April 2016

Entrepreneur Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, said in February he was close to starting work on a vertical-takeoff-and-landing electric jet as a practical alternative to conventional aircraft. In January, the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo hosted its 12th annual event in Sebring, Florida, and ran into some weather problems. Mooney unveiled the M20V Acclaim Ultra, a significant redesign of the companys best-selling Acclaim, at its Texas headquarters in February. General aviation sales declined 4.6 percent worldwide in 2015 compared to the year before, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported in February. The Singapore Airshow, held in February, featured the debut of the 400S Seaplane, by Viking, a Canadian company that has been building Twin Otters for several years.

Editorial Staff

Monday, March 07, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

New aircraft were unveiled, including Mooney's M20V Acclaim Ultra redesign, Viking's 400S Seaplane, and the Commuter Craft Innovator prototype.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported a 4.6% decline in worldwide general aviation sales for 2015, with piston airplane shipments down for the first time since 2010.
Entrepreneur Elon Musk stated he was "close" to starting work on a vertical-takeoff-and-landing electric jet as a practical alternative to conventional aircraft.
The Sebring Expo saw record growth despite weather challenges, while other news included the impending resumption of U.S.-Cuba airline service and NASA's new research programs.

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Sebring Expo Surmounts Weather Challenges

In January, the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo hosted its 12th annual event in Sebring, Florida, and ran into some weather problems (It was windy and cold, at least by Florida standards.) and after some talk about changing the dates for next year, the organizers announced the 2018 show will run just a little later than usual, January 25 to 28. Despite those weather issues, the show has continued to grow. This year’s event attracted the most outdoor exhibits ever. Highlights this year included the debut of a flying prototype of the Commuter Craft Innovator, a new canard design, along with the usual broad selection of all the latest models in light sport aircraft.

Mooney Introduces A New Acclaim

Mooney unveiled the M20V Acclaim Ultra, a significant redesign of the company’s best-selling Acclaim, at its Texas headquarters in February. The M20V has an all-composite fuselage and a new second door on the pilot’s side. Both the passenger and pilot doors are four inches wider than earlier models, which Mooney says will make it easier for rear-seat passengers to get in and out. The electrical system and the interior both got makeovers, saving eight pounds of wiring and adding ergonomic leather seats. The new model is set to debut at Sun ‘n Fun, and will sell in the $700,000 range.