| Storch Aircraft of Ormond Beach Florida was at Sun N Fun with a lightsport aircraft design that first took off to rave reviews during WW II. Storch Aircraft is importing the Storch FI 156 manufactured by Criquet Aircraft of Bogatta Columbia into the U.S. The first Storch FI 156 arrived in early April and then was transferred to Titusville, FL where it was reassembled, and test-flown prior to leaving for Sun N Fun. The plane is an 82% replica of the original Fiesseler Storch which was used by the German Luftwaffe during WW II. According to Steve Lund who is currently building a Criquet Aircraft Storch which he purchased for Storch Aircraft, the original Storch was used for a number of rolls in the war, including aerial surveillance, and as an air ambulance. But perhaps the most widely publicized use of a Storch during the war was when pilot Walter Gerlach landed a Storch in less than 100 ft on a mountain top surrounded by Italian troops, and escaped with Italian dictator Mussolini, and German commando Otto Skorzeny, taking off in under 250, even though the plane was grossly overloaded. The Storch built by Criquet Aviation and distributed by Storch Aircraft is being offered as a Lightsport Aircraft, an ELSA and under the Experimental Aircraft 51% rule. The craft features a welded 4130 chromoly steel fuselage. While the original Storch used wood wing construction, the Criquet Storch uses aluminum 2024-T3 ribs and C shaped spars. The plane is covered in standard aircraft covering materials. Kit construction time is reported to be in the 500 to 700 hour range. The replica Storch features many of the "authentic" features of the original design. Including a folding wings, a very unique telescoping suspension system, leading edge slats, adjustable flaps and ailerons, and overhead and rear lookout panels for aerial surveillance. A number of engines are available for the Storch including the Rotax 912S and 912. The company video shows the plane being powered by the Rotec Radial engine. The company indicates that float mounting hardware is also under development for the plane. | 
