2005 US National
PPG Convention Coverage
Click here for Thrust Test Results
Click here for Competition
Results
It is where pilots, potential pilots, vendors and the
curious come together in celebration of powered foot flying. Thanks to Jim
Jackson and his EAA Chapter 126 for hosting the event along with many,
many volunteers.
Thanks to the 170 paid pilot tickets sold, 199 banquet
tickets sold and 17 vendors showing off their wares or services, this was
our largest convention ever. The bad weekend forecast kept many away but
it wound up to be a great time of exchanging stories, ideas, making and
meeting friends.
The USPPA Competition that preceded the event had 9 pilots putting their best
foot forward and results should be posted soon.
It was also the first time the USPPA actually had a
presence and that turned out to be quite beneficial. The must-see video,
Risk & Reward was presented in a shared booth with Lite Touch Films
and every copy sold out. Additionally, we signed up quite a few new
members (thank you!) and showed off the new, bigger magazine format.
Beautiful weather gave all-day flying Thursday and Friday before a big blow
shut things down for a mass launch effort. Saturday morning was good flying but
the afternoon proved too windy as did Sunday afternoon.
Vendors reported brisk business and the turnout was surprising given the
lousy weekend weather forecast. What looked perfect on Monday had turned sour by
Tuesday. It's far from an exact science!
The banquet sold 199 out of 200 tickets although a number of folks packed up
early and headed out due to the weather. Bruce Erion did a masterful job with
the MC duties and it was a pleasure to hear from Kermit Weeks, owner of Fantasy
of Flight and friend to our sport.
Most of the manufacturers were present along with USPPA and Ultraflight
Editor Pat Yonkin who will be covering the event in an upcoming article. This
was, by far, the largest gathering of our sports sellers ever in one
place.
1. The gathered feasters post-banquet
  
1. One of the attractions at Fantasy of Flight is the
amazing airplane collection. We are fortunate: not many places could one
fly over such an assortment of priceless aviation gems.
2.
The biggest attraction was the gear and services. A lot
of shoppers became buyer. Fresh Breeze (on the far left) reported selling
everything they brought to sell and the other vendors reported brisk sales
as well. A new company, ParaAvis, introduced their gear (wings and motors)
from Russia.
  
1. Aerolight setting up on Wednesday.
2. Forward launcher checking his "six".
3. These three lined up nicely. Right place, right time AND with a shutter
button at hand!
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Highlights
It was rarely that crowded since pilots chose different times to fly.
After feasting and photos, Robert Katilla suggested this vantage
point. Perfect!
Thanks to Mark Damon, Tim Kaiser and Phil Russman who helped man the
USPPA booth. Many questions were answered and new members added. Welcome!
A lot of flat land becomes quite beautiful when mixed with water and
viewed from a PPG
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