Visitors and patrons made their way through hundreds of informational and vendor booths, checking out everything from GPS navigation devices to airplanes for sale.
One of the most interesting parts of the expo is the Maverick Flying Car. The Dunellon company produces and manufactures a flying vehicle that is good for both the road and air, according to design engineer and test pilot Troy Townsend.
The Maverick team is in its third year as part of the expo vendors and has had some success with its unique vehicle.
"We've sold some since we were certified in 2010. We custom build every Maverick in Dunellon and I fly every one of them before the owner gets it," Townsend said Thursday.
The Maverick was initially built as part of mission work. The company's founder was raised in Ecuador where his family did mission work. The Maverick can be used to make a path to those in need in frontier areas were there are little to no roads or can be used as a recreational aircraft in the state of Florida for anyone looking for a unique flight.
Key Largo resident and first-time Expo attendee Mike Dann looked over a Continental Motors Inc. engine at the indoor exhibit area just after the start of the Expo Thursday.
The longtime pilot was enthusiastic about his first visit to the Expo and a project he recently started.
"I'm building an airplane, that's why I'm here. It's going to be a replica of a World War I German airplane. This is my first time, so I'm here just checking out parts and things I might need. It's lots of fun," Dann said.
Though Dann has been a pilot since the age of 15, he's never owned his own plane.
"I've always just flown other people's planes. It's cheaper that way," Dann said with a chuckle. "But I'm doing it now, so I'm excited."
Ron Humphrey, sales and service representative of Continental, explained the ins and outs of the company's only light sport airplane engine, which is manufactured and produced in Mobile, Ala.
"This is the 0200D. It's a lighter version of an old engine and it's built specifically for these light planes you see here at the expo," Humphrey said.
Outdoors, friends Jack Fehling and Skip Barnes, of Jupiter, wandered through the aisles of planes and vehicles.
Both Fehling and Barnes are retired commercial airline pilots. Barnes worked for Delta Airlines for just over 30 years while Fehling served in the United States Air Force for 20 years before working for American Airlines for 14 years.
"We flew in from Jupiter this morning. I do it pretty often. I come over to eat breakfast here. I like the restaurant here a lot; it's pretty good. It normally takes about 35 minutes. It took longer than that today, though, because of the weather," Fehling said.
The two men both own their own airplanes and homes at an airplane park in Jupiter.
"We weren't really looking for anything, just came out to see what was new and enjoy the event," Barnes said.
The US Sport Aviation Expo will continue through the weekend. A full list of vendors, demonstrations, products and schedule can be found by logging onto www.sport-aviation-expo.com/event-details/. Tickets may also be purchased online for event entry and other activities during the expo.
Story and Photo Gallery: http://www.newssun.com
Katara Simmons/News-Sun
A plane comes in for a landing Thursday during the Aviation Expo in Sebring. The event featured gliders, homebuilts, ultralights, seaplanes and a variety of experimental aircraft.
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