In the mid 1950's (wow, has it been that long?) Pete Seeger wrote a song entitled "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?". Remember that song? Remember the golden age of ultralighting? I fear ultralighting will meet the same fate as the flowers unless we (USUA AND YOU) perform life saving measures; and quickly!

Did you attend Sun-N-Fun this year? If so, what was different? I bet it was neither a great influx of ultralight-legal aircraft nor an abundance of wanna-be ultralight pilots! I sadly report to you that again this year, the vendors outnumbered the attendees. What a downer! USUA was the only entity I saw there that touted ultralight aviation. Most of the focus by the other vendors (whether of product or service as we are) was on LSA or things like "fat ultralights" which we know will cease to fly February 1, 2008! So, Sun-N-Fun was as depressing to we ultralighters as old age and arthritis is to athletes.

The USUA exhibit was manned by Dale Hooper, EVP of USUA. Craig Richardson once again offered his expertise and energy. We offered what we have always offered. We offer ultralight-related representation in whatever venue our member needs. Remember this: we are a few battling the multitudes but we will continue to fight in behalf of Part 103 aviation till the last stroke of our energy is used! In years past (Golden is gone!), we talked with a virtual endless stream of enthusiasts about ultralights. In the recent few years, we are lucky to have 100 or so folks actually stop in the entire week! This is a systemic problem shared by all ultralight/LSA vendors! Buyer apathy and individual involvement seems at an all time low. Are our membership numbers down? Yes. Is ever other air sports entity but AOPA down as well? Dang betcha!

In conjunction with Sun-N-Fun, we once again conducted our closed Annual Board of Directors Meeting and Annual Business Meeting that IS open to both membership and interested non members as well. The Annual Meeting was conducted this year in the USUA exhibit tent. Using our display tent in this manner saved you, the member, over $300.00! We were also without power in the tent and it would have been a moot point save that we had a really interesting and provocative PowerPoint presentation prepared by Don Wulfinghoff representing USUA Club #4. Our Annual Meeting was marred by those dang airplanes that tend to fly at, well, airports! Our tax dollars were well spent for several minutes during the Annual Meeting! I was privileged to report in behalf of USUA to the members in attendance. I briefly covered the Sport Pilot complex issues. I reminded all of both USUA's commitment to those wishing to transition to heavy iron but NEVER losing the true focus of our existence; ultralight aviation following the Part 103 rule of the FAR! I then turned the meeting over to Dale (EVP) for a "State of USUA" presentation and awards presentations. After Dale recognized those amongst us who, for at least this time in history, have flown just a little higher than the rest, I ended the official meeting with a question and answer session. (These questions and answers will be posted later on the website. The Club 4 President/Rep and the BOD met the following morning (Saturday) so that Club's presentation could be shared without time and light constraints.

See you down the runway. Fly safely AND "Fly For Fun!".

Reggie DeLoach
President, USUA