News

The age of the Light Sport Aircraft has dawned. Certification for ready to fly models began in the second week of April, just in time for the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in at Lakeland, Fla. The first two airplanes to get the blessing from the FAA are the Czech-built Evektor Sportstar and the German-made Flight Design […]

After more than five years in service as the flagship for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, GlaStar N232YE was looking a little tired. So tired, in fact, that when the aircraft was returned to the factory in Arlington, Wash., last winter, the factory crew decided to do more than basic maintenance. “It has […]

Supporters of Light Sport Aircraft predicted that when the LSA Sport Pilot rule was published, there would be a boom in the light sport aircraft manufacturing industry. If that boom is happening, then one of the first companies to take advantage of it is Advanced Aero from Titusville, Fla. Joe Gagliano and his son, Chris, […]

Symphony Aircraft Industries wants to set the new standard in training. The company produces the Symphony 160, a two-place aircraft that now sports the Avidyne Entegra flight deck as standard equipment, making it the first two-place with a glass cockpit, according to Paul Costanza, Symphony’s president and CEO. The aircraft also features the BRS Parachute […]

Last year was a tough one for The New Piper Aircraft Co. The Vero Beach, Fla.-based company was hit by a “couple” of hurricanes last year, said Chuck Suma, president and CEO. “But from adversity comes strength,” he noted. “The company is a lot stronger today than it was before the hurricane.” Employees pulled together […]

Yingling Aviation has launched a new international aircraft shipping enterprise for Cessna 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes and 206 Stationairs. The firm, which was named the first Cessna Authorized Service Center in 1946, made its initial shipment of five Cessna 182s to Hanseo University in South Korea at the end of February. The university will use […]

Cessna will build a permanent facility on the Sun ‘n Fun campus. The Cessna Center, which will be built with a $200,000 donation from The Cessna Foundation, will be used for Sun ‘n Fun’s year-round education programs, an essential element in bringing more young people into aviation, said Jack Pelton, Cessna’s president. During the annual […]

You’ve heard the expression “”fight fire with fire?””‘ When it comes to chasing nuisance birds, such as starlings, away from your airport, try using a bigger bird. It works, say Ted Rosander and John Tekell. The young men are part of the falconry program at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. According to Rosander, the […]

The popularity of the recent movie about Howard Hughes, “The Aviator,” has resulted in a six-fold increase in attendance at the Florida Air Museum on the Sun ‘n Fun campus. The museum has such a vast collection of Howard Hughes memorabilia that officials are still cataloging items. Included are photos, newspaper clippings, flight suits and […]