THINGS-TO-DO

DeLand’s Sport Aviation Showcase has something for pilots, passengers, light-sport plane fans

Katie Kustura
katie.kustura@news-jrnl.com
A plethora of planes, specifically light-sport aircraft, will fill the field at DeLand Municipal Airport for the annual Sport Aviation Showcase, which runs this year from Nov. 14-16. [News-Journal file]

DELAND — More than a few thousand sport aviation enthusiasts are expected to touch down in Volusia County this month.

The fourth annual DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase takes off Nov. 14 and flies through Nov. 16 at the DeLand Municipal Airport, 1000 Flightline Blvd.

Attendees will find an airfield filled with several dozen exhibitors and vendors and various types of sport aircraft. There will be hands-on demonstrations, new exhibitions and forums that take on topics such as “Building your own aircraft” and “Sidekick: Right seat flying for non-pilots.”

“The neat thing about this industry is that it is growing,” said Jana Filip, DeLand’s sport aviation administrator.

Filip said she’s preparing to receive about 7,000 to 8,000 guests over the three-day event, which brings in visitors and exhibitors from throughout the U.S. and other countries including Canada, Italy and Brazil.

Sebastien Heintz will fly in from Mexico, Missouri, where his business, Zenith Aircraft Company, is based.

Heintz will present “Building your own aircraft” at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 14 and 15.

“A lot of folks that are not in this niche business or industry don’t even realize that’s a possibility, to build and fly your own airplane,” Heintz, who grew up around planes, said in a phone interview.

Heintz said half of his customer base is people who are just breaking into the hobby of sport aviation.

“You get to learn all about how an airplane works, how the structure works, because you are building it,” Heintz said.

While sport aviation is a niche industry, Filip has made it a point to find people and activities to include in the showcase that help expand its appeal.

[READ MORE: New DeLand airport center gets its wings]

[READ MORE: DeLand Sport Aviation Village takes off as showcase begins]

Virginie Rollin, associate professor of aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will present “Sidekick: Right seat flying for non-pilots” at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

Rollin, also a member of The Ninety-Nines, Inc., the international organization of women pilots, said women tend to be the passengers in these light-sport aircraft, so she developed a presentation based on questions she’s received over the years, such as what to do if the pilot experiences a medical issue and how to use the radio for communication.

“Another part is encouraging them to take a few flight lessons, not to get a license, but to get a feeling for the airplane,” Rollin said.

On Nov. 16, students of any age receive complimentary admission, Filip said.

“We want to spread the word to the next generation of aviation enthusiasts that are out there,” Filip said.

For information or to purchase tickets to the showcase, visit sportaviationshowcase.com.