BushCaddy goes to France
Canadian Light Aircraft Sales and Services (CLASS), Inc., Canadian manufacturer of the BushCaddy line of kit
aircraft, has appointed a full-line distributorship to AMA AEROMAX Affairs, a company located in the Bordeaux area in the south of France. The recently-launched BushCaddy L-164 four place aircraft will be the first model delivered to AMA
Aeromax, owned by Roger Ricard, company president. CLASS offers a proven range of 2- and 4-place, all metal, high-wing kit aircraft featuring STOL capability, high payload, speed and range.
AMA Aeromax is currently the dealer for Pulsar ultralight aircraft, as well
as used Piper aircraft in France. The BushCaddy series is AMA's first full-line kit aircraft distributorship. The company also offers technical and commercial support for homebuilders, as well as operating an FBO in Medoc.
The approval process for the French acceptance of the BushCaddy L-164 aircraft for a special Certificate of Airworthiness is now underway with the French authorities. Ricard commented on his company's choice of the BushCaddy for his market. "We want to launch the assembly and sales of a four-seater bushplane kit, as there is currently nothing equivalent available here for homebuilders," he said. "We also believe that the African market has potential for robust sales," he added. Through AMA Aeromax, all five BushCaddy models will be marketed and sold throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
In May, 2002, the first L-164 quick build kit for France is scheduled to
arrive at St-Laurent airport , Medoc, where AMA AEROMAX is headquartered. The completed aircraft will be ready for demonstration flights by mid-summer.
Sean Gilmore, president and chief designer at CLASS, is optimistic about
the world-wide demand for the BushCaddy line. "The approval of our two-seat, Rotax-powered BushCaddy R-120 will also be applied for, and our new ultralight model BushCaddy R-60, designed specifically to European Ultralight design standards, is being prepared for a 2002 launch," he added.
There are currently five models of the BushCaddy manufactured, including
the "Voyageur" variant, fully convertible from tailwheel to nosewheel configuration within a few hours. The popular Rotax-powered R-80 model fits into the ultralight/advanced ultralight category in Canada, and the Sport Plane category in the United States. The two-place R-120 model is the most popular among pilots wishing a tough but economic aircraft, and are also Rotax-powered. With a gross weight of 1500 lbs, and a payload of 750 lbs, the R-120 is adaptable for skis, wheels and floats.
The BushCaddy line, with close to 100 flying, is gaining international recognition as one of the toughest and best-performing aircraft kits on the market. Its STOL characteristics and extended-glide Lift/Drag ratio make it a superb performer in the bush, as well as in the training environment. With its
capacious 44 inch-wide cabin in the two-place models, and 47 inch-wide cabin in the L-164 four-place aircraft, all BushCaddy models offer superior pilot and passenger comfort on cross-country flights.
A distinct advantage of the BushCaddy is its construction. Purpose-designed
for strength and durability as float aircraft, its cabin is a "crash-worthy" cage entirely constructed from aircraft
aluminum angle, strong gussets and fastened with solid rivets. The fuselage is reinforced with interior- and exterior-corner sandwich construction, plus longeron stringers. "This design eliminates 'oil canning'" Gilmore noted,
"- one thing you never hear on our fuselages is that sound of drumming sheet metal. It is as tight as a vault, and as strong as a pick-up truck."
Gilmore believes the entire line of BushCaddy aircraft will be as much a
market success in Europe as it is in Canada and the USA.
The original BushCaddy flew in 1994, and the model line has recently been
expanded to appeal to a wide range of pilots. Commonality of key components and structures ensures economies of scale, as well as consistent tolerances and accuracies.
Canadian Light Aircraft Sales and Services is a Montreal-based company
specializing in the design, manufacture and support of ultralight and homebuilt aircraft and components. Its principals are Sean Gilmore
Marlene Gill, Michel Paquette and Jean Crispo, each of whom have an extensive background in aviation and corporate management.
e-mail: marla@bushcaddy.com