R.J. Siegel hates wires. In fact, the retired Apple Computer executive, now vice president of operations at LoPresti Speed Merchants, hates wires so much he designed a wireless headset that not only allows you to talk to ATC and over the intercom, but also talk on your cell phone and enjoy music loaded onto your […]
Toxo LSA makes its air show debut
The Toxo Light Sport Aircraft, which recently had its first flight, made its Sun ‘n Fun debut this year. The plane, built by Composite Aeronautic Group (CAG) of Spain, received a lot of attention from the Sun ‘n Fun crowds. In fact, company representatives had a hard time preparing for a press briefing because the […]
Survivor: Adam Aircraft shifts from development to production
As Rick Adam recalls, in the early years of his company, executives measured their success by whether they made it to the next air show. “We used to show up year after year and people would say ‘we see hundreds of guys like you. How do we know you’re going to stay around?” said Adam, […]
Now this is news! Avemco drops its rates
Avemco Insurance Co. is dropping its rates. The rate decrease, unusual these days, was announced at Sun ‘n Fun. “We’re constantly evaluating the market and our analysis usually says we have to raise rates,” said Jim Lauerman, executive vice president. “But every once in a great while it tell us to lower our premiums. It […]
Don’t like the idea of user fees? Give the FAA some ideas
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey sent her regrets, along with eight top FAA officials, to Sun ‘n Fun. She needn’t have worried about an unfriendly crowd at the event’s Meet the FAA forum. Most of the seats in the FAA’s small production studio were filled with people wearing FAA shirts. There were a few outsiders, who […]
Will user fees ground GA? Pilot Town Hall meeting atSun ‘n Fun outlines threats
User fees and a proposed jump in fuel taxes are the biggest threats to GA today. That’s the message AOPA President Phil Boyer brought to Sun ‘n Fun in a Pilot Town Hall Meeting. Talking to a packed crowd at the Florida Air Museum Pavilion, Boyer urged pilots to sign one of the billboard-size petitions […]
Cirrus introduces Generation 3
The week of Sun ‘n Fun was a busy one for Cirrus Design Corp. The company unveiled its newest airplane, the SR-22-G3, or Generation Three, on opening day of Sun ‘n Fun. Just hours later, company executives headed to AERO 2007 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, to debut the new model there, while simultaneous launches occurred in […]
Kit plane returns with new owner: VX Aerospaceflies the flag with the FX-300
The airframe may look familiar, but the name has changed. The aircraft kit manufacturer formerly known as Four Winds has returned under the name of VX Aerospace. “We took over the company in December,” explains VX Aerospace CEO Robert Skillin. The company is now based at Morganton-Lenoir Airport in North Carolina. The four-place aircraft, which […]
Around the clock repairs for Sun ‘n Fun’s sweepstakes plane
The good news is that for the first time ever Sun ‘n Fun has a sweepstakes airplane. For $5 a ticket you can buy a chance to win an American Flyer, a high-wing Light Sport Aircraft that made its debut at the April air show. The bad news is that on the way to the […]