Renegade Light Sport, relocated to Fort Pierce, Fla., has dropped its offering of the 4-G Polish-built Renegade FK-12 Comet aerobatic light sport aircraft (LSA) in favor of two new LSA models based on the famous Pitts S-2 airframe. The new models are the single-seat Renegade LS1 and the two-seat LS2. The company cited difficulties with the European manufacturer and its distribution system as reasons for dropping the FK-12.
“Renegade plans on utilizing state of the art carbon fiber internal wing structure with a Ceconite fabric covering that has proven to be the lightest and strongest method of fabrication for this small but mighty aircraft. The Renegade Pitts will have a much wider cabin and superior weight-to-horsepower ratio,” said Doc Bailey, owner and CEO of Renegade Light Sport LLC. He will also use carbon fiber to cover the steel tube airframe.
Talks were in progress late last year between Bailey and Aviat Aircraft in Afton, Wyo., which builds the wooden Pitts S-2. “He can design any type of aircraft he likes, and it may look remarkably like a Pitts, but he can’t call it a Pitts,” Aviat President Stu Horn said. He said he is still open to a joint venture but said talks have not continued.
There are also plans to use the new models for a new series of pylon races based on the former Red Bull racing series. Aircraft enter the pylon course at low altitude one at a time to compete for the best time through the course.
The fully aerobatic models will be powered by the Lycoming AE-IO-233 engine, and will be capable of 124 horsepower. Renegade will build the new models at new facilities in Fort Pierce. The LS1 is ready to begin construction, with the LS2 model expected to be completed later in the year. Company training will be offered in the new models.
Alton K. Marsh
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