CZAW SportCruiser

The aircraft is of all aluminum construction with a low wing configuration. It can be fitted with either a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS or a {{convert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 3300 engine.{{cite web|url = http://www.sportaircraftworks.com/sportcruiser.html|title = SportCruiser: Competent and Affordable S-LSA|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Sport Aircraft Works|year = n.d.|archive-date = 11 June 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090611001528/http://www.sportaircraftworks.com/sportcruiser.html|url-status = dead}}{{cite web|url = http://www.sportaircraftworks.com/sportcruiser_options_pricing.htm|title = Sport Cruiser Option Pricing|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Sport Aircraft Works|year = n.d.|archive-date = 18 April 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090418023024/http://sportaircraftworks.com/sportcruiser_options_pricing.htm|url-status = dead}} Approved propellers include the Woodcomp Klassic 170/3/R.{{cite web|url = http://www.czechsportaircraft.com/technical-specification-1.html|title = Technical Specification|accessdate = 21 March 2013|last = Czech Sport Aircraft|year = n.d.|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130301063546/http://www.czechsportaircraft.com/technical-specification-1.html|archive-date = 1 March 2013}}

The SportCruiser has an optional Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute, auto pilot and Dynon or TruTrak EFIS.{{cite web|url = http://www.sportaircraftworks.com/oto%20bin/sportcruiser_brs_test.htm|title = BRS Adds Recovery Parachute To CZAW Sport Cruiser|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Sport Aircraft Works|year = 2007|archive-date = 28 October 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091028043520/http://www.sportaircraftworks.com/oto%20bin/sportcruiser_brs_test.htm|url-status = dead}}

The aircraft is capable of cruising at {{convert|214|km/h|mph kn|0|abbr=on}} with a range of {{convert|1014|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. No wind, standard day gross weight takeoff is achieved in {{convert|106|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and landing in {{convert|123|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.

The SportCruiser is designed to fit into the ultralight or microlight category in several countries as well as in the light-sport aircraft category in the United States. Between 2006 and 2010, it was available either as a kit or as a fully built production model. The SportCruiser is accepted as a US FAA LSA, FAA homebuilt kit and the UK under BCAR Section "S".

On 21 January 2010, Piper Aircraft announced that they had licensed a derivative of the SportCruiser and would market it as the PiperSport. Piper CEO Kevin Gould said: "The PiperSport is an amazing entry-level aircraft that will bring new customers into Piper and lead the way for those customers to step up into more sophisticated and higher performance aircraft within our line over time."

The PiperSport is a minimally modified version of the existing SportCruiser. The plan was that it would continue to be manufactured by Czech Sport Aircraft, with Piper's manufacturing operation playing no part in the construction, although Piper was distributing parts. The changes to the aircraft are stronger nosegear, a Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute and leather interior both as standard equipment, a cockpit sunshade and modified pitch controls, plus a custom paint scheme. Previously the Sport Cruiser was available as a completed aircraft or a kit, but Piper offered it only as a completed aircraft, sold as a Special Light-sport aircraft in the US. It was distributed by the Piper dealer network worldwide. Deliveries under the Piper name commenced with the initial customer receiving their aircraft on 13 April 2010 at Sun 'n Fun. The aircraft was offered in three different trim and avionics configurations, with higher end models offering the Dynon Avionics D100 glass cockpit and autopilot. All models were delivered with the Rotax 912S powerplant of {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/exclusivevids/ExclusiveVideo_PiperSport_USSportAviationExpoSebring_201883-1.html |title = Exclusive Video: Piper's New LSA Entry – The PiperSport |accessdate = 2010-01-22 |last = Bertorelli |first = Paul |date=January 2010}}{{cite web |url = http://www.piper.com/pages/PiperEnterstheLsaMarketWiththePipersport_01212010.cfm |title = Piper Enters the LSA Market with the PiperSport |accessdate = 2010-01-22 |last = Piper Aircraft |author-link = Piper Aircraft |date = January 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100128045910/http://www.piper.com/pages/PiperEnterstheLsaMarketWiththePipersport_01212010.cfm |archive-date = 2010-01-28 }}{{cite web|url = http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/100121pipersport.html |title = Piper jumps into LSA market |accessdate = 2010-01-22 |last = Hirschman |first = Dave |date=January 2010}}{{cite web|url = http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2010/100121piper.html |title = Flying the PiperSport |accessdate = 2010-01-22 |last = Hirschman |first = Dave|date=January 2010}}{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/exclusivevids/ExclusiveVideo_PiperSport_FlightTrial_202003-1.html |title = Exclusive Video: AVweb's PiperSport Flight Trial |accessdate = 2010-02-12 |last = Bertorelli |first = Paul |date=February 2010}}{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2010_PiperSportLSAReadyToDeliver_202330-1.html|title = PiperSport LSA Ready To Deliver|accessdate = 13 April 2010|last = Grady|first = Mary|date=April 2010}}

File:Piper Sport N802PS LKL 29.03.11R edited-2.jpg show at Lakeland Linder International Airport Florida]]

Piper indicated that they had carried out extensive test flying on the SportCruiser before agreeing to add it to their line and that the aircraft's slow sales in the past had been related to marketing issues and not any deficiencies with the aircraft design. Piper planned to market the aircraft to flight schools as well as private owners.

