Character

Who’s Who Description

Bear Perkins

AFI; Nice (big) guy; owner/operator of Perkins Powered Parachutes in Nicholson, GA – long time in the PPC business.  Great services for parts & accessories!

Betty Pfeiffer

CEO of High Energy Sports – manufacture of Quantum parachutes; radiant personality

Bill Gargano

Designer of Quantum parachutes

Bill & Bonnie Hunt

AFI; owner/operators of dealership – Powerchuters in Peotone, IL

Butch Mood

One of the top Nationally rated PPC pilots 

Dave is an AFI from Red Bud, Illinois who has been flying for a number of years. He has won "TOP GUN" 2 years running at the Powrachute Extravaganza (2002 & 2003).  Dave also participated in the search efforts for the Columbia Space Shuttle in Texas.

Dennis Stanley

AFI & SP CFI; co-operator of Bonneville Skybase, LLC in Grantsville, UT.

Ed Neff

One of the top Nationally rated PPC pilots; One of the seekers of a PPC altitude record (currently Ed holds the UN-official record of 20,287; and is known for his "D-spiral" record (44?)

Eddie Johnson

AFI; 2000 World PPC Champion @ the Greenville Chute-out-On-The-Prairie

Eric Tucker

Gifted giver of Rotax seminars (the man knows Rotax engines)

Frank (Woof)

Announcer extraordinaire of major PPC events

Gene Long

AFI – Fort Worth, TX; Teacher of PPC's, writer of powered parachute articles and person of extraordinary character

Hank Austin

AFI; Producer of one of the first PPC videos: "How to fly a Powered Parachute"; contributor to UltraFlight magazine; Distributor of Chiron wings

Hop Hochstetler

Perhaps the longest-running trainer in the PPC industry; began training in 1984

Jeff Williams

AFI; owner/operator of Powrachute (a leading PPC manufacturer) and West Michigan Powered Parachutes

Jim & Deb Stephenson

Owners/operators of ASC (Aero Sports Connection)

Jim & Irene Byers

Associates of UltraFlight magazine (and darn fine folks)

Jim Sweeney

President of the NAPPF (North American Powered Parachute Federation); Jim is one of the best at teaching us how to safely share the sky!

John R. Carr
(Rockin’ John)

Author of "The Paraflight Experience"; contributor to UltraFlight magazine; and a great guy who seem always willing to help others in sharing and clarifying PPC data.

John LeBlanc

Vice President and chief designer of PD – Performance Design PPC wings

AFI/CFI; Delta Captain; Aviation Attorney. A man who has devoted his life to flight training, helping others fulfill their flying dream, and creating clear avenues for interchange of ultralight & SP information & training; Jon is also an active leader in the 'lay-mens' Sport Pilot program.

Karey Love

Lew Ershler

AFI; 'Hook' has been training ultralight students for 13 years; co-operator of Bonneville Skybase, LLC in Grantsville, UT.

Lowell Farrand

First powered parachute test pilot (Notre Dame University, 1964); and 1^st PPC pilot to perform a LOOP

Marty Ignazito

Owner/Operator of Prairie Skyhook and major contributor of information (especially engineering rated articles) leading to the advancement of PPCs

Aeronautical Engineer of the old Paladin Industries - another original PPC designer. Matt has contributed greatly to PPC innovations.

Mike Harmening

CEO of Harmening's High Flyers, Inc.

Mike Swink

One of the top Nationally rated PPC pilots

Nicolas Ladas

Dr Ladas is the promoter & pilot of the first high altitude PPC cross-country event – San Francisco to Miami – 2001. Nick is also the CEO of 1^st American Aviation, a PPC dealer out of Hollywood, Florida

Pastor Greg Ratliff

Contributor to PPC magazines & PPC Pilot

Paul Gooch

Co-creator of SkyTrails Ranch, Inc.; Executive Producer of the Color Country Chute-Out fly-in in Utah and one of the top Nationally rated PPC pilots

Ralph McClurg

AFI; Owner of Sports Flight Inc., and associate of Show-Me-Chutes in Monett, Missouri; Major contributor to the Safety & Training advancements of the powered parachute industry

Roy Beisswenger

AFI & SPIE; Owner of Easy Flight in IL; producer/director of the Greenville World PPC Championship Chute-out-On-The-Prairie;  another major contributor to the advancement of the PPC industry; author of mechanical articles in ultralight magazines; U.S. Distributor of PD chutes – & damn good psychologist! or is it humorist?

Scott Hughes

AFI; Manufacturer of the new Predator in Wharton, Texas. Current World record holder of the most beef lifted in a PPC, 640lbs. A man with a strong sense of humor and one who sincerely loves to share his love affair with the sky with others. This man has probably sold more PPC's and solo'd more PPC students than anyone in the industry. (i.e.; Hughes - Yo Daddy)

Steve Snyder

Founder of one of the first commercial ("for sale") powered parachute units - the Paraplane

Sue Gardner

FAA; A Major contributor in setting up Sport Pilot program

Tim LeBlanc

Stunt pilot for a 'James Bond' movie

Tim McCord

PPC Lead Technician & seminar speaker for Performance Design (PD) canopies