[10] The SportCruiser has an optional Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute, auto pilot and Dynon or TruTrak EFIS.

[4] On 21 January 2010, Piper Aircraft announced that they had licensed a derivative of the SportCruiser and would market it as the PiperSport.

The changes to the aircraft are stronger nosegear, a Ballistic Recovery Systems parachute and leather interior both as standard equipment, a cockpit sunshade and modified pitch controls, plus a custom paint scheme.

Deliveries under the Piper name commenced with the initial customer receiving their aircraft on 13 April 2010 at Sun 'n Fun.

To me, the answer is obvious: It makes no business sense for Piper to develop and build its own LSA.

Piper is a niche manufacturer which has sustained itself with a small volume of a relatively broad model line.

AvWeb editor Paul Bertorelli said, "In my view, we are not getting the full story on its decision to exit the LSA segment.

In a tersely worded statement a week before the show, Piper said it was terminating its relationship with the Czech supplier of its PiperSport LSA, citing 'differences in business philosophies.'

The company indicated that it will continue to develop the aircraft and planned revisions to the spinner, canopy, elevator, ailerons and wingtips in the immediate future.