Aventura II, Aero Adventure's Aventura II amphibious light sport aircraft.

Aventura, Special Light Sport Aircraft, by Aero Adventure.

Two years ago, Aero Adventure was focused on their S-17 model featuring the 117-horsepower AeroMomentum engine. You could buy a factory-built version of this on a very limited basis as the company periodically put their airshow model up for sale as a used aircraft. 

For 2020, however, the DeLand, Florida company is throwing the door open much more widely. 

New-To-Be LSA Seaplane Given the sweeping effects of the coronavirus lockdown, Aero Adventure has experienced some delay getting FAA to come make their evaluation of the company’s Special Light-Sport Aircraft entry. 

Hopefully, boss Alex Rolinski will succeed in getting this done soon but it is presently out of his hands. He asks FAA regularly but permission has not yet been granted for inspectors to visit Aero Adventure. While Alex and team previously hoped to debut the new model at Sun ‘n Fun 2020 for its once-delayed date in early May (now 2021; see here), they may now be ready in time for the DeLand Showcase scheduled for November 12-13-14, 2020.

For years, Aero Adventure has made kit seaplanes and these can be highly affordable. You don’t often hear “high affordable” and “seaplane” in the same sentence but this company has the right formula. 

In addition, Aventura models have been flying for many years. Hundreds have launched into the sky from land or water. The brand was first known as the Buccaneer and evolved through several different owners to become Aventura. 

However, among the various entrepreneurs, none has been more active and vigorous than the group Alex Rolinski has assembled While Aero Adventure worked on the SLSA model, a Florida dealer, Wahlstrom Aviation has bolstered customer support by helping kit builders at their Florida panhandle location. 

Very Special Light-Sport Aircraft Despite their best plans, no one saw the coronavirus panic coming, so Aventura SLSA remains “to-be” until FAA permits on-site inspector visits to perform the evaluation they elect for a new entry. Paperwork could be examined in an FAA office but a visit to the manufacturing facility is likely for any new entry. Meanwhile, in my visit at the end of March 2020, I reviewed several items of the long work list required to achieve Special LSA status and it appears to me that Aero Adventure has nearly finished all work. 

They hired outside talent to assist them in assuring they fully meet the ASTM standards FAA requires before accepting a new model into the fleet. They’ve also completed the numerous manuals required before they can declare their compliance to standards. Building the case for FAA acceptance has absorbed a lot of time and money, but Alex and crew have worked the rest of the effort, too. 

A major decision was made about representation of the enhanced line. Bristell USA importer, Lou Mancuso, will represent the Aventura SLSA 912. He has already dipped his toe into the water (literally …ask him about it at an airshow) by offering the S-17 version of Aventura but he is stoked about the potential for the fully-built seaplane with a modest price. Aventura SLSA 912 will be north of $100,000 but significantly less than all other Special LSA seaplanes and far, far less than Icon’s A5. Lou has carefully built a solid reputation in the Light-Sport Aircraft world (see here about Bristell and here about his training academy). 

Adding Aventura SLSA to the Bristell models he sells adds no conflict as the two flying machines have very different mission profiles. Unless some other entry manages to arrive sooner, the fully-built Aventura will be #153 in our popular SLSA List. Plan to attend DeLand Showcase 2020 and ask Alex or Lou all the questions you want. 

Current Specifications for Aventura 912*: Top Speed — 105 mph Cruise Speed — 75 mph Range — 300 Stature Miles Stall Speed — 47 mph Rate of Climb — 1,000 fpm Takeoff Distance, Land — 250 feet Takeoff Distance, Water — 350 feet Fuel Capacity — 23 gallons Empty Weight — 840 pounds Gross Weight — 1,430 pounds Useful Load — 590 pounds Payload (with full fuel) — 452 pounds Height — 7 feet Length — 23 feet Wing Span — 30 feet 8 inches Wing Area — 161.7 square feet 

Aero Adventure sells a Rotax 912-powered Aventura kit and these specifications are for that model. Slight differences may emerge when FAA grants Special LSA approval to the company. 

www.sea-plane.com

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