More Baggage... Or, More Pilot

Just in time for this week's festivities in Sebring, FL, representatives with Evektor America tell ANN all 2007 model SportStars will carry more cargo, fuel, or other weight (read, "more pilot".)

Known as the "SportStar Plus," the new plane allows a 55 lbs. increase to gross weight -- up to 1,268 lbs, up from the original 1,213.

Based in the Czech Republic, Evektor says the gross weight bump is part of the company's continuing development of its uccessful SportStar light sport aircraft. Evektor has the numbers to back that claim up, too, as over 600 SportStars are currently in operation worldwide. Forty-six of those have been delivered in the US, with over 80 more slated for delivery in the states in 2007.

"The increase in gross weight is a great improvement to the SportStar; it is evidence of Evektor's dedication to the continuing development of their growing family of aircraft," said Jeff Conrad, President of Evektor America. "I am thrilled to be able to announce this before my departure for the US Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring Florida; we feel it will be a great show."

The older SportStar is one of the contenders for ANN's 2006 Plane Of The Year award, in the S-LSA Ready-To-Fly category.

The annual sport aircraft celebration in Sebring takes place January 11-14.

FMI: www.evektoramerica.com/, www.sport-aviation-expo.com/