We have a nice new tower donated to Sun and Fun by Mr. Rick Grissom and what a tower it is. I would think ex military, it has air conditioning, it is lower than the sixteen feet wooden tower the Florida Flying Gators made for me in 1993, which has been wonderful all these years, the Sun did take a toll of me up there and when it was windy, my papers flew everywhere, but it served its purpose well, I and Sun and Fun are very grateful it will be somewhat sad to see the old lady taken to pieces and laid to rest later this year.

 I am looking forward to the show this year with some trepidation, it will be different, for starters, I forecast very few Ultralights, all sights will be on what the manufactures can come up with for the inscrutable Sport Pilot. and I forecast yet more wait. The EAA would probably get their knickers in a real twist if was announced at Sun and Fun and Not Oshkosh. Czar Tom Poberezny would thing think he’d been done an Eisner!

 There are still many manufactures turning up I counted fifty-three in the program, and there will be more on opening day, Oh yes the last day is half price, very few are interested in that. It will be no surprise to see the admission price is $30 I know I have bad reputation for telling you as it is. WELL! I told you. Disney is $58. Oh for those days when I talked to the huge crowds it was such, “ fun in the sun” I didn’t dare look at the camping fees, you do it www.sun-n-fun.org.

 Ultralights as I see them are JDT new name for Mini max, Aerolight, Earthstar, yeah they do a good one Hummel, Flightstar, Quicksilver, Sky Rider, New Kolb, Titan, Golden Circle Air, (T Bird.) They are there support them.

.Because Dave Piper the Chairman has for warned in the pilots interest’s, this year, all credentials will be checked, a lot of so called Ultralights will stay away, so unless you are interested in Sport Pilot Possibilities or Powered Parachute or Paragliders, there won’t be a lot to see but a lot to speculate If and when the rule comes into being you will have the knowledge of what will be available all you will need is money. Scary but simple.

 A new magazine will debut from the EAA called Sport Pilot & light sport Aircraft in April, their wonderful Editor Mary Jones will still be doing it, and my hope is they remember Ultralights, though it will be difficult to find much to write about, with all the hoo-ha of these new fangled flying machines you buy em and fly em deals. My mind boggles at the new salesman era. Yes sir Delivery date? Right away, colors, we deliver to your home base, extras, just fifty percent down. Haven’t we been though this routine before. Best intentions in the world. And such nice, knowledgeable people.

 I hope to see you all, come by and say hello. Vern