AirSports Expo attracts a large crowd and many vendors. On the first day in Ontario, California, you could see this was going to be the largest AirSports Expo yet. In the shadow still lingering from September 11, many wondered and worried about participation and attendance, but the concern was baseless. A flurry of activity in the last few weeks before the show brought so many requests for exhibit space that the already designed floor plan had to be scrapped and redrawn. More than 2200 pilots and other visitors saw the exhibits of 65 vendors. While still small next to Sun ’n Fun or AirVenture Oshkosh, this was a good turnout. The range of vendors included many aircraft suppliers and all manner of accessories and informational products. Gathering of Eagles AirSports Expo represents the combined efforts of the Soaring Society of America (SSA), the U.S. Ultralight Association (USUA), and the U.S. Hang Gliding Association (USHGA). The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and numerous soaring organizations from museums to affinity clubs also participated. When invited by the SSA to join its annual convention and show, the USUA, USHGA, and AMA responded positively, realizing that common needs outweigh individual differences. In past events, the Balloon Federation of America and the International Aerobatic Club have also been part of the event. In the future, AirSports Expo will become its own show rather than being an SSA event with invited guests. If it can build on the momentum evident this year, this traveling sport aviation show could become an important early-season event for various recreational flying groups. This show is about sport aviation at its truest. One reason for this is that all of these aircraft are commonly flown solo, for the pure joy and challenge of their pilots. Hang glider, ultralight and glider pilots all fly dual for training or other benefits, but their main operations are done solo. This is also a characteristic of model flying, skydiving and aerobatics, so it’s not surprising that these groups are also interested in AirSports Expo. Networking In its fifth year, AirSports Expo has also come into its own by assembling various sport flying groups, and it was a good time for acting together. The FAA’s issuance of the Sport Pilot NPRM only days before the show galvanized interest from hang gliders, ultralight pilots and sailplane owners who may all be affected in some way. When you stand next to a pilot who flies something different from what you fly—yet the two of you share an opinion about FAA actions—you realize the value of gathering at a common venue. Shows such as AirSports Expo are efficient and cost-effective ways for people of like mind to interact. Because the show travels, it also has unique outreach potential for light sport aviation. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and AOPA have traveling shows, but sport aviation relies mostly on outdoor events where flying takes place. While flight activity is great, these shows tend to become quartered somewhere, often in out-of-the-way places. The public must travel to them, rather than the other way around. If aviation is to grow and replace its aging population, it must attract non-pilots, preferably younger ones. Taking AirSports Expo to the people is a good step in the right direction. European airshows are mostly indoor events, and while flying is part of the action, it isn’t the central attraction as it is at U.S. shows. Yet the European concept seems to draw the public well because show organizers work at providing things for visitors to do. In that vein, newcomer activities such as the deluxe hang-gliding simulator at the Ontario AirSports Expo may interest a generation brought up on video games. From there, perhaps a genuine interest in flying will be stimulated by seeing and touching real flying machines. Industry experts and top pilots gave numerous talks. Association members attended most of these, but some were geared to newcomers. One session on how to get started in ultralight flying is an example. FAA Launches Sport Pilot NPRM This new proposed rule has captivated much of the sport flying public. It was finally announced less than a week before the show began, and FAA officials Sue Gardner, Scott Sedgwick, Mike Henry and Steve Brown were all present at the Expo to answer questions and get reactions. Standing-room-only crowds in large rooms were polite to the FAA representatives, showing a level of acceptance for the new rule. Of course, many had questions. The hang-gliding enthusiasts were particularly delighted to arrange a breakfast meeting with the FAA folks. As the proposed rule appeared to directly affect both two-place hang-glider training and aero towing, interest and anxiety were high. Industry leaders left the meeting feeling that the FAA “got it” about hang gliding needs. The ultralight association had a wonderful chance to host FAA meetings, proving its relevancy in the new world of Sport Pilot. And the FAA recognized USUA’s Tom Gunnarson for his years of work on the committee that inspired the new rule. Soaring members seem unaffected by the proposed rule because an FAA glider pilot license and aircraft registration already exist. Yet new machines, especially motorgliders, may come from the Sport Pilot side, so SSA paid plenty of attention to the FAA activities. One beautiful example of a soaring machine was the Lambada motorglider with its exquisite compound-curve wings. It sits on conventional trigear and is pushed by a four-stroke Rotax, giving it potentially broad appeal to soaring and power pilots. Because the event is part of the SSA’s annual convention, the show is naturally blessed with a wide variety of sailplanes. From a flying or an artistic standpoint, these have to be some of the loveliest machines aloft. KP

The ultralight motorglider evolution continues in Europe. Ultralight motorgliders are as rare as hen's teeth in the U.S., but Europe is blessed with several choices that nicely complement high-end, high-priced full-size motorgliders. While America has the lovely Esprit from Aero Dovron, our soaring friends across the Atlantic continue to lead this specialized market. Full-size (higher-weight) motorgliders start at more than $100,000 and can surpass $200,000. Those who can afford them are surely thrilled with such beautiful machines, but most of us can't spend that kind of money regardless of their superb performance. However, at $20-$30,000 ready-to-fly, a clean self-launching soaring aircraft is more affordable. Like their larger siblings, these efficient designs can also cruise under power respectably well, giving them broader appeal than pure gliders. Noins' Excel One of the newest of the breed is the Excel from France's Noins Aeronautiques Alpaero. Based in beautiful Tallard in the French Alps, Noins is revered by French soaring pilots. The Excel was so well received that delivery times initially jumped to one year. Noins also produces the Choucas model, a two-seat trainer, and the company formerly made the Sirius, a single-place. The newer Excel returns to a lighter, somewhat simpler design but reveals its ancestry by incorporating the best features of the earlier models. With a wingspan of 45 feet, this is a serious soaring machine, boasting a glide ratio of 30:1 and a sink rate of 150 fpm. These two measurements are important for any soaring aircraft and the Excel's results position it between hang gliders (at about 15:1) and full-size sailplanes that can achieve 60:1 glides. The Excel is designed for a single-cylinder engine equipped with a folding prop that streamlines itself automatically when the engine is shut down for soaring flight. The engine is mostly faired by the fuselage aft of the pilot, so it doesn't involve retract complexity. Excel sells for $32,000 in ready-to-fly form and is available as a kit for $22,000, excluding shipping. American pilots could operate it with an FAA motorglider rating, which does not require a medical. (This aspect is common to all motorgliders.) The Excel is also the heaviest of the ultralight motorgliders in this column with a 418-pound empty weight. The Graal Max Barel seems as much artist as motorglider designer. His artistic Graal, made of an exotic combination of molded wood and carbon fiber, looks like nothing else I've seen. Coupled with its distinctive construction, the Graal features a propeller situated aft of the tailplane. Like the Excel, the Graal's propeller folds to streamline when powered down for soaring flight. A tailwheel is streamlined in the bottom of an extended rudder. The Graal's engine is mounted permanently inside the fuselage. Once the engine has been shut down for soaring flight and has time to cool, a door over the exhaust port can be closed for maximum aerodynamic cleanliness. With a claimed 40:1 glide ratio, the Graal is the performance leader of our four subject aircraft. The design also achieves a sink rate of only 160 fpm. Though it's the second heaviest of our four models at just under 400 pounds, it is easily carried by its 49-foot wingspan. Priced at about $25,000 ready to fly, the Graal competes well in this aviation segment. Shipping and crating add to the delivered cost. Alisport's Silent Of all the ultralight motorgliders reviewed here, the Silent is perhaps the best known because Italian producer Alisport has brought its elegant creation to shows such as Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture Oshkosh. When I first saw the Silent fly in a French airshow, I was amazed that the single-cylinder engine and its distinctive single-blade prop launched and ascended with such energy. Ground roll was surprisingly short, and climb was healthy. No doubt this is aided by Alisport's efforts to keep the Silent light, at less than 300 pounds empty. Alisport uses a counterbalanced single-blade prop for efficiency-a lone blade passes through air undisturbed by other blades-but the company has another motivation. With one non-folding blade, the small engine and prop can be neatly retracted into a small cavity in the fuselage. Larger motorgliders use a similar retract technique, but the bigger engines and two blades needed to lift such aircraft also require a larger space for retraction. With the engine and prop retracted and the cavity door closed, the Silent looks much like a sailplane. Naturally, this yields benefits for soaring efficiency while also preserving a familiar appearance. The Silent's 40-foot wingspan can achieve a glide ratio of 32:1 and a sink rate of 140 fpm, according to factory information. It is priced reasonably at $32,000 before shipping expenses. Aeriane Motor Swift Although the Swift is the most unorthodox design of our four subject aircraft, it has won converts among the large European soaring community. With a glide ratio of 27:1 and a sink rate of 140 fpm, the Motor Swift is quite competitive, and it is unique for its tailless design. This 253-pound plane, the lightest of our four subject motorgliders, has been flying for a decade without problems. Though the Swift is popular in Europe, it began life as an American design from U.S. producer Brightstar. The San Francisco-area company created the unpowered Swift in the early 1990s. Soon after its introduction, Brightstar offered the Motor Swift, but the company didn't go nearly as far with it as Belgium-based producer Aeriane, which bought the manufacturing rights. The European company finished the cockpit area and has fully enclosed it and the aft engine. These streamlining efforts have boosted glide performance by several points. The Motor Swift comes with easily removed wings for simple transport and storage and is sold ready to fly with starter, folding prop, and instruments for about $25,000. Note: This article does not comment on how each of the subject aircraft fit into American regulations. The Motor Swift can qualify as a Part 103 ultralight. The Excel, the Graal, and the Silent will require amateur-built approval, but most would qualify under Sport Pilot if that rule passes into law. All but the Motor Swift are available as kits, according to factory reps, but their qualification under U.S. rules has not yet been determined. KP

