Gobosh 700S-the epitome of Luxury Sport Aircraft!
At any given moment, anything can be the "best" at something. The key is determining what is the "best' for your specific needs as a consumer. In the Light Sport Aircraft class, perhaps more than any other catagory of aircarft, the playing field has been leveled by a set of parameters imposed by the FAA that limit performance. So best in class may not apply as much to raw speed, payload and range and more to best built, best handling and best value. The question now becomes how to define what makes any Light Sport Aircraft the best built, best handling and best value in its class.
Best Built - Light Sport Aircraft are built to comply with a set of standards defined by the ASTM (American Society forTesting and Materials). Unlike FAA-certified aircraft that receive their seal of approval from that government agency, each light sport aircraft manufacturer essentially self-certifies that their products comply with ASTM standards. As you can imagine, there is much disparity among the field of Light Sport Aircraft between what is truly the best-in-class and everything else. Consumers in the market for the "best" that the LSA class has to offer should do a bit of research and consider the following when shopping for a new light sport aircraft.
1. Construction - The Light Sport segment is a microcosm of the aviation industry where you'll find aircraft constructed from everything and anything including composites, aluminum, wood and fabric. Whether composite, tube and fabric or metal, construction techniques vary with the level of the manufacturer's expertise, quality control and cost. For instance, some manufacturers may use common blind or pop rivits rather than solid aircraft rivits or metal parts that have not been treated for corrosion resistance. Unfortunately once the skin is on, you may not be able to discern the quality of airframe construction.
Pop to seat out for inspections...but also to see the construction. Pushrods move the control surfaces.
Gobosh distinguishes itself as a leader in metal light sport aircraft manufacturing by using the same time-honored aviation construction techniques and aircraft quality materials used on the certified aircraft to ensure aircraft longevity, safety and value. For example, the Gobosh 700S is constructed with:
- Solid aircraft rivits (except n blind areas)
- Anodized aluminum parts and Cadmium-plated steel parts
2. Systems - Anything designed for aviation applications is engineered with a certain margin of safety that is not generally found outside the realm of aviation. When shopping for a new light sport aircraft, be certain that the systems developed were engineered for use in aircraft applications. Some manufacturers cut corners by using "off the shelf parts" as the basis for braking systems, electrical systems and fuel systems that were never designed for aircraft. A motorcycle battery, a watercraft fuel pump and garden tractor tires are not what you want to find on an aircraft. When looking at new light sport aircraft, take a close look at the parts used in these essential systems.
3. Ease of Maintenance - Just like any precision machine, sport aircraft require routine maintenance. Thus ease-of-maintenance is every bit as important to the LSA owner/operator as it is to the certified aircraft owner/operator. Determine how easy it is to perform everything from checking the oil and performing pre-flight inspections, to gaining access to major components like flight controls, cables/rods, engine, brakes, avionics, etc. Make certain you can:
- check the oil without removing your watch to fit your hand in the cowling.
- remove and install the cowling yourself without damaging the finish.
- can service the brakes or put air in the tires withour removing wheel pants.
4. Standardization - The panel layout in many of today's light sport aircraft seems to be more a function of where instruments fit rather than adhering to convention. Whether you're a pilot who has spent 50 or 5,000 hours behind a conventional six-pack, your eyes are likely conditoned for the standard instrument scan. Aircraft like the Gobosh 700S are designed with a panel layout similar to what pilots expect to see in American primary trainers through heavy commercial aircraft. Aitcraft using glass cockpits are generally standardized by the avionics manufacturer with the attitude indicator in the center with an airspeed and altimeter tape on either side.
Standard Panel Layout for the Gobosh 700S Photo by aviator37
5.Fit and Finish - The Gobosh 700S cockpit interior is finished with upholstered panels rather than just raw surfaces painted black or gray with exposed control cables where foreign objects brought into the cockpit could potentially find their way into jamming controls. Look closely at the robustness of the latches, running gear, mechanisms and hardware as one possible indication of overall quality and value. Only a few dollars separate the top of the line Luxury Sport Aircraft from the low end LSA models. Spending a few extra bucks will yield quite a bit more in creature comfort, quality, fit and finish.
Best Handling & Performance - Unless you have the occasion to fly a cross section of light sport aircraft, it may be difficult to discern how much better one handles than another. Pilots who have been flying certified aircraft for many hours will notice how aircraft like the Gobosh 700S handles like a much larger certified aircraft. Control forces are firm in all axes. The mass balanced controls are actuated by push rods, not cables that can become sloppy over time without proper maintenance. The 700S is a pilot's aircraft that performs well at high-density altitudes, short fields and unimproved strips.
Sport aircraft generally don't have a large fuel capacity, consider full fuel payload. You'll want to be certain you can fill the tanks and the seats at the same time so you can maximize the utility of your aircraft. Buyers beware - some LSA manufacturers also quote their useful load with minimal equipment. Gobosh figures are based on fully equipped aircraft.
Best Value - All Light Sport Aircraft are not created equally. The fact of the matter is that Gobosh offers premium aircraft that have defined a new catagory of sport aircraft called Luxury Sport Aircraft. Discerning consumers will notice and appreciate the difference between the Gobosh 700S and any other Light Sport Aircraft. The highest level of fit, finish, construction, and performance for a comparable cost in the definition of a great value proposition. If you're serious about purchasing a new light sport aircraft, try the rest, then buy the best.
1. Design Lineage - The legacy of the aircraft manufacturer provides a good indication of quality particularly if the manufacturer of the light sport aircraft also manufacturers certified aircraft like the manufacturer of the Gobosh 700S. Building certified aircraft includes more than simply how the finished product performs but also how it is built and the process and parts used in the manufacturing process.
2. Warranty and Support - This is where the rubber meets the runway. Ask your LSA dealer what kind of warrenty the aircraft has to protect your investment. Airframe warranty coverage varies significantly from zero warranty to the 2-years/400 hour warranty that the Gobosh provides.
3. Price - One thing you will surely find when comparing sport aircraft is variation in advertised price. Some quote a low price, and later add all sorts of delivery charges, and hidden fees. Gobosh quotes a "delivered" price. This means that there are no hidden fees and you can actually fly away for the advertised price - including a tow bar stowed in the back and a thorough flight check out. Before you just compare prices, dig deeper and see what it will actually cost to fly your new bird home. A "delivered price" should be all inclusive with no hidden fees.
Luxury Sport Aircraft
www.gobosh.aero
Kent Pramhus (562) 505-6518 kent@foothillaircraft.com
Tony Settember (909) 917-5851 tony@foothillaircraft.com