Piston Aviation Brings the Bristell Brand to the Midwest LSA Expo

By Carmelo Turdo

Piston Aviation, the St. Louis area's newest flight school and the Midwest Bristell LSA Aircraft dealer, attended the 2022 Midwest LSA Expo held earlier this month at Mount Vernon Outland Airport in central Illinois. The Bristell LSA brand was prominently featured this year with Piston Aviation's aircraft and an exhibit tent located just a short distance away from the terminal building. The Piston Aviation team, led by co-owner Meghen Ord and CFII Lizbeth Chappell, were busy all three days greeting visitors, making demonstration flights and discussing options with customers. The newly wrapped Bristell 912 ULS was hard to miss on display and in the air with her new blue stripes and black and white checkered tail. 

Mount Vernon Outland Airport has earned a reputation for showing great hospitality and professionalism to all guests and participants in the events held there throughout the year. The Aero Experience has worked with Airport Manager Chris Collins and his staff for over ten years, covering the Midwest LSA Expo as well as the annual fly-ins and periodic Illinois National Guard deployments staging from the airport. When Piston Aviation opened at Creve Coeur Airport, we suggested that they book their space at the Midwest LSA Expo.

The three-day Expo appearance was a very valuable one for Piston Aviation as they grow as a flight school and Bristell dealer. The team quickly began to meet with the other exhibitors and attract potential customers to their display area. The airport staff and volunteers were on the apron throughout the day, assisting with aircraft movement and fueling, refreshments, activity announcements and everything else needed to ensure a safe, productive and fun event.

"The airport and staff were phenomenal!" Meghen Ord told The Aero Experience.  "I've never felt so welcomed anywhere. I loved how the event was set up - every exhibitor had plenty of room to speak with people and show off their LSA."

For the last fourteen years, the Midwest LSA Expo has been the ideal showcase for LSA brands, especially with the closing of the Sebring LSA Expo after the 2019 season. LSA aircraft are more comfortable and capable than ever, and with the desire for fuel-efficient aircraft and the advent of Basicmed, LSA aircraft are becoming a practical choice for many private, fleet and flight school owners. Piston Aviation is providing the leadership for the Bristell LSA distribution in our region, and they are off to a great start at the Expo.

"It was amazing being able to let people get close to the Bristell," she continued. "The general feeling our team got was that people knew of the Bristell and wanted to get closer! To fly in it. To sit in it. We gave over 15 demo rides...We made some incredible connections with buyers and have sales in process. We also were able to engage with other exhibitors and make what we hope are long time friendships and business relationships. We recommend the Midwest LSA Expo and we will be back."

The Aero Experience will continue our coverage of the Midwest LSA Expo this week by featuring the Bristell and other LSA brands on exhibit and in flight during our visits on Thursday and Friday. We thank Piston Aviation and everyone involved with the Midwest LSA Expo for their contributions.