Dan Johnson, Author at ByDanJohnson.com

Come See the Russian Sigma

By Dan Johnson || July 19, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Here come the Russians with their Sigma aircraft, seen here set up for float ops. Created by VVV-Avia, the unusual aircraft has a 48-inch wide cabin and exceptional visibility. Learn more from importer Sportsplanes.com

EAA's great aviation celebration called AirVenture Oshkosh is about to begin (Monday, July 25th through Sunday, July 31st). Get more info at the AirVenture website, and if you can attend you'll get to see the new Russian Sigma Light-Sport Aircraft. This unique light plane will be on display along with 35 others in EAA's special "LSA Mall" and the entire collection is right next to AeroShell Square where SpaceShipOne will be seen with White Knight for their one-and-only-ever public appearance together. Watch for coverage of Sigma in Sport Pilot magazine.

EAA’s great aviation celebration called AirVenture Oshkosh is about to begin (Monday, July 25th through Sunday, July 31st). Get more info at the AirVenture website, and if you can attend you’ll get to see the new Russian Sigma Light-Sport Aircraft. This unique light plane will be on display along with 35 others in EAA’s special “LSA Mall” and the entire collection is right next to AeroShell Square where SpaceShipOne will be seen with White Knight for their one-and-only-ever public appearance together. Watch for coverage of Sigma in Sport Pilot magazine.

A Blizzard of Paragliders

By Dan Johnson || July 3, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Fellow competitor, Martin Scheel, took this photo which was released by Associated Press (AP Photo/Keystone, Schweizerischer Haengegleiter-Verband, Martin Scheel)

According to news released by the Associated Press, dozens of paragliders (the unpowered sort) flew in competition above the picturesque Swiss Alps during the Swiss Paragliding Championships in late May this year. One of the competitors, Martin Scheel, snapped this impressive photo. It is not a doctored or "PhotoShopped" image but reveals the close-in flying done by these lightest-of-all aircraft. Paragliders fly from 25-40 mph and some claim glide angles of 7:1. Any of them can be carried in an oversized backpack. For more info on American paragliding, contact the U. S. Hang Gliding Association.

According to news released by the Associated Press, dozens of paragliders (the unpowered sort) flew in competition above the picturesque Swiss Alps during the Swiss Paragliding Championships in late May this year. One of the competitors, Martin Scheel, snapped this impressive photo. It is not a doctored or “PhotoShopped” image but reveals the close-in flying done by these lightest-of-all aircraft. Paragliders fly from 25-40 mph and some claim glide angles of 7:1. Any of them can be carried in an oversized backpack. For more info on American paragliding, contact the U. S. Hang Gliding Association.

More S-LSA Approved by FAA

By Dan Johnson || June 24, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

The Thorpedo from IndUS Aviation is the newest airplane to receive its S-LSA (Special-Light Sport Aircraft) certificate from FAA.

IndUS Aviation of Dallas, Texas received FAA approval for their Thorpedo model as a Special-Light Sport Aircraft. IndUS is the first U.S.-based manufacturer to earn a S-LSA certificate; the company takes airframe components fabricated in India and assembles them at their Texas facility. IndUS can now sell fully built LSA that can be used for paid flight training or rentals. (My review of this aircraft is available here.) For more info go to the IndUS website. Two other companies have also received approvals recently. SportAir USA was issued a certificate for their StingSport just before Hansen Air Group got their approval for the Tecnam Sierra.

Light-Sport Aircraft at AOPA Headquarters

By Dan Johnson || June 23, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Rob Rollison of Rollison LSA points out panel features of the Remos G-3 to AOPA president, Phil Boyer, while 12 LSAs visited the organization's headquarters near Washington, DC. Read my report on the Remos G-3.

After concluding three strong events on the EAA Sport Pilot Tour, a dozen LSA traveled from Franklin, PA (north of Pittsburgh) to the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association headquarters in Frederick, MD. AOPA senior management took a chance to examine and fly in several of these aircraft, then adding coverage to their website. The meeting had been arranged in cooperation with LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association. AOPA staff flew in the morning and evening and met in the afternoon with industry leaders to further AOPA's understanding of LSA. A recent survey showed 30% of the organization's 405,000 members see LSA as helping aviation to grow.

After concluding three strong events on the EAA Sport Pilot Tour, a dozen LSA traveled from Franklin, PA (north of Pittsburgh) to the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association headquarters in Frederick, MD. AOPA senior management took a chance to examine and fly in several of these aircraft, then adding coverage to their website. The meeting had been arranged in cooperation with LAMA, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association. AOPA staff flew in the morning and evening and met in the afternoon with industry leaders to further AOPA’s understanding of LSA. A recent survey showed 30% of the organization’s 405,000 members see LSA as helping aviation to grow.

Sport Pilot Tour Is Underway

By Dan Johnson || June 7, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Among ten manufacturers appearing at the kickoff of the Sport Pilot Tour was this Zenith Aircraft CH-601.

EAA's Sport Pilot Tour got started at the Golden West Fly-in north of Sacramento, California over the first weekend in June. The Sport Pilot Tour intends to bring Light-Sport Aircraft from a variety of manufacturers together for pilots and newcomers to see, touch, and fly. Instead of you traveling across the country to a big airshow, the Tour will come to your location (as the schedule allows) to make it easier for you to check out the newest aircraft. Some 10-15 brands are expected at each location. You can follow the Sport Pilot Tour by checking EAA's website for the updated calendar.

EAA’s Sport Pilot Tour got started at the Golden West Fly-in north of Sacramento, California over the first weekend in June. The Sport Pilot Tour intends to bring Light-Sport Aircraft from a variety of manufacturers together for pilots and newcomers to see, touch, and fly. Instead of you traveling across the country to a big airshow, the Tour will come to your location (as the schedule allows) to make it easier for you to check out the newest aircraft. Some 10-15 brands are expected at each location. You can follow the Sport Pilot Tour by checking EAA’s website for the updated calendar.

