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To All Expo Sponsors, Exhibitors And Attendees:

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2009

Welcome to our fifth expo, which remains focused on light sport aircraft, the Sport Pilot and related LSA certificates. This expo is predicated on the potential of economic development at our airport and in Highlands County. This vibrant sector of aviation continues to grow with new aircraft and component manufacturers as well as flight schools and related businesses focusing on this new category of recreational flying. We welcome you to our community and are pleased that you have chosen to attend this event. We have assembled an outstanding group of exhibitors representing all that is good about light sport aircraft. Aviation sponsorships, including Cessna, Remos, Gobosh, Rotax and Aircraft Spruce, reflect their growing confidence in this category.

Their involvement, in addition to that of the Southern Ford Dealers, PBS&J and the Highlands County IDA/EDC, provide us the financial capability to stage this quality event. We are honored to have their support over the past years. Our media sponsor, Media General, represented locally by Highlands Today, continues the exceptional advice and support that have marked their involvement in the expo since its inception. I hasten to add that we could not present such an exceptional event without the efforts of the Experimental Aircraft Association located in Oshkosh, Wis. Despite the current economic conditions with the continued involvement of such outstanding sponsors and organizations we face the future with confidence.

Outstanding aircraft entries, including the Cessna Skycatcher, in addition to foreign businesses such as Sky Kits and Rotary AirForce South Africa are present in the display area. Other entries such as the Inverted V-Tail and a number of aircraft to be introduced here add to the excitement of the show, as do exceptional engine developments like Lycoming, Teledyne Continental and the presence of propeller companies and aircraft parachute businesses.
Aircraft component manufacturers, such as Garmin, Av/Map Navigation, Dynon, Matco Manufacturing and Zaon Flight Systems reflect the breadth of development in this exciting sector of recreational aviation.

LSA infrastructure has been rapidly developing. That fact is represented by the proliferation of aviation businesses such as flight schools, insurance companies and financial institutions catering to LSA being among the exhibitors this year. LSA's future depends on the development of such companies.

Our event depends entirely on the support of several hundred volunteers who come here and give of their time and effort just to be a part of this venture. Many are not aviation-types, but merely people with an abiding interest in helping the community by giving of their time to make the expo a success. We are sure that we have the best group of volunteers of any event of this nature. We ask that you let them know that you too appreciate the professionalism and efforts on behalf of the event.

Finally, we acknowledge the efforts of the Sebring Airport Authority, the executive director and his outstanding staff. Without the support and cooperation of such an outstanding organization, we could not present expo 2009.

Sincerely,

Robert D. Wood

Chairman

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