CZAW SportCruiser

Overview

The SportCruiser is one of the most successful Light Sport Aircraft ever built, a Czech-designed all-metal two-seater that briefly wore Piper colors as the “PiperSport” in 2010 and 2011. Today it is sold and supported as the SportCruiser, and in its EASA-certified form as the PS-28 Cruiser, by Czech Sport Aircraft. It remains in production and is a favorite of flight schools and recreational pilots for its modern construction, wide cockpit, and low operating costs.

Power comes from the 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS, a light, smooth four-cylinder that sips roughly 4.6 gph and runs happily on mogas or 100LL. The airplane cruises around 98 KTAS (93 KIAS at 75% power) and carries two people the better part of 500 nm. With a clean stall well under the sport-pilot threshold, it qualifies for sport-pilot operation under the FAA’s MOSAIC light-sport rules, which keeps it relevant to the widest possible range of pilots.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Wide, modern cockpit. At 46.5 inches across, the cabin is noticeably wider than a Cessna 172, and most airframes carry dual Dynon SkyView or Garmin G3X touchscreens. For pilots who want current glass and elbow room in a light-sport airplane, few peers match it.

Low operating cost. The Rotax 912 ULS burns about 4.6 gph and can run on automotive fuel, and its overhaul costs less than a comparable certified Continental or Lycoming. For a buyer flying for recreation or training, the hourly cost lands well below a legacy Cessna or Piper.

Excellent visibility. The bubble canopy gives nearly 360-degree visibility, a real asset for flight training, sightseeing, and traffic awareness in the pattern.

Sport-pilot eligible under MOSAIC. With a clean stall of 37 KIAS, the SportCruiser sits comfortably under the sport-pilot stall gate, so it can be flown on a sport-pilot certificate and maintained under light-sport rules.

Trade-offs

• Strict weight limit. Like every aircraft in the light-sport category, the SportCruiser is capped at 1,320 lb MTOW. With a useful load near 465 lb, two FAA-standard adults and full fuel will often put you over gross, so real trips mean trading fuel for payload.
• Light in turbulence. Its low weight makes it lively in gusts compared with a heavier Part 23 trainer like a Cessna 152 or Piper Warrior. It is honest and predictable, but it asks for attention on a bumpy day.
• Rotax-specific maintenance. The 912 ULS has its own maintenance rhythm, including rubber-replacement intervals and a 2,000-hour TBO, and it rewards a shop that knows Rotax. Confirm a candidate airframe’s logs and rubber-replacement dates during a pre-buy.
• Two seats only. The SportCruiser carries two and a little baggage. Buyers who need to carry a family should look to a four-seat type.

See Also

• Diamond DA20-C1 – a composite two-seat sport and training single; faster and certified, with a comparable mission and similar fuel economy. Compare
• Cessna 162 Skycatcher – Cessna’s own light-sport two-seater, a direct competitor aimed at the same training and recreational buyer. Compare
• Cessna 152 – the legacy two-seat trainer benchmark; heavier and certified under Part 23, slower, and burns avgas. Compare
• Piper Tomahawk – another purpose-built two-seat trainer; a roomier legacy alternative with more demanding stall behavior. Compare