An American finds success building aircraft overseas. This is not a story about a Czech company. It's about an American company in the Czech Republic, a distinction that makes this story different. For months we have been hearing and reading about sport pilot and light- sport aircraft (LSA). The FAA's new rule is creating plenty of excitement for some very good reasons. That excitement is not confined to the U.S. Overseas manufacturers are eyeing the new rule as a way to enter the U.S. market. One of those in the best position to take advantage of the new rule is Czech Aircraft Works (CZAW). An American In Prague Chip Erwin hails from Wisconsin. Today, he is an American who owns a company in the Czech Republic. His CZAW has become one of that country's largest aircraft producers. He accomplished all of this during the single decade when the Czech Republic regained its independence. Before the communists took over 50 years ago, the Czech Republic was one of Europe's most vibrant economies, with industry and technology that ran ahead of many of its neighbors. The Soviet takeover scuttled that advanced state of development. However, during Soviet occupation, Czech manufacturing skills were employed for building military and transport aircraft. When the Russians left a decade ago, the nationalized airplane builders were dumped into the capitalist cauldron. Most had to downsize viciously, and hundreds of experienced workers became unemployed. These displaced engineers had university degrees and decades of practical knowledge. Many of these people can now be hired for a fraction of the wages commanded by their western counterparts. Over time the salaries may start to equalize, but meanwhile, the situation spells opportunity to Americans like Erwin with their free-market MBA degrees. Sailboards to Aircraft Erwin was a consultant to a sailboard company when an inquiry arrived from the Czech Republic. The newly independent eastern European company wanted to build boards for its client, so Erwin went to investigate. As a longtime aviation enthusiast, Erwin quickly uncovered the aviation talent gold mine. Within months, he left the sailboard company and started CZAW. The early venture employed eight aircraft industry workers to build Zenair kits like the CH-701. Erwin struck a manufacturing deal with Canadian-based Zenair boss, Chris Heintz. Zenair prefers to design aircraft and manufacture kits and parts. It was happy to let CZAW handle the building of the aircraft. At first this was done only for the European market, but Erwin isn't one to let moss grow under his feet. The business expanded to build more Zenair models, sell to markets outside of Europe, and continually employ more of the Czech Republic's idled aviation workers. By 2004, CZAW expects to sell half its production to the U.S. through its dealer, SkyShop. Airplane Output Using 85 production workers and 30 other staff members, CZAW built about 100 aircraft last year. Erwin believes he'll have the capacity to manufacture at least 300 aircraft a year by 2004. More workers are available, and CZAW has generous ambitions. The company has already branched out in several directions. One of the first was creating its own float system for the Zenair line. All-aluminum constructions, CZAW's floats are available in straight and amphibious models of varying weight capacities serving a wide variety aircraft beyond the Zenair brand name. Another initiative is supplying parts to other aircraft builders. The leading example of this took me to another shop within the CZAW complex. Here, workers built the wings, tail and control surfaces for OMF, producer of the Part 23 certified Symphony. I saw several airplanes' worth of parts being assembled. To supply its own production as well as those of other customers, CZAW imports tons of aluminum sheet metal and other parts. Most raw materials are sourced from the U.S., a reassuring fact to customers who may be willing to believe in Czech labor standards but have suspicions about the quality of local material. A Look at the Planes On my visit, I added a flight evaluation of the CH-701 to my earlier experience in Zenair's CH-601. These two comprise the lion's share of production by CZAW-each about 50%- and form unique products that are leaders in their aviation segments. The 701 is a form of aerial jeep with bush tires and stout gear, STOL characteristics, and an uncompromising fuselage. Like many off-road vehicles, no one calls the 701 pretty. But the plane is highly functional and flies uniquely. Even at full gross, it leaps off the ground quickly and stalls so slowly you can't believe the ASI readings. Filling the niche for attractive, conventional-looking aircraft is the 601 series, a range of models built around the same Piper Cherokee-like fuselage. Larger or smaller wings combine with trigear or taildragger configurations and several engine selections to provide something to benefit most pilots. Used on more civilized airports, the 601 is faster and offers the sweeping visibility of a full, clear canopy. Both aircraft will easily fit the LSA rule as presently defined. Either will fill the needs of many pilots. But what can you do until sport pilot becomes law? CZAW and SkyShop have the answer, especially if you like to travel. A Trip Abroad For $43,950, you can buy and fly a CH-701 that will include a ticket to the Czech Republic. Once you've made your way 300 kilometers south to Stare Mesto, you'll work alongside CZAW factory workers to assemble your aircraft. SkyShop's seven-day builder assistance program is a great learning experience and qualifies under the amateur-built rule, they report. Once you return home, your aircraft will arrive by container freight. SkyShop will help with the FAA details, and you'll soon be flying your own N-numbered CH-701. A similar program is available for the 601 series for $2000 more. Once LSA becomes law, SkyShop will supply ready-to-fly aircraft from its  south Florida base to owners across America. Perhaps a Czech-built Zenair is in your future. FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Czech Aircraft Works, S.R.O., Lucni 1824, 686 02 Stare Mesto, Czech Republic; call (from the U.S.) 011-420-572-543-456; fax (from the U.S.) 011-420-572-543-692; e-mail aircraft@czaw.cz; web www.airplane.cz. SkyShop, Inc., can be contacted at 1837 S. Federal Hwy. #200, Stuart, FL 34994; call 772/223-8915; fax 772/382-0607; e-mail zaneta@SkyShops.org; web www.skyshops.org.

