 Published: January 18, 2008
SEBRING — The CTLS drew Light-Sport Aircraft enthusiasts to it like a magnet as they walked through the gates of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo on Thursday at Sebring Regional Airport.
Flight Design USA unveiled its newest plane at the fourth annual expo, which runs through Sunday at the airport.
"This is the premier Light-Sport Aircraft show of the year," said Ken Godin, national sales director for Flight Design USA. "The timing was perfect for us to reveal our new product."
Bob Wood, chairman of the expo, said the debut of this plane was a great way to kick off the expo.
"This is the worldwide first ever unveiling of this aircraft," Wood said.
The aircraft travels 120 knots, holds 34 gallons of fuel and has a wide cockpit, featuring racecar seats with lumbar support, a sophisticated global positioning system with XM radio and weather and even a place to plug an iPod into the panel.
Lockwood Aviation Group, which operates from the Sebring Regional Airport, is a dealer of the aircraft.
Godin said many of the aircraft's features make it ideal for pilots who are new to light-sport aircraft.
Bill Cogdill traveled from Columbia, S.C., with his cousin Harold Christmas, of Lenoire, N.C., to fly the new model. Codgill is taking flight lessons with his grandson and said he thinks the CTLS would be a good plane to learn on. Christmas, a trained pilot, is helping him learn to fly and shop for an aircraft.
"We've been looking at this plane through industry magazines," Christmas said about CTLS. "Reading about it is one thing, but actually getting to come out and see and touch and fly it is much more exciting."
In addition to the new light-sport aircraft, about 150 vendors signed up for this year's expo and, while Thursday's weather kept some attendees away, he expected good attendance for the rest of the weekend. About 60 percent of the attendees come from Florida and the rest come from all over the world, Wood said. This year's event featured vendors from 28 states and six foreign countries.
Pilots who gathered at the expo Thursday said they appreciate the opportunity to speak with so many exhibitors in one location.
"Rather than look at the aircraft online, you can come and look at it in person, while escaping the winter weather," said Rich Bergstrom, from Connecticut, who was planning to buy a light-sport aircraft at the expo.
Wood said about 250 volunteers and many sponsors also make the event possible.
"We have outstanding support from our sponsors who contribute a lot of the aviation community and Highlands County," Wood said.
|