Trike (Weight-Shift) ASTM Standard Ready

By Dan Johnson || May 28, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

The ASTM committee writing a LSA standard for weight shift aircraft, or "trikes," succeeded with a final ballot. (Photo by Scott Johnson)

After a detailed review, ASTM's Weight-Shift Control Sub Committee got their Design and Performance Standard through final ballot. This was reported at the mid-May '05 ASTM Committee meeting for Light-Sport Aircraft. Once FAA issues their Notice of Availability trikes can be manufactured and sold as S-LSAs, joining fixed wing airplanes and powered parachutes. AirBorne trikes (photo) have Australian certification plus now that country plans to adopt the entire U.S. Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. To keep up with the growing list of aircraft that have received their certificates, one good source is EAA's Sport Pilot website.

After a detailed review, ASTM’s Weight-Shift Control Sub Committee got their Design and Performance Standard through final ballot. This was reported at the mid-May ’05 ASTM Committee meeting for Light-Sport Aircraft. Once FAA issues their Notice of Availability trikes can be manufactured and sold as S-LSAs, joining fixed wing airplanes and powered parachutes. AirBorne trikes (photo) have Australian certification plus now that country plans to adopt the entire U.S. Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulation. To keep up with the growing list of aircraft that have received their certificates, one good source is EAA’s Sport Pilot website.

Innovating for Part 103 Ultralights

By Dan Johnson || May 14, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Developer Erik Pederson poses by the Phantom he now manufacturers. This one is powered by a rotary engine that saves 20+ pounds compared to a Rotax 447. It will make Part 103 with four cycle operation.

How can a Part 103 use a four-stroke engine? Well, you can elect the half-VW from Hummel...or you might try a rotary engine as seen at the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. This innovative racing cart engine is being developed for Part 103 ultralight use (yes, to make the weight, with electric starter!) by Erik Pederson, the new president of Phantom Aeronautics. Impressively educated, Eric has a BS in Aero Engineering plus an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Watch for a test report when Erik is satisfied with the performance.

How can a Part 103 use a four-stroke engine? Well, you can elect the half-VW from Hummel…or you might try a rotary engine as seen at the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. This innovative racing cart engine is being developed for Part 103 ultralight use (yes, to make the weight, with electric starter!) by Erik Pederson, the new president of Phantom Aeronautics. Impressively educated, Eric has a BS in Aero Engineering plus an MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Watch for a test report when Erik is satisfied with the performance.

Tecnam’s Sleek New Bravo

By Dan Johnson || May 7, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Tecnam's new Bravo upgrades their P-92 Echo. One distinguishing feature is cantilevered wings.

Italy's largest light aircraft producer is Tecnam and pictured here is their new Bravo seen at Aero 2005. Bravo is the replacement to the company's popular P-92 Echo. Tecnam also makes the P-96 Golf low wing (see my pilot report in EAA's 5/05 Sport Pilot magazine). The new Bravo makes a big step forward by using a cantilevered wing (no struts) along with other changes to better suit it to the new Sport Pilot rule. The U.S. importer is Hansen Air Group; get more info direct from the source.

Italy’s largest light aircraft producer is Tecnam and pictured here is their new Bravo seen at Aero 2005. Bravo is the replacement to the company’s popular P-92 Echo. Tecnam also makes the P-96 Golf low wing (see my pilot report in EAA’s 5/05 Sport Pilot magazine). The new Bravo makes a big step forward by using a cantilevered wing (no struts) along with other changes to better suit it to the new Sport Pilot rule. The U.S. importer is Hansen Air Group; get more info direct from the source.

Creative Isatis 01

By Dan Johnson || April 29, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

The French Isatis 01 uses a rear-engine BMW engine and tractor prop driven by a carbon fiber driveshaft.

In Aero 2005's massive display halls, light-sport aircraft from eastern European companies dominated. Yet one creative idea traveled from France. The Isatis 01 from AeroJames appears to have no room for its tractor engine...no wonder as the BMW engine is in the rear spinning its prop through a carbon fiber driveshaft. The logic is to give the pilot tremendous visibility and it works. The Isatis 01 and many other planes will be featured in my report for Kitplanes magazine (9/05 issue).

In Aero 2005’s massive display halls, light-sport aircraft from eastern European companies dominated. Yet one creative idea traveled from France. The Isatis 01 from AeroJames appears to have no room for its tractor engine…no wonder as the BMW engine is in the rear spinning its prop through a carbon fiber driveshaft. The logic is to give the pilot tremendous visibility and it works. The Isatis 01 and many other planes will be featured in my report for Kitplanes magazine (9/05 issue).

Corvus at Aero 2005

By Dan Johnson || April 24, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

The gorgeous Corone from Corvus drew admiring looks from many of Aero 2005's 45,000 visitors.

Europe's major aviation show Aero in the southern German town of Friedrichshafen is underway. The show is housed in seven huge halls. Three of these hold light-sport aircraft of all kinds and one of the most beautiful aircraft seen is this Corvus Corone from Hungary. With a superb finish, excellent features, and a most distinctive burgundy and gold paint job, this entry from the new Corvus company caught the attention of many of the show's 45,000 visitors. Look for a review of Aero in the 9/05 Kitplanes and perhaps a separate story on the Corvus.

Europe’s major aviation show Aero in the southern German town of Friedrichshafen is underway. The show is housed in seven huge halls. Three of these hold light-sport aircraft of all kinds and one of the most beautiful aircraft seen is this Corvus Corone from Hungary. With a superb finish, excellent features, and a most distinctive burgundy and gold paint job, this entry from the new Corvus company caught the attention of many of the show’s 45,000 visitors. Look for a review of Aero in the 9/05 Kitplanes and perhaps a separate story on the Corvus.

