C42 Ikarus

[Squawk_code]

Folks,

Anyone here flown the C42? Thinking of adding a microlight rating to my NPPL and just wondered if anyone had views on it. By the way, flexwing would scare the what not out of me!

Cheers all,

s_c

[Rod1]

It’s a good bit of kit. It gets airborne in next to no time and goes up quick and at quite a steep nose up angle, but it is not very quick. It is used as a trainer, but I prefer the Eurostar.

What do you usually fly?

Rod1

[Aerials]

Yes, me. I'm a student at a microlight school and have previous gliding experience albeit many years ago. I therefore only have nothing to compare it with. I found it well made and robust. Getting in and out is easy for me at 5'5" height and 10st 7lb weight with no limb movement restrictions. The seat is non-adjustable which I find a problem for my li'l legs, I need a back cushion. There is a tunnel into which the legs slide and it's a bit like sitting in a Reliant Robin. A side-stick in my right hand is a problem if I need to write anything in flight because I'm right handed. Throttle between the knees is very strange, especially with the folding joint. No toe brakes, only a lever on the side-stick. My instructor is taller than me but not fat, we fit quite comfortably in the cockpit. Brake wear is a bit of a nuisance and the lever requires routine adjustment. The model I fly has a Rotax 912S and the whole machine is a moon-rocket with a very impressive RoC! There's a cabin heater for those cold days too. The handbook states that it'll be controllable with any one of the 3 axes controls inoperative, so it is a very easy machine to learn on. Aileron and rudder seem to work well together. There's some pitch change when flap is extended but with nothing to compare with, I don't know if this is a lot. In flight, the controls are quite light and very responsive. We burn about 10L/hr at 75kt cruise, 2-up. Overall, I think it is a very nice aeroplane.

There you are, my impression given with my very limited experience. I'm sure that there are some reviews around on the net and other folk will come here and give you their views too. Go for a ride in one and see for yourself - good luck!

[Fake Sealion]

Its a good aircraft but do also try a Eurostar.
NPPL (M) schools use these quite widely and you would do well to try one if you have a conveniently located school.

[xrayalpha]

Love them to bits, we have had four at our school. (One G-SJEN we donated to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune)

If in Scotland, pop into Strathaven and have a look.