aircraft with very pleased customers in the USA.  Purchase price is higher than the CruiserAircraft SportCruiser,  but the Tecnam offerings come with excellent factory support after the sale. A Valuable consideration - factory support after the sale is REQUIRED !
• Vans Aircraft is a stellar, incredibly  responsive  USA Based organization with simply awesome, unparalleled customer support,  great INNOVATIVE Aircraft designs, a strong customer responsive parts base that LISTENS to existing customers and upgrades their newest Vans Aircraft aircraft designs to match customer input ideas.  An example of a recently dramatically improved Vans Aircraft S-LSA design is the new (in 2017) RV-12iS S-LSA with the Fuel Injected Rotax 912iS engine and many aircraft design improvements included now in the RV-12iS S-LSA cabin and engine compartment.  Excellent !

I personally remain a STRONG SUPPORTER of the capable, easy to fly, comfortable SportCruiser S-LSA AIRCRAFT,  but lack of continued CruiserAircraft Innovation - especially with examples of only ONE Rotax engine available - the original - since 2006 Rotax 912 ULS,  and very slow factory incorporation of new cockpit Avionics, (the continued lack of SportCruiser S-LSA aircraft Angle Of Attack sensing and cockpit AOA display is just one long standing example) essentially drove me - way back in 2016 - to convert my SportCruiser S-LSA aircraft to a USA FAA Experimental E-LSA aircraft to allow incorporation by myself of updated Dynon AOA  & Garmin Aera 760 GPS / ADS-B IN & OUT / SXM GDL - 52 avionics,  as well as recently -in early 2023 - my E-LSA SportCruiser aircraft upgrade to a more powerful, capable Rotax 914 Turbocharged engine.  The Rotax 914 Turbocharged engine provides game changing aircraft PERFORMANCE UPGRADES in Climb Rate and Level Cruise True Airspeed to my E-LSA SportCruiser aircraft !

  I have been waiting for over a year for ANY Factory RESPONSE to my simple SportCruiser aircraft parts requests,  and expect I will be forced to make my own replacement parts to continue upgrading the E-LSA SportCruiser that I own and love to fly.

Dave

SCFLIER SportCruiser Forum ADMIN

Additional Examples of poor CruiserAircraft factory responses to simple parts requests are provided below by the PS28 SportCruiser / Cruiser Pilots forum :

Shawn

I understand your point. 
 

6000 hours is a LOT of potential abuse.

Dave

WATCH THE VIDEO !!!

Also,  For new Members,  remember there is a picture "Gallery" section available on the SCFLIER SportCruiser forum with many pictures available for all to LEARN about their favorite SportCruiser / PS-28 LSA !

A notice for Experimental E-LSA SportCruiser owners,  or simply for ALL SportCruiser owners who want to learn more about the construction and details of CZAW SportCruisers.

See "DOWNLOADS",  two clicks to the right of "Forums" and you can download this 254 page Manual to your own Computer.

Many Many Awesome pictures of the quick build kit offered in Europe by CZAW,  with useful aircraft building tools,  suggestions, procedures,  etc. for the CZAW 2007 SportCruiser Quick Build Kit !

Thanks James !

Dave

SCFLIER Admin

I highly recommend the “Thermostasis” device that bypasses the oil cooler automatically in cold weather.

I have used this device on two different Rotax 912 engined LSA’s - works well to warm up the oil in COLD conditions before takeoff,  and retains the benefits of an “unblocked” Oil Cooler air opening in HOT weather.  AUTOMATIC OPERATION.

I also strongly recommend using a Tannis Engine preheater in your hangar before very cold morning flights.

From an earlier post on SCFLIER.

Another option for flying in “cold” temperature conditions with the Rotax 912 engine in a CRUZ LSA, or a Rotax 912 in other light aircraft. 

We used to install the CRUZ S-LSA red oil cooler “cover” when the temperature got below 30 degrees F or so.   Works as advertised.   

But after installing a “Thermostasis” Oil flow regulator that changes the Oil flow

in COLD Conditions

from “mostly” up to the oil cooler (and back) to “mostly” just looping oil back without ALL the oil passing through the oil cooler,

we no longer need, or use  the front red oil cooler cover plate in the wintertime.

