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Allegro is a CT-style high-wing LSA. I mentioned airplanes of this class before, although Allegro differs somewhat from the usual gaggle of CT chasers such as Jabiru J170 and Remos GX: slick shape with T-tail, high-aspect aluminum wing, kevlar-based composite fuselage. Two Allegro-related items brought it to my radar: a thread at SPT about buying one, and a post at LS-HF. So I did a little research and have a couple of points to make.

First is a reiteration of the point that LS-HF made: an American-made LSA. I claimed before that the 2x growth in prices was not entirely accounted by the weakness of the U.S. Dollar. Now we have an LSA in 125K category aiming at 90K. This is how much Euro hurt: not 2x but a considerable amount.

Second is the Allegro's claimed empty weight: 622 lbs! This is even less than Skylark, about which I had concerns. The mass fraction is important for any airplane, but for an LSA it is supremely important, because so many customers are pushing against the 1320 lbs limit. Many have to seek petite women instructors for that reason. I weigh 230 lbs myself, which means that I am within 10 lbs of seat limit in a Kolb, for example. So, the question is, how sturdy is Allegro? And by what magic does it reach its specs, while remaining relatively affordable?

Unlike crazy super-designs like Icon A5, Allegro is not vapor. A look-up at FAA registration database returns 36 Allegro 2000 and 11 Allegro 2007 registered. All of them are original Czech built units, with no American ones registered yet. NTSB reports a couple of usual prangings on landing, so at least the wings are not flying off the thing like from Zenits. All in all, this is very intriguing.

UPDATE: In the video by UltralightNews, Dan Johnson says that the T-tail of larger area was introduced at Allegro 2007, and it supposedly improved its flying qualities against the 2000. Another thing, I may have been wrong about none of U.S.-made airplanes flying, because initially the company in Oregon retained the name "Fantasy Air". It's hard to tell, surprisingly.

UPDATE: The article in P&P Mag glosses over the move from Oregon to North Carolina, attracted by a state grant. Pictures are a bit less impressive inside... Reminiscent of X-Air with its tubes and Lexan windshield.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at 09:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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