Airplane Builder Christopher 'Doc' Bailey Faces Multiple Lawsuits

It began with a concept hatched by Renegade Light Sport Aircraft owner Christopher "Doc" Bailey to have LSA airplane races in Volusia County, Florida. But two years after the idea was initially pitched to the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce, it remains just a concept.

Bailey wanted to form a sport plane racing league. Instead, The Ledger newspaper reports he has had at least five lawsuits filed against him for non-delivery of aircraft, including a gyrocopter and an airplane. Another suit stems from Bailey's failure to refund a $9,000 deposit when it was requested.

Bailey spend the Christmas holidays behind bars for failing to appear for a deposition in St. Lucie County.

In an interview with the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Bailey, at the time a member of the DeLand Airport Advisory Board, said many of his problems stem from circumstances beyond his control. The gyrocopter had been stolen, he told the paper. It was returned but damaged. He said his airframe supplier is "unreliable", and lawyers in Florida are "litigious."

Bailey told the paper that he could make everything go away by declaring bankruptcy, but "that's not the way I was raised."

Bailey had planned to have his first air races during Bike Week at DeLand Municipal Airport, but that was later postponed. Bailey said the FAA did not grant approval for the races in time because of an increasing number of air shows, but the FAA's Kathleen Bergen said Bailey did not complete the application process, so it was terminated and he has not reapplied.

Bailey said that the FAA wanted the N numbers of all the aircraft that would participate in the race, and since they have not yet been built, that was impossible. But he said he plans to move forward and reapply, with the races being held in one of three locations: DeLand; Kitty Hawk, NC or; Austin, TX.

Following the report in the News-Journal, Bailey tendered a letter of resignation from the DeLand Airport Advisory Board "to not cause any further embarrassment to the airport and the beautiful City of DeLand itself. These allegations are half-truths and in many cases out and out lies. But it is what it is."

Bailey would not comment further.

(Image from file)

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