US Sport Aviation Expo, Sebring, FL, Jan 12-15

The US Sport Aviation Expo is a great place to see what's shaking in the world of Sport Pilot and Light Sport Aircraft. This annual event is held at Sebring, Florida, an old World War II training airfield that's a real nexus of light aviation -- even if it's probably better known to the general public as a venue for sports car endurance races.

We're expecting many of the national manufacturers to make a showing here, along with a lot of local talent, and because of the sport-aviation focus of the show, the little guys are not going to be overshadowed by the bizjet or larger GA vendors. In other words, what NBAA is to the heavy-iron contingent, the US Sport Aviation Expo would like to be to the overgrown ultralights, powered parachutes, trikes, and 1940s trainers that inhabit the light sport range of the scale.

We might even see a new aircraft or two. (Actually, there is at least one new LSA being introduced at the show). We might even fly a couple of these things, in which case we'll tell you what's what, as always.

2005 was a slow year for light-sport aviation, and we're seeing 2006 as the make-or-break year. The pieces of the puzzle which trickled out throughout 2005, like FAA approval of ASTM consensus standards, and the first aircraft designed to the actual US rule, finally seem to complete a picture of a viable industry.

Which will be on show at Sebring this week and weekend, and you can bet your Propwash that ANN will be there. ANN Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jim Campbell and Senior Correspondent Kevin O'Brien will be at the show all week, so look for us and say hello if you're there.

Of course, Aero-News will still be covering all the "usual suspects" in the wild world of aviation. (Things are hopping in GA, in commercial/airline aviation, and in the flight training world, too). All the usual stuff is going to be in the Propwash, on the website, and in the daily Aero-Casts, but look for some extra sport-aviation related content this week.

And don't forget to tell us when something novel is happening in YOUR little corner of the aero-world, please. While we have a great full-time news-gathering team, it's YOUR participation with hints, tips and insider skinny that makes Aero-News what it is -- in new media, you don't have to be a passive reader or listener; we thrive to the extent that you get involved.

FMI (of course!): www.aero-news.net