NH:Press 7/23/04

By Dan Johnson || April 20, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ByDanJohnson.com Launches New Features:SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView ST. PAUL, MINN. - The Web's largest resource for ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft pilot reports, ByDanJohnson.com, recently launched new features aimed at improving a site member's experience. The new features are SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView. Another eagerly-awaited feature, PlaneFinder, remains in development. SpecCheck helps visitors compare specifications of multiple aircraft without having to page back and forth through printed buyer's guides. Members select airplanes from a long list of aircraft presented on the site, denoting them as "Favorites," and can then compare the wingspan, empty weight, and much more for each aircraft in tables created instantly by this database-driven Web site. Pros & Cons is a popular an element of pilot reports appearing only in Ultralight Flying! magazine. The new Web site feature lets visitors contrast the positives and negatives of various aircraft in nine different categories. This a quick way to review what attributes you may like or wish to avoid and no other Web site, magazine, or book offers this resource. PlaneView allows a pilot to pull up photos of any aircraft reported on the site. You choose the airplane from the long list available and ask for all photos to be displayed. You see a thumbnail view and can click those you want to enlarge. When enlarged a photo legend will accompany most photos. PlaneFinder is a question-and-answer system aiming to guide buyers to aircraft that interest them. This work appeared in print for in three issues of EAA's Experimenter. It was prepared with the Web in mind and will ultimate work to help buyers narrow down a large field of interesting aircraft to the several that fit the answers they provided. "This project has proven more technically challenging than we thought," said Johnson on behalf of his development team. "We want it to be right when released so we'll hold back for now, but we are pleased to bring online SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView. Site membership is required to access the new features. Members pay $29 a year and get more than a dozen pilot reports free. Members also get full and unlimited access to SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView. Visitors can register for free and view plenty of free material. They can also buy articles one at a time but only Members have access to the new specialty tools. ByDanJohnson.com is a source for literally hundreds of pilot reports on a wide variety of light aircraft, accompanied by thousands of photos and specifications of these aircraft. Dan's work to create pilot reports dates back into the mid-1970s and covers a large fleet of ultralights and light-sport aircraft made in the USA or abroad. ByDanJohnson.com is updated at the rate of 40 new aircraft reviews per year. Dan Johnson is a well-known aviation writer submitting monthly to Ultralight Flying!, Kitplanes, EAA Sport Pilot, GA News, and Hang Gliding & Paragliding. He has published pilot reports on over 280 light aircraft. Johnson is the 1999 winner of USUA's Moody Award, the 2001 recipient of the Spirit of Flight Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and was awarded the 2003 Outstanding Leadership Award from ASTM International. Dan narrated the 1998 FAA/EAA video, First Flights in Your Ultralight / Lightplane. Two books plus an annual calendar have exclusively featured his flight reports.

ByDanJohnson.com Launches New Features:SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView ST. PAUL, MINN. – The Web’s largest resource for ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft pilot reports, ByDanJohnson.com, recently launched new features aimed at improving a site member’s experience. The new features are SpecCheck, Pros & Cons, and PlaneView. Another eagerly-awaited feature, PlaneFinder, remains in development. SpecCheck helps visitors compare specifications of multiple aircraft without having to page back and forth through printed buyer’s guides. Members select airplanes from a long list of aircraft presented on the site, denoting them as “Favorites,” and can then compare the wingspan, empty weight, and much more for each aircraft in tables created instantly by this database-driven Web site. Pros & Cons is a popular an element of pilot reports appearing only in Ultralight Flying! magazine. The new Web site feature lets visitors contrast the positives and negatives of various aircraft in nine different categories. This a quick way to review what attributes you may like or wish to avoid and no other Web site, magazine, or book offers this resource.

NH:Press 4/09/05

By Dan Johnson || April 20, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ByDanJohnson.com Launches New Features and Content;Celebrates First Anniversary Online ST. PAUL, MINN. - For pilots and newcomers interested in light-sport aircraft (LSA) and ultralight pilot reports, ByDanJohnson.com offers the Internet's largest database of pilot reports. On its first anniversary, the website added "SPLOG ByDanJohnson," a web log (or blog) of light sport aviation observations by Dan Johnson, the site's author. Additionally, nearly 200 articles have been added to the site's database in the last year. "The upgraded site has much new content. In particular, SPLOG will catch the interest of those following developments in light aviation," said Dan. A sport pilot-oriented takeoff on the popular blog concept, SPLOG is a series of photo and paragraph blurbs often giving advance information about new aircraft that Dan may subsequently cover in full-length aircraft evaluations. SPLOGs will be added weekly, or more frequently if warranted, with a complete archive of this quick-read content available at the click of a mouse. Although the items may present aircraft developments or achievements in the light sport aviation industry, Dan said the site is not a news outlet and is not intended to replace or compete with aviation magazines or news websites. SPLOG is offered for free to all ByDanJohnson.com visitors. Many other articles are also available free of charge. Since going live one year ago, ByDanJohnson.com has added nearly 200 articles including a wide range of pilot reports, plus a decade's worth of "Product Lines," the author's long-running column in Hang Gliding & Paragliding magazine. "We now have more than 600 articles posted to the site, which includes approximately 300 full-length pilot reports, complete with photos, specs, and contact info," said Dan. Members can access more than a dozen articles for the site's $29 annual fee, and then can purchase more articles at half-price. Visitors who register (by e-mail address only) can purchase articles individually. During its first year ByDanJohnson.com also added "SpecCheck," "Pros & Cons," and "PlaneView." These three "buyer's help" components allow site members to compare aircraft "live on screen," said Dan, "That's something you can't do with printed material." SpecCheck allows you to match specs on a number of airplanes on one screen, while Pros & Cons allows comparison of many planes in nine categories of evaluation. PlaneView allows make and model viewing of all airplanes evaluated on ByDanJohnson.com. Dan contributes regularly to several recreational aviation magazines and has 300 ultralight/light-sport aircraft pilot reports published to date. He is the 1999 winner of USUA's Moody Award, was honored in 2001 by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and was given a 2003 Outstanding Leadership Award from ASTM International for his work on light-sport aircraft standards. Dan also consulted on and narrated the 1998 FAA/EAA video, First Flights in Your Ultralight / Lightplane. Two books and an annual calendar have exclusively featured his flight reports.

ByDanJohnson.com Launches New Features and Content;Celebrates First Anniversary Online ST. PAUL, MINN. – For pilots and newcomers interested in light-sport aircraft (LSA) and ultralight pilot reports, ByDanJohnson.com offers the Internet’s largest database of pilot reports. On its first anniversary, the website added “SPLOG ByDanJohnson,” a web log (or blog) of light sport aviation observations by Dan Johnson, the site’s author. Additionally, nearly 200 articles have been added to the site’s database in the last year. “The upgraded site has much new content. In particular, SPLOG will catch the interest of those following developments in light aviation,” said Dan. A sport pilot-oriented takeoff on the popular blog concept, SPLOG is a series of photo and paragraph blurbs often giving advance information about new aircraft that Dan may subsequently cover in full-length aircraft evaluations. SPLOGs will be added weekly, or more frequently if warranted, with a complete archive of this quick-read content available at the click of a mouse.

