EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Exhibitors - OPQ

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience coverage of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 exhibitors continues with our OPQ group.  Here we feature an excellent mix of new and established aerospace companies and a legendary flight school.  This is but a microcosm of the variety of exhibitors found each year!

One Aviation

One Aviation was formed to combine the complementary aircraft production and services for the Eclipse and Kestrel aircraft lines.  The Eclipse 500SE and 550 light jets have made modern personal and business jet travel an option for an increasing number of customers.  The relatively affordable 5-seat jet offers a new level of efficiency, safety and performance that rivals others in its class.  The Kestrel 350 turboprop aircraft features composite airframe and convertible interior for 6-8 passengers or open configuration.  The aircraft also offers modern design and performance as one of the newest offerings in its class.  One Aviation provided an impressive exhibit aircraft and mockups available.

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology 

Parks College has been providing aviation training and education since 1927 as the oldest federally certified institution of its type.  From its beginnings just east of St. Louis, as a pilot training school for World War II aviation cadets, and currently as a leading aerospace institution of higher learning, Parks College continues to provide exceptional education opportunities at its St. Louis University campus and flight training at nearby St. Louis Downtown Airport.  

   
Pilatus Aircraft

The Stans, Switzerland-based aerospace company has become a giant in the turboprop personal and business aircraft market, and has now joined the jet market as well.  The company also has major subsidiaries in Broomfield, CO (where much of the customer finishing work is completed) and Chongqing, China to assist in production.  The major product lines include the PC-6 Turbo Porter, PC-12 NG, and new PC-24 "Super Versatile Jet."  Along with the aircraft, Pilatus provides training and numerous customer support services for their products.  Very few locations are not currently served by the go-anywhere Pilatus aircraft.

Piper Aircraft

The legendary Piper Aircraft Company continues to provide the world with personal, training and business aircraft.  Since the arrival of the Piper Cub in 1937, Piper Aircraft has made aviation accessible to the masses with an increasingly capable line of aircraft models, many of which bear the names of Native-American tribes.  The current lineup includes the "M-Class" Meridian and Malibu, Seneca and Seminole twins, and Arrow and Archer trainers.  The company continues to rebound strongly with a reorganization of leadership and product lines that promises to keep Piper Aircraft strong into the future.  We feature the exhibit and some examples of Piper "legacy" aircraft flying in and out of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015.

 

 

Pipistrel USA

Pipistrel USA markets the Pipistrel line of Ultralights and Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) to U.S. customers.  The company emerged as the first private aircraft producer in Yugoslavia in 1987, and has since offered a series of powered hang gliders, motor-gliders, self-launching gliders and light sport aircraft.  The Pipistrel Sinus and Virus aircraft have set numerous in-class records and have been recognized as outstanding aerial vehicles by NASA.   

Quest Aircraft

Quest Aircraft grew from the Idaho Air Group formed in 1998 to produce a new generation of aircraft expressly designed for the demands of humanitarian aviation purposes.  In 2004, the Kodiak first took flight, and the aircraft has been in service since 2007.  The Kodiak has been so successful that the Sandpoint, ID production facility has been expanded and a world-wide sales network has formed.   The Kodiak is an impressive aircraft, standing out among those on exhibit as a both tough and beautiful.  The turboprop power and roomy interior provide meaningful cargo capacity and performance to reach unimproved airports, and external cargo pods, floats, weather radar and other options are available.