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   This is the story of the DFE Ascender III-C ultralight airplane that we owned between November 11th, 2001 and September 20th, 2005.

   In the Summer of 2001 the two of us were searching for an airplane kit to buy and build. We had test flown many airplanes but hadn't found the right one. They were all too dull, too expensive, too under-powered, impossible for us to build in our small house or something similar.

   In August 2001 we took a trip to fly the DFE Ascender III-C two-seater at the DFE Ultralights facility, near Pittsburgh PA. We both really enjoyed flying the plane . It had two side-by-side seats, it was affordable for us and it was really fun to fly. It was an airplane with which to share adventures. It was clear that there would be no dull, routine flights in this machine!

   So we ordered a kit and took delivery of it on November 11th, 2001. We started construction right away partly in our single car, unheated garage and mostly in our living room. For various reasons the building process was a slow one, but the plane had its first flight on 12 August 2003 and was flown during the flying seasons of 2003 and 2004.

    We owned the aircraft for almost four years before selling it. When we bought the kit in the summer of 2001 our travel expectations were different and we were happy with a short-range and slow plane that we didn't take too far, flying just in the warmer seasons.

Over time our travel requirements really changed a lot, both for personal travel and also for travel for work as well. We found that we really needed an aircraft that would take us on much longer trips in all types of weather and wind, and all year round as well. As a result, in September 2005 we sold the Ascender.

The Ascender is actually the fifth aircraft that we have owned, so looking back, it does seem that our aircraft needs have changed over time.

We have no reservations about the Ascender. It is strong, safe and relatively easy to fly--it just has to be the right aircraft for your needs.

This website is now complete but it will provide a history of this one particular aircraft.

Adam & Ruth