The Experimental Aircraft Association announced today (Jan. 18) its EAA Virtual Ultralight Days will return in 2024 for the third year. A total of 15 webinars over three days (Feb. 20-22) will focus on “the lighter side of aviation,” according to EAA.
The webinars will be conducted online from 1 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. (CST), five per day. The format for the sessions follows that of previous EAA Virtual Ultralight Days, as well as EAA Homebuilders Week. “Well-known subject matter experts in the ultralight community will present each live session with question-and-answer periods to address specific questions,” EAA said.
Subject matter will include: how to get started in ultralights; general information on maintenance, airport operations and safety inspections; and an introduction to a variety of ultralight aircraft, including fixed-wing, powered parachutes, powered paragliders and weight-shift trikes.
Timm Bogenhagen, EAA Ultralight and Light Plane Community Manager, said, “Ultralight flying remains as one of the most accessible forms of recreational flight while also being one of the purest. Virtual Ultralight Days provides a free avenue to introduce more people to this segment of aviation and grow the knowledge of those already part of this community.” All sessions are free and pre-registration is encouraged. Archived video presentations will be made available to EAA members.
When I was an about 8 years old I got into building and flying U control model airplanes through watching my older neighbor. It was magical for me. Eventually as time went on I got my PPL in a 150 graduated to a 172 then I went to school, got married, had kids and had to put my flying on hold for quite a few decades.
After the kids moved out I was able to get back into flying, purchased a DA 40, found out what “all glass” meant and had a ball discovering flying again. Over time I moved into a DA 42, Aerostar and now a Stearman. I’ve gone from Third Class to Basic Med not because I had to, but, because I wanted to and it just made more sense for me.
Over the last few months I’ve had this strange draw towards ultralights, specifically Quicksilver. It’s funny how things have a tendency to go full circle throughout life and I’m loving it.
Actually, I first started out jumping off my parents front porch with a cape on, then the roof. Then I found out about kites and flew quite a lot of them. Then one summer day while I was outside I heard this strange buzzing sound. Curiosity lead me to the discovery of U control. By then it was all over. The draw never goes away. If anything it gets stronger.
Actually seeing a Jetson 1 or equal fly at Oshkosh and maybe being allowed to fly a Jetson 1 or equal is the real drawing card. For me, videos are usually a waste of time similar to being stuck in stop and go traffic. Except getting into the airshow can be very daunting. Traffic backup, especially during the first 3 days of the event can be long; worse than any freeway. Meaning camping or getting a hotel nearby are the only real choices to avoid traffic jams and showing up very early, probably before 7 AM or late after 2 PM appear to be the choices. I spent an afternoon at Oshkosh fly in, Thursday afternoon, during 2022; no problems, just walked up to the Pivotal Helix tent to fly their simulator. Pivotal Helix tent is just west of the control tower, which can be seen from nearly anywhere. So almost no chance of getting lost. Just wonderful. Or, planning is nearly everything based on knowing current conditions and based on past experience at Oshkosh fly in.