“So what are the extra regulations by going VLA instead of Microlight?”
Genghis the Engineer answered for one point of view. From the position of the owner of a home built VLA there is no difference and there is no extra cost (in my case) over a micro. My VLA has the same maintenance as its Micro equivalent; it has the same engine, the same fuselage, but smaller wings and a less complicated flap system. It also costs £5k less to buy the kit, can lift 50kg more and is 18kn faster.
Just one other point, when IO540 says they cannot fly (legally) in IMC, he means under European regulations. Under US regulations, identical machines to mine fly IFR/IMC all the time and the safety record is good. (You cannot operate a US registered home built in the UK for more than 30 days a year). It is probable that we will be able to fly home built aircraft in the same way in Europe eventually. Changes are being slowly brought in, but I am unsure how many IR pilots there will be who are qualified to fly them. The IMCR is set to die and the much-heralded new Euro qualification appears stalled. With less than 1% of European pilots with an IR (IO540 is one), the IFR capability of the airframe is academic especially for the “fly for fun” pilots like me.
Rod1