News

The SkyCraft SD-1 Minisport, a small single-seat S-LSA, first showed up at EAA AirVenture last summer, but this is the first time the airplane has visited Sun ‘n Fun, designer Joe Doherty told AVweb this week. The airplane, which sells for about $55,000, is based on a Czech experimental design, with a 50-hp Hirth F-23 […]

Stemme, the German motorglider manufacturer that got a boost with new ownership and investment a couple of years ago, is continuing its work to develop a robust network of dealers and service centers around the world, spokesman Lorenzo Costella told AVweb at Sun ‘n Fun. Stemme USA is now based at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in […]

Daher-Socata brought its new TBM 900 single-engine turboprop, which debuted just a few weeks ago, to Sun ‘n Fun this week. The 900 is an upgrade of the 850, which it replaces, with winglets and a five-blade composite propeller, plus numerous tweaks to enhance the aerodynamic design, pilot interface and passenger comfort. “We’re happy with […]

Norwegian skydiver Anders Helstrup may be pretty much incalculably lucky thanks to a chance encounter with a meteorite that has the skydiving and astronomy world buzzing. Helstrup did a wingsuit jump over his native land in June of 2012 and said he didn’t see anything but he got the feeling something happened during the canopy […]

Mooney is back, and although they didn’t have a booth at Sun ‘n Fun, the new executive staffarrived on Friday to meet with the faithful and the press to provide a snapshot of the new company and its plans. CEO Jerry Chen told the crowd of 100 or so in a tent behind the Florida […]

Dynon Avionics is a major player in the experimental and light sport aircraft avionics market and the companys flagship Skyview integrated avionics suite has been a huge success for a wide variety of models. Since the latest trend for LSA and experimental aircraft avionics is a touchscreen feature set, Dynon reworked the Skyview into the […]

The panel in one of CubCrafters Carbon Cubs has caused more than a few double takes by visitors at Sun n Fun. Instead of a few dials, its glass-and not just any glass, Garmins new G3X Touch flight display system. Referred to as Executive GLASS touch, it replaces the companys previous high-end panel with an […]

Aircraft owners now can rent out their airplane when they’re not using it to help subsidize their costs, OpenAirplane co-founder Rod Rakic told AVweb at Sun ‘n Fun this week. “Collaborative Aircraft Rental” makes the process “simple and affordable,” Rakic said. The program includes a customized insurance policy that covers the aircraft owner, and uses […]

Epic Aircraft has hired 25 more workers in the last two months at its production plant in Bend, Ore., company spokesman Mike Schrader told AVweb this week at Sun ‘n Fun. He added that they plan to hire 50 more by the end of the year. “We’re also adding new equipment, and building the final […]

Representatives from the FAA met with industry advocates at Sun ‘n Fun on Wednesday to discuss a variety of issues that have arisen regarding light-sport aircraft since the category was created 10 years ago. “We had a very productive three-hour meeting, and the FAA was very responsive,” Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers […]