Sixteen years of pleasure and all good things have to come to an end, I know I have said it before, but I have trouble in saying NO.

So I did Benson Days, Sebring in January and my last Sun and Fun in April .

Ultralights has been my delight since I started in 1983, with my B model Cobra from Advanced Aviation , followed by Buccaneer XA from the same company.

Being a member of The Florida Flying Gators here in Florida its been special, the Gators helped form the show with Ultralights at Disney, had the only Formation Flying Team known to perform on a regular basis entertaining thousands at Sun and fun, and at the Orange Bowl in Orlando, plus numerous places In Florida being ultralights it was unfortunate they could not go out of state, because they were Ultralights, and like me they didn’t get paid. Well I will put the record straight I did get paid, ( Once). Buckeye Powered Parachutes at Argus Indiana paid me $1500.

  Over the years many people have helped me, and many companies and ASC who have contributed to my expenses, without them I would not have lasted as long as I did, and I thank them all.

For many years I was a volunteer at Sun and Fun, the Gators played quite a part in creating Paradise City in fact one year our President was chairman, he fell out with the committee and resigned.  As volunteers we worked long hours before and during, and had to pay for the privilege the same as anyone coming to see the show.

 By 1990 I had enough because I thought it wrong them making a fortune at our expense and they were never grateful in any way, well words were as cheap as they were, so I said no in 1900, I would work if we got in free, the double whammy had to stop.

So I paid like normal and was watching the Ultralights on the flight line, I had been given a Seiko watch, for Christmas, it had a stop watch on it and whilst watching the planes I watched the spectators and timed their length of stay, about seven and half minutes was average.

 Up comes Bill McClung, Chairman. In his golf cart, I’ve got work for you if you want to do some, says Bill. Not on your life I replied I’ve paid to come in, so have we all, says Bill. Are you enjoying the show?

I replied No. But I believe in constructive criticism, what we need here is a commentator, to tell us the different types of each aircraft, who’s flying it, what he does for a living, how much they cost, what type of engine, what its wingspan etc.

 I hadn’t a clue,

I knew Advanced Aviations.  Ultralights like the High Nusky, Buccaneer XA, Cobras, and MX’s, Challengers and Kolb’s, after that I was up the creek without a paddle.

Bill said Yeah Right where are we going to get one of them, hang on a minute you used to work for the BBC.

I went to vendors and got their handouts and information stayed up all night reading, and it all started from there.

I had a RV I bought from Dave Pipers Dad, invitations started pouring in, the first of many long trips was to Texas in 93,Oshkosh, Arlington and Marshall Michigan, all that same year that is just to mention a few.

By 1995 I having been divorced a few years, ironically, my ex, in 1990 gave me the choice, being sixty-five I had decided to retire, it was, either work another ten years or she would prefer a divorcé I choose the later and ended up sixteen years later still working.

1995 I went broke, the Itasca RV had transmission trouble plus from all the mileage it was falling to pieces and I hadn’t got the money, or wanted to repair it. Twice whilst doing seventy miles an hour, on cruise, I half got out of the seat to go in the back to make a cup of tea.

I told Chas Humphries I had to stop commentating, and would not be at Oshkosh, he went to John Williams Of Titan, who sent one of his pilots and a charming young lady around Paradise City with the hat asking for donations to help me keep going.

They collected eighteen hundred dollars, so I was able to do all the shows I was committed to Arlington, ASC, Nationals, Oshkosh and twenty other air shows, at Christmas I sent a begging letter out to all the manufactures and for many years that’s how I could do what I have been doing,

In two thousand the industry sagged everyone took a knock, I didn’t feel I could ask for money things being so tight and that worsened year by year finally being killed dead by Sport Pilot, and guess what, I’ve gone broke again. My last show I was out of pocket by eight hundred plus dollars, Comtronics came to my rescue Bless them they have supported me every year as ASC has without asking.

So Thank you to all that have listened to my prattle, I have enjoyed every moment. I have made many friends. Regrets None, only downbeat in sixteen years was being told I wasn’t wanted at Oshkosh, because I requested a scooter when I wasn’t feeling too good, subsequently resulting in a Quadruple By Pass, for which I really did need some transport. I was told it was my ego, being known for telling it as it is, it might have sounded that way. I am sure I will never get into the EAA hall of fame.

 My genuine LOVE. Of Ultralighting and every person I ever met and for those who have taken the time to come and say thanks we have enjoyed your work. From the bottom of my heart, I THANK YOU

I and Sun and Fun are very fortunate I have been able to find a replacement and having trained him for the last here years I am sure Michael McClellan; will do a wonderful job. A lot came and said they could do the job, and tried, but always the second question they asked is how much do you earn,  I never saw them again.