NH:Press 3/28/04

By Dan Johnson || April 20, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Finally! ByDanJohnson.com Goes LiveST. PAUL, MINN. - After three years of effort, Dan Johnson is pleased to announce that his Web site will go live on April 12th, 2004, the day before the season-starting Sun 'n Fun airshow opens. ByDanJohnson.com is intended to be a source for literally hundreds of pilot reports on a wide variety of light aircraft, accompanied by thousands of photos of these aircraft. Dan's work to create pilot reports dates back into the mid-1970s and covers a large fleet of ultralights and light-sport aircraft made in the USA or abroad. "This is one of those projects where if I'd known how much work it was going to be, I might never have started," admitted Johnson. "But, at airshows and at speaking engagements, pilots often ask, 'You've flown all these airplanes. Which one should I buy?' The question is difficult to answer because each person has different skills and needs, and I don't usually know the individual asking the question," Dan explained. "In addition, after writing hundreds of aircraft evaluations, it becomes challenging to contrast the latest aircraft with another flown months ago, much less offer a comparison of five different models." ByDanJohnson.com offers visitors the chance to interactively research aircraft before a purchase. The database-driven Web site contains articles complete with photos, specifications, and contact information. Special features in final development include "PlaneFinder," a question-and-answer system aiming to guide buyers to aircraft that interest them. "SpecCheck" helps visitors compare specifications of multiple aircraft without having to page back and forth through printed buyer's guides. "PlaneView" allows a pilot to pull up photos of any aircraft reported on the site. "Pros & Cons," an element of pilot reports appearing in Ultralight Flying! magazine, lets visitors contrast the positives and negatives of various aircraft in nine different categories so they can line up which meets their needs the best. "The magazines for whom I write have been very cooperative and I've made it easy for visitors to go to their Web sites as well. But of all the aircraft companies covered, none are advertisers. "I've established this as a member-supported Web site," says Johnson, who notes that members paying $29 a year get more than a dozen pilot reports free and can buy more for half price. Registered visitors can view plenty of free material and buy articles they like one at a time. After buying an article a current member can reread it anytime. Since Dan writes 40+ articles per year, the Web site will be continuously updated with new reports. Dan Johnson is a well-known aviation writer submitting monthly to Ultralight Flying!, Kitplanes, EAA Sport Pilot, GA News, and Hang Gliding & Paragliding. In 27 years he has published pilot reports on over 280 light aircraft. Johnson is the 1999 winner of USUA's Moody Award, the 2001 recipient of the Spirit of Flight Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and was awarded the 2003 Outstanding Leadership Award from ASTM International. Dan narrated the 1998 FAA/EAA video, First Flights in Your Ultralight / Lightplane. Two books plus an annual calendar have exclusively featured his flight reports.

Finally! ByDanJohnson.com Goes LiveST. PAUL, MINN. – After three years of effort, Dan Johnson is pleased to announce that his Web site will go live on April 12th, 2004, the day before the season-starting Sun ‘n Fun airshow opens. ByDanJohnson.com is intended to be a source for literally hundreds of pilot reports on a wide variety of light aircraft, accompanied by thousands of photos of these aircraft. Dan’s work to create pilot reports dates back into the mid-1970s and covers a large fleet of ultralights and light-sport aircraft made in the USA or abroad. “This is one of those projects where if I’d known how much work it was going to be, I might never have started,” admitted Johnson. “But, at airshows and at speaking engagements, pilots often ask, ‘You’ve flown all these airplanes. Which one should I buy?’ The question is difficult to answer because each person has different skills and needs, and I don’t usually know the individual asking the question,” Dan explained.

T2 “Competition Class” Glider from Wills Wing

By Dan Johnson || April 18, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Note the nearly full double surface wing and the dual sprog system (internal stability devices seen on angles at midspan and near the tip).

America's top hang glider manufacturer released their new T2 topless hang glider by offering demo flights to qualified pilots at Florida's Wallaby Ranch located a few miles south of the Disney complex. Just before the Sun 'n Fun airshow opens, Wills Wing traditionally hosts an event at the hang glider tow park. In one busy day during this year's festivities, four tug pilots launched 277 flights! Good soaring weather benefitted the gathering which occurred just before the U.S. Nationals started at the Quest Air tow park a few miles north of Wallaby.

America’s top hang glider manufacturer released their new T2 topless hang glider by offering demo flights to qualified pilots at Florida’s Wallaby Ranch located a few miles south of the Disney complex. Just before the Sun ‘n Fun airshow opens, Wills Wing traditionally hosts an event at the hang glider tow park. In one busy day during this year’s festivities, four tug pilots launched 277 flights! Good soaring weather benefitted the gathering which occurred just before the U.S. Nationals started at the Quest Air tow park a few miles north of Wallaby.

New “Ride” from Europe

By Dan Johnson || April 8, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

MD3 Rider

From the designer who brought you the popular SkyBoy comes the MD3 Rider currently being marketed by FlyItalia based near Milan, Italy. This attractive LSA-type airplane was created by Jaroslav Dostal, the man behind the Interplane SkyBoy. Jaro started with an interest in hang gliders and went all the way to FAR 23 commuter aircraft before returning to light sport designs. Look for a report in Kitplanes magazine (8/05 issue). And, I'll have more to report after attending the Aero 2005 show in Germany.

From the designer who brought you the popular SkyBoy comes the MD3 Rider currently being marketed by FlyItalia based near Milan, Italy. This attractive LSA-type airplane was created by Jaroslav Dostal, the man behind the Interplane SkyBoy. Jaro started with an interest in hang gliders and went all the way to FAR 23 commuter aircraft before returning to light sport designs. Look for a report in Kitplanes magazine (8/05 issue). And, I’ll have more to report after attending the Aero 2005 show in Germany.

Seagull Aerosports takes a new angle

By Dan Johnson || April 6, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Manufactured by Seagull Aerosports, the Escape Pod is the first fully enclosed trike with retractable landing gear.

The opening left in the glider's sleek canopy will be closed with a sheet of Neoprene slit from front to rear to allow full motion of the control bar if needed.

The Escape Pod's 25-hp Cors-Air M-21Y engine is tucked neatly away, out of the airstream. Located in front of the engine is the Pod's rocket-deployed emergency parachute system.

Michael Riggs, owner of Seagull Aerosports and developer of the Escape Pod, is all smiles in his new creation.

