42263
indULgE | MOTORS
The World’s Premier
Addiction Treatment Center Is Here in Hawaii
To the Sky
• Private & Exclusive • Holistic Non 12 Step Treatment that works • Resolve the Pain Underlying Addiction & Eating Disorder
TheExclusiveHawaii.com
808-775-0200 50
h i L u x u ry A ug ust/se p t e mb e r 2 012
HILux 6.2_112+4_jul2_li_rev3.indd 50
Light and Smart aircraft For many years, small private planes seemed to be frozen in a technological time warp. Aluminum frames with outdated, piston aircooled engines left little appeal for would-be airborne enthusiasts. Lately, however, a number of regulatory changes—as well as material alterations—have manufacturers rethinking engine alternatives. Paired with the concept of making planes more affordable to the hobbyist and the relative ease of obtaining a pilot license, the FAA in 2004 created a new class of plane, called light/sport aircraft, abbreviated as “LSA.” These mostly two-seaters must weight less than 1,320 pounds (or 1,420 pounds for seaplanes) and are generally made of ultra-light yet durable carbon fiber. An added bonus, besides the price, is that some of these planes can be easily transported on the ground with a trailer. Manufacturers have not ignored the fuel cost issues that have had a profound impact in the automotive market, most obvious in the sheer energy sunk into aerodynamics. The Cessna 400 uses composite materials for this four-seater fixed-gear beauty, with a 310-horsepower Continental turbo engine. Top speed is at 270 mph with the capability of cruising up to 25,000 feet and a range of up to 1,200 miles (depending on load). This $735,000 flier can handle inter-island travel with ease. In the twin-engine arena, the Austrian manufacturer Diamond has introduced a diesel turbo aircraft called the DA42 TDI, which was certified in the U.S. in 2010. The diesel engines can burn either diesel or Jet-A fuel, and provide plenty of reliable power. But more important than fuel economy is overall range; with the addition of “winglets” and some key design elements, this plane can fly from Hawai‘i to California. The most extreme plane we came across employs the use of folding wings, allowing it to cruise on land like a car. Called the Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft, it uses light carbon fiber wherever possible, including the structure and outer skin. The simple 100-horsepower, 1.4-liter engine provides a cruising speed of 105 mph at a reasonable 30 mpg. Pricing will start at around $280,000 with deliveries expected in 2013. With Boeing introducing the carbon fiber 787 as a major jetliner, surely the era of carbon fiber private planes will explode with range, speed, and fuel economy being the beneficiaries. Keep your eyes on the sky! – E.K.
7/5/12 11:28 AM