Bill Lishman is using his passion for the ultralight to turn it into a natural disaster first response vehicle. The idea came in late 1998, when Hurricane Mitch wrecked devastation in Central America. Lishman's Rescue Trike ultralight can carry up to 250 lbs. of air-dropped disaster relief cargo.

“Small towns and villages were cut off from road transport and a sufficient number of helicopters to ferry in supplies were not available in the critical period after the storm,” Lishman says. “I began to think about how ultralights could make immediate deliveries of water, food, medical supplies and communications equipment.” The tiny aircraft could also transport the injured, all at a fraction of the cost of existing response systems.