By Malcolm Brubaker, EAA Lifetime 428307

This piece originally ran in the June 2026 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.

As a sail maker, most people I meet these days seem to be rebuilding an ultralight. Yet, when I told my dentist what I do for a living, he wasn’t even sure what an ultralight was. That’s fine by me; I don’t mind explaining. I’m surrounded by aviation 24/7. Nearly every sail I make helps someone bring an old ultralight back to life. That’s my mission: to keep the fleet flying.

I’ve written before about barn finds and restorations, encouraging anyone rebuilding or restoring an ultralight to share their experiences, and the response was inspiring. Every project, every sail, every rebuild is part of a larger story and keeps the spirit of ultralight aviation alive.

A Movement Born in 1976

That’s why I jumped at the chance when Timm Bogenhagen, EAA program specialist, called me about one of the most monumental ultralight rebuilds yet — the Icarus II. This aircraft, flown at EAA Oshkosh in 1976 by John Moody, EAA 102032, was a predecessor to the Easy Riser and a symbol of the ultralight movement’s beginnings. Timm explained that he had been given the green light to have it restored and dedicated at the EAA Aviation Museum during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026. I knew it had to be done.

Getting the ultralight from John in Lakeland, Florida, to the rebuild site — and eventually to Oshkosh — was no small task. Another hurdle was to find someone to do the actual restoration. I suggested the Michigan Ultralight Association (MULA), and they stepped up with trailers and support. Their enthusiasm matched ours, and soon MULA had the project rolling forward. (In an upcoming Ultralight World, MULA will tell us all about it.)

Details of the dedication are still being finalized, but the excitement is already building. The restored ultralight will be on display in the Fun Fly Zone next to the Ultralight Barn.

The Icarus II isn’t just an ultralight; it represents a turning point. In 1976, ultralight aviation was still in its infancy. That year, only eight aircraft were registered in the sailplane and hang glider “powered” category at Oshkosh. Among them were the Icarus, an American Eaglet, a Rogallo Wing, and a Super Floater, as well as three other powered gliders. By 1980, the number had grown to 101 ultralights on display, and in 1982, FAR Part 103 became law, officially recognizing ultralight aviation.

John, often called the “father of modern ultralights,” is one of the pioneers at the center of this movement. His 1976 flight was the first display of powered ultralight flight at Oshkosh. His passion for light aviation has been a lifelong pursuit. He has always encouraged safety and learning, and his pioneering flights in the Icarus II helped prove that ultralights were more than a novelty.

For many, including myself, 1976 stands out as a year of celebrating freedom and liberty. It was the nation’s bicentennial, and Tom Poberezny was named chairman of EAA’s annual fly-in convention, a milestone within EAA.

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of John’s powered ultralight flight in Oshkosh, and the Fun Fly Zone will celebrate the early design of his motorized hang glider. This golden anniversary is more than a milestone; it’s a celebration of the flight that officially kicked off the golden age of ultralight aviation.

I recently read Tales From Our Golden Age: Light Sport Aviation Pioneers by John Chapman of Michigan. His stories of flying mostly Phantoms and Drifters out of private strips around Michigan and a trip to Oshkosh capture the joy and freedom of ultralight aviation. The book frames ultralights as the predecessor to light-sport aircraft as defined by the 2004 FAA ruling. Now, 22 years later, Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification/Sport Pilot 2.0 is giving sport pilots new freedoms under less burdensome regulations. It’s all about flying for fun — just plain flying.

Barn Find Restorations

Ultralight restoration is an entertaining and rewarding hobby. One example is Robert “Bob” Kuck of Ohio, who recently asked me to reproduce sails for his Birdman Chinook WT-11. Bob was a dealer in the mid-1980s and sold several kits. This restoration for him is a trip through memory lane. This design first flew in December 1982 and featured unique “warperons,” where the wing fabric extended beyond the trailing edge spar acting as ailerons by warping the trailing edge.

When Bob came to meet me at my shop in Michigan to drop off the frames and fabric for his project, his dedication to find this specific model of ultralight, the enthusiasm over the project, and desire to restore the type of ultralight he flew so many years ago is not uncommon. Bob has restored a handful of ultralights, and it’s this type of homebuilding hobby that EAA was established for. Bob expects to have his ultralight finished soon, reviving a design that once captured imaginations.

Another inspiring group is the “Shut Up and Fly” crew from South Carolina. I met them at Hodges Field in Georgia last October and had the pleasure of flying Darren Robinson’s Phantom. Their fleet of five aircraft — stripped down and rebuilt — is a testament to what can be achieved when a group pools resources, shares knowledge, and builds camaraderie. Safety and friendship go hand in hand in projects like these. There has definitely been a significant increase in restoring these older ultralights, and from an economic standpoint, it’s the least expensive way to start flying. A couple of the Shut Up and Fly guys have a rich history in GA flying, and I got to hear their flying stories and feel their enthusiasm over dinner one night last October. You can see the interview with Bryan Walstrum on the Experimental Aircraft Channel on YouTube.

Closing Thoughts

I’m excited to see the Icarus II restored and dedicated at the EAA Aviation Museum, and even more excited to celebrate 50 years of ultralight aviation with fellow enthusiasts. Every barn find, every rebuild, every sail I make is part of a larger story about keeping the old fleet flying and inspiring new generations to take to the sky.

I hope everyone who uncovers a barn find takes it into the air. I’m always available to talk — via email or on the phone — and I look forward to meeting more of you who share this passion. Until then, let’s keep rebuilding, flying, and celebrating the freedom that ultralights represent.

Malcolm Brubaker, EAA Lifetime 428307, has been flying since 1992. His first ultralight was a Quicksilver, and he has owned and flown seven different ultralights. He became an Aero Sports Connection basic flight instructor in 1998 and a sport pilot in 2008, received his Light Sport Repairman Certificate with Maintenance rating, with weight shift and powered parachute add-ons in 2009, and has been sewing sails in Michigan since 2012. He has volunteered at SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo for 31 years and at Oshkosh for almost as many years. He currently has logged more than 1,750 hours in light airplanes including fixed-wings and seaplanes. Find him at GreatSailsMI.com.