Bobber, Zlin Savage Bobber customizable light sport aircraft, Sport Aviation Magazine.

Bobber, Zlin Savage Bobber customizable light sport aircraft

While at the AERO-Expo in Friedrichshafen Germany we met up with Bill Canino of Sportair USA. Bill represents several aircraft from the Zlin Aviation group. We have seen and reported on the iCub which Bill has had on display at E.A.A.'s Airventure, as well at the U.S. Sport Aviation, and the Midwest LSA show. But Bill also handles the latest aircraft out of the Zlin Factory the Bobber. 

Bill told us that the while the i Cub has been the fastest selling aircraft of the Savage line. With its instrument panel utilizing a dock-mounted Apple iPad preloaded with WingXPro7 moving map, ForeFlight Mobile HD and ForeFlight Charts, a iHUD heads-up display and a MotionX GPS. The Bobber is creating a whole new niche market for itself.

The name Bobber comes from a term used in the motorcycle industry “bob off from the factory” meaning the ability to customize just about everything you want to on the plane. The Bobber is all about individuality. The Bobber gives you the ability as though you were ‘tricking’ out your new motorcycle.

On the Bobber a pilot can do some major customization. You can pretty well chrome anything. The joy stick, rudder pedals, engine covers, brake handles, turn buckles. There are over 16 different modifications that can be made to the Bobber to customize it.

You can have a variety of different kinds of high end leather seats, saddle bags, a bed roll even 20 different colors for the welded 4130 fuselage. 10 different paint themes. 4 propeller colors. The choices are endless. We even found out that a customer can design their own special pieces and have them tested and installed.

Performance on the Bobber is similar to that of the iCub, and it was interesting the learn that even without fabric covering on the fuselage the Bobber is still able to side slip. The Bobber comes with a complete dual controls system, including brakes which make it an ideal training aircraft. In fact the aircraft on display at Aero was sold to someone who is going to use it to learn how to fly.

The Bobber is equipped with the 80 hp Rotax 912 with the 100 HP Rotax an option. The Bobber comes standard with an 18 gallon fuel tank with a 24 gallon tank optional. The Bobber can also be equipped with floats or Alaskan bush wheels.

A bare bones Bobber ready to fly NOT it a kit form is priced around $65,000 U.S.
The iCub with standard gear and tires is less than $93,000 and the Bush iCub is less than $100,000.
 

Bobber, Zlin Savage Bobber customizable light sport aircraft

Bobber, Zlin Savage Bobber customizable light sport aircraft

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