2025 Midwest Aviation Expo Expanded Event Coverage: Anchor Exhibitor Piston Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

The Seventeenth Annual Midwest Aviation Expo was held September 4-6 at Mount Vernon, IL Outland Airport. A variety of light sport aircraft brands were on exhibit, including the Bristell 912 and the Tomark Aero Viper provided by Piston Aviation. The Aero Experience has partnered with Piston Aviation over the last four Expos to provide expanded coverage of the event, and in 2025 we were proud to be one of the media sponsors. Along with our introductory story on Mount Vernon Outland Airport and this edition featuring Piston Aviation, this series will include a survey of the brands on display along with flight reviews of two MOSAIC qualified types now available to sport pilots.

Piston Aviation anchored the aircraft exhibits along the main foot traffic area across from the terminal entrance. Their brightly colored training fleet aircraft on display - BRM Aero Bristell 912ULS and two Tomark Aero SD4 Vipers - immediately catch the eye. These well-equipped classic LSA types are a common sight operating from their three airport locations in St. Louis (1H0, KALN, KSET) along with their conventional Piper and Cessna stablemates. Piston Aviation provided demo flights in the Bristell and Viper aircraft throughout the Expo and in past years, including an impressive four-ship photo shoot in 2024.

We begin our coverage of Piston Aviation at the 2025 Midwest Aviation Expo with this look at aircraft arrivals and Wednesday evening setup activities on the apron.

     

  

Piston Aviation's contribution to the success of the Expo was significant, providing a hub of activity on the apron and in the air. Along with hosting the aircraft display and flight operations, they were integral to The Aero Experience coverage we are presenting in this series. 

The Aero Experience thanks Piston Aviation and the Midwest Aviation Expo for their great contributions to our event coverage. Our next edition will include a survey of other exhibitors along with our in-depth video coverage.

2025 Midwest Aviation Expo Expanded Event Coverage: Our Host, Mount Vernon Outland Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

The Seventeenth Annual Midwest Aviation Expo was held September 4-6 at Mount Vernon, IL Outland Airport. A variety of light sport aircraft brands were on exhibit, including the Bristell 912 and the Tomark Aero Viper provided by our sponsor, Piston Aviation. Another attraction included the Junkers A50 Junior Rotax-powered 95% replica. Many of the exhibitors included traditional Light Sport Aircraft brands, while others represented the larger, heavier and more complex aircraft now available to sport pilots under the new MOSAIC rules. We will review two of those - the TL Sport Aircraft Sirius BackCountry and Sparker aircraft - in future videos.

Mount Vernon Outland Airport is a great venue for the Midwest Aviation Expo, offering a central location, plenty of apron space for exhibitors and fly-ins, the renowned Bonnie Cafe restaurant and a friendly corps of volunteers who make everyone feel welcome. The Aero Experience was privileged to be a media sponsor for last year's event, and our coverage continues with this expanded series that puts you right in the action. We thank Mount Vernon Outland Airport Director Chris Collins, his staff, event volunteers, exhibitors and sponsors/partners for making this another successful Midwest Aviation Expo!

Mount Vernon Outland Airport is well known for honoring veterans at events held throughout the year, and it is home to the Jefferson County Heroes Memorial and Colonel R.D. White Military Museum and Hall of Honor. 

Mount Vernon Outland Airport provides a significant economic contribution to the community, Jefferson County and the central Illinois region. SRT Flightline is the field's fixed base operator, and other businesses provide flight training, aircraft sales, and other support services. Air Evac Life Team 11 has stationed medevac helicopters at the airport since 2000, and the airport's fire department is equipped with modern response and rescue equipment. Here we feature an L-39 jet making a fuel stop during the Expo.

During the Midwest Aviation Expo, Mount Vernon Outland Airport management and airport businesses team up to provide the best possible experience for the exhibitors and visiting public. We feature just two examples of Mount Vernon hospitality below: Hosting a Rusty Pilot seminar with Steve Bateman from AOPA and hangar party for exhibitors on Thursday evening at the SRT Flightline FBO. 

Preparing for each Midwest Aviation Expo is a year-long process, and it quickly comes together on Wednesday when the exhibitors arrive. Chris Collins and the volunteers swarm the apron, lending a hand wherever needed - parking planes, securing tents and performing the many other tasks necessary to ensure a smooth opening day. A brief view of the setup and exhibitor layout can be seen in the photos below.  

The Aero Experience will continue our coverage of the 2025 Midwest Aviation Expo with our next post featuring our exhibitor sponsor, Piston Aviation.