Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/457474
Sheet Metal for Kit Aircraf EAA SportAir Workshop instructor Mark Forss walks you through the terms, tools, and skills required to build the aircraf of your dreams. Visit EAA.org/Shop or call 800-564-6322 to order or for more information. EAA.org/Shop.com Copyright © 2015 EAA $ 29 .95 $29.95 is the EAA Member price. Non-member price is $36.95. Visit EAA.org/ SportAir to register today or call 1-800-967-5746 for details. EAA SportAir Workshops are sponsored by Get Hands-on. Get the skills you need from the experts you trust. SportAir Workshops Dates .....................EAA SportAir Workshops Offered ...................... Location February 21-22 ......Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, ............ Lakeland, FL Gas Welding, Sheet Metal Basics, & Electrical Systems and Avionics March 7-8 ..............Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, ................ Dallas, TX Sheet Metal Basics, & Electrical Systems and Avionics March 21-22 ..........Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, ............ Oakland, CA Sheet Metal Basics, & Electrical Systems and Avionics 32 Vol.4 No.2 / Februar y 2015 ULTRALIGHT WORLD involved, not only in the training but also the travel to get there. The same issue needs to be considered in each of the other areas. Who will be available to conduct your fl ight test? Where will you be able to take your aircraft for maintenance and service? And if you need parts and factory support, how available is that? DO YOU HAVE PL ACES TO FLY AND PEOPLE TO FLY WITH? Some could get through this entire list of issues and satisfy them all but discover in the end that there really isn't a practical place to fl y your powered parachute. And if you are a social person at all, you may discover that you are indeed all by yourself in a wil- derness with no other participants to share the sport with. If you are in an urban area with only general aviation air- ports available, you will need to learn from an instructor and perhaps the airport managers whether you will be able to oper- ate safely from the airport and within the more complicated airspace that surrounds many cities. Most powered parachute pilots operate either from smaller, more rural airports or from open private fi elds. EAA has a network of clubs called chapters across the United States. Many of these chapters are focused on ultralights or light- sport. And this may be a great place to start by meeting others and learning about where they fl y locally. Of course, if you are located in the more rural areas that comprise most of America, you are likely to fi nd more fl ying locations than you will be able to explore in a lifetime! THE END OR THE BEGINNING? This article can make entry into the sport seem daunting. But the other perspective is to understand that any of life's great adventures worth the undertaking require time, resources, and learning as suggested above. It doesn't matter whether it is rock climbing, water skiing, or recreational fl ying. All come with re- quirements and ef ort. The real question is how badly you desire the achievement. This article has been of ered to help you move forward toward the achievement of becoming a powered parachute pilot with a full understanding of what is involved. Taking the time to conduct the level of due diligence suggested in this article will help to save you money, save you time, and most of all, give you some level of guarantee of success and enjoyment. Doug Maas is an FAA fl ight instructor and designated fl ight examiner. He is also president of the Western Sport Pilot Association LLC (www.wppa.org), co-owner of Six Chuter International LLC Powered Parachutes, and an executive board member of EAA Ultralight Chapter 127.