In analyzing the Piper decision to distribute the SportCruiser, instead of design its own LSA, AvWeb analyst Paul Bertorelli said:

{{quotation|I heard a little kvetching about the Piper decision, to the effect of asking why they're going with the Sport Cruiser instead of developing their own airplane. To me, the answer is obvious: It makes no business sense for Piper to develop and build its own LSA. In the Piper Cub days, they were everyman's airplane company—as Cessna is now—but they're not that today. Piper is a niche manufacturer which has sustained itself with a small volume of a relatively broad model line. So it makes sense for them to buy an existing design out of the still-glutted LSA market. Whether the Sport Cruiser is the right choice remains to be seen.{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AvWebInsider_SportExpo_201902-1.html|title = Sport Expo: Closing Thoughts|accessdate = 2010-01-15|last = Bertorelli|first = Paul|date=January 2010}} }}

On 12 January 2011, after selling a total of 45 aircraft, Piper announced that the PiperSport would be discontinued. Piper CEO Geoffrey Berger stated:

{{quotation|After a year working with Czech Sport Aircraft, Piper determined that it is in our company’s best long-term interests to discontinue the business relationship which distributed a Light Sport Aircraft manufactured by the Czech company and distributed under Piper’s brand by a separate distributor network. Clearly, the company has a different business perspective and approach to the market than Czech Sport Aircraft. }}

File:Czech Sport Aircraft PS-28 Cruiser (G-CJHB) at Cotswold Airport England 18Jun2016 arp.jpg, Gloucestershire, England, 2016]]

After the Piper announcement the PiperSport importer and dealer network indicated that the aircraft would continue to be imported under a new name. Importer U.S. Sport Aircraft CEO Don Ayres stated that said his company was engaged in "business as usual...aircraft will continue to be sold and supported".{{Cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/PiperSport_Just_A_Name_203984-1.html|title = PiperSport Just A Name: Distributor|accessdate = 20 January 2011|last = Niles|first = Russ|date=January 2011| work = AvWeb}}

The aviation press reacted with skepticism as to Piper's explanation for terminating its arrangements with CSA. AvWeb editor Paul Bertorelli said, "In my view, we are not getting the full story on its decision to exit the LSA segment. In a tersely worded statement a week before the show, Piper said it was terminating its relationship with the Czech supplier of its PiperSport LSA, citing 'differences in business philosophies.' That phrase is code speak for a significant behind-the-scenes blowup. In my opinion, either Piper concluded the margins on LSAs weren't worth the trouble and it would rather focus on jets or its Czech supplier was doing something it didn't like. Or both."{{Cite news|url = http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AVWebInsider_SportExpo2011_203998-1.html|title = Sport Aviation Expo 2011|accessdate = 24 January 2011|last = Bertorelli|first = Paul|date=January 2011| work = AvWeb}}

Czech Sport Aircraft reacted to the ending of the Piper deal by indicating that business would continue through the same distributor and dealer network and that the name of the aircraft would be changed back to SportCruiser. The company did indicate that the disagreement with Piper involved the geographical focus that Piper had put on marketing in the US to the detriment of the rest of the world. The company indicated that it will continue to develop the aircraft and planned revisions to the spinner, canopy, elevator, ailerons and wingtips in the immediate future.{{Cite news|url = http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/bav/2011/01/24/06.xml&headline=Czech%20Sport%20Aircraft%20on%20End%20of%20Piper%20Deal|title = Czech Sport Aircraft on End of Piper Deal|accessdate = 25 January 2011|last = Wilson|first = Benet|date = January 2011|work = Aviation Week}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

;SportCruiser

:Version built 2006–10 and 2011–present by Czech Sport Aircraft, available as a kit or completed aircraft and equipped with {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS or {{convert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Jabiru 3300 engine.

;PiperSport

:Version built 2010–2011 by Czech Sport Aircraft and marketed by Piper Aircraft, available only as a completed aircraft and equipped with {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS engine. Discontinued in January 2011.

;PS-28 Cruiser

:Version built for EASA CS.LSA certification with 600kg gross weight limit.{{cite web|title=PS-28|url=http://www.czechsportaircraft.com/ps-28-cruiser/|accessdate=29 August 2012}}

The SportCruiser is operated by private individuals and flight training schools.

File:CZAWSportCruiserPic.jpg

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Manufacturer{{cite web|url=http://www.czechsportaircraft.com/en/sport-cruiser|title=Sport Cruiser - Czech Sport Aircraft|website=www.czechsportaircraft.com|accessdate=4 November 2017}}

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{{Portal|Aviation}}

{{aircontent

|see also=

|related=

|similar aircraft=

• Arion Aircraft Lightning LS-1
• Aero AT-3
• BRM Aero Bristell
• Tecnam P2002
• Europa XS Trigear
• Cessna 162
• Flight Design CTSW
• Rans S-19 Venterra
• Van's Aircraft RV-12

|lists=

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|CZAW SportCruiser}}

• {{Official website|https://cruiseraircraft.cz/}}

{{Czech Sport Aircraft}}

{{Piper}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Czech Sport Aircraft SportCruiser}}

Category:2000s Czech sport aircraft

Category:Light-sport aircraft

SportCruiser

Category:Piper aircraft

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Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Ultralight aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 2005

Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear

Category:Single-engined piston aircraft