Augusta, KS-- August 12, 2015--GlobalParts.aero announced this week that it continues to be encouraged by the response from potential customers and the performance of the existing fleet of Meyers 200 airplanes as it evaluates the possibility of returning the aircraft to production after nearly a half century hiatus. That possibility was given a further boost last month when Dr. Jamon Pruitt, a cardiologist from Little Rock, Arkansas and his brother, Dane, the manager of Saline Regional Airport in Benton, Arkansas won the 2015 AirVenture Cup Air Race that precedes the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual Fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the FAC1RG category with an average speed of 202.95 mph over the 409 mile course between Mount Vernon, Illinois and Wausau, Wisconsin. The FAC1RG category includes any factory-built aircraft with 280 HP and above, normally aspirated, with retractable landing gear. Global-Parts.aero purchased the type certificate and tooling for the half-century old design last year to consider the possibility of limited production after discovering that there were still around 200 of the high performance single engine airplanes in service with performance that is competitive with contemporary Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper Comanche, Mooney, and Cessna Centurion models. GlobalParts.aero displayed the winning aircraft at its exhibit throughout AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh, July 20-26.
"In the spring, I heard about this cross country race--the AirVenture Cup--and we thought it might be fun,” said Dr. Pruitt. “This is the 18th year for it, but our first. We were the rookies. We were up against a Comanche 400 and a V-Tailed Bonanza. I guess our Meyers lived up to its name; it averaged over 200 miles per hour, and it might have done considerably better if we had been more experienced and thoughtful in our preparation. We took off with two people, a full fuel load, and 400 pounds of camping gear.”
The race encompassed 409 miles of flight beginning at Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Sunday, July 19 and progressing through cross country check points at Dixon, Illinois, Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, Waupaca, Wisconsin with an overhead finish recorded by EAA race officials at Wausau, Wisconsin.
"Next year, I'd like to see a contingent of Meyers 200s in the FAC1RG category so that we can create a race within the race! These airplanes were built for speed and performance and I can’t think of a better way to show it,” he added.
About GLOBALPARTS Group, Inc.
GlobalParts.aero was founded in 2003 to serve the worldwide aviation spares market with cost effective, quality parts. GlobalParts.aero is a certified distributor of aviation spares and has earned ISO AS9120A and ASA-100 accreditation for quality manage-ment systems. Through parts distribution, GlobalParts.aero has evolved and added a Federal Aviation Administration-certified repair station and an in-house, build-to-print part manufacturing capabilities to its operations. The overhaul/ repair service, Global Parts Aero Services, Inc is FAA Part 145 certified and the manufacturing service, Global Parts Aero Manufacturing, Inc. is ISO AS9100C accredited.
High resolution photo available at: https://wichitaaeroclub.app.box.com/files/0/f/4207558825/1/f_34665142295