Like most trikes, the Escape Pod can be broken down small enough for storage in your garage or in the corner of your hangar. Its light weight will allow loading to trailer or pickup.

Seagull Aerosports takes a new angle on weight-shift construction with a fully enclosed cockpit. Developer Michael Riggs might prefer I called his Escape Pod something other than Everyman's Motorglider, but if you have any interest in self-launched soaring flight, Riggs' invention is one of the most cost-efficient purchases you can make. The Escape Pod costs thousands less than ultralight motorgliders and literally hundreds of thousands less than sailplane motorgliders. Oh, and one more thing this kind of flying machine is a hoot to fly. That the Escape Pod also transports easily, can be stored in a small space and is attractively shaped are icing on the cake. Sure, it's obvious-I like the Escape Pod. But could it be for you, too? Even if this aircraft isn't your type, you might enjoy reading about how thoughtfully it was designed. Trike Motorgliders Before the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) rule was recently passed, trike enthusiasts had several other ways to fly such aircraft. One method, called Glider-Trike, allowed private pilots to operate a fully assembled trike ultralight as a motorglider without the restrictions associated with two-seat ultralight trainers. As with hot-air balloons, motorgliders avoid hassles with medicals as neither requires a visit to your doctor. You can still fly under Glider-Trike. Or, you can still build certain Experimental/Amateur-Built trikes that have been approved under the 51% rule. And before long, approvals will start flowing and many LSA trikes will hit the market. Before that day, however, you can fly under FAR Part 103, which did not change with the issuance of the new LSA rule. Seagull Aerosports, Riggs' company, will fully build the Escape Pod and its unpowered sibling, the Pod Racer. Since empty weight is well under Part 103's 254-pound limit, ready-to-fly construction is completely proper and gets you in the air sooner. Pod ConstructionThe fuselage, or "pod," is made from composite foam sandwich construction of PVC and graphite prepreg materials. The shape is vacuum-bag molded and oven cured for minimum weight and maximum strength. The complete lower shell and main structural bulkhead weigh only 16 pounds out of the mold, and the entire trike chassis weighs less than 80 pounds with engine and parachute. The tricycle gear is fully retractable, which is allowed under Part 103 though not for LSA. Maingear legs are made of a filament wound graphite, and the gear is retracted using racing catamaran hardware. Most trikes have a forward support tube that obstructs visibility somewhat and complicates the addition of a full enclosure on these weight-shift machines. Abandoning the forward tube, the Escape Pod uses a streamlined, tapered composite mast that has enough vertical area to provide yaw stability for high performance hang glider wings. (Modern hang glider wings attain glide ratios beyond 15:1.) The Pod has been designed for full enclosure in a molded acrylic canopy with graphite frames. For summer use or if customers prefer, a shorter summer windscreen will also be available. To further boost cleanliness-and therefore performance-the fuel tanks are mounted internally and the engine is fully enclosed, unlike most ultralight designs. But how do you fully enclose a weight-shift aircraft? While control movements on a trike are minimal in normal flight conditions, there are situations (landing approach in rough conditions, for example) when the pilot must make movements wider than the canopy. To facilitate this need, the triangular control bar passes through a Neoprene-covered slot running fore to aft in the canopy following the control bar's arc, thus accommodating a full range of motion. The Escape Pod is powered by a 25-hp Cors-Air M-21Y and Powerfin three-blade propeller. An unpowered variation, called the Pod Racer, is also available and is launched via a winch or aerotow. Seagull Aerosports expects to see Pod Racers in wide use at hang glider airparks that provide ultralights to tow hang gliders aloft just as sailplanes do. Safety First A designer and builder of hang gliders for many years, Riggs always puts safety first when it comes to his Pod designs. The bottom of the fuselage is flat so that if an outlanding is necessary and terrain does not encourage use of the gear, a belly landing can be made. In addition, the shape of the nose will prevent shoveling and possible flipover. A foam crush zone forward of and under the pilot adds another layer of protection as does a four-point seat restraint system. Not only is the engine inside the pod, but a rocket-deployed parachute is mounted on the rear of the main structural bulkhead and fires through a hatch on the side. Except for the handle on the floor between the pilot's legs (and emergency responder labels), no one will know such an emergency parachute has been installed. Either the powered Escape Pod or unpowered Pod Racer can be used with any hang glider wing that will accommodate the weight of chassis, pilot, engine, fuel and parachute system. This will not be a challenge given the wide variety of wings available for all skill levels. What's Next? When I spoke with Riggs at Oshkosh, he anticipated that the Escape Pod would fly by the fall of 2004 and planned to attend the U.S. Sport Expo in Sebring, Florida, in late October. Three Florida hang gliding airparks launch unpowered flyers aloft by ultralight tug, and Riggs thinks their customers should love the concept of the high performance Escape Pod and the unpowered Pod Racer variation. And older hang glider pilots may be a market, as they'll be able to fly in sit-down comfort. Visit Seagull Aerosports' web site to see more photos and an entire study of the project. This material wasn't posted at press time, but I've seen the development stages and think the Artist's Study series of drawings and early fabrications will be of interest to anyone who's ever built or designed an aircraft. Both Pod versions will be sold through an existing hang glider dealer network. These dealers will be able to perform initial setup, check flights and provide flight instruction as required. Pilots who already own a wing that meets the structural and size requirements may purchase the Pod without a wing. Prices are not yet finalized, but one thing looks sure: Riggs' dual-variation Pod series should amply satisfy lots of pilots interested in light aircraft or soaring flight. FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Seagull Aerosports at 952/473-1480 or visit www.fly-seagull.com.

