Colt ready to bolt from corral

The company satisfied the requirements to bring a two-place, metal, high-wing aircraft praised as sturdy and predictable into the crowded, factory-built light sport aircraft market.

“Words cannot describe how it feels to have received the ASTM certification,” said Texas Aircraft Manufacturing co-founder and pilot Matheus Grande, referring to the industry consensus standards on which LSA fitness for flight is based. He smiled broadly and displayed the document above his head to colleagues on the factory floor assembling the tricycle-gear aircraft with Brazilian heritage at South Texas Regional Airport in Hondo. “Receiving this document is truly a dream come true for everyone on our team,” he added.

The $156,000 Colt-S is powered by the popular 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine, and is aimed at flight schools. The aircraft is equipped with dual leather-wrapped yokes, a Dynon SkyView HDX touchscreen avionics suite with synthetic vision, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast weather and traffic, com radio, WAAS GPS, and electronic engine monitoring.

The $167,000 Colt-SL adds a ballistic parachute, a two-axis autopilot with a level button, leather seating surfaces, and custom paint.

The design is the brainchild of Brazilian aircraft engineer Caio Jordão, who is considered the “godfather” of personal aviation in the South American country. He joined Grande’s Texas team to develop the new aircraft and was overjoyed at the interest from flight schools and other prospective buyers. “We are extremely thankful that so many people continue to tell us how much they love, not only how the Colt looks, but how well it flies,” Jordão noted.