My friends at 
As everyone knows by now, 
"We have a lot of confirmed exhibitors booked," Roland continued. "We also have exhibitors still waiting with their decision till February.
"Vaccine and warm weather in spring will help additional. Also we have a perfect anti-corona concept which worked very well at the boat show, "Interboot," in September 2020. This marine event is held in the same city convention center as is Aero. Friedrichshafen is located on the huge Lake Constance or Bodensee.
"We will also run our Aero South Africa show in July 2021." Lead by Roland, the Aero team will also visit AirVenture this year so American companies wanting to explore opportunities in Europe can speak to key Aero team members.
As with Sun 'n Fun, the one-week 
Another Covid dropout is the Copperstate/Buckeye event last held in February of 2020 before the sky fell on everyone. The Phoenix, Arizona-area event — a joint venture between the 48 year-old 
UPDATE 1/14/21 — Regretfully, I must announce that DeLand has cancelled its Flyway to Highway event “due to Covid-19.” —DJ After a year of great uncertainty, the earliest airshows of 2021 are feeling the pressure. However, by spring, several organizers hope for great improvement. Here’s some review, good news first and then some cancellations. Flyway to Highway DeLand, Florida Lead organizer Jana Filip first rescheduled the November 2020 DeLand Showcase until January, but that got scrubbed by a very cautious city of DeLand. Now, Jana will host Flyway to Highway at the end of this month. My friends at General Aviation News got the news out early, “DeLand Airport will host a one-day fly-in/drive-in event on January 30, 2021. Co-sponsored by automaker Tesla, anyone who shows up at the DeLand Airport Management Center can take a test drive in a new Tesla.” Quite a few airplane companies will also display.
Then, life got more complicated for Ron and he chose to quietly bow out of representing Alto.
However, Czech Republic producer Direct Fly never stopped. Indeed, the company has supplied more than 80 aircraft to dealers in places as close as Europe and as distant as Australia.
Given the deluge of handsome LSA offered to Americans, Alto slipped off the radar for most Yankee pilots but not before Ron demonstrated the design's worthy qualities. Check this 
The 2020 version of Alto is equipped with the carbureted 100 horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine. Standard equipment includes hydraulic brakes, electric flap control, and electric elevator trim. The exterior of the aircraft is painted with a single color plus accents as seen while the interior and the seats are upholstered with skin-friendly cloth.
Czech producer Direct Fly reported, "More than 80 of these all-metal aircraft fly in various countries such as USA, Brazil, South Africa, Spain and many more." Appealing to more than flight school operators, Alto is "especially suitable for recreational flying, mostly thanks to its robust design and predictable flight characteristics," the factory added.
The fine flying qualities of Alto 912 TG stem from the design of the wing. Its rectangular wing and a profile using a broad leading edge provide predictable stall characteristics and behavior. "The wing is a semi-monocoque structure and is equipped with built-in tanks with a capacity of 100 liters (26.4 U.S. gallons) of fuel," Direct Fly said.
At the rear of the fuselage is the designer's standard cruciform tail employing curved surfaces for a smooth airflow and greatest effectiveness. All metal structures are braced by a web of diagonal members making for great strength and rigidity. The wing-fuselage joint is smoothed by an extended strake that fluidly incorporates Alto's deep-descending flaps at this important junction.
Flight control movements transmit pilot inputs through pushrods and cables. Directional steering of the nosewheel is via dual pedals in front of each occupant. Brakes are hydraulically controlled by a lever located on the center console, readily accessible to either occupant.
Alto landing gear is standard tricycle format and the main gear is fixed to the fuselage on flexible laminate composite legs.
You enter the low wing cockpit aided by foot pegs mounted at the trailing edge of the wing on each side. The generous 43-inch wide cockpit provides plenty of room and is wider than a Cessna 172.
The overhead canopy slides forward smoothly on rails allowing plenty of ventilation during taxi. The canopy is secured for takeoff and cannot be opened in flight.
As the new year starts, Scott plans to visit the main airshows, kicking off with the 
Like many of you, I've been having airshow withdrawal. Even with a wide-open attitude about traveling to these events, I have only made three shows this year: 
"We will feature more than 80 exhibitors, 200 aircraft and 150 vehicles on display," he said. "We want to raise some money, but [raising money is] not the end all, be all. We want to maintain our relevance in the community and let people know we are here for them." To entertain the community, Sun 'n Fun also put on two air shows including a night event on Friday.
In the area affectionately known as Paradise City — where the LSA Mall would normally be located — a STOL competition was also held. It was quite the gathering of taildraggers (and one nosedragger).
A former Michigan resident, Michael Theeke (pronounced "Tiki") relocated to an airport I know very well, the Jasper airport outside Chattanooga, Tennessee on the way to Nashville. The airport has a wonderful location near the Nickajack Recreational Area, part of the TVA.
Mike succumbed to a battle with cancer this year but I will long remember his gorgeous creations. He was also well known for being a very professional flight instructor who taught more than 200 how to fly.
Rest in peace, Mike. You will be missed.
In 
True to their word, I got an excited email from Ron today that read, "It's finally an SLSA!" Congratulations to all the crew at 
The Czech Republic-designed 