The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo at Sebring Regional Airport has three new events planned for this year’s show in January: Darrell Collins, historian at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina, will tell the story of Orville Wright’s 1911 flight that lasted 9 minutes and 45 seconds and is regarded as the first soaring flight; The Aviators, a weekly magazine-style TV series, will be filming a segment during the event; while the last day of the show will feature a live airplane auction by Don Stephens, president of AvBid Aircraft Auctions.
The Light Sport Aviation (LSA) Show features conventional aircraft, kit planes, powered parachutes, trikes, gyros, amphibians, and innovative designs such as electrically powered aircraft. Organizers predict there will be more than 150 aircraft on display. “If it exists in the recreational aviation market, it will be presented here at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo this January,” Jana Filip, director, said.
Attendees will have the opportunity to see demonstration flights, attend free EAA forums, take pleasure in lively entertainment, sample gourmet food and more, she added.
Also featured:
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) will again have a major presence this year and members will receive a discounted ticket at the entrance gate.
“Saturday, Jan. 21 has been officially declared AOPA Day,” Filip said. “All AOPO members will receive a discount at the admission gate on this day.” AOPA will also be hosting a Safety Seminar and President Craig Fuller will be on hand for a Pilot Meet and Greet.
Sebring Airport Authority and its next-door neighbor, Sebring International Raceway, will celebrate their 70th and 60th anniversaries respectively.
Said Mike Willingham, SRA Executive Director, “These new events were added to raise awareness and increase the number of exhibitors and attendees for this year.” The Expo has grown to over 200 area volunteers orchestrating the event for over 15,000 attendees.
Sponsors for the 2012 Expo include Highlands Today, Sebring Regional Airport, The Aviators.tv, Trade-A-Plane, Southeast Aviation Show, Plane & Pilot Magazine, Vacations of Sebring—Majestic Cove, Aviators Hotline, Powered Sport Flying Magazine, Women in Aviation International, Cessna Owner & Pipers Magazines, Coffee News of FLA, Lake Placid Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Express & Suites-Sebring, Inn on The Lakes, Progress Energy, AVweb, Atkins, Aviation Digest, Girls with Wings, CubCrafters, Aviation Digest, Avbuyer.com and GA Buyer Europe, Matco mfg, Remos, Kenilworth Lodge, Chateau Élan, Sebring International Raceway, EAA and the Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA).
This year will mark the eighth annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring. It is slated for Jan. 19-22, 2012. For more information: Sport-Aviation-Expo.com
