Do n't break out the champagne yet regarding 4-5 seaters. Remember that the PFA as it then was negotiated a set of requirements for 4 seaters on permits. From memort this included the use of a certified design or one full approved or compliant with JAR23, certified engines and many of the other components.

So many of the potenital 'permit advantages' do not exist if you have more than 2 seats.

Having said that the inclusion of Yaks and the like on LAA permits will, much like the Austers, allow the use of sensible spares rather than those which someone has written a JAR 1 for and decided to increase the cost by 4 to 10 times.

Would a Yak be cheaper on an LAA permit? Undoubtedly, if only because of spares issues. As for them being complicated? It is only a pneumatic system so actually pretty straignt forward. And best of all these aircraft were actually meant to be maintained by 'everyman' so they have proper manuals and tools.

Things are certainly becoming interesting! What will become of non-permit, non-ELA1 'light aircraft'?

Yes, to be very precise, the Velocity XL is a 4 seater, while the Velocity XL-5 is a 5 seater ! I shall remember to be more precise in the future :)

It is an interesting piece of kit I think, but maybe less suited for the short grass runways of Europe.....and I am not sure about that central stick,

more info:
Velocity Aircraft

oh, and they are apparently planning to do a six seat turbo-prop, that looks like a scaled down version of a Piaggio Avanti

Sorry, googled and got lazy! I should have looked at their site, thanks for the pointer.