DAR Solo, Dar Aeroplanes, U. S. Part 103 legal ultralight aircraft.
#DARSolo#AeroplanesDAR
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Bulgarian designer Tony Ilieff is on a mission to find new representatives for his handsome light aircraft after concluding earlier representation in Canada. Built carefully — that is, without lots of weighty options — Solo can fit the Part 103 category. Given accelerating interest in Part 103 aircraft in recent years, I’d bet someone will step up for this opportunity.
“Ho hum,” you yawn. “Don’t we already have lots of Part 103 choices?”
Aeroplanes DAR Solo
Earlier I wrote about this European company and its line of light airplanes, which includes the UL, 120, and a two seat model called 23 Duo. This time my focus is solely on Solo in preparation for the coming Part 103 List.
As noted, this company, in very different form and with a military mission, started almost 100 years ago in 1912 as the Bulgarian State Aircraft Workshops. In 1925 the company started producing airplanes under a name employing the letters DAR.
After the fall of communism, Bulgaria in the early 1990s was a place full of hope and enthusiasm. One of those enthusiasts was Tony Ilieff, an engineer working at the Sofia airport. In 1995 he and a small group of engineers started a small ultra-light aircraft company. Tony named the company “Aerolanes DAR,” thus partially reinstating the legendary Bulgarian state aircraft workshops.
Aeroplanes DAR has two Solo varieties. One is called UL for ultralight, but “ultralight” in Europe means something quite different than Part 103 ultralight in the USA. Half of all SLSA started out as European “ultralights” (most commonly meaning 450 kilograms or 992 pounds of gross weight).
Solo UL gives the owner somewhat higher weight — 260 kilograms or 572 pounds gross — that can allow more options. Solo has been designed be a bit heavier than a typical Part 103 entry, but you’ll need an inspection and N-numbers, a pilot certificate, and you’ll have to build it from a kit. Buyers, however, are often attracted to genuine Part 103 models that can be bought ready-to-fly.
Addressing a still-lighter segment of aircraft, Solo 120 got leaner to meet the German 120-kilogram class. As 120 kilograms is 264.5 pounds, this is close to the empty, dry weight of 254 pounds (115 kilograms) as allowed by FAA. With an available parachute, DAR 120 should easily qualify under the American regulation but the company posted on Facebook about a DAR 115 model they say meets Part 103. Another market, Russia, has a similar weight limit.
Interest in Part 103 ultralights has been heating up according to my best information. As I seek to ask every single one of the 58 producers of Part 103-compliant aircraft about their recent sales successes I expect to learn more. Information flowing from Tony is start of what I expect and hope will be many more examples.
Even though I am just getting started with the Par 103 List and my survey of the industry, I am already ready to make a risky prediction, something I rarely do, as my crystal ball does not always turn out to be accurate.
My prediction — We may see more units delivered by the Part 103 industry than all Special LSA registered in the USA over the last year.* I’m willing to bet that would come as a surprise to most pilots, even those who already enjoy a Part 103 ultralight. We’ve had such poor (or no) information for so long, no one really knows the situation. That will change after I make contact with every producer.
www.aeroplanesdar.com
www.bydanjohnson.com
www.ultralightflyer.com
Keywords:
DAR Solo, Ultralight Aviation, Aeroplanes DAR, aeroplanesdar, dar, folding wings,