This French light-airplane show Tops Anything in the U.S. The name of the French venue is a bit awkward for Americans, though it rolls off the French tongue fluidly. Blois—pronounced Blwah—is a superb airshow that should grab the interest of every light-airplane enthusiast. Light Airplanes Everywhere! I’ve been to Sun ’n Fun for more than 25 years and to Oshkosh nearly as many. I spend a lot of time in the ultralight area of each, and they’re big events, no question. But both take a second seat to Blois. Yes, believe it or not, the event 185 kilometers south of Paris last August is the largest of the ultralight airshows I’ve seen. With 90 exhibitors and more than 500 aircraft, most of which were flown to the event, Blois beats even Paradise City at the Lakeland, Florida, Sun ’n Fun fly-in. I’ve known of this 22-year-old show since the ’80s but attended for the first time last summer. It won’t be my only visit. Solon Blois 2002 even surprised organizers headed by Claud Lhomme and Jean-Marie Carre. They had to add display space at the last minute when more companies than expected showed up with wares. The overflow was evident as they tried to place all exhibitors in one long row 50 feet back from the flight line. Except for the latecomers, all exhibitors had front row seats. The layout looked like a long walk compared with American events set in rows of booths. But it presented the flying machines in a unique way that many visitors seem to enjoy. Airplanes were arranged in front of the line of tents so that people meandered in and among them as they worked their way up and down the line. At the end of the event, I’d come to see this as a plan that provided good access to exhibitors and good viewing for prospective buyers. This is a selling show where most visitors want to fly. The number of tire kickers was much lower than at big American shows. All the companies I spoke to were pleased with crowds at the 2002 event. Aluminum to Great variety was also evident with aircraft ranging from powered paragliders to powered parachutes, light trikes, two-seat trikes, and gyros to three-axis aircraft of many descriptions built of aluminum, wood, steel, fiberglass and carbon fiber. The sheer richness of Blois’s aircraft matches anything I’ve seen in the U.S., although American shows also include hang gliders and powered hang gliders.  These were missing at Blois. Flying these Perse aircraft in a group involved the same challenges as the crowded skies above U.S. airshows. However, the organizers alternated every hour between open flying and factory demonstrations. Spectators got to see virtually every display aircraft perform right in front of them. No incidents occurred; ground controllers were doing a superb job. The runway was set up such that two simultaneous landings could take place. Launches usually occurred on the departure end of the strip while landing aircraft used the approach half. It worked well with flag men stationed strategically to allow near continuous motion of aircraft. Full Range of Choices Many Europeans are talking excitedly about America’s pending light-sport aircraft/sport pilot rule. Many hope to tap the big U.S. market with  their beautiful creations. We’ve been seeing some examples at our airshows in recent years, and they were also in abundance at Blois. Yet development was also evident on the conventional end of the ultralight market. For example, British trike builder Pegasus used Blois to debut their new Quik. This speedy model features a Rotax 912 engine and a tiny wing that allows cruising at 100 knots. A French trike called the Chapelet featured a slick installation of the BMW A-valve engine that puts out 80 hp. On the other end of the spectrum was DynAero’s carbon-fiber four-seater, the MCR 4S, which expands on the company’s speedy MCR 01 Banbi two-seater. Dallach of Germany showed its flying prototype high-wing, retractable-gear Evolution. Some call this company the “ultralight Lancair.” F Technik, also from Germany, featured its entire line of models: the popular FK-9, Comet folding biwing and Polaris speedster. Another aircraft, the 150 Rallye, looks much like a modernized Cessna 150 in fiberglass while Poland’s Junior sports the same room in a low-slung, overhead-wing package. France’s In my estimates over many years, I’ve seen France as the world’s second-largest recreational market, surpassed only by the U.S. The country has a long and colorful aviation history, originating not only manned flight (the Mongolfier brothers in their hot air balloon in 1783) but many aeronautical terms: aileron, empennage, fuselage and more. Ultralight flying in France continues the tradition, appearing healthy and progressive. Approaching its 23rd year, Blois is firmly established as the leading venue for ultralight aircraft in Europe. Other events feature the segment and even have large displays of light aircraft (Aero in Friedrichshafen, Germany, for example), but no others offer the close-up flying demonstrations and hands-on examination ease combined with charming French countryside and blue skies. Doesn’t it make you want to attend? The 2003 version is scheduled for August 30 and 31. Blois fits well in the airshow calendar.   FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Salon ULM Blois, Attn: Christian Lhomme, 32 Rue des Moriers, 41000 Blois, France; call 011-332-54-74-17-99; fax 011-332-54-78-56-84; e-mail lhomme.ch@wanodoo.fr; web www.ulmblois.com.

With 200-foot-tall trees and mountain peaks topped with snow throughout the year, Washington is a scenic place for an airshow. Despite a drought that caused the grass to crunch underfoot, light aviation looked alive and well at the EAA’s Arlington gathering for 2003. Local Boys Make Good One main attraction was the much-anticipated RV-10 four-place aircraft that drew big crowds. But a Washington-area group also revealed their efforts of past months. Sport Flight Aviation displayed in the ultralight area with the first of 50 kits in progress. Two completed Talons—the last of the old design—stood alongside a new Typhoon. The new closely resembles the old. Company owners Todd Thompson and Ron Osborne took pride in showing me extensive CAD-generated drawings printed after a lengthy effort to document the popular northwest design. Each of the men operates a non-aviation business. They teamed up to resuscitate a company left leaderless after the death of its founder, Roger Bitton. Fortunately, Thompson and Osborne didn’t alter this successful ultralight, delighting many like myself who found this to be a sweet-flying single seater. Armed with their thorough review of the component parts, Sport Flight Aviation is better able to deal with the proposed SportPlanes™/light-sport aircraft certification standards. I think we’ll be seeing more of this dynamic duo. More In-State Success Flush with a new order for 20 Apache trikes headed to Hong Kong, North Wing Design from western Washington is succeeding after years of work. The company’s efforts have culminated in the Apache Sport trike and the Contour wing seen at Arlington. Owner Kamron Blevins has been in the industry for more than 20 years, starting as a young hang gliding sailmaker. Refining this art, he moved into replacement parts for hang glider owners and then into building wings for other trike makers. After starting as a component supplier, North Wing started developing the entire aircraft. Now the company has steadily grown to be one of the largest trike builders in the U.S. The Apache Sport, introduced this year at Sun ’n Fun, is aimed at light-sport aircraft in the weight-shift category. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Blevins and his team added a handsome new body fairing to the trike. The fiberglass shape neatly accommodates the twin side radiators used to cool the Rotax 582. North Wing has also distinguished itself by being the only trike builder in the world to offer strut-supported wings rather than full cable bracing. While there is no aerodynamic drag improvement over wires, the struts do impart a modern look that may fetch more buyers from the fixed-wing community. In my experience with the company’s wings, their handling qualities have always been admirable. Dashing Designer He flies his ultralights to every show he attends, and he has the map on the side of his airplane to prove it. Earthstar Aircraft owner Mark Beierle is one of the industry’s most innovative designers. His work with the Thunder Gull inspired other brands and has put many aircraft in the sky. Not driving to shows has long been a trademark of Beierle, even when he did so with Experimental single-cylinder two-stroke engines. At Arlington, however, Beierle was propelled by the steady hum of his HKS 700E four-stroke two-opposed-cylinder engine from Japan. North American distributor HPower is pleased to have Beierle work out the installation due to his reputation for thoughtful, thorough engineering. Perhaps Beierle merely wanted a more potent engine so he could haul around his newest creation. An energetic developer, Beierle is not content simply to make airplanes that fly efficiently. He’s also creating his own ultralight-size radial engine named the Rad Cam. This eight-cylinder engine displaces only 600 cubic centimeters but can put out 60 hp. When it’s ready, look for Beierle to fly one of his Gulls to an airshow with this round engine supplying the thrust. Refined Canadian You can’t keep a good man down, and a good man can’t keep his airplane design down. Welcome to the JDM-8 No. 2, and welcome again to the HKS engine. When I first flew the JDM-8, I went aloft behind a Rotax 277 single-cylinder engine. That modest 28-hp engine helped the all-metal plane stay within Part 103’s tight guidelines. But the engine is no longer produced by Rotax, and designer Darryl Murphy is never one to back away from enlarging a perfectly good design. His Rebel turned Super Rebel turned Moose is an example of this bigger-is-better ideology—though in fairness, Murphy says he really enjoyed the challenge of staying within Part 103, and he liked the way the lighter plane flew. JDM-8 with HKS is now fully enclosed and stands atop longer maingear legs. But it hasn’t lost any of its shine, plus it gained quite a few miles in top cruise. Dual Powered Parachutes I know of only one other powered parachute design (by Sundog Powerchutes) that uses side-by-side seating, yet that’s how most of aviation prefers to teach students. Therefore, Airframes Unlimited may have something with its new offering, the SS-2. Arlington judges evidently agreed it was well done, awarding one example the Ultralight Champion prize. Since you fly with your feet directionally and for aerodynamic braking, the wide-bench twin seater has dual foot controls to operate its 500-square-foot performance design parawing. Powered by a Rotax 582—as are nearly all powered parachutes—SS-2 cruises between 28 and 42 mph, though the higher speed requires a more elliptical (i.e., higher performance) airfoil. The SS-2 also has dual outside throttles, a center steering bar and a welded airframe. The market is crowded for powered parachute makers today, so Airframes Unlimited’s approach may allow them to gain customers.

