| EAA SPORT PILOT TOUR MAKES BIG SPLASH IN THE DESERT |
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| Written by Jaroslav Dostál |
| Tuesday, 21 March 2006 13:47 |
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â??This was definitely the best event so far,â?? said EAA Senior Vice President Bob Warner, who made two well-attended presentations. â??Thatâ??s a result of the continued evolution of not only the industry, but of the events themselves, by sheer repetition, learning how to do things better. Weâ??re looking forward to the next phase of events.â??    Along with Warner, EAA Sport Pilot Team representatives Ron Wagner and Dan Johnson also spoke at well-attended presentations. Throughout the day, EAA helped issue 60 FAA sport pilot student pilot certificates. Manufacturers reported brisk activity, including aircraft sales and even more potential sales opportunities. EAA chapters 228, 538, and 1217 provided volunteers to help run the event, along with several CAF volunteers. â??This was our sixth event and every one got better, stronger,â?? Johnson said. â??Many of the manufacturers made a point of telling me that this was the best yet.â?? Participating manufacturers included:
â??This shows that theyâ??re bringing new people into aviation and not at the expense of their other operations,â?? Wagner said. â??That represents one of the intended consequences of sport pilot/light-sport aircraft: making flying more affordable and practical by lowering the cost and time barriers.â?? www.sportpilot.org (foto Jan Fridrich) |
EAA's latest Sport Pilot Tour stop drew several hundred aviation enthusiasts to Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, last Saturday to learn more about opportunities in the growing sport pilot/light-sport aircraft community. The successful event drew a best-yet 18 certificated light-sport aircraft (LSA) from 13 manufacturers and more than 600 attendees. The 500-plus attendee registrations is another high for the tour, resulting in a large number of new EAA members.