In an interview conducted only hours before his murder, John Lennon said: “Weren’t the seventies a drag?” I’m looking forward to the eighties because I think we’ll see some of the excitement of the 1960s return.”

Although Lennon wasn’t necessarily talking about flying, his words proved prophetic, nonetheless. The 1980’s began with the crest of the Ultralight wave that had built up during the late 70’s. The ultra-light had suddenly become not only the hottest item in the general aviation industry, but thanks to Barbara Walters and 20/20 it had also become hot potatoes as well. Ultralight manufacturers were springing up everywhere, most copying one another, and the media and most general aviators were doing their best to shoot them down.

The movement, however, developed so much momentum that even Transport Canada decided it had better acknowledge the ultra-light, and in 1983 introduced the first Air Regulations defining the ultra-light category of aircraft and pilotage.

The crest of the wave broke rather suddenly with the brutal recession that hit North American, and especially the aviation industry. The subsequent decline in demand for light aircraft knocked out most of the players in the ultra-light arena. Even in general aviation, we saw the demise of the venerable Cessna 152.

The mere fact that you are reading this newsletter, however, is proof that the ultralight has passed the most rigorous test of all. That of market supply and demand through a recession and the subsequent recovery. As we leave the 80’s we see the ultralight industry on the rebound with much more stability and as much vigor as it had at the beginning of the decade. It would seem that Holmer Kolb, John Moody and Lyle Byrum were on track after all.

In his book, “Hidden History“, Daniel Boorstin writes of the role of the amateur in American history. He says that it is the amateur’s love and passion for what he does that has been the font of creativity in America. This is what fuels the ultra-light movement. I believe in the 90s we will see the ultralight movement flourish because it has provided the amateur aviator with the ability to fly like never before.

I began the 80s dreaming of flying, as I had since my youth. I end the decade not only having acquired the ability to fly but also having built two ultralight aircraft. Amateur aviator, yes, but aviator, nonetheless.

Let the excitement continue into the 90’s.