DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase proves the lighter side of aviation is growing

By BILL WILSON

The evidence is clear: The lighter side of aviation is growing, along with the rest of the industry.

The 2021 version of the DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase proved it. The showcase’s fifth running saw new planes designed to meet the needs of the flight training and recreational markets show up in strength.

Around 100 exhibitors greeted participants during the showcase’s three-day run, Nov. 11-13, several of them on the asphalt at DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED) for the first time.

The show’s attendance was periodically dimmed by fickle Florida weather, but exhibitors seemed very satisfied and several aircraft were sold at the show despite buyers’ expectations of long delivery times.

Jana Filip, the show’s manager, endured two difficult pandemic-related postponements last year and was determined to stick with 2021’s original November dates if possible. She added her goal was to class up the somewhat spartan look of the earlier efforts and make the DeLand event more attractive to cap off the aviation show year.

According to both exhibitors and participants, that seems to have happened. It takes a big financial commitment for companies to spend thousands of dollars and travel perhaps thousands of miles to show off their products. They need a return on the investment.

But come they did. Vashon Rangers from Seattle, Seamax amphibians from Brazil, Aeropup’s new outback kit plane from Australia, Flying Legends’ slick Tucano from Italy, and an impressive collection of composite airframes from Eastern Europe, including the Magnus Fusion and TL Aircraft’s Sting and Stream, as well as several models from Pipistrel, including its new electric trainer. All of these have U.S. based distributors.

American Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) companies exhibiting included ICON Aircraft, Aero Adventure amphibians, Aerolite 103 ultralights, Just Aircraft’s rugged STOL planes, Lockwood Aircraft’s Air Cam, and Aeromarine’s Merlin and Merlin Light.

Many of the planes featured full digital panels and modern flight control systems, including autopilots. Several popular LSAs cruise in the 120 knot range, making them a competitive cross-country option.

When compared to standard category aircraft, they cost between one third and one half of the price, hence their appeal. In some cases, kit versions of the planes on display at the showcase, such as Aeromarine’s Merlin, could be built for as little as $35,000.

Pipistrel’s electric trainer garnered a lot of attention at the show. The Pipistrel Velis is designed for flight school use because they will fly for an hour with a half hour of reserve on their lithium batteries. After landing, the batteries can be recharged in 30 to 40 minutes and ready for another student pilot.

According to company officials, the batteries are good for 2,000 hours before they need to be replaced. That is equivalent to a piston engine in a Cessna 150 that needs to be overhauled at 2,000 hours. In theory, the operating cost of the electric plane will be much cheaper than the piston engine airplane in terms of fuel, oil, and repairs.

Company officials added that U.S. flight schools are eagerly awaiting FAA approval for the electric airplanes and are already placing orders for the Velis.

The showcase also showed that, within light sport aviation, a resurgence is occurring in the gyroplane field. Newer German and Italian designs have proven big sales generators. MagniFlight dealers showed impressive fully enclosed cabin machines powered by Rotax 900 series engines. A new single seat gyroplane from Italy made its debut. The Sprint Lite Gyro can be purchased brand new for $35,500. It is powered by a 100-hp Simonini two-stroke engine.

The Austrian Rotax 900 series engine is still the choice for most LSA built today. But an American company hopes to break Rotax’s hold with a new design that holds the promise of similar performance at a much lower price.

Aeromomentum takes a new Suzuki engine block and purchases OEM parts to complete engines that company officials say are powering aircraft, boats, and airboats around the world.

It has more than 100 engines flying in various aircraft, including RV-12s, the Zenith 600 and 700 series, Sonex A and B models, Highlanders, gyroplanes and weight shift trikes, among others. The company, located in Stuart, Florida, ships engines with a gear reduction drive and FADEC system starting at $9,495.

The show also featured 24 forums on a variety of topics, as well as an indoor exhibit hall with exhibitors ranging from avionics and aircraft manufacturers to aviation associations and more.

Despite some consideration of moving the showcase to different dates, Filip reported that after consulting with exhibitors and attendees, the fall still won out. Look for the 2022 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase to be held Nov. 10-12.