Light aircraft abound at Friedrichshafen's air fair. Once Oshkosh AirVenture has ended, you may be interested to hear of another gathering that challenges the Wisconsin affair for supremacy when it comes to light aviation. No, I’m not referring to Sun ’n Fun. Inside the vast and numerous indoor halls of Aero 2001 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the largest aircraft on display was a Cessna 206. But most were smaller, what the European Community calls ultralights, and the choices were as wide and diverse as the great halls that exhibited them. An Air Fair, Indeed When Germans speak English to Americans, they call their airshows “fairs.” Indeed, this July event was as large as some state fairs and resulted in near sensory overload for several U.S. airshow veterans who attended with me. Aero, which alternates years like many European airshows, has been hosted by the southern German town of Friedrichshafen for the last decade. It will move to new quarters at the nearby airport for the 2003 event, but in this last year at the old site, no fewer than 10 large indoor halls or separate buildings were crammed to capacity with many beautiful light aircraft. I attended for only two days, as I had previously planned a trip to the Ukraine. At the 2003 event, I won’t repeat this mistake. I’ll stay the whole time and will comb the offerings in much more detail. Based on a casual count, at least 50 gorgeous little airplanes were on display. The Czech Republic had its own hall with nearly a dozen aircraft companies exhibiting. Half of them I’d never seen, and all were worthy of a closer look. Euro officials and pilots call their machines ultralights because that’s how the regulations describe them, the key factor being a maximum gross weight of 450 kilograms or 992 pounds. No upper speed limit is defined, so an increasing number of aircraft are striving to be speedy like some American kit-built designs. The Euroland concept of an ultralight differs somewhat from what Americans call an ultralight. Theirs are light, much like American two-place ultralight trainers, but their mission profiles are closer to the fast-glass kits of the U.S. Imagine a half-weight Lancair and you’ll be close, though the speeds aren’t quite as high, and fuel consumption is much lower. European rules are scheduled for some change, and this may create a class of airplanes that can perfectly fit the new rule FAA has proposed (see below). Most of the new machines are skinned with glass or metal. Designs continuing to use aluminum tubing and fabric are losing share to more modern shapes, though the remaining tube-and-rag types are much less costly. Once dominant trike sales are slowing rapidly. In the majority of cases, the designs originate in western countries and are built in eastern countries, though some eastern European countries are now venturing out with their own marketing and sales systems. At least this is true for European sales. Most of the aircraft I photographed have yet to land North American representatives (with one exception being the Zephyr, distributed by Canada Czech Business Enterprises, 604/271-1169). Light Sport Aircraft FAA has been working on a new rule for years. They faltered badly with the recreational pilot license but have researched further and now propose a sport pilot license. (At press time, no announcement had been made.) While everyone calls the proposed rule sport pilot, another part is called light sport aircraft (LSA), and it is this part of the rule that may cause some of these European aircraft to arrive on American shores. One entry showed at Oshkosh this year, the CT from Germany sold by Rollison Airplane Company (812/384-4972). The proposed LSA rule specifies, among other things, that gross weight shall not exceed 1232 pounds. Even with the weight increase coming to Europeans, the chance to get in the huge U.S. market may cause many companies to alter their designs to fit this weight class. Certainly, it is close, at 560 kilos, to the 600-kilogram weight some are lobbying for in Europe. The CT fits the weight easily enough, but the European version is a little fast, exceeding the LSA limit of 115 knots (132 mph) if fitted with the more powerful Rotax 912S and an efficient cruise prop. For U.S. consumption, Rollison fits the CT with a Warp Drive prop that my AirVenture tests show held the plane precisely to the FAA speed limit. I made opposing runs at maximum power in low-level flight and never saw more than 131 mph on the installed GPS. With a new rule likely to emerge, experts say, snazzy aircraft from across the pond may have a dramatic impact on the American ultralight/light aircraft market. Many won’t succeed in the U.S., but several could. And while this is interesting to consumers, it may force some less successful Yankee ultralight and kit manufacturers out of business. Home of the Zeppelin The next Aero event will come during the year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Friedrichshafen is in the south of Germany on beautiful Lake Constance (Bodenzee) across from Switzerland and near Austria. So beautiful are the surroundings that a view in any direction composes a postcard. And if you’re like me, fascinated with blimps, you may also want to visit the Zeppelin Museum, as the town is home to the famous airship brand. Regardless of your particular aircraft focus, the lighter end of aviation has never been better served than at Aero. I highly encourage a visit, but planning ahead is essential to find accommodations. In some ways, that makes Aero a lot like the sprawling AirVenture operation. KP

An American in Ukraine: We develop a taste for the local sport airplane product. The September 2000 KITPLANES® cover featured Howard Levy’s report on Aeroprakt airplane kits about to be imported into the U.S. Recently, I visited the factory and flew the airplanes. Here’s what I found. We’re Not in Kansas In a land far away, people with a strange language are doing something good for pilots in America. They’re building some fine aircraft and coincidentally helping Yankees discover their distant land. The country is Ukraine, the city is Kiev, and the company is Aeroprakt. Don’t feel bad if remnants of the old Iron Curtain blocked your view. I had the same impression until I traveled to the ancient country for a look. Before we get to the airplanes, though, let me give you a brief tour of the country, the city and the company. Then you’ll get my impression of the aircraft. Former Soviets Don’t call them Russians; they’re Ukrainians. The confusion among westerners stems from long isolation for a part of the world sometimes referred to as Eastern Europe. Soviet dominance for 70 years nearly smothered the Ukrainians. The Communist system created many woes such as endless rows of poorly maintained, dreary apartment buildings and dull, drab industrial areas. Even now, the economy has years to go before it becomes truly market based. Old people can barely survive on tiny government pensions. Some people work for companies that haven’t paid them for two years. Yet even a non-paying job gives a sense of being connected to the future. These are people who want to lift themselves up now that they’re freed from Communism. Many Ukrainians, especially middle-age and older people who grew up working in a state-run economy, won’t make the transition to a market-based system. It will take a generation or more before younger people with new ideas rise to positions of power in Ukraine. But already, some have figured it out amazingly well. Welcome to light aviation in Ukraine. Ambitious Aeroprakt Run by two Ukrainians—Yuri Yakovlev, the design engineer, and Oleg Litovchenko, the business manager—Aeroprakt has come into its own recently. Employing 40 people, the young enterprise bought and is remodeling an industrial building and will soon have a factory envied by many American aviation entrepreneurs. It wasn’t always so. My travel companion, Phil Lockwood of Lockwood Aviation Supply, and I heard quite a tale from Yakovlev and Litovchenko. The early years of Aeroprakt were tough. They worked hard in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds: no cash, crude facilities, a lack of tools and computers, no CNC machines, no contact with western markets where most aircraft are sold, a language barrier, and a national currency not accepted outside Ukraine. Despite these barriers, they soldiered on, designing one aircraft after another. Then came a welcome sale in the United Arab Emirates. Unfortunately, the deal went badly and the budding capitalists found themselves sinking again. But their work had not gone unnoticed. Arab Sheik Hussein has a keen interest in aviation, and he has owned many types of aircraft. He flew the Aeroprakt in his country and became interested enough to commission a special ultralight from the company’s bright, hungry engineers. He had seen what they could do with earlier aircraft like the A-20 Vista Cruiser and A-22 Talon. Believing in the talent and drive of Yakovlev and his engineering team, he commissioned a twin-engine ultralight. Yakovlev modified the A-20 airframe, slung two Rotax 503 engines under the wings, and the A-26 was born. The story continued for 2 hours and ended with the sheik becoming an investor in Aeroprakt. Like many others in Ukraine light aviation, Yakovlev was trained and employed by the Antonov Design Bureau. With an army of engineers, Antonov designed many of the Soviet’s most famous aircraft and built the first flying articles of them. Since production was then given to another state organization, Antonov was in a constant state of development. Young engineers at Antonov became experienced in conventional aviation design, and this solid background has been put to good use in the designs of Aeroprakt. Vista Cruiser Each April at the Sun ’n Fun airshow, I fly 15-20 new light aircraft accumulating photos and information about flight characteristics. Most years, I am able to select one aircraft that was my pick of the week. For 2001, my choice was the Aeroprakt A-20 Vista Cruiser. Fitted with a 100-hp Rotax 912S and flown solo, the A-20 is nothing short of spectacular. It demonstrated sustained climbs of 1700 fpm, and I made one takeoff with only 3910 rpm showing on the digital EIS instrument. Able to slow to the mid-30s with full flaps for some fun flying just above open fields, the Vista Cruiser can accelerate to a 115-mph cruise. Sink rates with the engine idling are about 400 fpm, a lower-than-average figure even for the lighter ultralights. I was able to sustain altitude with only 3800 engine rpm, cruising gently at 60 mph. At this setting, the Vista Cruiser can stay aloft a long time, and it is exceptionally quiet. Takeoffs were quick and exhilarating, and all my landings were smooth. My only problem involved the effort to get the A-20 down after exercising my preference for high approaches. This is a good problem. The front seat reminds me of a sailplane. The pilot sits well out in front of the wing, and visibility is enormous. I also tried the back seat on a flight in Ukraine, and—while somewhat more cramped—it offered good visibility and a full set of controls. Prices and options are varied and plentiful. Spectrum Aircraft, the U.S. importer, has the details. Celebrate Freedom As this issue arrives in your mailbox, Ukrainians have just celebrated their anniversary as a free nation once again. August 2001 commemorated a decade of freedom for the Ukrainian people. Small companies like Aeroprakt are part of the country’s emergence into the global society. Given the company’s progress, I predict that we’ll see lots of these airplanes. They’re worth a close look.   KP FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact the U.S. distributor, Spectrum Aircraft, 13 Crosley Lane, Suite 5 Sebring, FL 33870; call 863/655-9299; fax 863/655-9578; e-mail jhunter@strato.net.

