If you fly a two-seat ultralight, I hope you’re aware of a big change just ahead: the January 31, 2008 deadline when you must transition such aircraft to Experimental LSA. Some have acted already. Many have not. FAA says that date is firm and will not change. *** But outgoing FAA Adminstrator Marion Blakey also said “No change to Part 103.” Called “Ultralight Vehicles” (not “aircraft”), this distinction now means something special. The Part 103 rule for single seaters rather quietly counted its 25th birthday in September 2007. This low-key event also celebrates aviation’s simplest rule — the entire FAR can be printed on a single sheet of paper!…and it is still alive and well. *** Examples like the Phantom ultralight have excellent flight characteristics and low prices. In late 2007, a Phantom X-1 kit is less than $15,000 and you can legally pay someone to build it for you.

Hot and heavy before the Sun ‘n Fun airshow opens, cool and light SLSA are on the fast track to approval. The latest announcement from Just Aircraft — formerly of Idaho and now of Walhallo, South Carolina — represents the 33rd aircraft model to qualify. Company spokesmen Harry Berndt and Troy Woodland informed me today that their brand new, Rotax 914-powered Highlander Extreme won its certificate from an FAA examiner. The turbo-boosted Extreme model from a company that built its reputation designing rugged, light kits seems appropriate for bush or short field operations at high elevations. Extreme’s taller gear and bigger tires and an aluminum leading edge wrap are geared to enhance this capability. Troy flew the plane from the company’s short strip and remarked excitedly, “It was off the ground in 30 feet (into a light breeze)!” They plan to show the model at Sun ‘n Fun 2006.

For more than 20 years I served on the board of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association, or USHGA. …or some called it phonetically, “Yoosh-Ga.” During my tenure on the 25-person board, the better-organized hang gliding group assimilated the paragliding community. Despite lengthy and passionate debates, the name of the association did not change and its magazine was still called Hang Gliding. However, as the paragliding percentage grew toward half of all members, it became a smart move to rename the association the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, abbreviated as USHPA. *** Now the 10,000-member organization has a snappier web address — USHPA.aero (formerly USHGA.org) and what better way to communicate this update than to splash it across the top of their monthly magazine, which has long included info for both soaring disciplines. The magazine name won’t last — it will be used only for four months. Afterward, they’ll revert to the masthead you can see on the left column of ByDanJohnson.com.

Cessna shows an LSA. Van’s Aircraft shows an LSA. Cessna flies their LSA. Van’s flies their LSA. Is it a race? Company founder and designer Dick VanGrunsven first flew his RV-12 on November 9th. The largest airplane builder (Cessna) and the largest kit company (Van’s) have now flown their LSA entries, each a product of ambitiously rapid development periods. *** The prototype RV-12 came in at a respectable 714 pounds empty, less than what many insiders thought yet within one pound of VanGrunsven’s prediction. “[Van and RV-12] certainly got off the ground easily and climbed well, passing almost inaudibly over our engineering and tech support staff,” Ken Scott wrote. Roll rate was described as “pretty snappy.” VanGrunsven said it felt at least as quick as the RV-9. Stalls were reported as gentle and conventional. Scott concluded: “We can report that when Van taxied in and opened the swing-up canopy, he was grinning.”