The United States Ultralight Association (USUA) and Aero Sports Connection (ASC) are very happy to announce that through joint efforts between the two organizations, the 9th US Microlight Championships will be held in Marshall Michigan on September 1-4, 2006. This historic event, sanctioned by USUA, will coincide with the ASC Nationals At KIMO. The USUA is the US sanctioned microlight representative of the National Aeronautic Association (the US National Aero Club), and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (the world aviation contests and records federation).

Microlight (ultralight vehicles as well as single and two seat aircraft weighing up to 992 pounds) competition in the United States has existed for many years, but only in this millennium has it gained national prominence outside the sport aviation arena. The most recent championships (held in 2004 in Scottsburg Indiana) were filmed and presented by National Geographic Television, and attracted record numbers of spectators. Microlight Championship competitors with perform tasks and contests that are designed according to world class specifications, and use state of the art GPS technology.

The winners and crew of these championships are invited to join the US World Microlight Team. This elite group of microlight pilots will represent the USA at the World Microlight Championships, the next to be held in 2007 in the Czech Republic. Airplane, Weightshift Trike, Powered Parachute and Powered Paraglider classes are offered for this type of event.

The annual ASC Nationals At KIMO (now in its 12th year), have also been well attended by participants and spectators alike, and have always featured Sportsman Class competition. This type of sport aviation competition is designed to create not only an enjoyable experience for the competitor, but also provides the skills required for creating a more well rounded, safer pilot.

Sportsman Class events typically provide a more relaxed pace of competition, but can be equally as challenging as World Class events. Winners of the Sportsman Class events are also encouraged to participate in World Class competitions in future events. As with World Class events; Airplane, Weightshift Trike, Powered Parachute and Powered Paraglider classes will be offered. This will be the first year that the ASC Nationals will offer both Sportsman and sanctioned World Class events.

This is the first time both organizations have taken the initiative to come together in a joint effort, and focus on a common goal: advancement of ultralight and microlight competition in the US. USUA and ASC are the two largest ultralight/microlight oriented organizations in the USA.

By joining together on this event, it is hoped that air sports pilots and enthusiasts from all backgrounds, organizational affiliations, and competition skill levels will take advantage of the opportunity made available through this venture.

Through the changing face of sport aviation in the USA over the past few years, many ultralight and microlight pilots have not been able to fully enjoy the benefits provided by this type of aviation.

FMI: www.usua.org, www.fai.org