Like any of the Olympic sports, a world-class hang gliding championship brings together pilots so good that the rest of us can only imagine performing as well. Two hang gliding contests clustered right after Sun ’n Fun draw the best of the best, and 2001 was a banner year for top talent. This year the Wallaby Open and a contest at nearby Quest Air switched positions with the Quest meet coming first this year. The highest-ranking world pilots flew both week-long competitions. Cross-Country Tasks Some power pilots believe that hang glider pilots jump from mountains and slide into the valley. That may have been true 25 years ago, but today, meet organizers routinely call for racing flights from 50 to well over 100 miles. In daily events called tasks, competing pilots are out on the course trying to make goal. As many as 100 gliders are pursuing the destination as furiously as the lift will allow. On good days with plentiful lift, hang glider pilots can race long periods in a nearly straight line. On days with more intermittent or scattered soaring conditions, they spend longer circling in lift before striking out for distance. Cross-country racing becomes a highly disciplined piloting activity that combines with an athletic challenge even greater than competition aerobatic flying. Courses can be straight-line goals that stretch out to the horizon, often exceeding 100 miles in length. In such one-way flying, tailwinds may be a big help to faster times. Meet directors may also call triangle tasks where at least some of the flying will be done into headwinds. Each task can require 2-5 hours of flying, almost exclusively in the prone position. To qualify as a valid contest, the organizers must complete five or more days in a week with such all-out racing. Given such demanding flying day after day, only a limited number of pilots in the world are capable of winning. As in Formula One car racing, perhaps a dozen competitors are the ones to beat. Developing a Reputation In the last few years, Florida has become a focal point for top competitions in the world of hang gliding. Revved up by the timing after April’s Sun ’n Fun fly-in (which originally helped draw ultralight towplanes into the area), the Wallaby Open at Wallaby Ranch has established itself as the place to race. Formerly, hang gliding competitions were national contests in the summer months, and they were held at mountain launch sites. All of that is changing fast. Now the season opens in spring in the Florida flat- lands, and the world attends. A second event began several years later, and combining two major meets within 30 miles of each another in a weather-friendly state like Florida works like a magnet. The  proximity of airshows and tourist attractions plus easy accommodations and travel also help. This year the event at Quest was the Flytec Championships, named after its lead sponsor, high-tech soaring instrument seller Flytec USA. As it happens, the owner of Flytec is also running the operation at Quest, making for a harmonious marriage. Quest is located some 27 miles north of Wallaby Ranch. Both airparks are within a few miles of Disney World: one west, one to the south. The Flytec team performed admirably. While meet director Steve Kroop admits that these contests can always be improved, he beamed as he recounted one safe, furious session where a fleet of 14 ultralight tugs launched 127 gliders in 46 minutes! “To go any faster would be silly,” he says, but he hopes to make the experience even smoother for the world hotshots next time. Between Wallaby and Quest is well-known Seminole gliderport, and the three facilities prove that central Florida offers superb soaring. The phenomenon that permits this is the Florida Ridge, a convergence of east coast and west coast sea breezes that meet in the middle of the state. Opposing winds have nowhere to go but up, forming an invisible ridge line that can carry hang gliders thousands of feet aloft. World-Class Events Flytec presented more than $10,000 in cash prizes plus other goodies. Wallaby offered a similar amount and also boasts a full-time cook who prepared meals for all competitors, crews and visitors. More than 100 pilots competed in each event, which makes for challenging logistics. Well over 100 gliders with 35-foot spans, plus a dozen tug ultralights and several hundred ground vehicles and campers fill even the large spaces at Quest and Wallaby. In the field of pilots registered, about half were international contestants hailing from Brazil, Australia, Ukraine, England, France, Austria, Canada, Argentina, Columbia, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. At Quest, 57% were Americans, and only 47% represented Team USA at Wallaby. Austrians Manfred Ruhmer and Gerold Heinrichs set a blazing trail for the others, finishing first and second in both meets. Ruhmer, the lead pilot for Italy’s Icaro brand, is the reigning world champion, and he hung onto his title convincingly. American Paris Williams took fourth place in both meets against the best in the world. Globalized Hang Gliding The world’s top manufacturers were also well represented at the twin Florida contests. America’s clear leader is Wills Wing. Flown by Williams and several others, Wills managed to place four pilots in the top 10 when results are combined. The Australian brand, Moyes Delta Wing, had the most entries (32% overall) and placed eight gliders in the top 10 of the combined meets. Italy’s Icaro brand had six, and Ukraine’s Aeros placed two in the top ranks. France’s La Mouette brand, England’s Avian, and Germany’s A.I.R. and Flight Designs companies were also represented. It’s no wonder the brands compete as hard as the pilots fly. Winning contests helps sell gliders to the wider recreational pilot community. Since only 1% compete, the main reason to sponsor pilots and refine wings to win races is to build the brand, just as with auto racing. Let the games begin! If observing this exciting action interests you, contact Quest or Wallaby and get prepared for even hotter flying in April of 2002.           KP FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Quest Air/Flytec Championship at 6548 Groveland Airport Road, Groveland, FL 34736; call 352/429-0213; fax 352/429-4846; e-mail  questair@sundial.net; web www.questairforce.com. Wallaby Ranch/Wallaby Open is at 1805 Dean Still Road, Davenport, FL 33837; call/fax 862/424-0070; e-mail fly@wallaby.com; web www.Wallaby.com.

Note to readers — This article first appeared in EAA Sport Pilot magazine. The layout is unusual because of magazine formatting, but all the text and photo information is as it originally appears… —DJ AND LEARNING THE HISTORY OF FAR PART 103 Not long after takeoff, the airline captain's deep voice transmitted the following: "Ah... Los Angeles Center, I see hang gliders not far off my wing. They aren't in our airspace, but I'm surprised to see these guys up here." Thus began the impetus to create Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103. Of course, the rule had no name at the outset, but one FAA official saw the future. Honoring the foresight of this man, EAA recently inducted W. Michael "Mike" Sacrey into the EAA Ultralight Hall of Fame during ceremonies on November 2, 2001, at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Mike holds an airline transport pilot (ATP) rating with numerous sign-offs for a variety of jets and multiengine seaplanes. He's also flown at least a dozen different ultralights. A certificated flight instructor for both airplanes (CFI) and instruments (CFII), Mike has logged more than 8,000 hours of flight time. During his nearly 30-year career with FAA, he held a number of positions in various Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs), including assignments to FAA's Washington, D.C., headquarters staff. He retired from FAA in June 2000, after having served as director of FAA's Southern Region Flight Standards District Office for more than six years. While Mike's work in mainstream aviation affected thousands of pilots plus millions of airline customers, none have been touched more saliently than the ultralight community. Tens of thousands of fly-for-fun pilots owe this man a debt of gratitude, even if they don't know his name (though, obviously, articles like this one will somewhat change that situation). Though modern-day ultralight pilots may not often consider the significance of Mike's work two decades ago, he created the structure in which ultralights were allowed to flourish. Careful to give credit to others, Mike would demure to the designers, instructors, organizers, association leaders, and flying club officials who compose the backbone of ultralight aviation as it is today. Yet it takes a visionary person to put new developments in their proper position; when it comes to ultralight aviation, Mike Sacrey is the person many believe deserves this distinction. As he looked ahead, his eyesight was better than 20/20. Part 103 will celebrate its 20th anniversary not long after EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2002 is history. Today it is widely accepted as a triumph of rule making|a rule about which pilots can actually become enthusiastic.

