2015 Sport Expo Roundup

A full schedule of showcase flights, presentations, and the chance to see and touch sport aircraft and the latest of a vast range of aircraft gear (see below for new products and Expo debuts) kept visitors engaged throughout the four-day event. More than 50 scheduled forums covered all aspects of aircraft ownership and operation, and panel discussions and speakers including former astronaut Story Musgrave and SR-71 pilot Col. Richard Graham (USAF Ret.) enthralled audiences, while members of the Flying Musicians Association kept attendees entertained daily at the Aviators Hotline Show Center Tent.

Official attendance figures aside, the 134 vendors occupying 158 booth spaces set a new record, Filip said, and included 40 first-time exhibitors. Even though the weather kept some display aircraft and attendees from arriving until the day before Expo ended, a dozen aircraft were reportedly purchased during the show, also a record. Such is the number of sport-aircraft manufacturers in attendance that members of the ASTM F-37 Standards Committee for light-sport aircraft even held a meeting in conjunction with Expo to discuss new and amended LSA standards.

This year, Expo expanded its focus beyond LSAs to encompass homebuilts, experimentals, ultralights, and pre-owned and refurbished production aircraft, even changing the gathering's tagline to "The Affordable Aircraft Expo." Over the past year, KSEF itself has become a capital of affordable aircraft, with Tecnam and Paradise Aircraft joining AirCam manufacturer and flight school Lockwood Aviation in establishing U.S. headquarters at the airport. Plan to be on hand for the excitement next year when the Affordable Aircraft Expo takes place on January 20 to 23, 2016, at KSEF.

Beringer debuted its new four-inch wheel and brake designed for use on any single-seat aircraft up to 700 pounds gross weight, providing improved braking action and a 20% to 30% weight savings over similar wheels. The spoke wheels are "the lightest in the world" of that size, according to sales director Claire Beringer, and incorporate a new inner wheel, large welded axle, anodized-steel tube with sealed ball bearings, and Beringer's patented Alir (antilock in-line regulator) passive antilock braking system, designed to prevent wheel lock. As the wheel uses the same brake pads found on common larger-sized tires, replacement pads are easy to source, Beringer noted. Price: $1,400 with tubeless tire. Visit
www.beringer-aero.com.

Bristell Aircraft of Westhampton, N.Y., displayed and gave demo flights in a Bristell TDO (taildragger option). It was the U.S. show debut of this conventionally geared version of the sporty trike from the Czech Republic's BRM Aero. Introduced in 2013, two years after the Bristell, the TDO at Expo, the first in the U.S., arrived last November. Like the trike version, it's stable and responsive, and has no trouble hitting the LSA speed limit. "I developed the TDO for real pilots, because all pilots know only a real pilot can operate a taildragger safely," said designer Milan Bristela. "In Europe, there are many rich people who think they can be pilots, and many of them don't care about physics and kill themselves using their airplanes improperly. When they land somewhere in a TDO, everyone will know, 'This is a good pilot.'" Prices start at $110,000 and fully optioned can cost $185,000. Visit www.bristellaircraft.com and read our review in this month's Pirep, "A Taildragging Hot Rod for the LSA Crowd."

Commuter Craft took the wraps off the Innovator at Expo, unveiling a flying scale model of its planned blend-wing, three- surface, two-place composite pusher aircraft. The airframe was designed to allow the Innovator to be built light-sport compliant, or as an experimental with an engine up to 200 hp, delivering 180 mph speeds. The company screened a video of the scale model's recent maiden flight at its booth. Commuter Craft plans initially to offer the Innovator as a builder-assist kit that can be assembled in as little as three weeks, and be ready to fly in less than two months, according to company president Richard Hogan. The Innovator's cost hasn't been set, but Hogan said, "For less than the price of a luxury sports car, you can step firmly into the world of aviation." Visit www.commutercraft.com.

Dynon Avionics' SkyView Touch, the fingertip-controllable upgrade to the avionics manufacturer's popular SkyView glass panel suite for experimental aircraft and LSA, made its Expo debut this year. Dynon's touch technology provides tablet- and smartphone-style ease of interaction, while also allowing simple operation through conventional bezel buttons and joystick knobs in times of turbulence. Hosted on 10-inch screens, the ADS-B-compliant system includes primary flight instrument displays, moving map with synthetic vision and full-featured engine monitor and numerous options. Current Dynon screens can be updated for touch capability, or traded in for the new units. Dynon, based in Woodinville, Wash., has previously announced it would offer a trade-in option for touch-screen customers with older displays, and sales manager Kirk Kleinholz told P&P at Expo the company would announce details of the plan soon. SkyView Touch Price: $3,995. Visit www.dynonavionics.com.

