TL Ultralight, TL Ultralight Sting, TL Ultralight Sirius, TL Ultralight Stream, SportAirUSA Aero Expo Friedrichshafen., Sport Aviation Magazine.

TL Ultralight, TL Ultralight Sting, TL Ultralight Sirius, TL Ultralight Stream, SportAirUSA

While at AERO EXPO Friedrichshafen we had the opportunity to talk to Bill Canino, President of SportairUSA about the TL Ultralight line of light sport aircraft. SportairUSA, LC is an FAA certified Repair Station and has been serving the aviation community since 1990. SportAir is the North American distributor of aircraft manufactured by TL-Ultralight.

These aircraft include the best-selling Sting 4, a low wing, carbon-fiber composite sport plane, the Sirius, a high wing partner to the Sting, and the Sirius equipped with amphibious floats. Bill told us that for the last 16 years "TL Ultralight has tried to release a new model every four years".

According to Bill "the Sting came about when in 1989 the owner of TL Ultralight challenged two universities in a aircraft design contest" Their challenge was "to design a low drag light sport aircraft."  TL Ultralight's then took the best of both designs and began production of what is now the Sting 4." Bill stated that “the aerodynamic shape of the Sting makes it agile in flight and gives it an impressive 12:1 glide ratio.”

The Sting is built for weight-savings and superior strength. It is made of carbon fiber products which make up approximately 85% of the reinforcing materials. The engine is the 100 horsepower Rotax 912 four cycle, four cylinder. The Sting has a ergonomic cockpit which promotes safe, fun, relaxing flying.

The other TL Ultralight that Bill handles is the Sirius. As customers put in a demand for both low and high wing profiles TL Ultralight put their design team to work to design and developed the Sirius. Bill said “ The Sirius is about outstanding performance, easy entrance and high end electronics.

Sirius set new benchmarks in ergonomics and comfort. A 46” wide cabin, deluxe cushioned body-contoured seats and best of all dual yoke controls for the pilot and the co-pilot. The Sirius incorporates a streamline cowling that follows the engines contours. This directs cooling air into the engine compartment allowing the use of smaller air inlets, presenting less frontal area reduces drag.

The Sirius is supplied with the 912 ULS which produces 100 horsepower at 5800 RPM and 95 horsepower at 5500 RPM in continuous operation, and burns 92 octane unleaded auto fuel or 100LL aviation fuel. The Sirius is also equipped with a DUC Swirl propeller. Bill said that TL Ultralight designed the floats just for the Sirius. The floats have been undergoing testing for the past year and are expected to be released on the Sirius in the USA this fall.

The final plane that TL Ultralight had on display at Aero was the brand new Stream. The Stream uses the same construction as the Sting and Sirius but features tandem seating rather than side by side. “We wanted to try something different.” The Stream is a result of a three year market study. “It’s a little different and a little more compartmental. It's an attempt to look at a slightly different market and maybe some aerobatics.” The Stream is slated to fly this fall and after plenty of proofing it is aimed at the market with a goal of possibly next year.

You can look at all we have talked about here at the SportAir website.. at www.sportair.aero.

TL Ultralight Sirius on amphibious floats

TL Ultralight, TL Ultralight Sting, TL Ultralight Sirius, TL Ultralight Stream, SportAirUSA Aero

Section Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Home Page

Sport Aviation Magazine - No part of this publication may be copied or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, manual, or otherwise, without the written permission of the Sport Aviation Magazine. By copying or paraphrasing the intellectual property on this site, you're automatically signing a binding contract and agreeing to be billed $10,000 payable immediately.  Sport Aviation Magazine. Email