Sebring Light Sport Expo

My wife and I drove up to Sebring, FL for the Light Sport Expo. Unfortunately, they have had some crummy weather. The field was IFR and the grounds were cold and damp.

("Cold" being a relative term. It was 68 degrees and the humidity was 68%. That's cold for us Florida Keys types, but even the folks from Georgia said it was warmer than home!)

The Chinese Kite from Cessna was there. Who cares?

Interesting was a new Light Sport entry, the SRS, from Cirrus. They announced they were "taking deposits". The prototype on display is a low-wing nice-looking metal airplane with a 912 Rotax. See this link for their Website brochure on the SRS.

There were LOTS of airplanes on floats and Flying Boats. Remember that a Light Sport Aircraft designed for water operations can have a Maximum Takeoff Weight of 1430 Lbs as contrasted to the 1320 Lbs for land-based birds. So, there is some space in the weight budget for floats.

AMD (my boys from Georgia, USA) were there with a "taller" 601 and the hi-Wing AMD Patriot. The Patriot will be rolling out of the hangar in Georgia for delivery soon and the guys were "shopping for floats" at the show.

After looking around, I am still very happy with my decision to go with the AMD-made Zodiac 601. The folks who built her are here in the USA, they do NOT speak Ukranian, Czech, or even French, and I will not have to speak any of those languages to get parts or support.

Yes, the Continental AIRPLANE engine in my Zodiac weighs 100 pounds more than a Rotax. But, when my local A&P takes the covers off the Zodiac's Continental he croons and comments with joy. He knows every bolt and spring. When somebody with a Rotax pulls up to his hangar he calls the one guy who went to a 1 week Rotax school.

And, she flies so sweet. See this link for the AMD Website.

It was too dark and gloomy for me to take pictures, but there AvWeb was there and here is a link to their article and photo gallery.