Creating Ultralight Vehicles

For the term "ultralight vehicle" Mike gives credit to FAA's Juan Croft, who developed the original foot-launch policy for powered hang gliders. Mike explains: "In the late 1970s, Juan reviewed powered hang glider operations, and he argued that they would not be a hazard to air commerce. Based on his recommendation, the agency chose to classify powered hang gliders as vehicles rather than aircraft and to regulate them differently because they were and are recreational vehicles rather than air commerce vehicles." But, in the early 1980s, FAA's attention was again drawn to ultralights after enthusiasts started putting better developed engines on the machines, which allowed them to fly higher and farther. Mike recalls that FAA's Air Traffic Division was given the assignment to create a sub-chapter to FAR Part 91 that would regulate the activities of these vehicles. "That was the original plan," says Mike, "to figure out how to prohibit powered hang gliders/ultralights from using the most pieces of airspace that also were used by air commerce. FAA didn't want to kill ultralights, but nobody in air commerce was too anxious to see them proliferate. We were trying to find a way to adequately fulfill FAA's responsibilities to control air traffic and assure the safety of the public. "The actual assignment to write the rule came to Bernie Geier and Keith Potts as division managers. Besides myself, others on the team included Jack Reynolds from Airports, Ken Peppard from Air Traffic, and Art Jones of the Certification branch. Art was involved because at one time the thought of requiring some level of pilot certification had been considered. Even though Art was manager of the Certification branch, he was not someone who was particularly into empire building. He had a good feel for what was and wasn't needed, and in the end he felt that pilot certification would not be a significant benefit and could become a burden on the agency if FAA had to oversee certification." According to Mike, one of the biggest discussions that evolved from FAA's initial meetings was coming up with a definition of ultralights. "We could see that the foot-launching rule wasn't working any more as a defining line because more and more people were putting landing gear on the machines, and we could see that was safer, so we began looking for other defining criteria. At that time, we had no idea how sophisticated these machines were going to become."

The Magical 254-Pound Weight Limit

One of the most-asked questions by ultralight newcomers and veterans alike is, "How did FAA choose 254 pounds for the maximum empty weight of ultralight vehicles?" Mike finally tells the story: "The weights were a compromise. First we started talking about how much weight pilots could actually foot-launch. The original proposal was for 155 pounds, but people told us they were routinely launching 200-pound ultralights. We didn't necessarily believe that was the case, but that's what manufacturers and enthusiasts represented to us. After many discussions with those active in the industry, the weight of 254 pounds came down because we thought manufacturers and owners could build a safe machine at that weight, and then we added the weight exemption for a 'safety device to be deployed in a potentially catastrophic situation.'" Mike says that exemption came about as the rule-making team began to consider the repercussions of inair/ structural failures. "We heard a lot of talk about parachutes that could lower the whole machine to the ground in the event of a structural failure, and that seemed worth investigating." Then, as now, some enthusiasts marvel that safety devices didn't include all manner of other safety gear. Mike responds: "In fact, we were thinking specifically of parachutes, although we didn't want to say only parachutes because we didn't want to limit ingenuity. But we decided that safety devices to be deployed in a catastrophic situation did not mean brakes or a radio, as some have challenged since the rule's institution. Frankly, we argued about many of them, including radios, brakes, and a transponder, or even a horn because it would let people on the ground know to get out of the way. People tried to say brakes were needed, but that's not true in a catastrophic situation. "The idea of the whole-airplane parachute was relatively new. Many pilots were wearing parachutes with hang gliders-and there had already been successful deployments. A couple of companies were working on systems for powered ultralights, and we thought, 'Why not give them an extra allowance?' We were limiting the weight of the airframe, thus to some extent interfering with the design, so we thought emergency parachutes would just be a good redundancy. "At that time there was a lot of talk in regulatory circles that if you're going to make some piece of equipment optional, there should be some extra privilege if pilots/owners added it. For example, in other aircraft, if you added a transponder, you were allowed to fly through additional airspace. "We decided that if owners added the extra weight of the parachute, we'd give them the extra weight allowance so that they wouldn't pay a penalty in weight for equipping their vehicle with this safety device." With several "saves" recorded because of the availability of ballistic chutes, history shows the rule-making team's logic was sound. But how did extra weight for floats figure into the special exemption? Mike explains that, too. "Regarding floats, we could see that if people were operating off water they weren't operating anyplace where they were going to be involved with other air traffic. In the examples I saw, people were operating at low altitudes in small bodies of water, and they just were not a threat to other air traffic." Could ultralight manufacturers have convinced Mike and the team that more airframe weight was reasonable? Remembering that "foot-launch" had been the prior rule, Mike says perhaps, but not likely. "The weight was definitely a negotiation. The industry was trying to convince us that these were the same machines they had been foot-launching, but it's hard to convince someone you can footlaunch a 300-pound vehicle."

Speed Limits in the Sky

How about that 55-knot or 63-mph speed limit? Wasn't that rather restrictive? (In the context of the proposed sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule that carries a top speed limit of 132 mph, this question seems relevant.) Mike responds with typical logic: "First of all we looked at the speeds at which most of the machines were operating, and 55 knots was about average. Second, we looked at the damage that could be caused-the faster the projectile or the aircraft was going, the more kinetic energy you have. "We looked at the type of technology that was being used, the wing designs, and we decided that a 55-knot speed would be adequate for sport and recreation. These aircraft were never going to be transportation machines per se, so it was a compromise, as are most things in regulatory language. We knew that if we kept a limit on the top speed and if we could get the stall speed down pretty low, the chances were we would not have much third-party injury or damage. And I don't think we have had much third-party injury or damage." Many who know him think Mike is some kind of ideal FAA regulator. How might he act today if he had remained in his old role? He muses: "I, for one, would be for a new definition of ultralights with a new, higher empty weight, and I wouldn't object to some speed increase on the top end, but I would object to any speed increase on the bottom end, though that would be a very difficult thing for a designer. The low kinetic energy has been responsible for fewer injuries and fewer third-party damage incidents; consequently, we haven't had a significant part of the public saying that ultralights are a problem."

Why No Certificate?

Because most ultralights fly only locally, many certificated pilots will somewhat grudgingly admit a certificate may not be necessary. However, we all know some ultralights fly long distances. Mike explains: "We decided that ultralight flying was a sport similar to mountain climbing and skiing, and we didn't have any intention of coming up with standards for the machines. We had a good model for that in the sport parachuting rule, which is the model that I settled on and became the major advocate for- not licensing the aircraft, not licensing the airmen, just limiting the potential for disaster by (1) keeping them out of certain air space, and (2) limiting the size of the aircraft and the amount of fuel they could carry. "Of course we know that ultralights have gone all around the United States, but I submit that every time, they were being operated by somebody having adequate knowledge to do it safely. In some cases they were already certificated pilots at another level, but even if not, the truth is they were able to do it safely without endangering anyone else, and that's all that mattered. That's all licensing is about-it's just a method to assure the public that a reasonable minimum of knowledge has been gained. Licensing or certification is not some magic panacea." Although Mike encountered some resistance within FAA for his "letthem- fly-freely" philosophy, he continued to use logic to further his goals. "We knew we could not have an inspector at every airport or place where hang gliders or ultralights could be operated. That was foolish thinking. It was better to depend on industry, the community, and the marketplace to determine what's successful." In the end it may have been the political climate that allowed Mike to work his rule-making magic. "The timing was good. Our government was into self-regulation. Politically, the administrations didn't want new governmental functions; this was during the Carter and Reagan administrations. Carter was talking about smaller government, the Paperwork Reduction Act was in force, and simplification of regulations was our marching order, so it all flowed fairly smoothly. Nobody wanted to get the federal government into new areas, particularly in regulatory matters. Whenever you came up with a regulatory scheme you had to show how you were saving taxpayer's money, not spending it. So this rule worked well in that climate." Nearly 20 years later, it is obvious to aviators in and out of the ultralight industry that Part 103 has functioned admirably. However, even such a marvelously simple rule required more detail. Advisory Circulars 103-6 and the very important 103-7, which helped FAA field inspectors as well as ultralight designers determine if a given ultralight met the rule, provided that detail. This still was not the limit of Mike's work. Important innovations that came once Part 103 was written into law included the exemptions for two-place training in powered ultralights and for the towing of hang gliders. Mike states: "I did the two-place exemption and the towing exemption, and both of them were difficult to convince FAA General Counsel to accept. FAA's top lawyers are very leery about exemptions. They feel you should go back to rule making rather than exemptions, but we talked about how we needed expediency and the fact that we could increase the safety of ultralights. "While many cite ABC's 20/20 program in November of 1983 as having been extremely harmful to the sport of ultralighting, it actually helped us get the two-place exemption through because we were able to convince people that just by having some experience in the twoplace machine with an experienced pilot we could essentially replicate the kind of safety that was involved in conventional training aircraft. They went for that, and we got the exemption." In his Hall of Fame nomination document for Mike, Carmen Miranda of EAA Ultralight Chapter 71 wrote, "It should be remembered that the extraordinary success enjoyed by the ultralight community today in the United States is in no small measure due to the personal efforts and vision of this one FAA official."

