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by Ray Klaus, NAFI Master CFI

When I was a wee lad, I developed a passion for flying. In 1933, my parents took me to the Century of Progress Fair on Chicago's lakefront. The airplane exhibits and biplanes flying around held me fast as my parents moved on to other exhibits. Fortunately they found me missing and retraced their steps to find the lost kid.
The romance, adventure and challenge of aviation was everywhere in those days. It fired the public's imagination. The latest record-breaking events were in newsprint. Smiling Jack and his Deicers (pretty girls) were featured in the comic strips. Aviation adventure stories were abound in the slick and pulp magazines. G-8 and His Flying Aces, plus dozenes of periodicals such as Popular Aviation (predessor of Flying Magazine), Air Trails, etc. were dedicated to promoting aviation.
Aviation dominated the movie industry too. Howard Hughes, produced Hell's Angels, and in the years that followed, Clark Gable, Wallace Beery, JamesCagney, Jimmy Stewart, and many others starred in aviation feature films. Some of these movie personalities were accomplished pilots as are many Hollywood personalities today. Such as John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, to name a few, including Angelie Jolie, recently earning a pilot Certificate in a Cirrus.
Radio, "the theater of the mind," was a powerful influence with programs such as Captain Midnight, and Jack Armstrong and the All-American Boys. Art Linkletter, hosted weekly programs featuring the personal fulfillment and freedom associated with flying. He was also spokesman for Piper Aircraft (you could buy a J-3 for $999).

Light Sport Aviation would seem to offer a timely rebirth of interest in flying among a new generation of people as well as old-timers who just want to fly for pleasure, in addition to perhaps transportation. The United States is one of the few places in the world in which to enjoy the freedom of flight. In Europe, for example, a one or two hour flight in a small airplane will take you into another country with restrictions.
If Sport Aviation fails to catch-on, this recreational and entry level of aviation of aviation will disappear and flying will be the domain of the military, airlines, corporations and a few big-bucks people with high-flying jets.
Even now, the jet operators and ATC airports would like to see small, piston airplanes disappear. The freedom of flight could be lost forever, unless something is done about it.
Sport Aviation needs the power of prominent personalities behind it, and the minds of script writers, and those folks who run the entertainment industry.
Media exposure of places to go and things to do. Staged competitions, the same as any other sport, in order to get a share of the public's mind. It would be a refreshing offset to our daily diet of bad news, sex and violence.
Flying has enriched my life, and has proven to be a rewarding experience for over half a century. There is always something new to learn or do. If you share my interest in promoting flying in Light Sport Airplanes, send your comments to: Randy Seiler, Newsletter Editor. Randy Seiler randy@06c.org