Opening Will Coincide With Third Annual Sport Aviation Showcase

A new administration building is under construction at DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED) in central Florida, which airport officials say is on track to open just ahead of the Third Annual Sport Aviation Showcase.

The new building is 6000 square feet, designed to house the Airport Manager and staff offices, a 76-seat meeting room, a kitchenette, a pilot lounge and a 24-hour accessible locker room. Located near the flight line, the project also includes a connecting expansion of the airport apron.

As the City of DeLand grows to serve more national and regional events like the Sport Aviation Showcase, infrastructure is being expanded to accommodate the larger influx of traffic. DeLand has long been recognized as a Mecca for skydiving and is home to more than 30 parachuting-oriented businesses. The city is also becoming a national hub of the recreational industry with the annual Showcase and the development of a new Sport Aviation Village which will serve a number of sport aviation businesses.

"I think one of the reasons DeLand is growing in popularity with the general aviation folks is that DeLand is a fun, cultural destination with restaurants, shopping, arts and music; more things for pilots and their families to do," explains Jana Filip, the airport's sport aviation administrator.

Elsewhere on the field, the DeLand Sport Aviation Village has equipment on-site and work has started. The bid was recently awarded to WLW Construction to begin putting the infrastructure in for Phases 1a and 1b immediately, as the first business tenants are eagerly waiting to move in.

The first new Village tenant, Straight and Level Technologies, will build a 10,000 square foot hangar and will manufacture the WingBug and house their their current company, AeroAdventure. Straight and Level Technologies was awarded the EAA Innovator Award. Owner, Alex Rolinski will be making presentations at AirVenture 2018. More than 20 other businesses are on the waiting list for the commercial hangars. Many of the companies are currently located overseas or in the Northern U.S. and wish to relocate for the year-round temperate climate of central Florida.

Several owners of the prospective tenants have commented that they are looking forward to moving to DeLand because of the numerous cultural venues and outdoor recreational activities available.

As for the show itself, the third annual DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase will be held Thursday through Saturday, November 1-3, 2018, at the DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED). The Showcase is a three-day event focused entirely on recreational flying and sport aviation.

More than one hundred exhibitors will be featuring all kinds of sport aircraft, ultralights, trikes, rotorcraft, powered parachutes and paragliders, engines, avionics, pilot gear and flight schools. Returning exhibitors are encouraged to confirm their booths prior to AirVenture.

Attendees can enjoy demo flights, interactive workshops, educational forums, keynote speakers, food concessions, live music, and underwing camping.

The sport aviation event welcomes all aviation enthusiasts of all ages, especially those just becoming interested in recreational flying. The event also attracts pilots and their families to the city of DeLand, also known as “The Athens of Florida” for its rich, creative culture featuring arts venues, unique stores, international cuisine, nightlife and live entertainment.

Two advertising grants have been awarded for the promotion of the event?one from VISIT FLORIDA, the state of Florida's official marketing corporation, and from the West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority.

(Images provided with DeLand Airport news release)

FMI: www.sportaviationshowcase.com