Offering My Congratulations

In closing, I'd like to add my personal thoughts. I've come to know Mike, not as an FAA man but as a person and fellow pilot. Since we first met I've enjoyed his calm demeanor and winning smile (not always attributes I associate with my representatives in FAA). We've had numerous conversations, and you know what — he's "one of us." In his acceptance speech, Mike recognized the irony of EAA inducting a "rule maker" into the ranks of sport aviation's finest. Yet anyone who's ever met and talked to Mike finds this of no surprise whatsoever. While some rule makers load regulation upon rule to the shoulders of pilots, Mike and his associates in the early '80s helped create the least imposing rule in the thick book of FAA regulations. As I've often, and proudly, repeated, this is an FAA rule that can be printed in its entirely on the front and back of one 8.5-by-11-inch piece of paper. Lastly, Mike's work has had a profound influence on my life and that of thousands more owing to his dedication to ballistically deployed emergency parachutes. By seeing the future (BRS was very young at the time and had yet to save its first life), Mike not only helped provide me with a career, but he also allowed these devices to save literally hundreds of lives. Please join me in giving Mike a round of applause for his work on aviation's tiniest rule, the famous Part 103. Not only did he accomplish a noteworthy rule creation; he did so in barely one year once the NPRM was published. Perhaps Mike puts it best when he summarizes: "The rule started out to be a prohibitive rule-prohibit the operation here, prohibit the operation there. What we were able to do was make it into a permissive rule that allowed the operation of ultralights and put significant responsibility on the operators and on the industry. That was the whole model. If I became famous for any part of 103, it was because I advocated letting the pilots regulate themselves. Regulation shouldn't limit invention." Amen — and congratulations to Mike Sacrey, an FAA rule maker pilots can applaud! EAA has bestowed a well deserved honor.

