CGS Hawk light sport aircraft

CGS Hawk light sport aircraft - In the beginning … the light aviation world was void and without form. Those were the earliest days of light powered aircraft that people could truly afford. I refer way back to the late 1970s following a period when hang gliders were the darlings of the affordable aviation world. Hang gliders evolved in various dimensions, among which was the addition of an engine to a previously unpowered type of flying machine.

In those formative years one man stood large. Not only a big man in physical form, he was big in stature and bold in his goals. Some readers already know to whom I refer — the always impressive and irrepressible Chuck Slusarczyk. History about him goes back far enough that much of it precedes the World Wide Web. The earliest articles about Chuck and his enterprise never made it into the digital universe but see this link for a number that did, including some videos.

Chuck is now enjoying his retirement, having sold off his company after producing around 2,000 Hawks in various forms: Part 103 ultralights, experimental single seaters, two seater tandems, Hawks on floats, and a Light-Sport version. The history of the Hawk is so rich and varied that it would take a full article to describe it all. Fortunately, website members can read much of the history here.

After operating his company — called CGS Aviation, the letters following on his earlier Chuck’s Glider Supplies — for many years, Chuck found a buyer in Alabama named Danny Dezauche. For a few years Danny kept the brand alive but more recently he sought and found a buyer to continue the iconic airplanes.

In January of 2016, after earlier suitors didn’t pan out, Danny (featured in the one of videos mentioned above) sold the company to Floridian Terry Short. His enterprise, Terry Short Aviation Services, “Home of CGS Hawk Aviation,” is based at the Lake Wales Airport.

Terry got his start in aviation like many youngsters, building radio-controlled airplanes back in the 1970s. After spending eight years in the U.S. Navy, Terry obtained his Private Pilot certificate in 1994. However, he said, “I preferred to fly ultralights and Light-Sport Aircraft.”

“I started building scale model aircraft and competing in realistic flight and realistic scale competition in 1980s” Terry explained. His RC building efforts including a half-scale J3 Piper Cub and he reported that he won first place awards “due to detail and quality of realism” in his assemblies.

I purchased my first full-scale ultralight in 1995 at Sun ‘n Fun, an Airbike from Team Aircraft,” Terry recalled. “This was the start of building a variety of light planes: an Aerosport II, a Capella, a Rans, and a Kolb.” He said he enjoy restoration projects a favorite of which “has always been Piper J3 Cub.” Terry reports restoring six Cubs in the past 15 years. “I like to fly them, but I really enjoy the project part of it the most.”

“My love for the projects led me to establish my own restoration and services business this year,” Terry said, “and I will be retiring from Polk County School Board soon to focus on new business with my son, Chris.”

“We will be offering support on all Hawk aircraft and will build and sell Hawk Ultra and two-place Hawk Arrow kits, as well as the two-seat Special LSA Hawk II.” Given the population of hundreds of Hawks in the light aircraft fleet this is bound to be welcome news to those needing parts and service.