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Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 1:36 pm
by Mikey B
I'm planning to stop in at the Midwest LSA Expo (www.midwestlsaexpo.com) in Mt. Vernon, IL on 9/5-7, 2019. It happens to be on my cross-country route west (by road, sadly) and at the right time. Does anyone have any info, suggestions, etc. about this event? It doesn't seem to get much love here.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 10:40 pm
by chicagorandy
Just booked a room for 2 nights at a nice local economy motel for the event. Decided to add an easy road trip to my new Hyundai SUV - lol - A straight shot down I57, and 4-1/2 hours later I'm there.

From their website it looks like a relatively small, fun affair. I'm hoping to mooch a demo flight on an LSA or three while I'm there? Just back from 9 days volunteering at Oshkosh, so this will be a dramatic change of pace I'm thinking. Free admission, free parking, just a couple miles out of town at most, AND airplanes. What's not to like?

Mt Vernon seems to have a good selection of places to eat and stay at all budget levels with a small town atmosphere. Here's hoping it will be worth the drive.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:46 am
by Mikey B
Yup, it's no Oshkosh for sure, but all sport/LSA, and from the list of exhibitors it looks like most of the major LSA builders will be there. I think I'd better leave the checkbook home!

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 8:09 am
by Warmi
I wonder how it is to fly-in there ... I presume it is not as bat-crazy as Oshkosh ?

Any experience ?

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:00 am
by 3Dreaming
I had a booth there the first several years. It is more relaxed that Oshkosh for sure. There are a lot of tire kickers, but if you are looking to buy something it is a setting where the dealer can give you plenty of dedicated time. The show staff and volunteers do an outstanding job to make both vendors and visitors welcome.

Flying in should not be a problem, but they are a fairly busy class E airport. There is a bunch of training that goes on there, both VFR and IFR.

The biggest thing is the weather. Over the years they have been plagued with terrible weather for the event. Last year several that were signed up to attend cancelled because of the forecast. The remnants of hurricane Irma reeked havoc dumping around 10 inches of rain on Saturday.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:31 am
by Warmi
Thanks - I am gonna try to fly in there this year ... it is only about 2 hour flight from Chicago and hopefully, as long as weather cooperates, should end up being a quick, one day fun trip.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:08 pm
by chicagorandy
Just checked the 5-day forecast. Looks like the Mt Vernon area will be pretty much rain free, low winds, and mostly sunny for all 3 days.

Should make for a pleasant road trip for me and fun event. Here's hoping I can snag a ride in an LSA while I'm there.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:02 pm
by chicagorandy
I'm checked in at my motel. I did a quick look-see at the expo when I got into town. The airport is only 5 minutes from the motel at the most. The show is a pleasant, though quite small event. In truth you could see everything and chat with every vendor in a single day with lots of time to spare.

This was opening day so perhaps all the vendors have not yet arrived. I heard they had three vendors cancel due to Hurricane Dorian. The plan will be to have breakfast at the very nice on airport restaurant, wander around the planes a bit, take in Dan Johnson's forum at 11:00, then a lunch, more walking around if there are any vendors I've not visited and then check out a day early and drive back to Chicago.

I'm glad the weather is great and it's always fun to see LSA planes. Still hoping to mooch a ride, but likely this show will be a one and done for me anyway. I'll stick to Oshkosh. lol

Live and learn.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:11 pm
by chicagorandy
Back home from Mt Vernon. About 12-15 or so vendors were in attendance, which probably is a very large percentage of the actual flying machines offered to the marketplace.

Attended a very good presentation by Dan Johnson (LAMA and youtube sensation) regarding the upcoming LSA/FAA possible regulation changes that will affect the LSA market.

In retrospect considering how very small the LSA market is and how actually quite comparatively small businesses the various manufacturers are, it is great to see the participation at Mt Vernon, and see that hope too springs eternal for the future of this segment of GA. I had the opportunity to meet and chat with several different owners who flew their planes to Mt Vernon to put them on display for all to enjoy. Airplane folks are truly some fine and friendly people.

It appeared that rides were offered to some, but I suspect mostly prospective buyers, not mooching tire-kickers like me - lol - so I didn't experience anyone offering me a lift or get a chance to get airborne. Oh well, such is life.

Yesterday afternoon and this morning provided more than enough time to see all the planes and talk to all the vendors so I bugged out at 12:30, right after Dan's forum. GREAT weather, clear sunny and upper 80's, which made for nice plane watching and for a comfortable 280 mile drive down yesterday and then 280 miles back home today..

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:42 pm
by TimTaylor
Sounds like fun.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:52 pm
by chicagorandy
When the weather is great and it also involves airplanes it would be hard to NOT be fun - lol - but that said I doubt I'll attend again. It takes me longer to drive there one way than I actually spent looking at aircraft. It would make for a terrific fly-in destination though. Superb airport, good facilities and even a very competent restaurant. A small military museum is also in the building and countless photo essays honoring local county veterans going back all the way to the Civil War. Quite memorable effort by the community.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:11 pm
by 3Dreaming
I flew in with the Taylorcraft on Thursday afternoon. I visited with a few people, and then back home. It is a little less than 40 miles flying for me. Chris and the folks that put this on are a top notch bunch.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 2:55 pm
by sportflugzeug
I attended the Midwest LSA Expo. In fact, they produced a YouTube video of the event and they have me flying the Jabiru J230 SP. It shows me taking off at 1:45.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdAE9R0UW6E&t=100s

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:56 am
by ShawnM
Here's something interesting, at the 2 minute mark in that video there is a SportCruiser that takes off, N804JC, and it's not registered according to the FAA database. Hmmm.

Re: Midwest LSA Expo, 9/5-9/7/19

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:21 am
by Scooper
ShawnM wrote:Here's something interesting, at the 2 minute mark in that video there is a SportCruiser that takes off, N804JC, and it's not registered according to the FAA database. Hmmm.
"N804JC Not Assigned."
That is just... weird.