HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-04-26, Page 17IN STOCK & READY TOGO
- 1-6 ROW SRC & 1-8 ROW SRC
950 SOLID ROW CROP PLANTER
►6.1 Kr' kgik FARM EOUIPMENT LTD.
(619)
235-2121
15 -INCH or
30 -INCH
The 950 Solid Row
Crop Mounted Planter
teams the Cyclo Air®
seed metering system
with the Early Riser®
Row Unit to provide
you with a planter that
can plant 15 -inch rows
and be converted to
plant 30 -inch rows.
CASE IH DISCOUNT
EXPIRES APRIL 30/95
CALL LEN OR JERRY TODAY FOR DETAILS
SICOMBLIA
FARM EQUIPMENT - EXETER, ONTARIO
Sales, Service & Rentals since 1932
1-800-265-2121 235-2791.
Ken Kennedy and Bruce Millar stand in front of a Quicksilver
G7-500 Ultralight aircraft at Centralia airport.
Flight trainer Bruce Millar says that ultralights are becoming
more popular among recreational and first-time flyers.
CASE 111
Il�uri,,
Delta Bravo Aviators make flying available for everyone
By Chris Skalkos
T -A stats
HURON PARK - As a young boy Bruce Millar would read Flying Mag-
azines dreaming aboyt the day he would fly an aircraft.
As a pilot recently graduated from ground school, Millar dreamed about
the day he could share his love for flying with others.
As a flight instructor, Millar's dream is now a reality.
Millar has opened his own flight training centre in Centralia Airport
over a year ago and he's offering the flying experience to just about any-
one.
Along with associate and Chief Flying Instructor Ken Kennedy, Millar
has recently created Delta Bravo Aviation featuring an Ultralight Pilot
Training program. Located in a former RCAF hangar Delta Bravo offers
courses for existing pilots to upgrade their skills but specializes in in a
program specifically tailored for first time flyers.
According to Millar, Delta Bravo's new flight training program could al-
low a beginner to trail, and qualify for an Ultralight Private Pilot's license
with as little as twenty hours of flight instruction, and for a fraction of the
cost.
Delta Bravo uses the Quicksilver.UT-500 in its flying program. The
GT -500 is a two seat, powered aircraft with a fully enclosed cockpit
weighing less than 1060 pounds. Made by the same company that builds
Ski Doo snowmobiles, the GT -500 is the most advanced Ultralight Aero-
planes to date.
According to flight instructor Ken Kennedy, ultralights originated in
California when "intrepid birdmen" started to put motors on to their han-
gliders. When aircraft companies stopped building the classic single en-
gine Cessna's in 1984 more people turned to ultralights for recreational
flying.
The ultralights opened up the experience of flying to a broader range of
people because the aircraft was inexpensive compared to bigger tradi-
tional planes and is easy to maintain. Ailtralights are available in kits and
you don't have to be a licensed mechahic to construct one.
"On a part-time basis it takes about four years to build and an under-
standing wife," says Kennedy. "It's really a labour of love," he adds.
Kennedy, who has flown many types of aircraft during his thirty years
with the Air Force before retiring five years ago, says if he had to make a
choice, he prefers to fly an ultralight.
"In a jet you're encased in a controlled environment. You have an oxy-
gen mask and a pressurized suit and if there's a strong wind blowing you
just power,right through, it's like being in a cocoon. But in an ultralight
you have to bend in with the environment, you fly much slower and have
the opportunity to enjoy the ride," says Kennedy.
Millar agrees saying that the average height the ultralights fly at is a
mere 1,500 to 2,000 at a relatively slow speed of 130 mph.
"You can see the ground and you can smell the air. Flying that low at
that speed you're really in touch with the environment," says Millar. "It's
like sailing, you have to have a feel for it as you learn to react to the air
currents," adds Miller who compares flying an ultralight with the sensa-
tion of controlling a sailboat.
Currently, Millar says that most of his students are over forty year old
males with some flying experience already; however, he says his flight
program can be taken by just about anybody regardless of experience and
he is trying to entice the non -flyer with a unique Introductory Flight Les-
son that Delta Bravo is now offering. .
Millar has designed an affordable and realistic short training lesson to
give the "passive passenger" a taste of ultralight flying. The introductory
flight lesson costs $35 and includes a preflight briefing in the funda-
mentals of aircraft operations and controlling systems. During the flight
portion of the lesson the instructor hands over the controls of the aircraft
and guides the student through various maneuvers for approximately 30
minutes of flight time.
"The introductory flight lesson makes the dreamers out there realize
that flying is something that they can actually do," says Millar.
Delta Bravo Aviation will be offering appointments for the introductory
flight lessons at the Huron Park Aerial Show in June.
Millar admits that enrollment in his school has been slow because of
the commitment required and the serious aptitude one requires to success-
fully complete the program; but he sees the area of recreational flying
slowly gaining more popularity as new government regulations make ob-
taining a recreational pilot's licence more feasible.
For now, Millar is content that he's flying for a living and sharing his
passion for flying with others.
"The greatest thing for me is being able to pass along something I enjoy
to someone else," says Miller. "When we come back from a flight and I
see as big grin on their face, it's the most rewarding experience in the
world."
Enlarge family or team photos to 8-112x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly
with our outstanding results. Ideal for business presentation materials,
even colour transparencies
•
4