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| By Carmelo Turdo |
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| (MW LSA Expo graphic) |
The highly-anticipated 2017 Midwest LSA Expo was an outstanding event at Mount Vernon Outland Airport in central Illinois. The Midwest LSA Expo is a very important marketplace for the Light Sport Aircraft manufacturers to demonstrate their products for serious customers. The focus of the event is to place aircraft buyers and sellers in one convenient location. Aircraft suppliers and customers come from across the country and Canada to this event, further illustrating the importance of the Midwest LSA Expo to the growth of the aviation community beyond the region. The event organizers have established an excellent reputation for making everyone's experience during the event a pleasant one.
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| By Mark Nankivil |
Mount Vernon, IL Outland Airport, a regular destination of The Aero Experience team, continues to effectively serve the central Illinois region as a valuable aviation and economic community resource. Host to aviation businesses, general aviation and business aircraft, and numerous annual community and regional events, the airport has been recognized in recent years - 2015 Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics Airport of the Year and 2014 Illinois Governor's Hometown Award for the combined Jefferson County Hall of Honor, Colonel R.D. White Veterans Museum and Jefferson County Heroes Memorial all located on site. 
Mount Vernon Outland Airport provides a significant
economic contribution to the community, Jefferson County and the
central Illinois region. The airport is home to over 50 aircraft,
supports over 25,000 annual aircraft operations and sells over 100,000 gallons of
aviation and jet fuel per year. SRT Aviation is the field's fixed
base operator, and other businesses provide
flight training, aircraft sales, and other expected support services. Air
Evac Life Team has stationed several helicopters at their station on their
airport site since 2000, and the airport's fire department is equipped with
modern response and rescue equipment. Kash Helicopter provides aerial
applications services with Bell Jet Rangers for farmers in the area. Evans Aviation is the National Sales Manager
for Jabiru USA Light Sport Aircraft.
Mount Vernon Outland Airport's economic impact is another important measurement of the airport contribution to the community and the region. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation 2012 Illinois Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study, Mount Vernon Outland Airport supports a total of 149 jobs, a total payroll of $4.9 million and a total economic impact of $18.9 million. According to the airport, on site jobs number 83, and there is an $11 million direct economic impact. The proactive airport leadership has proposed Momentum 2020, the airport improvement and expansion plan that will economically provide for needed infrastructure improvements to meet the growing demands placed on the airport.
The Aero Experience team was again at Mount Vernon Outland Airport to report on this great Midwest Aviation event and show the various Light Sport Aircraft represented Thursday and Friday. We are pleased to present Part 1 of our extended coverage here featuring a look at the airport, product and service exhibitors, and a portion of the LSA types available for potential customers to evaluate during the three-day event. Once again, we thank Airport Manager Chris Collins, his staff and event volunteers for their hospitality and assistance in producing our 2017 coverage.
The next several stories will highlight the LSA aircraft brands included in the 2017 Midwest LSA Expo.
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