The new Aero Showcase was held at DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED) in Florida Oct. 21-22, 2022.
The successor to the successful Sport Aviation Showcase, which was held at KDED for the last five years, this year the show was taken over by new management, Aero Affinity Holding Corporation.
Held on the ramp in front of the new airport administration building, the showcase featured not only Light Sport Aircraft but other general aviation aircraft as well.
The size of the venue was much smaller than in years past with fewer vendors, no educational forums, and less planes to look at.
On the first day of the show, there were 15 aircraft on the ramp and nine of them were either LSA or ultralights.
Two companies, Aero Adventure, makers of the Aventura amphibian, and Aerosport, which makes the BushCat (pictured above), displayed their kit airplanes.
Four new planes were on display, including two from Tecnam, the Brazilian manufactured Montaer MC01, and the aerobatic Magnus Fusion 212.
The new Tecnam models were the diesel powered P2010 Gran Lusso and the twin Rotax powered P2006T. The company also displayed its Light Sport P2006.
The new Rotax powered Montaer MC01 can now be purchased at the DeLand Airport through Aero Affinity. It is possible that one day soon you may see an electric powered Montaer, company officials noted.
The reduced size of the show didn’t phase some of the exhibitors.
“The benefit of a smaller show is that we get to spend more quality time with a customer than some of the bigger shows like AirVenture or SUN ‘n FUN that tend to be more hectic,” said Daniela Knoll, president of AeroSport.
Jonathan Lones, vice president of aircraft sales for Flightline, which handles Tecnam aircraft, added that for him “a successful show is the sale of at least one plane.”
It may be that the smaller shows will attract more serious buyers. Time will tell.
I went to this show. Notes for next year – better signage to find the show (and I’ve lived in this area for 50 years), better signage for parking, and if the show grows, they’ll need a LOT more parking, and will also need golf carts to bring people to and from remote parking areas. No food or water on site. Timing wasn’t good, NBAA show in Orlando closed the day before, there would have been exhibitors from there, but the timing was just too tight. Not a lot of airplanes (remember, this is the first year), but small attendance did make it possible to talk to people. One interesting exhibit (130 hp micro-turbine engine) had nobody there, just some vague literature and a demo unit on a stand. That isn’t the show’s fault, but it is tough to sell something if you aren’t there to talk to the customers. Spent about two hours, all done, at least it was free. If they plan to charge admission next year, they’ll need to upgrade it significantly – but remember, this is their first time out.
What’s so great about the Rotax engine? Very high RPM’s will limit its useful life I would think.
“It is possible that one day soon you may see an electric powered Montaer, company officials noted.” So what? They already have the best solution in twin Rotaxes, powered by the most renewable energy source we have, good old Dino Fuel, aka Fossil Fuel. Provided the moonshine (ethanol) is not in it.