Published in Kitplanes Magazine

Product Lines – April 2005

By Dan Johnson || April 2, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. - Here's an interesting perspective on the World Meet in Hay. The missing Manfred (Ruhmer) saw the event in his own way and expressed himself clearly. He didn't go|which also means somebody else got to win after Manfred has won the last two World Meets. In the fifteen World meets that have been held since 1976, only one man has achieved more. Tomas Suchanek won the event three times running, a record. Looking at the history of hang gliding's main worldwide competition, a New Zealand pilot unknown to most Americans, Terrence Delore, won the first event. He was followed by Josef Guggenmos, the talented German wing designer ('79); by Brazilian Padro Paulo Lope ('81); by famous Australian Steve Moyes ('83); by British legend John Pendry ('85); by another Australian Rick Duncan, now a partner in AirBorne ('88); by Robert Whittall who also went on to paragliding competition fame ('89); and then three times in a row by Czech pilot Tomas Suchanek ('91, '93, and '95); by German Guido Gehrmann ('98); twice by Manfred ('99 and '03); and now by Ukrainian star, Oleg Bondarchuk ('05). About their hero, Aeros notes that Oleg has been ranked for for some time but has not won the big contest. And he did so while flying as the lone Ukrainian while other country teams worked together for victory. As you can see, an American has never won the event. So, with a chance to tie Suchanek at three victories in a row, why did Manfred stay out? It's about his principles. According to published letters, Manfred did not like the Hay location. More than just a remote place with fewer services, Hay would not offer the media attention to help hang gliding grow, wrote Ruhmer. His other reason is to protest the high-flying Austrian team not getting their own vote at FAI competition meetings. According to Manfred, Austria and Germany get one vote between them. He adds, "As weird as it may sound, the Austrian Hang Gliding Team (yes, currently the best team worldwide, almost unbeaten since 1994) is not free to express its own ideas when it comes to voting for the World Championships!" Not that Manfred's absence takes anything away from Oleg's victory but I have to admire his courage at turning down another possible victory to make his statement. Speaking of Europeans, Icaro is promoting their success at the World meet (their gliders placed second and seventh) but that's not all. Right while Angelo Crapanzano was busy preparing gliders for the Hay World Meet, he wrote Mike Riggs to express interest in Mike "ePod" (as it's becoming known|no doubt in a nod to Apple's runaway music success, the iPod). Speaking for himself and Icaro owners Gianni and Franco, he wrote, "We all like it. The finish looks perfect and the design very sleek. I'm very impressed!" Icaro currently represents the Swedish Mosquito but doesn't have much experience with trikes. "However," Angelo added, "next year are planning to enter that market, too, with a new double seater wing we are working on." (For those that don't know, Angelo is the longtime owner of Metamorphosi parachutes and is now developing new gliders for Icaro.) He punctuated his enthusiasm with, "I would love to have one for myself." As I have long promoted this development, people often ask me how the project is going. You should get it straight from the horse's mouth at Mike@fly-seagull.com but the former Mr. Seagull (hang gliders) reports he's still on track for an appearance at the Sun 'n Fun airshow later this month and then he plans a tour of the Florida flight parts where the unpowered Pod Racer could become a rental hit. (Because this column was written in February, check with Seagull for the latest.) FMI: fly-seagull.com Meanwhile, Mike isn't the only guy working on such a nanolight soaring trike. Felix Ruhle and his tandem rigid wing ATOS VX has experimented with Helmut Grossklaus and his Silent trike. Grossklaus has been developing highly faired trikes for years and my experience in flying a two place model was very interesting. That Silent Racer trike had a partial canopy (open only at the sides) and its gear retracted. But to accommodate two people in an enclosure, the trike got rather large and needed a much larger engine than a nanolight would use. However, the larger Silent Racer is only one of Helmut's designs. Another is the Silent Glider M which you can see flying under the ATOS VX wing on Helmut's website (FMI: silentfamily.com; then click Silent Family, then Glider M). When I flew with Felix last fall, he told me the combination seemed to work very well. Their experience certainly suggests that an ATOS VX on an ePod or Silent would make for a self-launched soaring machine with great potential. Talk about your high-flying gliders! They may go up noisier than any aircraft you ever heard, but they come down very quietly|or as much so as very high speeds allow. I'm referring to the follow-on to SpaceShipOne, specifically to Virgin Galactic's plan to fly tourists into space. People wonder how space tourists will be assured of safety without strict federal rules that could stifle the industry's growth. "Consensus industry standards are the answer," says Michael Kelly when speaking before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee. Kelly compared such standards to voluntary Underwriters Laboratory approval for electronic devices but he missed the most obvious analogy|Light-Sport Aircraft and the consensus standards written by ultralight and kit builders with participation by hang gliding leaders. Government has shown they are willing to let self regulation happen. Why not in space? A group of space entrepreneurs announced recently that they are organizing a new Personal Spaceflight Federation to promote growth and safety in their new industry. The federation will work with the FAA as it develops industry standards for passenger safety and crew training. At last count, Virgin Galactic had 14,000 reservations priced at an "affordable" $200,000 a seat. FAA has already licensed four commercial launch facilities, in California, Florida, Virginia and Alaska, and several more are in the works. "In 2004, there were only 15 worldwide commercial space launches," said Gregg Maryniak of the X Prize Foundation, one of the organizers of the new Federation. Initial members of the group hoping to far surpass 15 launches a year include Burt Rutan, designer of SpaceShipOne. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax to 651-450-0930. E-mail to Dan@ByDanJohnson.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. – Here’s an interesting perspective on the World Meet in Hay. The missing Manfred (Ruhmer) saw the event in his own way and expressed himself clearly. He didn’t go|which also means somebody else got to win after Manfred has won the last two World Meets. In the fifteen World meets that have been held since 1976, only one man has achieved more. Tomas Suchanek won the event three times running, a record. Looking at the history of hang gliding’s main worldwide competition, a New Zealand pilot unknown to most Americans, Terrence Delore, won the first event. He was followed by Josef Guggenmos, the talented German wing designer (’79); by Brazilian Padro Paulo Lope (’81); by famous Australian Steve Moyes (’83); by British legend John Pendry (’85); by another Australian Rick Duncan, now a partner in AirBorne (’88); by Robert Whittall who also went on to paragliding competition fame (’89); and then three times in a row by Czech pilot Tomas Suchanek (’91, ’93, and ’95); by German Guido Gehrmann (’98); twice by Manfred (’99 and ’03); and now by Ukrainian star, Oleg Bondarchuk (’05).

