Midwest LSA Expo Mt. Vernon Airport, September 1-12

Direct Fly's Alto 100 with forward-sliding canopy.

While Sebring 2012 crowds were the best ever and plentiful aircraft made for good shopping resulting in a flurry of sales, one of the best aspects of Sebring 2012 was ideal weather. 

Numerous pilots experienced some of their final choices before handing over the cash. Such perfect conditions also allowed reporters to get in on the action. 

I will be writing about several flying machines and I begin now with a mini-report on Alto 100. 

Alto 100 from Direct Fly is one of those (presently) lower tier producers. Many pilots focus on the Top-12 LSA sellers as though they are the only viable candidates, but as I've regularly noted, we have up-and-comers in the lower ranks. One of these may be the Alto 100, represented by Corbi Air.  

My flight impressions concluded with three excellent landings. Importer Ron Corbi was kind to compliment my skills but I give Alto most of the credit. Alto 100 is highly controllable allowing me to "feel for the runway" as Ron put it by which he means I flew a deep flare, main gear hung low, to let Alto descend slowly to the runway. 

I flared somewhat higher than optimal but Alto touched down every time with remarkable gentleness. Even with a short 27-foot span, sink rate was a respectable 600 fpm and glide on final was strong enough to permit slipping to increase descent. 

Even without its potent flaps, no one should have trouble getting Alto down in the first third of the runway.

The Mount Vernon Outland Airport, serving pilots from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Dallas, Fort Work Oklahoma City, Kansas City Wichita Des Moines, and Oshkosh during the Midwest LSA Expo.