Old news for some no doubt, but it recently came to my notice that there is a proposed change to the Single Seat Deregulated (SSDR) class of microlights. It would appear that the CAA have listened to the manufacturers and are considering a change from the rather restrictive 115kg empty weight and 1 square metre of wing area per 10 kg empty weight, to a 300kg maximum weight, 25kg/square metre maximum weight and a 35 knot stalling speed.
CAA announces public consultation into de-regulation of all single-seat microlights | CAA Newsroom | About the CAA
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2653/Annex.pdf
The relaxed empty weight appears to offer a wider choice of engines and opportunities to use high lift devices instead of wing area, not to mention a very big incentive for pilots to go on a diet!
Benefits of the class are; freedom for the owner to make changes with the minimum of paperwork, no need for CofAs, Permits, Section S etc and no noise certificate*. Just a G-reg, Pilot's licence, insurance and you can go flying.
There are quite a few older designs, which with a bit of tweaking, may fit the category as well as a lot of microlights/ultralights from abroad. The objective of the industry, however, is to open up opportunities for designers to experiment with new materials and designs with the minimum of paperwork.
Now you know what it is about, what would your ideal SSDR be?
*I read somewhere that although noise tests are not required, the CAA may reserve the right to noise test any SSDR which appears to be excessively noisy.