LanShe Aerospace, manufacturer of Lake amphibians and Micco SP26 light aircraft, closed its factory in Fort Pierce, Florida earlier this month. Sources suggest the closure may be linked to a court battle with the former owner of Lake Aircraft.
The St Lucie County Economic Development Council confirms the LanShe facility at St Lucie County International airport was locked last week. A week earlier, the council says, LanShe owner Wadi Rahim said the company had orders in hand.
Sources say LanShe had completed and delivered one Lake to the US Department of Interior and had sold two of around six SP26s it acquired with the purchase of Micro Aircraft.
LanShe purchased Lake Aircraft in September 2002 and in March 2003 bought Micco Aircraft from the Seminole tribe of Florida. Rahim then relocated the Lake line to the former Micco facility at St Lucie International, receiving production certificates for both the SP26 and Lake in 2003. Efforts to contact LanShe last week failed.
Source: Flight International
