Other than Oshkosh or Sun and Fun, The Aero Sports Connection (ASC) Nationals, otherwise known as KIMO (Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio) is definitely the place to be if you want to see ultralights. KIMO is all ultralight, mixing competition, fun flying, and lots of good ultralight stuff to create a gathering that is a ball for pilots and non-pilots alike. KIMO-99 was extra-special for the ultralight gyro fraternity, for the ASC Board of Directors approved the formation of a Rotor Wing! Along with the training package previously endorsed by PRA, this is a big step forward that both legitimizes ultralight gyros and gives us a "seat at the table" in helping to shape the future of the ultralight movement. We're working on a lot of initiatives to "jump-start" the new wing, including a web page, so keep your eye on the New Posts page!

Mention ultralights and most people will think fixed-wing! The weekend inventory included CGS Hawks, Challengers, many Eipper MX variants, TEAM Mini-Max's, Rans machines, several immaculate Lazairs, at least one Hyper Bipe, and several examples of the Phantom. The Phantom shown here, called "Childs Play", was actually built by elementary school students here in Michigan!

Trikes have been the dominant form of microlight in most parts of the world and are finally getting the attention they deserve in this country. Lots of trikes at KIMO - simple and easily transported, if you have to fly with wings, this is a very nice way to go!

The "hot items" in ultralights today are the powered parachutes (PPC's). The North American Powered Parachute Federation (NAPPF) is a both an independent organization and a Wing within ASC. The only national competition for these machines right now is KIMO and pilots were slugging it out in a variety of tasks all weekend. Shown here is a Harmening High Flyer PPC.

 If you have any doubt about the market appeal of these machines, here is, I believe, the Buckeye tent at KIMO, with as many as two-dozen machines on display. Other manufacturers were also on hand.

Powered parachutes have a wheeled undercarriage for the pilot. In contrast, powered paragliders (PPG's) have a different canopy design, employ back-pack power units, and are launched and landed on foot. There were plenty of PPG's at KIMO, but I didn't get any pictures! Here is a Sun 'n Fun shot just to show what they are like!
 
 

For several years now we have flown the Gyrobee down for KIMO and, except for two years ago when Ed Alderfer was there, we have typically been the only gyro on the field! I didn't get to fly down this time, but there were other gyros present to show the flag!

Rick Marshall, the new owner of SnoBird, was there with an immaculate SnoBird Exciter which he flew throughout the weekend. Rick is a very nice guy and has great plans for the company!

Jim Fields and Bob Vermeulen of GyroTech had a Honey Bee Gyro on hand which Jim flew on Saturday and Sunday. I will be putting some updated pictures of this machine on the Honey Bee web-page when I get a little time.

In addition to the two gyros shown here, Bob Miller of Wellsville, OH (a gyro-rated BFI) was there with his two-seat Parsons Trainer-like machine, giving introductory lessons throughout the weekend.

I never got any decent flying pictures of the three different gyros as all I had available for taking pictures was my sub-miniature "flying" camera (a Pentax 110 single-lens reflex) with a wide-angle lens. However, I did get this one shot of Jim Fields preflighting the Honey Bee prior to an exhibition flight.

Without a doubt, this was the first year that KIMO had enough gyros to make people take notice. It must have worked, for the reception the gyros received was the warmest I can remember and all the machines had plenty of interested spectators all weekend.