By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)

April is now upon us and brings with it the last day in which you can pay your Income Tax without penalty. And on that bright note, I have some more good news this month. Newsletters were sparse and contents even less noteworthy. Unfortunately, newsletters from our clubs are at least a month old by the time I get them, and what news was presented, was no longer news by the time it got to me. For instance, the Terre Haute Ultralight Club's announcement of their third annual Safety Seminar, which was held on 11 March at the Ivy Tech Facility on Terre Haute International Airport. This year's event was to have included a presentation by Jim Stephenson, discussing the inspection process required to convert your Ultralight to an "N" numbered light sport aircraft. Jim was to have been able to inspect and certify aircraft, on-site, if prior arrangements had been made. Roy Beisswenger, among the first Designated Pilot Examiners for powered parachutes, was to discuss his first hand experience in converting from BFI status to Light Sport Examiner and in certifying a powered parachute as a Light Sport vehicle. LTC Kip Clark, 113 Fighter Squadron Commander, was to bring his unique perspective to Ultralight Flying. "Tailwinds", Terre Haute's newsletter, reported that an F1 Class tornado touched down on the Ivy Tech Facility on the 16th of February, doing some damage to the facility itself, and to several planes at that location. The newsletter did not report that the planned seminar would be affected, and we certainly hope that all went off as anticipated.

The middle of April also indicates that "Sun-N-Fun" is behind us for 2006. This year saw a big increase in the number of Light Sport Aircraft on display, with vendors really 'reaching out' to potential customers. Many sales rep's report that this effort was productive, with lots of interest in this new class of airplane, and many actual sales were completed on site. Ultralights were not as much in evidence as in previous years, but the Powered Parachute folks were well represented with many new models on display. Those Ultralights that were present, gave the crowd a good example of what flying an Ultralight is like as the pilot/owners demonstrated a number of takeoffs and landings in some pretty stiff wind conditions. Good flying guys!

With minimal flying activity to report, I thought I'd use this column to give you all a 'virtual tour' of USUA's new home in Gettysburg, PA. With the sale of its long-term headquarters building in flight friendly Fredrick, MD (also the home of AOPA), the staff of USUA had to look for a new place to hang their hats. With the help of some friendly realtors, they located a 'store front' location in Gettysburg, PA, right across the street from the historic railway station where Lincoln's train arrived, carrying him to present his most famous speech. This location will give USUA greater visibility, as this site is visited by great numbers of tourists during the summer months in the east.

Just across town is Gettysburg Airport, sporting a 40x3096 foot paved runway, with a 100x1670 foot turf runway,set at 90 degrees to the paved strip, in case the wind is blowing in the wrong direction. About 20 statute miles to the north east is Shreveport North, the home of a USUA signature event. The Father's Day Ultralight Fly In, is currently marking its 17th year of welcoming Ultralight Pilots from all along the east coast. Its 2600 foot lighted (on request)turf runway is the pilots' entry to the Florida Keys restaurant and the finest Prime Rib and Crab Legs dinner to be had anywhere in the area.

Just a short three minute hop to the southwest is Bermudian Valley Airpark with a 2200 Foot turf runway serving as the launching pad to about 25 aircraft, among which is my Minimax 103,"Plum Krazee" and its yet to be named sister, a 1939 Aeronca 65LA and a whole 'gaggle' of other Aeroncas.

Turning southeast and flying for about 8.5 miles, we can sight York Airport, with a 100x5188 foot paved runway and an excellent restaurant serving a fine breakfast. It is the "hundred dollar hamburger" location for many local pilots. This is soon to be the center for Light Sport Pilot Training in the region as the FBO is in negotiation with a couple of light sport aircraft producers to obtain an acceptable vehicle for training. They are currently giving light sport lessons in a Cessna 150, but are looking for a more appropriate airframe.

If we gas up and head about 36 miles west-north-west, we will find the newly resurfaced 75x3300 runway of the Franklin County Regional Airport, home of last year's Club of the Year, the Millennium Flyers of Chambersburg, PA.

I have not mentioned the numerous private, but ultralight friendly, airstrips located in this general area. All in all, it would appear that the choice of Gettysburg for the new location of USUA's "front office" was a good one.

We have looked at nearly all the tools in the Albuquerque Ultralight Association's mechanics tool box. But, in addition to providing us with a new excuse to hold a fly in (they celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a breakfast burrito fly in), they have come up with a new list of Laws of the Natural Universe:

Law One - the Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Law Two - the Law of the Telephone - When you dial a wrong number, you will never get a busy signal.

Law Three - the Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

Check out the USUA calendar new stuff is being added all the time.

Now - the prime directive -- Have Fun! But fly safe..... See you next month.