www.PSFmagazine.com | September-October 2019 | 21 20 | September-October 2019 | Powered Sport Flying LAMA’s Dual Award For only the second time, the association awarded two persons their highest honor, the Presidents Award for Outstanding Individual. A few years ago, a rare tie produced a dual award. This year, voting for the 28th year of the lama award resulted in another dual award. Hundreds of members of the business community for light aircraft offered nominations. The person with the most of those nominations wins; it’s a very simple system to recognize hardworking, creative people who helped move light aviation forward. One of this year’s winners was Kerry Ritcher. With his father, Wayne, Kerry founded three aviation companies. He started manufacturing aircraft in 1977 and his enterprises have produced a total of more than 3,000 aircraft, continuing to the present. His best-known design is the SeaRey from Progressive Aerodyne based in Tavares, Florida. A Private Pilot with over 12,000 hours, Kerry has designed a dozen varied aircraft including Hi-Nuski; Cobra; King Cobra; Sea Wolf; Carrera; Carrera 180; Buccaneer SX; Catalina; Colibri; SeaRey; Stingray; and, SeaRey lsx/ls. The latter are in active production by the company he founded. The second award recipient is also a member of the lama board of directors. Scott Severen started flying hang gliders in 1973 and has since been active in several aviation enterprises. He also assisted many organizations supporting light aviation including the U.S. Ultralight Association; the Airpark Owners and Operators Association; the eaa Ultralight and Light Sport Aircraft Council, and the lama board. In 2004, Scott joined IndUS Aviation, and was instrumental in the effort to be the first American-designed aircraft to earn slsa certification. Severen presently owns and operates US Sport Planes, involved in lsa sales, brokerage, factory authorized maintenance and major structural repairs in Denton, Texas. In 2018, he took over as the North American representative for the Jabiru line of Light Sport Aircraft. Scott is a private pilot and has accumulated over 2,000 hours in numerous types of aircraft. Part 103 Success Story More than one fixed-wing producer of conforming Part 103 aircraft expressed strong, continuing interest in these lightest flyers. Kolb and U-fly-It are both so busy building their 103 models that they are not focused on two-seaters. Aerolite does not have a two-seat model and no plans for one. Kolb has the Mark iii but the action is in their Part 103 models, said Kolb boss Bryan Melborn. The good news continues… The arrival of Badland‘s Part 103 entry F-series in five variations adds to such popular choices as Kolb’s Firefly, U-Fly-It’s Aerolite 103, Just’s True 103 (still in development), and models from Team Aircraft and Fisher Flying Products. This listing of Part 103 prospects is not meant to be exhaustive and leaves out players like Evolution’s Rev trike or Infinity’s Challenger 103 powered parachute, plus others. The point being, Part 103 appears not only to be surviving, but thriving! Oshkosh even had an entrepreneur who has organized to provide support to Canada’s Lazair. Watch for a video on this interesting development and see the nearby image if you are not familiar with this once-popular ultralight aircraft. Badland introduced their Part 103-compliant F-series at Oshkosh 2019. Support Our Advertisers Especially while most lsa run well into six figures, Part 103 pilots enjoy the greatest freedom in aviation. The simple rule has been unchanged since 1982 and allows flight in an ultralight vehicle without a pilot certificate, N-numbers, or aviation medical. A producer can sell you a ready-to-fly model without getting faa approval. As with lsa, ultralights overcame early issues to become solid members of the aviation fleet. Other countries have similar regulations. This uniquely covered Kitfox caught my eye
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