Come See LSA at AOPA's 2007 Expo in Hartford

Come See LSA at AOPA’s 2007 Expo in Hartford

bydanjohnson

Monday, September 17, 2007 at 03:55 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

General aviation leaders have shifted from skepticism to full acceptance, now believing Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) are a permanent fixture.
The AOPA Expo 2007 at Hartford-Brainard Airport will prominently feature a wide array of LSA models, including several from major manufacturers.
For the third consecutive year, AOPA is providing a dedicated, high-visibility display area for LSA at its Expo, following previous events where LSA drew the largest crowds.

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Near the LAMA motorhome display on the Hartford-Brainard Airport, you’ll find these LSA: Sigma; Sportstar; CTsw; G-700S; Jabiru J-250; G-3; StingSport, Breezer, and Skylark; and two Tecnams. Alongside their GA models, Cirrus will show their SRS and CubCrafters their Sport Cub. *Neither Cessna Skycatcher nor The Champ are expected to attend.*

At Oshkosh I took the chance to speak with several general aviation leaders — CEOs of top general aviation companies and presidents of leading membership organizations. All have been kind to me with their time and generous with their support for the Sport Pilot concept, but I sensed they didn’t yet accept LSA deep down. Minor questions remained. Today that seems convincingly gone. The same not-100%-certain leaders now chorus, “LSA is here to stay.” *** Evidence of that is again marshaling for AOPA’s season-ending event for general aviation. The D.C.-based organization now counts more than 413,000 members, more than two-thirds of all pilots on the FAA register. The traveling Expo show typically draws well from a region’s pilot population. Action starts October 4-6, 2007 at the Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD). *** For the third year running AOPA is providing a grouped location for Light-Sport Aircraft right where you enter the airplane display area (SLSA exhibitor list under photo). Last year at AOPA’s event in Palm Springs, California, the densest crowds among all aircraft displays were around the LSA fleet.