Thursday, December 01, 2011

Taking flight: LSA demonstrates airplane technology. Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport (KIXA), Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.


HALIFAX — It was a pretty spectacular day for LSA America Inc. Wednesday when Halifax Community College and Halifax County Economic Development representatives came together at the Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport to witness the test run of one of the first Allegro Light Sport Aircraft produced in the LSA America plant in Littleton.

Test pilot Ross Kennedy said he loves Allegros.

“It’s like driving a Maserati,” he said. “If you know how to drive it, you can make it scream.”

Of course, he also commented on how safe and dependable the machines are.

After familiarizing himself with the cockpit on the new model and doing pre-flight diagnostics, Kennedy walked around the plane, with a camera attached to his head, recording video and audio of how the plane looked and sounded. He looked for anything that might indicate they need to make changes.

With all the pre-flight tests out of the way, he got on-board and taxied down the runway, then took off for the sky. While in the air, he performed other tests to insure the plane’s compliance and safety.

LSA is leasing the former Littleton Industrial building while preparing to move production operations to the Halifax Northampton Regional Airport in 2012. When the company’s plans were announced in April, they called for 34 new jobs and an investment of $400,000 during the next three years.

LSA America manufactures and markets Allegro® Light Sport Aircraft, which are sold primarily to recreational users and flight training schools.

According to LSA President Doug Hempstead, watching the Allegro take flight this week was a reason for celebration. He said this aircraft was the result of a partnership formed to bring jobs into the area.

He said he was disappointed in other sites he’d looked at, but after meeting Cathy Scott, director of Halifax County Economic Development, he knew he was on the right track.

“She went out of her way to make it happen,” Hempstead said, adding Halifax County officials were most concerned with how many jobs would be created and what they could do to bring them to Halifax County. “It was a whole team effort.”

As part of that team, HCC President Dr. Ervin Griffin Sr. said he took a tour of LSA’s facility earlier in the week and was proud to see his students working on a plane.

He said when Hempstead needed welders with specific skills working with a metal — chromoly steel — the college’s Business and Industry Coordinator Larry Crisafulli went to work getting grant money, procuring an instructor from NASCAR to teach students how to work with the metal and setting up instruction in the LSA facility.

He said two students were hired immediately after the course and now work for LSA.

Hempstead added, “The two men went from good to outstanding.”

Hempstead pointed to the plane taxiing down the runway Wednesday.

“The proof is in the pudding,” he said. “The community college hasn’t been just an area to get help from, it’s been a true partner and asset to us.”

A compact, single-engine plane, the Allegro seats two.

Standard equipment includes emergency locator transmitter, electric fuel pump, carpet and upholstery in the cockpit and many other perks.

“I’m delighted with Allegro,” Hempstead said.

“It out performs the Cessna 172 in operating and maintenance and costs a fraction.”

Hempstead said his company works on a tight margin to insure customers receive a real value.

“It’s not cheap,” Hempstead said. “Cheap will catch up with you after a while, but it’s a real value.”

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