Midwest LSA Expo Mt. Vernon Airport, September 10 - 12.

Known for their several lucrative wins at the NASA Challenge events, Pipistrel also logged market successes in the USA and around the world during 2012. 

The manufacturer with a range from weight shift trikes to electric-powered gliders to Light-Sport Aircraft to their four-seat Panther in development has become a company to watch. 

At the end of the year, the Slovenian company with a production facility in Italy had plenty to discuss.

Proud Pipistrel staff members cluster for a photo celebrating the 500th delivery of the Sinus/Virus line; they grouped around the company's newest model the Alpha Trainer.

Most notably, the company built their 500th aircraft from the Sinus/Virus family. These sleek machines include the Sinus ("Seen-Us") motorglider, the Virus ("Veer-Us") lightplane and shorter-winged version called the Virus SW. 

The company proudly announced, "Together with the other models and the powered-hang gliders, this means we have made well over one thousand flying devices!" 

Aircraft number 500 buyer was Charles Dalglish from Australia. The aircraft was handed over to distributor Michael Coates whose organization includes U.S. sales.

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.