Delaware, District Of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Name: Kathryn Ridgway
Phone: (717) 352-4837

My experience in the world of aviation actually began in the spring of 1996 when I met my future and present husband Joe. I started working with a local skydiving operation that summer in manifest and decided I might as well join the rest of the "Jump Junkies", do the deed and make it an official jump. The next step in morphing into an aviation butterfly was when I took my first flight with Rick Baughman in his Rans S-12, what a ride!

In 1998 the Millennium Flyers were born. There I learned from the true local Pioneers who made sure that I would be forever addicted. Since then I served as the club’s treasurer for 2 years. In 2000, the Millenniums wanted to make their mark on the community and host a fly in. This fly in was to be for a charity for Angel Flight. Since learning of Angel Flight I took this it under my own wings, since it too stole my heart. With my growing expertise in coordinating various factions the Millenniums nominated and elected me as the "Events Coordinator" for the next 4 years generating thousands of dollars for those in need.

2003 brought forth more positions, I served on the Chambersburg Airport Committee to help save the Airport, and I also took on the roll of an Angel Flight Community Representative for the Mid-Atlantic Region.

In 2004 I helped move the club into the #1 position in USUA for the Club of the Year Award with the Annual Fly In Benefit for Angel Flight.

During 2005 I moved onto other events, assisting and coordinating a motorcycle show and poker run for Angel Flight at the local motorcycle shop. What an adventure!

Recently I became more involved with USUA. Fascinated with what I am learning, and what USUA has to offer, I’ve taken it upon myself to help raise funds for USUA and the ultralight community by getting the Landis Whetzel Print donated to support this wonderful organization and sport which I enjoy.

I recently received word from Angel Flight that I am being awarded the Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic Community Rep. of the Year Award for Pennsylvania.

I look forward to working with all the regional clubs and the Shrevesport Fathers Day Event.

Kathryn lives in Fayetteville Pennsylvania with her husband Joe, and their kids (1 dog, 1 cat, and 2 birds). She also works as a Full Time Beauty & Skincare Advisor for Elizabeth Arden.

Read more about Kathryn, here.

Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee

Name: Bob McComb
Phone: (615) 351-6952

Bob earned his FAA private certificate in the mid 90's and flew GA aircraft for a couple of years, then graduated to ultralights and loves it. He is also a USUA ultralight pilot and insures his Airbike thru the USUA First Flight program. Bob has participated in ultralight events in several states and has been active in MTUG (Middle Tennessee Ultralight Group) for several years, where he has held most offices including president. Bob has attended 5 USUA annual meetings and in 2005 as regional representative, was one of the organizers of Operation Migration's "Festival of Wings" ultralight fly-in. The USUA sponsored event in Tullahoma, Tennessee promises to be one of the major ultralight events in the central part of the country.

Bob is in the wholesale lumber and plywood business. He and his wife, Sharon also operate a Bed & Breakfast in Watertown, Tennessee

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virgin Islands

Name: Steve Bensinger
Phone: (863) 370-8877

I started building and flying ultralights in 1984 with a Teratorn Tierra UL. I flew a RANS S-4 Coyote from 1993 to 1996, and an Aventura II seaplane from 1996 to 2005. I now own a Hawk II Arrow and a Hawk Sport. My logbook shows just short of 1500 hours flight time, and I've been able to bribe, beg, and browbeat their owners into letting me fly fifty-five different planes over the years. I founded and was president of the Flying FOOLZ (Fraternal Order Of Lightplane Zealots) ultralight club when I lived in Michigan, and am currently secretary/treasurer of our local club. I now live in Florida with my wife, the Dragon Lady, on an airport four miles from the Paradise City ultralight strip at Sun N Fun.

My biggest joy involving ultralight flying centers on competition, and I'm a great believer in its value for creating safer pilots. I also hugely enjoy group cross-country flights, meeting new flyers, and visiting new airports. While my chosen form of defying gravity is via fixed-wing, I believe all types of flying machines should be represented. It's all flying, and it's all good.

I've been a member of USUA since before it was USUA (AOPA Ultralight Safety Foundation, USUF). In all these years, I've never been more impressed with the leadership of USUA than I am now, which is why I'd like to lend a hand. As liaison between the USUA's leaders and Region 4 members, I'd help members understand what their leaders are doing... and help the leaders understand what members want.

Ben Franklin said, "We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang separately." We need a strong organization to represent us to government as it wrestles with balancing personal freedoms against national security. I believe USUA has the smarts and the integrity to be that organization, and I look forward to helping.

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

Name: Paul Wells
Phone: (817) 293-6080

Soloed in general aviation at age 15 and holds an FAA SEL private pilot rating. Soloed first ultralight in 1982. Currently is a flight instructor for Blue Max Ultralight with over 1000 hrs. Competed in the 7th National Microlight Championship. Currently is a member of USUA Club #406.

Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Name: Tim Oliver
Phone: (573) 442-0337

I live just outside Columbia Missouri (right in the middle of the state) and give ultralight instruction in a Rans S-6 at the Fulton MO Henley Memorial Airport. I began flying hang gliders in the mid 1970s and sky diving in 1979. I have owned and flown ultralights since 1980. My first ultralight was a Quicksilver MX which I flew for 400 hours. I earned my FAA Private Pilot Certificate in 1981 and have approximately 1000 hours in general aviation aircraft ranging from Cubs to Cessnas to Helio Couriers.

When FAR Part 103 (the ultralight rule) was enacted in Oct of 1982, I became a registered Ultralight pilot and a pilot examiner at the first seminar put on by the Air Safety Foundation, taught by John Ballantyne at Sun N Fun in 1983. I am a USUA AFI for aerodynamically controlled land and sea planes and have been actively instructing since 1999. I received my BFI instruction from Jeff Hudson in Sebring FL. I have over 800 hours plus in ultralights, mostly in Quicksilvers, Challengers, Drifters (on and off floats) the Titan, and now, my Rans. I have been instructing for over 400 hours.

I am self employed and own DARES International, specializing in private investigations, consulting, governmental relations, defensive firearms instruction, aerial photography, and of course ultralight instruction.

California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam

Name: Bob Chase
Phone: (626) 336-5485

Bob has had a life-long interest in tailless and flying wing type aircraft. He built his first tailless model aircraft when he was seven. During World War II, Bob was a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps. He flew B-17, B-24, B-25, C-46, C-47, and C-54 aircraft. Between 1947 and 1964, he was an Air Operations Specialist, working the last five years at the Flying Safety Office at the headquarters of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS).

Bob was a member of the Southland Hang Gliding Association, which later became the United States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA 30). Performing the duties of safety inspector or runway control, he was active at the powered ultralight meets. In 1981 and 1984, Bob was the ultralight judge at the annual Oshkosh fly-in.

After about four hours flying time after purchasing an original-design tailless ultralight, Bob spun it into the ground. Fortunately, he walked away with only minor injuries. Bob was the President of EAA Ultralight Chapter #3 until EAA divested itself from all ultralight activity.

Currently, he is a member of two ultralight clubs. The Sport Flyers of Southern California (USUA Club #017) and the Ultralight Squadron of America at Perris, California.

Affiliations: Bob is presently a member of the Los Angeles County Aviation Commission and the former Vice-President of T.W.I.T.T (The Wing Is The Thing). He is also active in the following organizations: Academy of Model Aeronautics, Experimental Aircraft Association, United States Hang Gliding Association, United States Ultralight Association, and the Homebuilt Sailplane Association.