Western Nevada Ultralights hit the skies

The turnout was light at the Silver City Airport on Sunday for the Ultralight Air Show, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the Western Nevada Ultralighters as members and visitors alike huddled around the colorful homebuilt craft swapping stories.

"(Uultralights) are a lot of fun," member and ultralight operator Glen Schweizer said, noting more planes are in the air in the morning, when the winds are calm. "The craft is very light, so it's like putting a canoe in the ocean."

This writer concurs after her first ride, complements of instructor and club president Mitch Olson.

With nothing more than a canvas wing above, metal framework below, and sky ahead the ultralight surged and dipped with the wind. And as the engine grinds one wonders: Was it like this for the Wright Brothers?

There are about eight craft in the local club which offers guidance for beginners, advice for the experienced, and a lot of camaraderie.

Most craft are built by their owners and regulations are minimal. Inspections to check the construction are not required, and operators are not required to be licensed.

"But you'd have to be nuts, to get in one without some instruction," Schweizer said, noting that the club does a lot of policing on its own, and is sanctioned by the United States Ultralight Association. "There are only two USUA-sanctioned clubs in Nevada, and the other is in Las Vegas."

The planes can weigh no more than 254 pounds and fly no faster than 50 knots. Maximum horsepower is set at 50, and they can carry only 5 gallons of fuel, making them primarily a recreational vehicle.

Schweizer said they're a great and affordable hobby. Kits start at about $2,000, and though a pilots' license is not required, operators do usually take 10 hours of instruction at a cost of about $750.

The one-day event offered contests such as the bagel drop and spot landing, as well as the balloon chase, in which a helium balloon is released, and participants are required to chase it until they pop it.