Product Lines – March 2005

By Dan Johnson || April 2, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

OSHKOSH, WISC. -- While the deep snow swirls in strong winter winds up here in the southern tundra, it's enjoyable to think about the 15th World Meet taking place in sunny, hot Australia where this time of year is "summer." The event concluded just as this column was sent to the editor, and I'm pleased to report a few highlights. Some contest enthusiasts followed this on Davis Straub's Oz Report (ozreport.com) from which I've distilled a few points of interest. The new reigning champion of flex wings is Oleg Bondarchuk of the Ukraine. Working for Aeros, he was, of course, flying an Aeros Combat L and finished with a clear lead over second place finisher Rob Reisinger of Austria flying an Icaro Zero 7, followed by fellow Austrian, Gerolf Heinrichs, flying a Moyes Lightspeed S4. Congratulations to these top three finalists in hang gliding's top worldwide competition. You may also note with interest that the top three pilots flew different brands so no company "swept" the top positions. Before I go further, let me repeat my often-stated comment when reviewing brands at contests: the results do not necessarily reflect brand purchase decisions by recreational hang glider pilots. Some pilots are sponsored and all comp pilots are motivated by different flying goals than the vast majority of fly-for-fun pilots. It should surprise no one that Moyes dominated the contest with 48% of the field. The contest was held in remote Australia where Moyes has long been the overwhelming favorite and Moyes has long been involved with competition flying. However, also-local AirBorne didn't fare as well with only 6% of the contestants flying their wings. (As a side note, AirBorne does quite well in America with their powered trike division being one of the top brands.) In second position was Aeros with a very respectable 26% of the field. I find it intriguing that a Ukrainian company can do this well on the world stage only a decade and a half after the country emerged from behind the old Iron Curtain. In America we know Aeros quite well, thanks to the efforts by GW Meadows and his US Aeros operation - now in search of a new owner - but this contest brought contestants from all over the globe and a quarter of them chose Aeros. In third place was Icaro at 15%, a drop from some earlier participation rates the Italian company enjoyed. Australia's AirBorne came in fourth with their 6% followed by Wills Wing at 3%, France's La Mouette at 2% and England's Avian with a single pilot of the 101 who finished in the points of the big world event. The top U.S. pilots included Curt Warren in 13th place flying a Moyes Lightspeed S4, Kevin Carter in 17th on a Aeros Combat L, and Dustin Martin in 19th flying a Moyes Lightspeed S4. These pilots were trailed by Tom Lanning (68th on a Lightspeed S4), Davis Straub (78th on a Lightspeed S4, not his usual rigid wing), and Dean Funk (83rd on a Lightspeed S4.5). In contest results by country, Australia came in first, though barely ahead of the Austrian team. France was third, followed by Italy (4th), the USA (5th), Germany (6th), Japan (7th), Czech Republic (8th), Spain (9th), and The Netherlands (10th). Unfortunately, the 15th World Meet, a tow-launched event, was marred by the death of Robin Strid, a Norwegian pilot, who "chose to foot launch in light cross wind conditions in spite of the pleadings from the ground crew|to use a cart," writes Straub in his Oz Report. "As he took off his left wing was dragging. Bobby Bailey, the best tow pilot in the business, moved to the right into get further into the wind, and Rob got his left wing up and flying as he lined up behind Bobby. Then Robin shifted off to the left again getting his right, upwind wing, high again. He was seen reaching for his release. I understand that Bobby also released him. He kept doing a wing over to the left and dove straight into the ground from about 50 feet. He was killed immediately." Condolences to Robin's family. Last month you got to read about Angelo d'Arrigo's flight over Mount Everest. Now you can see some exceptional video clips at the following website: http://www.mounteverest.net/story/BestofExplorersWeb2004AwardsFlightoftheEagles-AngelosstoryJan62005.shtml Even after I studied all the facts of this exceptional flight, I didn't get the flavor as well as I did when I saw the video which runs for several minutes (a high-speed connection may be required; I didn't test this at dial-up speeds). Presented are some points of view that I never expected, including on-board camera views when the towline snapped and left Angelo stranded over the most forbidding terrain imaginable. I don't know how long these stories stay posted so I'd advise you point your browser to the above address soon and have a gander. While you're browsing|You can view some spectacular Eagle flight footage with a tiny, one-ounce camera (and transmitter) mounted on the neck of the Eagle. See a series of video clips at http://media.animal.discovery.com/convergence/spyonthewild/birdtech/birdtech.html. These are really quite amazing views and a great way to kill time at work or when you can't go flying in person. Finally, the 2005 contest season in the U.S. is fast approaching. Regarding the U.S. Nationals, those events that seem annually to happen in Florida are often oversubscribed. Of the upcoming Nats at Quest Flight Park, organizer Steve Kroop writes, "We received over 90 applications on the first day of registration and, to date we have received over 120 applications, which means we have a waiting list. Of course, we will be working on securing more tugs so we can let everyone in." This event also serves as the pre-Worlds meet from which it gains additional importance. Contact Steve at Quest: 352-429-0213 or questair@mpinet.com. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax to 651-450-0930. E-mail to Dan@ByDanJohnson.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

OSHKOSH, WISC. — While the deep snow swirls in strong winter winds up here in the southern tundra, it’s enjoyable to think about the 15th World Meet taking place in sunny, hot Australia where this time of year is “summer.” The event concluded just as this column was sent to the editor, and I’m pleased to report a few highlights. Some contest enthusiasts followed this on Davis Straub’s Oz Report (ozreport.com) from which I’ve distilled a few points of interest. The new reigning champion of flex wings is Oleg Bondarchuk of the Ukraine. Working for Aeros, he was, of course, flying an Aeros Combat L and finished with a clear lead over second place finisher Rob Reisinger of Austria flying an Icaro Zero 7, followed by fellow Austrian, Gerolf Heinrichs, flying a Moyes Lightspeed S4. Congratulations to these top three finalists in hang gliding’s top worldwide competition. You may also note with interest that the top three pilots flew different brands so no company “swept” the top positions.

