9th US National Microlight Championships

The United States Ultralight Association (USUA) and Aero Sports Connection (ASC) are very happy to announce that through joint efforts between the two organizations, the 9th US Microlight Championships will be held in Marshall Michigan on September 1-4, 2006. This historic event, sanctioned by USUA, will coincide with the highly popular ASC Nationals At KIMO. The USUA is the US sanctioned microlight representative of the National Aeronautic Association (the US National Aero Club), and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the world aviation contests and records federation).

Microlight (ultralight vehicles as well as single and two seat aircraft weighing up to 992 pounds) competition in the United States has existed for many years, but only in this millennium has it gained national prominence outside the sport aviation arena. The most recent championships (held in 2004 in Scottsburg Indiana) were filmed and presented by National Geographic Television, and attracted record numbers of spectators. Microlight Championship competitors with perform tasks and contests that are designed according to world class specifications, and use state of the art GPS technology. The winners and crew of these championships are invited to join the US World Microlight Team. This elite group of microlight pilots will represent the USA at the World Microlight Championships, the next to be held in 2007 in the Czech Republic. Airplane, Weightshift Trike, Powered Parachute and Powered Paraglider classes are offered for this type of event.

The annual ASC Nationals At KIMO (now in its 12th year), have also been well attended by participants and spectators alike, and have always featured Sportsman Class competition. This type of sport aviation competition is designed to create not only an enjoyable experience for the competitor, but also provides the skills required for creating a more well rounded, safer pilot. Sportsman Class events typically provide a more relaxed pace of competition, but can be equally as challenging as World Class events. Winners of the Sportsman Class events are also encouraged to participate in World Class competitions in future events. As with World Class events; Airplane, Weightshift Trike, Powered Parachute and Powered Paraglider classes will be offered. This will be the first year that the ASC Nationals will offer both Sportsman and sanctioned World Class events.

This is the first time both organizations have taken the initiative to come together in a joint effort, and focus on a common goal: advancement of ultralight and microlight competition in the US. USUA and ASC are the two largest ultralight/microlight oriented organizations in the USA. By joining together on this event, it is hoped that air sports pilots and enthusiasts from all backgrounds, organizational affiliations, and competition skill levels will take advantage of the opportunity made available through this venture. Through the changing face of sport aviation in the USA over the past few years, many ultralight and microlight pilots have not been able to fully enjoy the benefits provided by this type of aviation. It's time to… FLY FOR FUN!

Planning on attending the historic 9th US National Microlight Championships September 1-4 (Labor Day Weekend)? The event is taking place at Brooks Field (KRMY, on the Detroit sectional), in Marshall Michigan. The physical address is 1243 S Kalamazoo Ave, Marshall, MI 49068. Several fine motels are available in the area, and it is recommended that you make your plans and reservations early.

Thursday August 31, 2006:

9:00AM: Pilot registration opens -show documents, pay entry fee, aircraft inspection
1:00PM: Pilot briefing and practice task - strongly recommended
6:00PM: Pilot registration ends - last chance to enter
6:00PM: Mandatory pilot meeting and announcement of task schedule
7:00PM: Opening ceremony and welcoming party

Friday, September 1, 2006: At sunrise, contest rules begin. No free flying without expressed permission of the competition director.

Saturday, September 2, 2006: Second day of competition

Sunday, September 3, 2006: At 12:00 noon competition ends. Awards ceremony to be held in the afternoon.

FAI Microlight Colibri Badge Program
Microlight pilots interested in competing on a world class level may also want to consider participating in the FAI Colibri Badge program. Fédération Aéronautique (FAI) Colibri badges are international standards of achievement and proficiency that recognize a pilot's successful completion of specific flying goals. In fact, many tasks that will be performed by the World Class Competition pilots entered in the 9th US National Microlight Championships will be eligible for these international awards. (Learn more here).

The Local Regulations for the 9th US National Microlight Championships has been published, and is available for download. All interested persons are encouraged to download and read this document, and follow along with the proceedings. Download this form here.

The Official Entry form for the 9th US National Microlight Championships is now available for download. The form provides step-by-step information designed to guide first-time, as well as seasoned, World Class competitors through the registration process. Download this form here.

The Task catalog for Paramotor Classes (Powered Paraglider and Powered Parachutes) for the US National Championships has now been published, and is available for download. Special thanks to Dave Rogers for his outstanding work in putting these tasks together. For more information from the PPG pilot perspective, we invite you to visit the USPPA competition webpage.

Participants in the US National Microlight Championships (and every USA National Microlight Team member) are required to hold an FAI Sporting License. In order make this easy (and less expensive) USUA is offering a special Competition Membership. This will allow the new or renewing competitor the opportunity to join/renew USUA, join/renew NAA, get the FAI sporting license, and subscribe to Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine for only $65. The all-in-one- application will expedite the process and save you money as well.

If you are already a USUA member and you only need to join or renew NAA to get the FAI Sporting License, the NAA application is also available. It's your choice.

The Task catalog for Classic Classes (Fixed Wing Airplanes and Weightshift Trikes) for the US National Championships has now been published, and is available for download. Everyone is welcome to look this over, and (hopefully) get inspired to sign up for the championships. Many thanks to Dan Grunloh for his hard work in this endeavor.