The new Snap aerobatic airplane, built in Italy by Dallair Aeronautica, was introduced to the U.S. market on Tuesday afternoon at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The single-seat taildragger, with a low wing and a bubble canopy, is designed to compete in International Aerobatic Club events. SportAir USA is importing the airplane with several options — it can be certified as Experimental-Exhibition model, an S-LSA, or an Experimental LSA. It’s powered by an EPApower SA-R915i engine, also built in Italy, based on a Rotax 900 crankcase, or buyers can choose the 100-hp Rotax 912ULS. The Snap has inverted fuel and oil systems, G limits of plus 6 and minus 3, and a roll rate of 330 degrees per second.
The airplane on display at Oshkosh is the third one built by Dallair. SportAir CEO Bill Canino said he will demo it at several aerobatic events around the country this year, in the primary, sportsman and intermediate classes. He hopes to be selling it by early next year as an S-LSA for the U.S. market, with a debut at the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo. The airframe is built of steel tubing, with aluminum wings, for a basic empty weight of 628 pounds. Top speed is 180 knots. Stall speed is about 50 knots, Canino said, but he hopes to get that down to 45.
