TL Sport Aircraft Unveils Sirius BackCountry STOL Aircraft

Large-wheel variant adds luxury to flying to remote airstrips.

Credit: TL Sport Aircraft
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • TL Sport Aircraft unveiled the Sirius BackCountry at EAA AirVenture, a new STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft designed specifically for the North American market.
  • The BackCountry offers impressive STOL performance (under 100 ft takeoff, under 200 ft landing), rugged Carbon Kevlar construction, and 26-inch bush tires.
  • It is "MOSAIC-ready," designed to align with proposed new FAA rules for light sport aircraft that will shift to a performance-based classification.
  • Despite its rugged capabilities, the aircraft includes modern amenities such as heated leather seating and configurable Garmin avionics for various flying conditions.
See a mistake? Contact us.

TL Sport Aircraft announced Monday that it was unveiling the latest addition to its fleet this week at EAA AirVenture. Designed in the format of its predecessors like the TL-3000 Sirius, the Sirius BackCountry provides STOL (short takeoff and landing) performance, allowing pilots to expand their capabilities for sport, business and adventure flying.

Czech Republic-based TL Sport stated that the aircraft was engineered and designed specifically for the North American market. Boasting impressive performance stats, the BackCountry maintains a 156-mph cruise speed, while posting sub-200 foot landing capability and the ability to take off in less than 100 feet. The aircraft is engineered for ruggedness, featuring an airframe constructed from a lightweight Carbon Kevlar composite mix along and supported by 26-inch Alaska Bush tires.

Described as “MOSAIC-ready,” the BackCountry is also designed to take advantage of the proposed new FAA Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rules. MOSAIC, first proposed in 2023, makes significant changes to the light sport aircraft (LSA) classification. The new rule pivots LSA restrictions to a performance-based approach, moving away from weight limitations that have been criticized as “arbitrary.”

While it is built for the wild, TL Sport made note that the Sirius BackCountry has creature comforts and sophisticated electronics, with heated leather seating and Garmin avionics, configurable for both VFR and IFR conditions.

Development of the aircraft was originally announced at last year’s AirVenture, so fittingly the first unveiling of the plane will be at this year’s event. Interested parties can check out the Sirius BackCountry at Booths 305-306. The aircraft will then transition to the Ultralights Booth 940 for demonstration rides.

Parris Clarke

Parris is a writer and content producer for Firecrown. When Parris isn't chasing stories, you can find him watching or playing basketball.

Continue discussion - Visit the forum

Replies: 1

  1. Yet another bush machine.

    Is the market large - or is such an attractant to get people into showrooms?
    (A common automotive sale move, some will be sold but volume is in models of lower price and fewer limitations.)

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE