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.