Sámara to Host Ultralight Festival

After years of work, the first ultralight aircraft festival in Costa Rica is set to take off at the end of the month in the northwestern province of Guanacaste.

Bringing together skydivers, ultralight pilots and a variety of activities, the Air Festival will take place Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at Airpark Costa Rica in Playa Sámara, on the NicoyaPeninsula.

It’s the latest benchmark for German Guido Scheidt, who lobbied the Costa Rican government to authorize the commercial use of ultralight aircraft, which are essentially motorized hang gliders. Scheidt now runs Ultra Light Tours, a company offering air tours of the country.

Scheidt moved to Costa Rica more than 15 years ago looking for a place to fly his light aircraft. He settled in Guanacaste and started a business that has morphed into two private airstrips, a hotel (Flying Crocodile Lodge), a flight school and a tour company, according to a statement from Ultra Light Tours.

Along with air shows, the festival will showcase an autogiro, a light aircraft with rotating blades, like a helicopter’s.

Live music and cultural presentations will also be featured during the festival. For information, call 656-8048 or 827-8858, or e-mail flycroco@web.de.