The dream of flying has often remained just that. The high cost of purchasing a typical aircraft and maintaining it at an airport hangar, coupled with a considerable investment in pilot training, filing flight plans, logging flight time and achieving pilot certification, has often proved an insurmountable barrier to entry for many. In recent decades a new class of experimental aircraft has appeared at the lower end of the aircraft spectrum, generally described as "Ultralight". Many of these aircraft have evolved into robust and reliable designs that have passed muster with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who regulate ultralight use through Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 – Ultralight Vehicles.

Flying by ultralight is basically self-regulated and one is not required by law to be a certified pilot. Training for such ultralights as the Powerparaplider (PPG) and Trike described below is usually several hours of classes typically distributed over a week before attaining solo flight and certification (for passenger carrying a higher level of training and certification is required). Equipment costs for new gear typically weigh in ranging from the price of a motorcycle to a car, while trading in late-model used gear or working with kits can significantly reduce costs. A number of national organizations have sprung up that are especially helpful in providing fly-in events, vendor expos and resources such as organization-approved training schools and certified instructors - the United States Powered Paragliding Association (USPPA), United States Ultralight Association (USUA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Recently the USPPA and EAA hosted 2 back-to-back Fly-In 2007 events in Florida, on April 12-15 the USPPA hosted the 2007 U.S. National Powered Paragliding Convention, sponsored by the EAA Ultralight Chapter 125 Power Paragators of Florida at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Clewiston, Florida, while on April 17-23 the EAA, who annually host EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” put on their other big show Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida. Both of these events offered Airfields where ultralight pilots continuously demonstrated flying their various aircraft, as well as Seminars covering every aspect of ultralight flying, and Vendor Expos providing complete resources for equipment and training. These 2 Fly-In shows offered attendees a comprehensive look at the types of ultralights. Coupled with the developments mentioned above, Fly-Ins like these continue to usher in a new era of personal, affordable flying “for the rest of us”.