Distribution company Essex Parts Services displayed Aliant's line of ultralight batteries, making their first appearance at Expo. Seventy percent lighter and more compact than comparable lead-acid batteries, these "smart" batteries equalize cell loads, providing more reliable power and longer life. Additionally, the liquidless batteries can be mounted in any orientation, and provide superior cranking power to lead acid batteries, said project manager Matt Volk of the Cramerton, N.C.,-based distributor. The battery line is available in 100 to 800 volts of cranking amps, suitable for engines ranging from the Rotax 503 to the Lycoming IO-360. Each battery is good for up to 7,000 starting cycles. "For some people, this may be the last battery they ever buy," said Volk. Prices range from $155 to $999. Visit www.essexparts.com.

Making its debut as an air show exhibitor after launching its business last June, Fly The Beach of Destin, Fla., touted its light-sport seaplane training program. The company uses an M-Squared Breese ultralight powered by a 582 Rotax on Lotus floats for the training. Founder Ryan Gore says this is the only light-sport seaplane training program providing original issuance licenses, enabling students to earn their sport pilot certificates at Fly The Beach. But not only students take the training. "Half my clientele are pilots," Gore said. With temperatures cool during the winter months in the Florida Panhandle, Gore expects operations to be back at full speed by this summer. Introductory flights are $85. Training for sport-aircraft float operations, which typically requires some five hours, costs "about" $1,000. Visit www.flythebeach.com.

High-tech tool distributor Koved Technical, making its Expo debut, showcased the Niton XL2 handheld portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, capable of identifying the chemical composition of metals and alloys in seconds. Resembling a cordless power drill without a bit, the user points the XL2 close to any metal and pulls the trigger, creating a burst of fluorescence that excites the atoms and enables elemental analysis. In moments, the metal's composition appears on the XL2's screen with the corresponding percentages of its components. With prices starting in the high teens and ranging up to $40,000 and more, the XL2, made by Thermo Scientific, is aimed more at the OEM than the DIY market, but Koved Partner Steve Mersal had the perfect explanation for why the team decided to display at Expo. "We're all pilots," he said. Visit www.kovedtech.com.

Sandia Aerospace's SAI 340 Quattro, a TSO'd four-in-one standby instrument providing airspeed, attitude, altitude and slip information, made its Expo debut this year. The unit features EFIS-style data presentation with Air Transport quality graphics, and fits in a standard three-inch instrument hole. Designed to replace steam standby instruments in panel retrofits, or as a backup safety enhancement for standard six-pack analog instruments, the system operates off the power, ground, pitot and static systems. If the ship's power is interrupted, the unit reverts to solid-state lithium battery backup, with six hours of life. Certification of the 0.7-pound unit is expected in the second quarter of this year, and more than 700 are on order said Barry LeBlanc, regional sales manager of the Albuquerque, N.M.-based company. List price is $3,595, but it's available at distributors, including Aircraft Spruce, for $2,995. Visit www.sandia.aero.

Sonex Aircraft presented, for the first time, a Sonex powered by the new AeroVee Turbo engine, the turbocharged version of the builder-assembled powerplant introduced during AirVenture 2014 at Sonex's Wittman Field factory. One of several display aircraft delayed by weather, the turbo'd one-place finally arrived on the eve of Expo's final day. The engine is for "anybody who wants over 100 hp at the most reasonable cost," said Sonex founder and president John Monett. Deliveries began in December. "A few are flying, and customers are loving them," he said. "We're finding they're easy to install." The location of the turbocharger allows the engine to fit almost any cowl the normally aspirated AeroVee fits in. Factory support, videos and manuals simplify assembly, and give operators the confidence to maintain their engines themselves. "It's all part of that education and recreation," said Monett, "that's why we're experimental." AeroVee Turbo is $10,995; AeroVee turbo conversion kit is $3,995. Visit www.sonexaircraft.com.

Tecnam U.S. debuted the Astore, the new low-wing LSA powered by a 115 hp turbocharged Rotax 914 engine, the Italian manufacturer's offering for the sporty end of the cross-country light-aircraft market. An Apple iPad Mini is standard equipment set up to double as a home entertainment system. With its forward-hinged clear canopy, glass panel options, large baggage area behind the side-by-side seats and the extra kick of the turbocharger at altitude, the Astore is a very comfortable and capable traveling machine (750 nm range) that exudes an Italian-style sports-car spirit---or maybe that's just the suggestive power of the finely stitched, high-quality leather interior. "You get in this airplane, and you just want to keep going," said Director of Sales Shannon Yeager, also company demo pilot. Price for standard version is $147,000 with option packages ranging to $176,000; more for Premium Edition Package and additional options. Visit www.tecnam.com.

Whelen Engineering Co. featured its Orion Series LED self-contained wingtip and tail-mounted position and anti-collision lights for the first time since the product line received recent STC approval for installation on certificated aircraft. The Chester, Conn., company's lights offer longer life, increased visibility and lower current draw than conventional exterior aircraft lights, according to sales manager Jeff Argersinger. The AML (approved model list) of aircraft covered by the STC number more than 100. The AML and the STC are both available on the company's Web site, and the STC can be used without charge. The products are sold through distributors, and prices vary across the product line and the aircraft being retrofit but, "It's all under $1,000," Argersinger said. Visit www.whelen.com.