By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)

Last month I complained - slightly - about the weather, but this month I really have a reason to complain. Cold - windy - low ceilings - clouds - rain - snow - and all within a 24-hour period. And it seems it has been that way for large portions of the country. In reality, though, we have nothing to complain about when you consider what happened, weather wise, in southern Asia. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost so much.

The prevalent weather is reflected in the number of newsletters we have received this month. Very little news, but there have been some additions to the year's schedule of events. So hop on over there and start making your plans for this spring and summer. One bit of good news to report, however. Jimbo Robertson of the Middle Tennessee Ultralight Group made his first solo flight in a Quicksilver 2S over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Why to go!! His instructor says he allowed him to solo after practicing a simulated engine out all the way to touchdown, which Jimbo pulled off like a veteran.

There have been a lot of recent developments in the Sport Pilot arena, but I'll refer you to the Sport Pilot pages of this web site and not repeat the information here. Many folks have seen fit to publish this information in their newsletters, which is a good thing. This is an excellent way to get the information to your membership. And while you are at it, you might mention in your newsletters that a number of Sport Pilot items have been recently added to the USUA store.

And while we are on the subject of newsletters - we like them! It is a good way to publicize the information about your club activities. If you'd like to advertise a fly- in, a fund -aising activity, a safety seminar, or some other activity that benefits your club and ultralight folks in general, putting an announcement in your newsletter and send it to USUA HQ Ð at least a couple of months in advance Ð will get it posted on the USUA Calendar. We need to receive the what, when, where, and who to contact for each event and the new web site calendar format will allow us to post all the details for you. If you miss the two-month advance notice - an email to Jerry Rosie will also get your info posted.

Before I forget again !!! We have a brand new club in Pennsylvania!!! Club 203, the Canyon County Ultralight Club [for those readers 'out west' Yes, we DO have a canyon in Pennsylvania], was organized in 2004 with 17 charter members who meet and fly out of the Canyon Airport [Ed note: I'm still trying to locate Canyon Airport, so if any of the Canyon County Club members read this, please drop me an email and give me the location of your facility (coordinates if possible). Thanks]. This club is off to a good start. They had their first fly-in breakfast, designed and adopted a club logo, procured T-shirts, and established a working relationship with the Canyon Pilots Association. They are currently pondering some organizational considerations, including the possibility of having a club airplane. We wish them the best of luck, look forward to seeing some of their members at some of the Pennsylvania fly-ins [see USUA calendar for events] and we are eagerly awaiting their first newsletter.

And with that, folks, I'll leave you for another month with a selection from great aviation quotes:

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."

- Leonardo da Vinci

Fly for fun - but fly safely.