Product Lines – February 2005

By Dan Johnson || April 2, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- As this issue went to press, the Christmas cards and calls were arriving as usual. One call was a flashback to precisely two years ago, when in this column (Feb. '03) I wrote a farewell to longtime Hang Gliding editor, Gil Dodgen. So, perhaps it was fitting that he should call recently. Gil was charged up over a big success by his employer of the last couple years. Vertigo is an aviation and defense developer and they'd just done a specialized parachute drop that hit the target perfectly. The SoCal company creates solutions and has found answers when others couldn't to create a successful enterprise. This is no surprise as Vertigo has quite a brain trust so the addition of software writer Dodgen was quite appropriate. In addition to Glen Brown, who you may not know, Vertigo's staff is "hang gliding heavy." Brown's founding partner is CEO Roy Haggard whose most notable hang gliding claim to fame was developing the UP Comet, a glider widely believed to have forever changed the design of hang gliders. Other staff members include Tom Price, former owner of ASG hang gliders and for many years an aeronautical engineer who helped raise the level of sophistication for a maturing hang gliding industry; Dave Cronk, a partner in the original Eipper-Formance hang glider company which morphed into the worldwide ultralight industry's largest-ever producer, Quicksilver; Roger McCracken, a former Wills Wing production boss; and now Gil Dodgen, 25-year editor of the magazine you are reading. To show just how HG friendly Vertigo is, Wills Wing owners Rob Kells, Steve Pearson, Mike Meier and Linda Meier were invited to the company Christmas party. And, as he has done before at WW-brand events, Gil worked a keyboard of a different sort. If you've forgotten or never knew, Dodgen is a concert pianist quite adept at entertaining through music. Product news this month is the pending sale of U.S. Aeros, the company founded in 1996 by GW Meadows and his partner Sunny Venesky. After a satisfying nine-year run, GW decided he had other ideas he wanted to pursue and running a successful import business takes so much time that he felt he couldn't do both. As they started their enterprise, a natural division of labor occurred, with Sunny handling flight testing, shipping, and receiving and GW handling everything else the business required. This method has worked for U.S. Aeros for almost a decade. In 1997 and 1998, the business "went nuts," says GW. He explained saying that it was the time of topless glider emergence. American topless glider prices were edging beyond $6,000, a price many buyers found high. When the Stealth came out and U.S. Aeros priced it at $4,800, they unleashed pent-up demand and "we sold hundreds," Meadows reported. Those still considering kingposted gliders now turned to topless and never looked back. Then came 1999 and a recession that ushered in the 2000s. As GW sees it, lots of HG pilots had just bought a topless and needed to fly it for a while to justify the investment. It wasn't until 2001 that topless sales again picked up. Now, the Aeros line is back on track with 2004 the best ever for U.S. Aeros. GW's longtime partner, Sunny, is the operator of Highland Aerosports in Ridgely, Maryland. Sunny had been partners with Chad Elkin who was tragically lost while flying a Dragonfly; his brother later stepped in to help run the hang glider training and towing business. Though GW Meadows was the out-front guy that everyone knows, Sunny has quietly done the good work and in 2004 was feted as USHGA's Instructor of the Year. The plan to sell U.S. Aeros does not include Sunny's Highland Aerosports enterprise nor GW's mail-order business, Just Fly, which will continue business as usual. In fact, that identifies one of the reasons for GW to sell. "Selling hang gliders and harnesses is a very pilot-focused effort. It takes lots of time on the phone or in person to transact a sale because customers have lots of questions," Meadows reports. It simply was not allowing him the time to stretch his creative wings...or his figurative ones. He concluded, "I'm looking forward to just being a hang glider pilot once again." And despite the hassles of conducting glider trades, he added "I'll really miss the day-to-day interactions with my fellow pilots and loyal customers." So, if you're looking for a nice import business all set up and ready to go, contact GW at 252-480-3552 or GW@JustFly.com. Though it isn't hang gliding or paragliding, it is the world's longest-ever soaring flight. Do you know the name Steve Fossett? He's a wealthy pilot with the time to pursue world records. You may have read recently that he plans to fly solo around the world nonstop in a specially built airplane by Burt Rutan, the designer of SpaceShipOne and Voyager (which also circled the world nonstop, but with two pilots on board). Here's the report from AvWeb.com, an aviation e-zine. "Chalk up another record for Steve Fossett -- compliments of one of the longest stretches of ridge-soarable geography in the world (the Andes). The world's best-known extreme aviator broke the straight-line distance record for sailplanes December 4 when he flew an ASH 25M high-performance sailplane about two-thirds the length of Argentina, a total distance of 1,358 miles." "The flight, between the Argentine cities of El Calafate and San Juan, is roughly equivalent to the distance from New York to Dallas. It took Fossett and copilot 15 hours and 42 minutes and beat the old record, set by Klaus Ohlmann on the same course, by about eight miles. Fossett said conditions were perfect for the flight, which took him over the spine of South America in the stiff winds that mark spring over the Andes." Fossett now holds world records in five categories: hot-air balloons, airships, sailboats, gliders, and jets. He planned to attempt a nonstop, 80-hour solo flight around the world in the Rutan-designed GlobalFlyer in early January, 2005 from Salina, Kansas. Outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Messages or fax to 651-450-0930. E-mail to Dan@ByDanJohnson.com. THANKS!

Published in Hang Gliding Magazine

ST. PAUL, MINN. — As this issue went to press, the Christmas cards and calls were arriving as usual. One call was a flashback to precisely two years ago, when in this column (Feb. ’03) I wrote a farewell to longtime Hang Gliding editor, Gil Dodgen. So, perhaps it was fitting that he should call recently. Gil was charged up over a big success by his employer of the last couple years. Vertigo is an aviation and defense developer and they’d just done a specialized parachute drop that hit the target perfectly. The SoCal company creates solutions and has found answers when others couldn’t to create a successful enterprise. This is no surprise as Vertigo has quite a brain trust so the addition of software writer Dodgen was quite appropriate. In addition to Glen Brown, who you may not know, Vertigo’s staff is “hang gliding heavy.” Brown’s founding partner is CEO Roy Haggard whose most notable hang gliding claim to fame was developing the UP Comet, a glider widely believed to have forever changed the design of hang gliders.

Powrachte Eclectic Star

By Dan Johnson || April 1, 2005 Leave a Comment (Edit)

Kansas-based Powrachute has become one of the country's largest powered producers because they keep innovating. Their latest creation is a full enclosure for their Eclectic Star model. Before that they wowed visitors to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh when they showed a powered parachute propelled by a T-58 jet engine. Talk about a crowd pleaser; no one missed hearing it. In fact, company president Eddie Johnson (no relations to yours truly) said it flies just like any powered parachute, "only louder." No exaggeration in that comment.

Kansas-based Powrachute has become one of the country’s largest powered producers because they keep innovating. Their latest creation is a full enclosure for their Eclectic Star model. Before that they wowed visitors to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh when they showed a powered parachute propelled by a T-58 jet engine. Talk about a crowd pleaser; no one missed hearing it. In fact, company president Eddie Johnson (no relations to yours truly) said it flies just like any powered parachute, “only louder.” No exaggeration in that comment.