Also, on OTHER,  COOLER RUNNING Rotax 912 powered aircraft that have excellent cowling cooling designs (I.e., NOT AS HOT UNDER THE COWLING as a SportCruiser/PiperSport due to LOW cooling air flow in a TIGHTLY COWLED Engine Space),  

In “cooler weather”, the Thermostasis device can significantly reduce the wait time for oil warm up to 120 degrees F, allowing one to perform the Mag Check before takeoff, reducing the Oil Warm Up wait time from  ~ 20 minutes to about 5-7 minutes.

The Thermostasis Oil Temperature Control device is an awesome addition to any Rotax 912 engine.  
 

Highly recommended for Any temperature climate.  
 

Simple and effective  - works well.  

A friendly reminder from your SCFLIER SportCruiser Admin…

PLEASE keep our SportCruiser forum ORGANIZED, FUN, and Easy to use:

1) use the SEARCH ICON (magnifying glass at the top right) to find if “your today topic” area already exists

2) add to an existing  topic if available, rather than creating a new topic

3) this “News from the Admin” topic area is not  a “catch all” area for forum member questions/ideas (see above)

And, as always,

RESPECTING

other Forum members’ varying ideas and opinions helps keep the forum friendly & fun for all.

Dave

SCFLIER ADMIN

A comment from your friendly Admin

If you have a friend that wants to join the SCFLIER SportCruiser forum,

please remind them to add

scflieradm@yahoo.com

to their known email contact list,  so that during NEW SCFLIER MEMBER  “SIGN UP”,  my SCFLIER Admin email to the new member does not get “lost” in their SPAM folder. 
 

TWO WAY Communication must be achieved between me - the SCFLIER Admin - and a new SCFLIER MEMBER before the new account is ACTIVATED.

thanks

Dave

SCFLIER SportCruiser forum Admin

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous

New Year in 2022 !

Enjoy FLYING

your SportCruiser / PS-28 Aircraft

often !

your friendly SCFLIER Admin,

Dave 

The SportCruiser is

an AWESOME Airplane !

AND,

copied from Cruiser Aircraft’s Facebook posts, 

The latest PS-28 / SportCruiser Instrument panel with Dual SkyView HDX large panel displays, a Garmin G5 Primary Flight Display / CDI / HSI, and a Garmin Com Radio 

Finally, 

all we “need” in 2022

is

some more Rotax engine choices

from CruiserAircraft !

Sincere Apologies to the 99 % of SCFLIER SportCruiser forum members who never have password or display name login problems.   Stop reading here.  Thanks !
 

To the 1% of SCFLIER Members that DO have problems logging in, here are some friendly tips:

1) when ATC gives you directions on a flight following request, a new transponder code, a flight path change, ..., CRAFT, ...

it is customary for the Pilot to READBACK the ATC Directions, so that ATC can verify that what you HEARD is what they asked you to do. 

If you Read Back the SAME ATC commanded Directions, they will say 

“N12345 Read Back Correct”

And this two-way communication confirms everyone is on the same sheet of music.  A good thing.  
 

2) when a new SCFLIER Forum member  “signs up” for a new SCFLIER Account, please write down your “Display Name” and “Password” EXACTLY as you entered during sign up.  Special characters, Spaces, capital letters, ... , all are important. Please VERIFY and write down your Display Name and Password. 
 

3) your SCFLIER  “Display Name” is used to log in.   This is not your email address.  You select and enter your desired “Display Name” at sign up.

4) Automatic Password Resets do NOT work on SCFLIER.   I have entered a complaint (multiple times) to get this fixed by the Website Supplier, but NO Response other than “send more Money”.

so,  If you have login problems, please send me, your friendly Admin, an email request at

     scflieradm@yahoo.com

and I will gladly manually reset your Password for you.   I can also verify your “Display Name” that you entered during “sign up”.
 

thanks again for the 99 % that write down their Display Name and Password EXACTLY as you entered on SCFLIER “sign up”.   And check them   — “ READ BACK CORRECT ! “

Dave

Your friendly SCFLIER Admin

ThrustFlight at KADS Addison Airport, North Dallas,

is “close” to Arkansas,  in a “Texas” kind of way.

Demo rides, Instruction, and MANY SportCruisers flying each and every day (and night)...

https://www.thrustflight.com/

First, why would I post information to SCFLIER Members who are having trouble logging in, at this particular Forum location ?

Answer - because there ARE areas of the SCFLIER Forum where NON-Members, or those SCFLIER Members that have lost their password, can SEE postings without logging in.   This is one of those “free access” locations. 
 

Second, if you are an Activated SCFLIER Member who can no longer Log-In - i.e., forgot their password to the SCFLIER Forum in the flurry of passwords required everywhere,