The FAA's new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) has been released. With a 90- day comment period underway, the proposed pilot certificate and aircraft categories are on the minds of all light-aircraft producers and anyone who flies for fun. The flying machines that will fit under the proposed new aircraft categories will be called light-sport aircraft, and in this article we'll take a look at what's currently available|and what the future may hold. "The FAA's new rule is destined to globalize the light aviation industry." The promise is great for Americans. When the new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft NPRM changes are finalized and implemented, we will enter a new era in light aviation. People who have wanted a light aircraft to fly for fun but who didn't have the time or skill to build it will be able to buy a ready-to-fly airplane. And, they'll be able to learn to fly in less time and at less expense than the cost of acquiring a private pilot certificate. Fixed-base operators will be able to rent affordable light-sport aircraft for training and for fun flying. Instructors of light-sport aircraft will be recognized for the professionals they are. During a proposed three-year transition period, thousands of twoseat ultralights may become lightsport aircraft, if the owner so chooses. After making that transition, those pilots will be able to bring a friend, their spouse, or a child aloft with them legally. They'll have the choice of using either a valid U.S. driver's license or an airman medical as their medical certificate. Cruising speeds for these fun aircraft will leap to 132 mph, and amphibious aircraft with repositionable gear will be acceptable in this category. With training, owners will continue to be able to do their own maintenance, and insurance and financing should become easier to obtain. And, with certificated pilots operating certificated aircraft, an increased number of America's 12,000-plus airports will be more likely to welcome light-sport aircraft. It sounds great, doesn't it? So what will you be able to buy as a light-sport aircraft enthusiast? Which aircraft will qualify under this proposed rule? No one knows for certain which manufacturers will decide to produce the ready-to-fly aircraft that will become available under this proposed rule, but an expert can make some informed guesses. Having flown a great many of this genre's aircraft, I will attempt to identify a group of likely players in this article. Any review such as this will have errors and omissions. I don't plan to discuss those aircraft certificated with a standard airworthiness certificate that may be flown with a sport pilot certificate-such as some of the Piper J-3 Cubs and Aeronca Champs. Nor have I included any gyroplanes, airships, or balloons-which are included under the proposed rules- as I have limited experience with those flying machines. In addition, I have not listed the many plans-built aircraft that will qualify as sport-pilot eligible as my familiarity with that group of aircraft is limited as well. Though the new special lightsport aircraft category may require only modest additional work for some producers to manufacture flyaway aircraft, other companies may find the process too burdensome or too costly. No doubt some manufacturers will elect to continue producing true Part 103- legal ultralights while others will maintain their amateur-built kits and plans sales. Most industry experts predict some consolidation among light aircraft builders. It will be an exciting and interesting time as the industry and community develops and matures. Let's Enjoy the Sky Together! As I sifted through my reference materials, many websites, and the buyer's guides produced by several U.S. and international publishers, I selected 67 candidate manufacturers that I think pilots may see participating in the future of lightsport aircraft. Again, it is probably certain that I will be wrong about some of them, and I may have missed some worthy producers. This is a preliminary review, not the final effort to determine which machines will earn approval. As time marches onward, some products will fall by the side, and new designs will be added. Any compilation of lightsport aircraft is bound to be a work in process for several years to come. I tried to be inclusive, but any company or designer who feels left out is encouraged to contact EAA or me. (E-mail Experimenter at experimenter@eaa.org or the author at Dan@ByDanJohnson.com. Updates should be sent by manufacturers only, please; we cannot answer emails or calls from thousands of readers.) Who Will Play the New FAA Game? On EAA's sport pilot website, www.sportpilot.org, 271 sport-pilot eligible models are listed in one compilation. Yet I show only 67 names. What is the difference? EAA's list counts all the different models, including the plans-built aircraft I mentioned above, whereas I listed only manufacturers. I chose that method because models change more often than manufacturers, and new designs may emerge specifically to meet the light-sport aircraft definition. I also used a more complex selection criteria. Other lists count all aircraft that appear to fit the weight and speed definitions of light-sport aircraft. I did similarly, but I also considered the chance that a particular manufacturer would complete all the steps necessary to qualify its aircraft as a light-sport aircraft. Remember, manufacturers and builders still have the experimental amateur-built (51-percent) category in which to operate, and Part 103 ultralight rules remain delightfully free of regulation. Aircraft that legally fit either group today will fit those groups in the future, as the FAA is leaving those popular programs in place. While the proposed consensus standard compliance that will apply to the design and manufacture of light-sport aircraft is much less restrictive from a regulation standpoint-compared to Part 23 certification rules-participating will still demand a good deal of effort, money, and time. Not everyone will want to do the work. (See "Consensus Standards-Why, What and How" on page 25 of this issue.) Many manufacturers, however, will see the potential of light-sport aircraft. When selecting my 67 aircraft producers, I made a series of judgment calls. I'm guessing that the names included in my chart will be the most likely builders to rise to the challenge so they can reap the rewards. However, I don't think that light-sport aircraft will be limited only to faster, larger, more costly airplanes. Broad Group of Aircraft Because a light-sport aircraft (LSA) can weigh 1,232 pounds at gross doesn't mean that every aircraft offered will weigh that much. For example, many foreign-built trikes may be among the earliest approved aircraft in the new class. British trikes have already been operating under a comprehensive certification system. If the United Kingdom's BCAR-S rule is accepted as part of the design consensus standard-as it might well be from what we know now-then a Pegasus trike could win approval as a LSA in a short time. Standards in Germany, Australia, and Canada may also find quick reciprocal approval. Trikes are not particularly fast, and powered parachutes are even slower. So the proposed rule's top speed of 132 mph is not by itself a certain definition of all light-sport aircraft. Some probably won't even have the two seats allowed, I predict. The proposed sport pilot rule changes also may affect the way designers view Part 103 ultralights. While many engineers feel a 254- pound empty weight limit restricts what they can do, human ingenuity can never be ruled out. Some smaller builders will continue to produce these simpler machines with their basic rules and no need for certification (or pilot certificate) of any kind. In fact, new designs may appear. Because Part 103 is being left intact, some aircraft will not have to qualify under sport pilot. Hang gliders, powered paragliders, light trikes, and light powered parachutes can still operate under the milder Part 103 rule, which also allows builders to sell ready-to-fly aircraft. While some industry experts predict the demise of Part 103 aircraft, they may be wrong. In fact, some manufacturers have already told me they intend to make at least one model that will continue to qualify under Part 103. America leads the world in kit aircraft production with hundreds of models offered. Some buyers will likely opt for the light-sport aircraft category and its benefits, but others will be content to work within the experimental amateur-built regulations. Sport pilots will be able to fly both. What a country! Aircraft in this report come from the ultralight, microlight, and light homebuilt communities, including many that Europe, Australia, and Canada call ultralights. Have It Your Way Those manufacturers who choose to fill the expected demand for lightsport aircraft can offer flying machines in several ways. They can continue to make kits as they have in the past, or they can create new ones. These new LSA kits will not have to follow the 51-percent rule and can be 10- or 90-percent completed by the factory, depending on what the market demands. However, only ready-to-fly special light-sport aircraft models will be able to be used for compensated activities like instruction or rental. Fully built, ready-to-fly aircraft will be certificated as special light-sport aircraft, while kit models will be experimental light-sport aircraft. A sport pilot certificate will suffice for either variation, and those with"higher" certificates like private, commercial, or ATP can fly any lightsport aircraft in the category in which they are rated without further requirements. Not all current kits that exist in the lightplane world will qualify as light-sport aircraft. For example, it makes little sense to deliberately slow designs that cruise faster than 132 mph, and twin-engine aircraft, like the Air Cam and the A-26 Vulcan, do not qualify as light-sport aircraft. Helicopters are not included in the sport pilot proposal either. American products have long led the parade of kit-built airplanes. U.S. kit suppliers already have proven instruction methods and parts packaging. Many imported brands- now sold in many countries as readyto- fly aircraft-may not yet have detailed building plans/instructions (in good English) and subassemblies for American homebuilders to use in creating finished airplanes. Europe enjoys a large lead in ready-to-fly lightplanes. Aircraft produced in eastern European countries can be built at lower labor costs, so the FAA's new rule is destined to globalize the light aviation industry. My guess is that European airframe makers will drive the ready-to-fly market early on, given their longer experience in this demanding task. U.S. suppliers won't be left out, but they may be left behind for a short time. Gearing up to build flyaway aircraft with well-paid American workers will require efficiencies that nearly all U.S. builders must still develop. Bringing computer-driven tooling to the task takes time and money. Even then, the costs may be too high to compete successfully with aircraft assembled in the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, or Russia where workers are happy to have jobs that pay $100 to $200 per month. Once again, Yankee ingenuity will have to find other ways to compete for the fully built market. Kits can hold down the purchase cost for builders, and another idea can also emerge. Manufacturers of already-certificated light-sport aircraft may also train selected dealers to assemble aircraft. As a side point to such an effort, these dealers might then become approved repair stations. Owners will be able to maintain aircraft given various levels of training, but many pilots will prefer to have an experienced professional build and maintain their light-sport aircraft. Speed Matters Sport pilots will pick from two speed limits: 87 knots (100 mph) or 115 knots (132 mph). Students will fit naturally into the former, while the speedier choice comes after an instructor endorsement in your logbook. The same certificate still applies; the logbook endorsement is the record. Regardless of top speed, all models must meet a 39- knot (45-mph) minimum stall with flaps or lift devices deployed, or 44 knots (51 mph) clean. In this aspect of light-sport aircraft-special or experimental- American builders have a lead. They are accustomed to building slower flying machines and may be able to optimize the genre faster. Many European-designed aircraft trying to fill the need for affordable, economical transportation have pushed for higher speeds (for example, Germany's Fascination and Italy's P-92RG). While it's true you might slow these machines with smaller engines and specially pitched props, they weren't designed with lower speed limits in mind. Because only fixed-pitch or ground-adjustable props are allowed, designers must correctly fit the engine and prop to their design. So some aircraft will have powerful engines, climb props, and large wings to bring breathtaking climb performance without breaking the speed limit. Others will use fuel-efficient engines, cruise props, and small wings to reach maximum speeds while meagerly sipping fuel. Not all light-sport aircraft will maximize the 132-mph limit. The joy of simpler machines that cruise at 60, 80, or 100 mph may also prove more affordable than powerful, deluxe models. As the cars folks have been saying for years: "Speed costs money. How much are you willing to pay to go fast?" Among all possible participants in the light-sport aircraft category, we have several groups: U.S.- developed ultralights intended for slower flying, lighter homebuilt models that aren't aimed at high speed transport, and speedy composite designs (often European) modified for flight under this new rule. As the FAA wisely prefers it, the marketplace will dictate what is built and sold. In the case of lightsport aircraft in the 21st century, the winners could come from anywhere. Seaplanes are popular today, and the proposed sport pilot rule will only enhance this. The proposal allows aircraft to have repositionable landing gear so that these aircraft can become amphibious. The FAA did not include retractable gear on landbased aircraft (though this remains possible in Part 103 machines), yet they saw the need to allow seaplanes to work on land or water. Angels in the Details Differences among light-sport aircraft will not be dictated by performance alone. Though we can only guess where this rule may lead engineers, I can speculate on some of the configuration details that might evolve. Instrument panels and the equipment mounted to them will vary widely. Sport pilots may not fly at night or in IFR conditions, so panels will probably not have many attitude gauges. Because sport pilots can fly cross-country, navigation instruments and radios may be quite common. Emergency parachutes have proven quite popular, with more than 50 percent of United States ultralights so fitted. All German ultralights must have a ballistic parachute, and these uses will translate well into light-sport aircraft where fliers may like that added safety insurance. Another area of keen interest involves maintenance. Today's ultralight/sport pilots sometimes do their own maintenance, while others hire rofessionals to do the work. Under the sport pilot proposal, owners of experimental light-sport kit aircraft will be able to do their own maintenance on their privately owned aircraft after receiving some training (a 16-hour course). But special light-sport aircraft must be maintained by someone holding a repairman's maintenance rating (received after attending an 80-hour course specific to a category of aircraft). Accordingly, commercial repair stations will surely step up to perform the work for hire when the FAA proposed rule legitimizes work on these machines. Fortunately, the FAA recognizes that many years of flying and teaching in ultralights has value. So, current U.S. ultralight pilots and instructors who are registered with a recognized ultralight program (EAA, ASC, or USUA) will be given an "upgrade path," to borrow a phrase from the computer world. Ultralights pilots who are not currently registered with one of those programs but who do register within 24 months of the implementation of the final rule will also be able to take their knowledge and experience with them into the sport pilot world. Then, hours logged as a sport pilot can be logged toward higher FAA certificates. As time goes on, associations and publications will disseminate more information on the proposed rule and how it will affect recreational flying in the United States. The FAA expects passage of the rule in about a year. Once codified into law, the rule has twoand three-year phase-in periods to transition pilots and existing aircraft into the new framework. In the meantime, it should be an interesting ride with new or modified flying machines emerging regularly. Twenty Years Later It is somewhat fitting that precisely two decades have passed since the FAA enacted Part 103. Since then, an entire industry has developed. Over that time designs have changed and evolved. Ultralights under Part 103 are now better machines than ever before. Other aircraft have gone far beyond what rule makers envisioned in 1982. And that is exactly why sport pilot should be a success; it fills a gap. In writing this rule, FAA leaves many of the details up to the industry to develop and to the market to define. Ready or not, here comes the sport pilot certificate and light-sport aircraft. Let the games begin! 24 APRIL 2002 More at www.sportpilot.org