Seaplane manufacturer could move to Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Financial moves are being made to bring another seaplane manufacturer to Lake County.

It would be the third since the city of Tavares opened its seaplane base a few years ago.

The new project could be built in Leesburg, where officials say is the perfect place to build seaplanes.

“An idea like this doesn’t take much to take it from just a mere idea without much foundation to actually bringing it to—this can actually happen,” said Leesburg city spokesperson Robert Sargent.

Aviation Executive Lee Webb is a vice president for Wipaire, a seaplane company already working out of the Leesburg airport.

Webb said the Kissimmee-based Lake Aircraft is for sale.

He’s trying to line up investors and bring the operation to Leesburg, and commissioners are interested in the idea.

Ever since Tavares built its base, the seaplane manufacturing industry has taken notice.

“Everything he brought up, I see where it could happen. It just need to be worked out,” Sargent said.

City leaders stressed it’s all still in the talking phase, and they’re not committing any money yet.

WFTV