Links

National Organizations

• U.S. Powered Paragliding Association. An active organization devoted to PPGs. If you fly a PPG, you should join the USPPA and support them as a voice for the sport.
• U.S. Ultralight Assocation. USUA largely collapsed with the arrival of the new Sport Pilot regulations in 2007. The local clubs that were originally affiliated with USUA - like Club 1, the first USUA club - now mostly continue on their own. The national USUA has been taken over by Roy Beisswenger as a one-man operation. The web site is quite out of date, especially as regards the current Federal regulations that apply to us. USUA still has an insurance program that provides the only liability insurance available for most trikes and former ultralight aiplanes.
• Experimental Aircraft Association. The EAA is the largest and most effective voice for light flying in the country. Their various magazines and online newsletters are excellent. Their focus is on airplanes with only a little on trikes, and practically none on PPCs or PPGs. But you should join them nonetheless since they have a good relationship with the Feds.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. AOPA is mostly the voice of corporate flying and high-end "general aviation" (GA) aircraft. We are not on their radar. But AOPA has an effective lobby with Congress from which we benefit. They also have extensive member services

Magazines & Newsletters

• Powered Sport Flying Magazine (formerly Ultraflight magazine). This covers powered paragliders, powered parachutes, ultralights, light sport aircraft, weight-shift control trikes, and personal rotorcraft in every issue. It's the official magazine of both the USPPA and USUA.
• EAA. The EAA publishes several magazines, both online and in paper. You choose which ones you want as part of your membership enrollment.

Articles

• Latitude and longitude formats   (Adobe pdf format)
  When you go online - or look at your GPS - you will find three different formats for expressing latitude and longitude. This article explains them.
• Visibility and cloud-clearance rules
  How low can you legally fly? How much visibility do you need? This newsletter article from 2020 summarizes it all.
• SPOT GPS device   (Adobe pdf format) February, 2011
  Here is Dick Martin's write-up about the SPOT satellite-based emergency locator device and his experience with it.
• About becoming a pilot
  A comprehensive set of links for people thinking of aviation as a career.

State Aviation Ambassador Programs

Both Virginia and Maryland have programs where they'll give you a leather jacket if you fly to all the public-use airports in their state — plus visit 4 of their aviation museums, a designated fly-in (Virginia), and some safety courses. For details, click on Virginia or Maryland. Click on the maps to see them large.

Humor

• The Turbo Entabulator (video). Think you're good at explaining technical matters? Listen to a master. After you enjoy the video, check out its history.
• Gyro-Slicer (video). Were you never quite sure what practical use a gyroplane has? This video makes it clear why no home should be without one.

Taxes and Registration

1. Virginia Non Commerical License Application form   (Adobe pdf format)
2. Virginia Aircraft and Use Tax Return form   (Adobe pdf format)
3. Bill of Sale Template and Checklist (Adobe pdf format)

Law and Airspace

1. Airspace & Law for Ultralights.   This is Jeff Goins' superb DVD. Everyone should watch it whether you're flying ultralight or something bigger. The club has a copy to loan to members. Ask the president.
2. GA versus Light Sport versus Part 103 (ultralights) explained   A quick summary of the big differences in the FAA rules that govern what licensing you need to fly what.

History of the Lost Griz Aerodrome, 1936 – 2016

1. Overview,
2. 1936-1948
3. 1948-1962
4. 1963-1992
5. 1992-2004
6. 2004-2016