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Quick answer: Treat an aviation expo as a fact-finding trip, not a shopping spree. Before you go, know which pilot certificate you hold or plan to hold, your budget, and your mission. At each stand, ask for the aircraft’s stall speed without flaps in knots calibrated airspeed (KCAS), how it is certificated (new light-sport category, existing light-sport, kit or type-certificated), and when the first FAA-certificated deliveries are due. Get the deposit terms in writing, book a demo flight for later, and compare at least three aircraft on the same scorecard before you sign anything.
The FAA’s MOSAIC rule has created the biggest shake-up in light aircraft for two decades. Manufacturers are launching new light-sport category aircraft, sport pilots can fly more existing types, and expos such as the Affordable Flying Expo at Lakeland Linder (13 to 15 November 2026), SUN ‘n FUN (6 to 11 April 2027) and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (26 July to 1 August 2027) put dozens of them in one place. That is a great opportunity, but also the easiest place to sign a deposit on the wrong aeroplane.
This guide gives you a practical plan, the questions to ask, and a scorecard to bring. It sits alongside our guide to the 2027 airshow and expo season, our MOSAIC rule explainer and our checklist for buying your first aircraft.
Not ready to buy new? Browse aircraft sales, leasing and brokerage businesses in the AviatorFinds directory, and see upcoming expos on our events calendar.
Why MOSAIC makes expo shopping different
Two separate sets of rules now apply, and exhibitors do not always make the difference clear:
| Rule | What it limits | Key figure |
|---|---|---|
| Light-sport category aircraft (14 CFR Part 22) | What can be certificated as a new light-sport aircraft | Stall speed in landing configuration (VS0) up to 61 KCAS, up to 4 seats, unpressurised |
| Sport pilot privileges (14 CFR 61.316) | What a sport pilot may fly | Stall speed without flaps (VS1) up to 59 KCAS at maximum takeoff weight, up to 4 seats, unpressurised |
| Sport pilot passengers (14 CFR 61.315) | Who a sport pilot may carry | One passenger only |
So a new light-sport category aircraft is not automatically flyable by a sport pilot. If you plan to fly on a sport pilot certificate, the VS1 figure is the one that matters. And a four-seat aircraft flown by a sport pilot still carries only one passenger.
The FAA accepted the first industry consensus standards for new light-sport category aeroplanes (ASTM F3815-26a and related standards) in a Federal Register notice on 16 July 2026, applying to aircraft certificated on or after 24 July 2026. Manufacturers must notify the FAA at least six months before delivering the first aircraft of a new model so the FAA can schedule a first make and model audit. A shiny prototype on a stand may therefore be months away from a certificated delivery.
Before the expo: a one-evening prep list
- Write down your mission. How many seats do you really need, how far do you fly, and from what kind of runway (grass, short, high-altitude)?
- Know your certificate limits. Sport pilot (59 KCAS VS1, one passenger, daytime unless night-endorsed) or private pilot. See sport pilot vs private pilot under MOSAIC.
- Set a budget that includes ownership. Purchase price is only part of it. Hangar, insurance, annual inspection, fuel and reserves all add up; our aircraft buying guide sets out the cost categories.
- Shortlist by category. New light-sport category, existing special light-sport (S-LSA), kit-built, or used type-certificated. Each has different paperwork and maintenance implications.
- Check the exhibitor list and map. Mark your shortlist so you reach those stands early, before the crowds.
- Bring the scorecard below, a notebook, and a phone with plenty of storage for photos of placards and specification sheets.
- Talk to your insurer or broker first about what they would need to cover you on each shortlisted type.
At the stand: the questions that matter
Ask every exhibitor the same questions and write the answers down. Vague answers are information too.
Certification and paperwork
- How is this aircraft certificated: new light-sport category under Part 22, an existing S-LSA, a kit, or type-certificated?
- Has the manufacturer notified the FAA of this model, and has the first make and model audit happened?
- Will my aircraft come with a signed Statement of Compliance (FAA Form 8130-15)? The FAA’s LSA FAQ says this form, plus Form 8130-6, makes up the application for a special airworthiness certificate.
- For a foreign-built aircraft: is the country of manufacture covered by a US bilateral airworthiness agreement that includes aeroplanes, and is the aircraft eligible for certification there? The FAA FAQ notes, for example, that the EU and Brazil agreements cover aeroplanes but India’s does not.
