Piper Aircraft President and CEO Kevin Gould handed over the keys to the very first PiperSport, the company’s new Light Sport Aircraft, on opening day of Sun ‘n Fun.
The three co-owners, all from Miami, are Charlie Carlon, a 20,000-hour former Delta Airlines pilot who works for Airbus North America teaching pilots how to fly the Airbus via simulation; Brian Garhammer, 52, a 16,000-hour pilot who also works for Airbus North America; and Dr. Mike Morduant, 62, a veterinarian and pilot for 42 years.
“The PiperSport is sexy,” Garhammer said. “You can go out and buy a BMW or a PiperSport for about the same money. But who wants a sports car when you can fly the PiperSport?”
Manufactured by Czech Sport Aircraft, the PiperSport features a rate of climb of 1,200 feet per minute and is capable of reaching a maximum cruise speed of 138 mph. The LSA can run on auto fuel.
For more information: Piper.com.