Founded, Led, USUA Through Pivotal Years
The gang here at ANN got a bit of sad shock this past week as we learned of the passing of US Ultralight Association Founder John Ballantyne... one of the most professional and effective aero-folks we have ever worked with. John occasionally served as a fly-writer for ANN, but more importantly, he was our friend.
John was a major force as the ultralight movement grew to prominence and brought tens of thousands of people into the aviation fold, affordably and with tremendous excitement, for a number of years until the industry was pretty much destroyed due to regrettable, inaccurate reporting by ABC News and other media outlets.
John's obituary notes that he was born in Pueblo, Colorado in 1946 to his father, John Ballantyne who commanded a troop glider in WWII and his mother Ruby Lee who trained with the Women Air Service Pilots (WASPs). John married early in life and had two sons, John Mark (Mark) and Paul Ballantyne. In the early 70’s he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music, but in 1975 found ultralight aircraft instead. He went on to be a pioneer hang glider and ultralight pilot and opened his own ultralight store in California in 1978.
Always an advocate for improving the safety culture, he moved to the East coast to work for various pilot organizations. John received the first ultralight instructor certificate issued by the FAA, and was a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor for gliders. He was the only recipient of an FAA commercial and flight instructor certificate in trike aircraft, and was a United States Hang Gliding Association rated master hang glider pilot.
John founded the United States Ultralight Association (USUA) and served as its president and chief operating officer from 1985 to 2000. In 1996, he received the Moody award, the USUA’s highest honor for outstanding contributions to American ultralight aviation. In 2000, John was recognized by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale CIMA commission for 27 years as a pre-eminent leader in America for the ultralight and microlight sport. John was also inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame for ultralights.
Through the decades and his accumulation of hundreds of hours of flying, John said he never bent one, never hurt anyone, and never hurt himself, even performing movie stunts as a member of the screen actors guild.
After leaving USUA (who treated him horribly toward the end of his association with that organization), he moved near the Delaware coast and renewed his interest in sailing.
All that said and done, the industry owes so much to the under-appreciated efforts he undertook on behalf of sport aviation... the way he conducted himself, the professionalism he brought to our community, and the friendly manner with which pursued the freedom of flight for us all -- these need to be remembered... and we shall. John was an uncommon flyer... and a helluva great guy. He will be sorely missed.
NTSB Prelim: Piper PA-23
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