Performance and sport pilot eligibility
- What is VS1 (flaps up) in KCAS at maximum takeoff weight and the most critical centre of gravity? Ask to see it in the flight manual, not a brochure.
- What is the useful load with full fuel? Will two adults and bags fit?
- Is the propeller fixed-pitch, ground-adjustable, automated or manually controllable-pitch? Is the landing gear retractable? Either of the last two needs an extra sport pilot endorsement under 61.331.
Ownership and support
- Where is the nearest approved service centre, and who can carry out maintenance and inspections?
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
- What are the parts lead times for common items?
- Is factory or dealer transition training included?
Money
- What is the price as displayed, and the price with the options I need?
- Is the deposit refundable, and under what conditions? Is it held in escrow?
- What is the expected delivery date, and what happens if it slips?
- Are there “show special” prices, and when do they expire? (A deadline is not a reason to skip your homework.)
The expo scorecard
Copy this table into your notebook, or print it, and fill in one column per aircraft.
| Criterion | Aircraft A | Aircraft B | Aircraft C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certification route (Part 22 new, S-LSA, kit, type-certificated) | |||
| VS1 in KCAS at max takeoff weight | |||
| Seats and useful load with full fuel | |||
| Prop and gear type (endorsement needed?) | |||
| Cruise speed and fuel burn (from the POH) | |||
| Price as configured | |||
| Deposit terms and refund conditions | |||
| Expected certificated delivery date | |||
| Nearest service centre | |||
| Demo flight offered (where and when) | |||
| Gut feel after sitting in it |
Make the most of the day
- Arrive early and do your shortlist first. Popular stands get busy after lunch.
- Sit in everything on your shortlist. Check visibility, headroom, door access and where a headset cable and kneeboard would go.
- Watch the flying demonstrations. They show short-field and low-speed handling better than any brochure.
- Attend the forums. Manufacturer and regulator talks are often where MOSAIC questions get straight answers.
- Collect business cards, not deposit receipts. Arrange demo flights and follow-up calls for the week after the show.
- Talk to owners, not just salespeople. Type clubs and owners at fly-ins are the best source of real running costs.
The Affordable Flying Expo, run by Aero-News Network with support from SUN ‘n FUN, describes itself as a show of indoor exhibits, flying demonstrations, speakers and workshops focused on affordable flying, with free entry to the Florida Air Museum. This year’s expo runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. Check the official site for the current exhibitor list and schedule.
After the expo: a two-week follow-up plan
- Type up your scorecards the same evening, while you still remember the details.
- Ask your top two exhibitors for the pilot’s operating handbook figures in writing.
- Book demo flights with an instructor familiar with the type.
- Get insurance quotes for both aircraft, based on your experience.
- Compare at least one used alternative from a broker. A used aircraft that meets 61.316 may meet your mission for less.
- Only then talk about deposits, and read the contract before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is every new light-sport aircraft flyable by a sport pilot?
No. Part 22 allows light-sport category aircraft with a landing-configuration stall speed up to 61 KCAS, but sport pilots are limited to aircraft with a flaps-up stall speed (VS1) of 59 KCAS or less. Check the figure in calibrated airspeed.
Should I put down a deposit at the show?
Only if the terms are clear, in writing and refundable under conditions you are comfortable with, and you have compared alternatives. A show discount rarely outweighs buying the wrong aircraft.
Can I buy a foreign-built light-sport aircraft in the US?
Yes, if it was built in a country whose bilateral airworthiness agreement with the US includes aeroplanes, and it is eligible for certification in that country. Ask the dealer to show you how the aircraft meets both conditions.
When will the first MOSAIC light-sport aircraft be delivered?
It depends on each manufacturer. Standards for new light-sport aeroplanes were accepted in July 2026, but each new model needs a first make and model audit, and the manufacturer must notify the FAA six months before its first delivery.
Official sources
- FAA: MOSAIC
- FAA: MOSAIC FAQ, manufacture and certification of light-sport category aircraft
- Federal Register: Accepted consensus standards for light-sport category aircraft (16 July 2026)
- eCFR: 14 CFR Part 22
- eCFR: 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart J (sport pilots)
- Affordable Flying Expo
- SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo
- EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Further reading
- Air shows and aviation expos 2027
- Buying your first aircraft
- Sport pilot vs private pilot under MOSAIC
- How to choose an aircraft maintenance shop
- Oshkosh AirVenture guide
Rules and dates checked against FAA, Federal Register and organiser pages in November 2026. Always confirm certification status and contract terms directly with the manufacturer.
