First Customer-Built Panther Takes Flight

August 12, 2015 - Bob Wooley, EAA 1004525, became the first person to complete a customer-built Panther Sport, N109L, with the aircraft taking to the skies for the first time on August 5 from Haller Airpark in North Florida.

The flight, which lasted 25 minutes, was observed from the ground by employees from Sport Performance Aviation, the company that produced the Panther Sport.

Dan Weseman, owner of SPA, was excited to see the work of his company take flight.

“We owe a lot to our first 50 builders,” he said. “We have learned so much in the past two years, and our builders have been very patient along the way and have given extremely positive feedback. It’s great to see the hard work pay off!”

Bob’s Panther Sport received its airworthiness certificate on Monday, August 5, but has yet to complete the test program. SPA also presented him with a plaque honoring his achievement.

SPA said Bob will continue to make small adjustments, including adding pitch to the Whirlwind ground adjustable propeller, as testing progresses and that they will publish performance specs once Bob has good data.