U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, Sebring Florida's 2012 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News newsmagazine.

But like the little train that thought he could the Expo just kept chugging along. Despite all the problems Mother Nature has thrown at it, the show has continued to grow. This year, with sunny skies and warm temperatures the show was finally able to show its full potential, with reports of attendance for the show close to 17,000. During the four-day event, FAA report nearly 3500 flight operations, with over 1200 of these coming on Saturday.

A very aggressive and successful marketing campaign by the management of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo brought out more than 160 aviation related vendors. Including suppliers of Rotax, Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines, avionics suppliers, propeller manufacturers, plus supplies of brakes, intercoms, radios, ballistic parachute systems, and even an air-conditioning unit for lightsport aircraft.

The Expo has also become a stage for associations such as EAA and a AOPA to introduce their programs. This year, EAA President Rod Hightower, and AOPA President Craig Fuller were in attendance, and spoke in front standing room only crowds. The Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association hosted their dinner during the Expo, which was packed with standing room only available during speeches by the guest speakers.

The expo also featured daily seminars in the forum buildings, an AvBid Aircraft Auction, a model airplane contest, as well as a food and wine event. With proceeds from the wine and food events, going to be local EAA Young Eagles and the Humane Society of Highlands County. All of the vendors that I had an opportunity to interview were very enthusiastic about the Expo's potential for sales, both during and after the event. I came away from the show with the feeling that between 20 and 25 aircraft were sold at the show with the same if not more expected sales from leads obtained at the show.

But a show like this cannot happen without having a driving force behind it, and a massive group of people and volunteers to put it on. A great deal of the credit for the success of the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo has to go to it's founding chairman Bob Wood, who put together a model for a light sport aircraft expo that is being adopted by other shows across the U.S.

This year Bob passed the reins onto Jana Filip, and Mike Willingham who with a group of dedicated volunteers made the 2012 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo the best yet! This has to speak volumes for the future of the Expo moving into 2013 and beyond.

So let's have a look at what was new for 2012 at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo!

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