Many readers know I love this event, the Midwest LSA Expo at Mt. Vernon, Illinois airport about one hour’s drive east of St. Louis, Missouri. Led by capable, enthusiastic, and friendly Chris Collins, this has become a regular event for many… that is, many vendors, many pilots, and me. I only missed once when we were facing a major hurricane in Florida. This will my 12th but it is officially the 13th annual running of the show.
Nearby you’ll see a roster of expected vendors. Now, as we all know agonizingly well, these are strange times so things can change and some promises can’t be kept but the nearby table shows which aircraft Chris is expecting. I have my fingers crossed for all of them but Midwest LSA Expo has been a good draw and many vendors return year after year.
Why do people keep returning? Because pilots enjoy looking over aircraft in a more relaxed manner than is possible at crowd-jammed events like Oshkosh or Sun ‘n Fun. Airplane reps keep coming back because they make sales in Mt. Vernon. Many have said these smaller shows are better because they can spend the time with pilots as needed to answer all their questions. Once so satisfied, pilots in the market turn into buyers. It’s all good.
Other exhibitors include A&M Airsports, Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR), Certus, Flights for Christ, Garmin, Kanardia, Midwest Sky Sports, Leading Edge Air Foils (LEAF), Mission Aviation Fellowship, SRT Aviation, Powerlift (doors), and UL Power. Disclaimer: Midwest LSA Expo and the exhibitors shown make no appearance guarantees. State-by-state travel restrictions may impact attendance.
For Example: G1 STOL
I saw the fellows representing G1 STOL at Sun ‘n Fun 2021, Oshkosh 2021, and they are on the roster for Midwest 2021. That’s an energetic airshow schedule and I admire the effort they’re making to put this interesting aircraft in front of the American pilot.
G1 STOL exhibiting at Sun ‘n Fun 2021.
Several years ago, I interviewed a gentleman from France as he represented G1 at the German Aero show. I was doubly intrigued because his show G1 was fitted for hand control, something he said he did for himself. This is a hand-control-capable aircraft that can operate off-field, given its very short takeoff and landing operation.
The importer calls G1 STOL a “unique tricycle-gear adventure aircraft [that] can get you in and out of tight places without a tailwheel rating.”
G1 STOL, as it will be known in America, looks to qualify easily to be flown by someone using Sport Pilot privileges. Sold only as a kit, G1 America stated a 300 hour build time, a modest number for an aircraft like this. In January 2020 G1 was approved by FAA as an “Advanced Quick Build” kit, the U.S. representative said.
I look forward to examine G1 STOL much more carefully tomorrow and hopefully to produce both an article and a video about this machine for your review at home. That’s the reason why I keep returning to Midwest LSA Expo year after year. Join me in the next few days and I’ll report more like the aircraft you see here.
G1 In America
G1 America is the official American dealer for G1 Aviation of France. Founded by Lionel Neels of Belgium (living in Canada since 2016), the importer has contracted with American Mark Mellicker.
G1 STOL seen at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021.
Last year, G1 America signed a partnership with Mark to put him in charge of all customers in the USA. Mark also offers a completion center and can give demo flights in Illinois. Mark flies a G1 STOL equiped with a Yamaha snowmobile engine conversion producing 140 horsepower.
G1 America said, “We provide support in cooperation with our French team from G1 Aviation France.”
G1 Aviation in France was begun in 2006-2007 by Serge Présent and Yvan Lhermitte when they created the G1 Gélinotte, derived from the Italian-designed Alisport Yuma airplane with several design improvements.
”G1 STOL has been designed with two engine firewall packages: D-Motor LF-26 making 95 horsepower or the LF-39 version making 125 horsepower; and, the Rotax 912 series. “We are the master distributor of D-Motor engines as well,” the company reported.
Let’s see what else I can discover. Come on along…!
Got what U meant. Thanks.
There are many aviators in their 80s in good health! How are they to continue to fly?
What older aviators can hope for is that the insurance industry again relaxes. It is a ebb-and-flow movement. The trouble is, that takes time.
This looks like another copycat of Zenith air designs. Is it OK to introduce them here?
G1 certainly has a close resemblance though all producers of this style of aircraft say they’ve made many changes to their particular version. Of course, it’s OK for them to introduce such a model. What they lack is the long established brand name and customer service history of Zenith.
The insurance industry is ruining the Light Sport Aircraft outlook. I have been unable to find ANY Aircraft insurer to provide coverage. I had speced out a new Texas Aircraft Colt 100. I was ready to purchase. I thankfully checked on insurance before that purchase commitment. My insurance broker could find no insurer for me. Excuses were: we don’t know enough about the Colt to We do not insure anyone over 78 years old unless they have at least a Third Class FAA Medical. No Basic Med, no Driver License coverage.
What is the Light Sport Industry to do if their primary target for sales (old guys) are eliminated due to no available insurers.
The aircraft insurance industry is quickly dropping any and all higher risk coverage. You and other Light-Sport industry gurus May need to get started on a campaign to show insurers they are misinformed.
I plan to speak with Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR), one of the leading suppliers to this industry. Let’s see what I find out.
Thanks for sharing your experience, William.
In your specific case age (78) may have been a primary issue, and I suspect the insurance companies use actuarial and accident data to determine when a pilot is – in their estimation – too old to insure.
Nonetheless you have a very valid point about LSA and insurance in general. You aren’t the first person I’ve heard of who backed-out of a LSA purchase solely because they couldn’t find insurance. This isn’t just an aircraft industry problem, either. Insurers in general – across many industries – are becoming more risk adverse and not issuing insurance policies they would have 20 years ago.
We got in Wednesday afternoon and there’s already dealers set up. More to show up Thursday morning. Gonna be a great show.