My dad is coming up for retirement next year and he's interested in doing some flying.

He's always been a PFA fan (I think our first PFA Rally was 1982) and has also toyed with the idea of building his own machine.

His idea was to build a craft that could be towed to and from a farmstrip and housed in the garage.

The problem is that he only has a small single garage, limited building skills and has just recently been told that he is a type 2 diabetic so I would guess a PPL class 2 would be difficult to obtain ???

Also the last thing I want is for him to spend years building the beast only to find that he's too old to enjoy the fruits of his labour !

So I guess that group ownership might be an option for him depending on medicals ect ect ?

Anyone got any advice for him ?

Oh yes and to add another couple of things into the thinking pot....

I'm a PPL and would quite like to fly an aircraft to keep my hours up + I'm not a small guy so It would have to be able to cope with a few extra 'pies' too ! ! !

Thanks for your help !

PS - Location South Suffolk area !


:ok:

BM

Has he considered getting a NPPL Microlight? This can be done in as little as 15 dual and 10 solo, with 5 exams. The medical is as Class 2 HGV and I think mild diabetes is accepted.

An NPPL (M) would then let him fly a Skranger or Escapade, both kit built and both with folding wings. Also both possibly longer than a garage, but not a garage with a short extension ;)

Alternatively, he could buy something thats already built.

Both are 100mph machines too.

Do some searches for pictures and specs. Also see www.bmaa.org for license details and local clubs. Chatteris or Beccles are probably your nearest, after that a new ML school that is starting near Maldon, Essex.

bs

I'd go for one of these (http://www.realityaircraft.com/escapade.html) - reasonably quick build, folding wings, easy to put on a trailer and 220+kg of capacity. (N.B. I've flown both versions, the taildragger is much nicer - I don't like castoring nosewheels.)

That said, I agree with Bar Shaker, the Sky Ranger is good too, although a little heavier - probably 20kg or so less carrying capacity.

P

Pilotage

That's the one. It won Best Aircraft at Sun N Fun recently and was designed by our very own VP959

Thanks for the info gents !

I have just been looking at the websites. Nice looking a/c but then I looked at the price including VAT......dads going to be a NHS pensioner and mums scotish ! ! !

:sad:

But they have a wealthy son who is based in the US and paid in the Cayman Islands ;)

What's the likely budget, in terms of pounds stirling, and building man-hours?

P

I believe the Europa can be built in a single garage. It can certainly be trailored to/from the airport, and re-assembled very quickly by two people. Several builders have designed some ingenieous tools which enable it to be assembled by one person.

Can be flown on an NPPL(A), so hopefully your dad can get a medical for that. There are also plenty of Europas around with shares for sale if he doesn't fancy doing the build himself.

FFF
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Hi

There seems to be plenty of older Thrusters going for around the £4-5K mark. These are two seat sturdy little microlights that must be good value for money? I flew an early one once and thought it was great fun. Take a look at www.afors.co.uk (http://afors.com) or http://thehangar.co.uk .

PFA wise, there are plenty of cheap single seaters around or two seaters like Jodels, Condors ect for £10-£15K that can be flown on NPPL's

Why not buy a share in something and build something together as you go along? I wouldn't recommend building first as it can easily delay flying for several years!

SS

I've a fair number of hours in early Thrusters, and they're great fun cheap flying machines - but they are horrible to de-rig and trailer, and you'd need to keep it on an airfield. Very happy to be kept outdoors under covers however.

P

Barshaker....which wealthy son is that then ???

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