CGS Hawk experimental amateurbuilt aircraft

Experimental Aircraft News Magazine - 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.

Over the years Chuck Slusarczyk operated the business, I believe I flew every model the pioneer created. Chuck and I were contemporaries in the early days of hang gliding and I came to know the man very well. Along with many other light aviation enthusiasts, I always looked forward to more of Chuck’s highly entertaining sense of humor.

I cannot imagine Terry Short or son Chris can continue that particular part of the Hawk tradition but in a period when plenty of pilots lament the high cost of very sophisticated Light-Sport Aircraft, the CGS Hawks offer a more modest expense. These are simple airplanes but they’ve proven themselves over many years.

CGS Hawk Experimental Amateurbuilt Aircraft Video

I also know several builders of kit Hawks and the project demands a lower number of hours. Flying any of the Hawk models is quite straightforward. The handling is docile and flight characteristics are predictable.

If you are headed to Sun ‘n Fun in a couple weeks, you can find out more about CGS Hawk aircraft at the booth of Terry Short Aviation Services, space LP-007A in Paradise City. He reported he will not have an aircraft — “We’ve just received all the components and tooling and didn’t want to just throw something together to show” — but he will be available to answer questions.

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