Ultralight Adventurer
More than probably anything else in the world – except my family – I love to
fly. I’ve flown in jetliners, in sailplanes, in balloons, in helicopters, in gyro-
planes, in small airplanes, and in antique aerobatic airplanes. But more than
any other type of flying, I love ultralight-type flying.
An ultralight is a very small aircraft, so small that it’s not even considered an
“airplane” by the FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration.) The FAA refers to
them as “ultralight vehicles” Ultralights must weigh no more than 254 lbs.,
have only a single seat, carry no more than 5 gallons of gas, and fly no more
than 63 mph at top speed. Friends said that my first ultralight looked like a
jumble of aluminum tubing covered with fabric. It had a tiny engine and flew
at 32 mph. I loved it, and the more I flew, the more I wanted to fly.
As I started flying further and further from my home airport, I realized that I
needed a plane that would go father than 5 gallons of gas would take me. So
I bought my 2nd ultralight-type plane. I say ultralight-type, because although
it looks like an ultralight and flies like an ultralight, it weighs 320 lbs. and
carries 16 gallons of gas, so it’s actually categorized as an Experimental Light
Sport Airplane. Yet when anyone looks at it, they say “Oh, that’s an ultra-
light.” It’s called a Maxair Drifter.
In 1997 I got the crazy idea that I wanted to fly my Maxair Drifter to Sun ‘n
Fun – the 2nd largest airshow in North America. I live in Sandy, Oregon and
Sun ‘n Fun is in central Florida. It seemed impossible. But that dream took
hold and wouldn’t let go. And finally, twelve years later - in 2009 - I did it! It
took me seven weeks to make the round trip flight, and I flew over 7500
miles. It was truly the adventure of a lifetime. I strapped all my camping gear
onto the Drifter and took off. There were lots of adventures along the way. If
you want to read my blog about that flight, go to www.LessonsFromTheEdge.
com/uladventure2009.htm
I also write a blog about flying ultralights and Light Sport Aircraft on AOPA’s
website. AOPA is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations. Read my AOPA
blog.
Not very many women fly ultralights. Once, my husband and I were at an
airshow. (My husband is not a pilot.) We were sitting on the grass
underneath the wings of my ultralight. A boy and his mother came by. The
boy was very interested and asked my husband a question. My husband
said, "It’s not my ultralight. You’ll have to ask Arty that question; she’s the
pilot." The boy looked at me, and then looked back at my husband. The boy
asked my husband another question about flying ultralights. My husband
said again "This isn’t my ultralight. You have to ask my wife that question.
She’s the pilot." The boy looked at me again, and then turned back to my
husband and asked him ANOTHER question! My husband got impatient, so
he said again, "This isn’t my ultralight! Ask Arty! She’s the pilot!" The boy
turned to me and said, "Well, you look like a woman, but I guess you're
not!" He couldn’t believe that a woman could fly an ultralight!
I know that anyone who has the time and patience and interest in learning to
fly can do it – no matter what type of plane (or “air vehicle”) it is. It’s just a
matter of believing in yourself. As I flew further and further in my Drifter,
people started to invite me to talk to their companies about taking risks and
pushing past the fears that keep us from doing what we really want to do.
For the past 5 years I’ve been a professional speaker, giving presentations to
groups about my ultralight adventures, and how live life to the fullest. I
believe that all of us have adventuresome spirits – whether it’s trying out a
new sport or taking up a new hobby or choosing to take a tough class in
school or deciding to run for an elected office.
I go all over the United States telling people about my flying adventures and
how they can push away their own fears and do what they dream of doing.
My website tells more me and about the talks I give. My website is www.
LessonsFromTheEdge.com
More than probably anything else in the world – except my family – I love to
fly. I’ve flown in jetliners, in sailplanes, in balloons, in helicopters, in gyro-
planes, in small airplanes, and in antique aerobatic airplanes. But more than
any other type of flying, I love ultralight-type flying.
An ultralight is a very small aircraft, so small that it’s not even considered an
“airplane” by the FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration.) The FAA refers to
them as “ultralight vehicles” Ultralights must weigh no more than 254 lbs.,
have only a single seat, carry no more than 5 gallons of gas, and fly no more
than 63 mph at top speed. Friends said that my first ultralight looked like a
jumble of aluminum tubing covered with fabric. It had a tiny engine and flew
at 32 mph. I loved it, and the more I flew, the more I wanted to fly.
As I started flying further and further from my home airport, I realized that I
needed a plane that would go father than 5 gallons of gas would take me. So
I bought my 2nd ultralight-type plane. I say ultralight-type, because although
it looks like an ultralight and flies like an ultralight, it weighs 320 lbs. and
carries 16 gallons of gas, so it’s actually categorized as an Experimental Light
Sport Airplane. Yet when anyone looks at it, they say “Oh, that’s an ultra-
light.” It’s called a Maxair Drifter.
In 1997 I got the crazy idea that I wanted to fly my Maxair Drifter to Sun ‘n
Fun – the 2nd largest airshow in North America. I live in Sandy, Oregon and
Sun ‘n Fun is in central Florida. It seemed impossible. But that dream took
hold and wouldn’t let go. And finally, twelve years later - in 2009 - I did it! It
took me seven weeks to make the round trip flight, and I flew over 7500
miles. It was truly the adventure of a lifetime. I strapped all my camping gear
onto the Drifter and took off. There were lots of adventures along the way. If
you want to read my blog about that flight, go to www.LessonsFromTheEdge.
com/uladventure2009.htm
I also write a blog about flying ultralights and Light Sport Aircraft on AOPA’s
website. AOPA is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations. Read my AOPA
blog.
Not very many women fly ultralights. Once, my husband and I were at an
airshow. (My husband is not a pilot.) We were sitting on the grass
underneath the wings of my ultralight. A boy and his mother came by. The
boy was very interested and asked my husband a question. My husband
said, "It’s not my ultralight. You’ll have to ask Arty that question; she’s the
pilot." The boy looked at me, and then looked back at my husband. The boy
asked my husband another question about flying ultralights. My husband
said again "This isn’t my ultralight. You have to ask my wife that question.
She’s the pilot." The boy looked at me again, and then turned back to my
husband and asked him ANOTHER question! My husband got impatient, so
he said again, "This isn’t my ultralight! Ask Arty! She’s the pilot!" The boy
turned to me and said, "Well, you look like a woman, but I guess you're
not!" He couldn’t believe that a woman could fly an ultralight!
I know that anyone who has the time and patience and interest in learning to
fly can do it – no matter what type of plane (or “air vehicle”) it is. It’s just a
matter of believing in yourself. As I flew further and further in my Drifter,
people started to invite me to talk to their companies about taking risks and
pushing past the fears that keep us from doing what we really want to do.
For the past 5 years I’ve been a professional speaker, giving presentations to
groups about my ultralight adventures, and how live life to the fullest. I
believe that all of us have adventuresome spirits – whether it’s trying out a
new sport or taking up a new hobby or choosing to take a tough class in
school or deciding to run for an elected office.
I go all over the United States telling people about my flying adventures and
how they can push away their own fears and do what they dream of doing.
My website tells more me and about the talks I give. My website is www.
LessonsFromTheEdge.com
 |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM
I live and learned to fly in
Sandy, Oregon. My
husband and I have a
sort of Old MacDonald’s
farm, with sheep, cows,
goats, a horse, a llama,
two Great Danes, and
two cats. Best of all, it’s
only a seven-minute drive
to the airport where I
keep my Drifter!
I always enjoy hearing
from girls and women
about their flying
dreams. If you have any
questions, please send
me an e-mail and I’ll be
glad to write back.