The Airventure Sun Shines on Solaris. Looking for Bonanza-class high-performance retractable single made from composites, but having trouble finding what you want? A new player in this market, Solaris Aviation, may have just the thing in its Sigma series of FAA-certified airplanes. The Solaris Sigmas comprise a fleet of three different models, all using the same gullwing-door fuselage but available with a variety of propellers and engines, from a quiet, derated Lycoming IO-540 to a fire-breathing 310hp Continental IO-550. The Sigmas were originally the brainchildren of Horst Ruschmeyer and were initially certified in Germany, then the U.S. In 1999, Solaris purchased the type and production certificates, and recently established a production plant in Poland with a final assembly facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Look to hear more from this company in the next few years. Article reprinted courtesy of AVweb. July 29, 2001

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