The Epic LT turboprop is a phenomenon. Two years ago it was artwork on display stands. Fourteen months later it was an airplane, flying to the Oshkosh air show, where it was introduced. Last month, it was in the Homebuilt area at Sun ‘n Fun, fully fitted with a glass panel cockpit and luxurious interior. […]
A corporate jet with some assembly required
Imagine, if you can, an eight-place corporate jet kit plane. Imagine that it cruises at 400 mph, at nearly 30,000 feet, and will carry you 1,224 statute miles on its 480 gallons of Jet-A. Steve Young and Ron Lueck of Aerocomp not only imagined such a plane, they built it, they’ve flown it and they’ll […]
Eclipse 500 makes first public appearance, DayJet promptly buys 239
An Eclipse 500, the first flying, fully conforming very light jet, made its maiden public appearance at Sun ‘n Fun last month. Only days later, the company announced a firm order for 239 of its jets from DayJet Corp., a pioneer in what it calls “per-seat, on-demand” jet services. DayJet also took options on 70 […]
The REAL aviator
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 […]
New Cessna Center planned for Sun ‘n Fun campus
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 […]
Medirian goes glass with Avidyne FlightMax
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 […]
Symphony unveils two-place with glass cockpit
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 […]
Ready for the boom: Advanced Aero unveils new design for the Sport Pilot
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, […]
Extreme makeover, airplane edition
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 […]