MT. VERNON, ILL. – A common complaint among prospective aircraft buyers shopping at trade shows is the lack of accessibility to demo aircraft. Such was not the case at the “Second Annual Midwest LSA Expo,” September 23-25, 2010 at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Airport manager, Chris Collins, organized the event to promote aviation, the airport, and the community.
All of the major Light Sport Aircraft were on display and flying! The Illinois Department of Transportation-Division of Aeronautics, the Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council, Ultraflight Radio, and Sweeney Corp hosted forums and seminars.
Collins says that the date of their event in late September does not compete with the Light Sport Aircraft show in Sebring, Florida in the spring, or with EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the summer. He sees the greatest strength of the Midwest LSA Expo is that it is low-key and more accessible to pilots than the other shows. You can literally walk along the aircraft display, pick out one or two models you want to fly on a demo flight, and then go fly! There’s no air show to schedule around, and the traffic volume is low.
Representing Light Sport Aircraft companies from the Midwest were Kris Siuba of Nu Group in DeKalb, Illinois, promoting the “Ekolot” (www.NIU-G.com); Todd Kyle of North Iowa Air Service in Mason City, Iowa, promoting the “PiperSport” (www.northiowaair.com); Chip Osborn of Sting Sport Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri, promoting the “ICub,” “Sting,” and the “Sirius” (www.stingsportkc.com); Eric Evans of Eric Evans Aviation, Ltd. in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, promoting the “Jabiru” and “Expedition” (www.ericevansaviation.com); Eric Rieke of Sportair in Fort Wayne, Indiana, promoting the “TL-3000 Sirius, and “TL-2000 Sting S-3” and “S-4,” “Bush ICub,” and the “SeaRey” amphibian; and the Syvertson brothers – Jon, Paul and Steve – of Midwest Sport Aviation in Richland Center, Wis., promoting the “Cheetah XLS” (www.MWSportAviation.com). Light Sport Aircraft companies came from as far as Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.
The infrastructure and logistics at the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (KMVN) are ideal for hosting the Midwest LSA Expo. The airport is laid out well, Mt. Vernon, Illinois is at the crossroads of two interstate highways, and there’s ample hotel and restaurant amenities located nearby. Probably the show’s greatest asset is airport manager, Chris Collins, who is as energetic as they come, and realizes that it will take time to build the show.
For additional information contact Chris Collins at (618) 242-7016, or via email at managermvaa@mvn.net (www.midwestlsashow.com). Dates for 2011 to be announced!
