Airport Day Exhibits – Palo Alto Airport Association

Cirrus SR22

The Cirrus SR22 delivers a winning blend of comfort, performance, technology, safety, and aesthetics in a traveling aircraft. It is airconditioned and cruises at over 200 mph. You can fly from Palo Alto to Orange County in less than two hours.

Flying a light aircraft like this, you can choose from nearly ten times as many airports as major airlines can, often much closer to your final destination, at a less congested terminal. Or fly direct to medium sized airports not available non-stop. Avoid security lines, parking garages, rigid advanced scheduling, overbooking, layovers, long journeys through airport terminals with baggage and family in tow, or separating from your pet. Just load up and go. Return when ready.

Examples include Tahoe, Truckee, Mammoth, Santa Barbara, San Louis Obispo, the Grand Canyon, several within the Sacramento metro area, Mendocino, or Camarillo.

The Cirrus is the first manufacturer to build in a full aircraft emergency parachute as standard equipment. This feature has been so popular with families that the model has dominated the market segment for many years. The latest version even includes Safe Return™, a fully autonomous landing system able to back up the pilot.

You can rent this aircraft at Palo Alto Airport through West Valley Flying Club or Advantage Aviation once you develop the required skills.

Velocity

The Velocity stands out from traditional aircraft. Positioning the main wing at the back provides more efficiency that delivers excellent speed, range, and fuel consumption, ideal for distance travel. The design also offers more flight stability for safety.
The Velocity is a amateur built kit aircraft, meaning it was assembled, configured, and customized by its original owner.
Like Ikea furniture (but in a huge way), assembling a kit costs you a fraction of a factory built aircraft. Your savings comes at the expense of personal time devoted to building, a space in which to build, and acquisition of necessary tools.
You would not typically build an airplane solely for dollar savings or just to fly. This experience belongs to those of you who find deep personal reward in seeing the results of your own personal craftsmanship, getting it exactly how you want it, and completing such a comprehensive challenge.
You can also purchase an amateur built aircraft in completed form. About 29,000 of all types are flying in the US today. Ask the exhibitor for more about building or modifying your own aircraft.

Kodiak

The Kodiak is an industrial grade aircraft built tough, powerful, and high from the ground to land on even remote, short and/or unimproved runway surfaces like dirt or gravel even with a heavy load of cargo and passengers.

This one is flown by a professional pilot and available for on demand charter by anyone, meaning that the space is available entirely to the customer for their group, pets, and bags. Popular routes include flights between Palo Alto and recreational destinations like Tahoe, Mammoth, or Burning Man.

Because of its flight performance, it can choose from nearly ten times as many airports as major airlines can, drop passengers much closer to their destination, at an uncrowded airport, without security lines, transfers, overbooking, separate stowage for your animals, hauling luggage through giant airports, etc.

To make this experience real for you, inquire with Centurion Flight Services, located at Palo Alto Airport. centurionfs.com

XA42

Precision. Power. Pure Flight.

Purpose-Built for Aerobatics
The XA42 delivers extreme agility, roll rates, and tight maneuverability. Capable of +10G to -10G, it allows pilots to push both physical and technical limits.
World-Class Performance
Flown by Red Bull Air Race champions and national competitors, the XA42 is exhilarating. Capable of vertical climbs to inverted passes, it is built for the thrill, the challenge, and the artistry of flying.
More Than a Thrill Ride
Aerobatic flight hones fundamental skills: coordination, awareness, energy management, and precision — making better, safer pilots in any aircraft.

The T-6 Texan

Why People Fly It Today
The T-6 Texan was built to train WWII and Korean War pilots. Today, people yearn to fly it for its raw power, demanding flight characteristics and connection to history.
A Platform for Serious Flying
With a 600-horsepower radial engine, it requires skill, precision, and full attention.
Hands-On, No Shortcuts
No autopilot, no computerized display. Every takeoff, landing, and pattern requires judgment, timing, and coordination. Flying a T-6 is not easy — that’s the point.
History You Can Live
Thousands of military pilots trained in the T-6. Flying it today transcends mere imagination of the past — you can fly the same aircraft, with the same behaviors, in the same way.

Cavalon Autogyro

Simple Rotor, Serious Capability
The Cavalon uses an unpowered rotor for lift and a rear-mounted propeller for thrust. It has no tail rotor, and uses a simpler mechanisms than a helicopter making it more forgiving than either airplanes or helicopters in many flight conditions.

Low Altitude, High Awareness
With typical cruise speeds of 50–100 mph, the Cavalon is ideal for scenic flying, traffic monitoring, utility inspection, patrol, or aerial photography. It flies low, slow, and stable — giving pilots a closer connection to the environment with less stress but plenty of fun.

Short Takeoffs, Tiny Footprint
The Cavalon can take off in as little as 300 feet and land in less than 100 feet. It doesn’t need an airport — just a flat surface (Palo Alto runway is 2440 ft). Crosswind take offs and landings are undemanding. Storage, maintenance, and fuel costs are minimal compared to helicopters or light airplanes and it requires less training to fly than a helicopter.

Super Decathlon

Serious Skill Builder
The Super Decathlon is fully aerobatic, certified for +6g to –5g. It’s used for tailwheel endorsements, spin training, and aerobatic instruction. Pilots choose it to build strong maneuvering skills, energy management, and upset recovery.

Dual Purpose: Training & Travel
With a cruise speed over 120 mph, up to 1000 lbs of useful load, and fuel capacity for 4+ hours of flight, the Super Decathlon is capable of cross-country flying while still aerobatics-ready. It operates comfortably from paved or grass runways.

Simple, Durable, Proven
Built with a steel tube fuselage and fabric-covered wings, the Super Decathlon is mechanically simple, reliable, and designed to withstand the demands of regular training and aerobatic flight.

Tailwheel, Without Compromise
The Decathlon offers the handling, control feedback, and ground characteristics pilots need to learn proper tailwheel technique. It’s also a practical transition platform for those moving toward more advanced tailwheel aircraft, backcountry operations, or aerobatics.

You can rent this aircraft at Palo Alto Airport through West Valley Flying Club once you develop the required skills.

Pilatus

The Pilatus is an industrial grade aircraft, Swiss built to blend speed with its ability to land even at small, remote airports.

This one is flown by a professional pilot and available for on demand charter by anyone, meaning that it is provided to the customer as a whole for their group, pets, and bags. Covering the Western US, popular routes include flights between Palo Alto and Tahoe, Mammoth, Southern California, Sedona, Salt Lake City, Telluride, Aspen, or Sun Valley.

To make use of this tool for you, inquire with Centurion Flight Services, located at Palo Alto Airport.

TBM

The TBM is an industrial grade aircraft built to blend speed with its ability to land even at small, remote airports. It is smaller but fills a similar mission to the Pilatus exhibited elsewhere.

To make this machine work for you, inquire with garyair.us.