Thoughts on Microlights!!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
From: UK
An alternative to a weight shifter would be something like a CFM Shadow.....?
I did my first ever fixed wing flying in a Shadow and it was a great little aeroplane....climbed at a good 800ft/min one up and cruised at about 70-80kts. Its a pusher (rotax rear mounted) with a nose wheel lower than the mains, so you need full back stick from the very start of the t/o roll to get her going. Great fun - although more expensive to buy than a flexy like a Blade. Abt £12K for a decent one.
http://www.futurshox.net/viewer.php3?id=857
If I came back to the UK I would certainly consider the Microlight option for economy. Flying out of a 350m farm strip in Herts was great!!!!!!!!
I did my first ever fixed wing flying in a Shadow and it was a great little aeroplane....climbed at a good 800ft/min one up and cruised at about 70-80kts. Its a pusher (rotax rear mounted) with a nose wheel lower than the mains, so you need full back stick from the very start of the t/o roll to get her going. Great fun - although more expensive to buy than a flexy like a Blade. Abt £12K for a decent one.
http://www.futurshox.net/viewer.php3?id=857
If I came back to the UK I would certainly consider the Microlight option for economy. Flying out of a 350m farm strip in Herts was great!!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Bristol and Forest of Dean
Hey Genghis
Isn't it about time I chip in with my usual 'don't mess about, go find yourself a cheap PFA single seater for the price of a good meal and don't bother with those strimmer engined, ridge tents of the air' speech.... !
Kingy
Isn't it about time I chip in with my usual 'don't mess about, go find yourself a cheap PFA single seater for the price of a good meal and don't bother with those strimmer engined, ridge tents of the air' speech.... !
Kingy
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Oxford
What about this, Ghengis??
Now here's one for you - the 5hrs in 13 months required for NPPL(M) currency is dandy if you are flying from an airfield with resident instructor, but how's about if you have your own machine, self maintained, and fly from your own private strip - who validates your license then???
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
I'd got that already telepathically Kingy, you didn't even need to say it. You really do need to come flying with me sometime.
Algirdas, it's 5 hours in 13 months currency, then just before each 13th month is up you trot down to a local club with your logbook, find an R-examiner, and ask them to stamp your logbook. If you aren't a member of the club some charge a few quid, but I think that most people belong to a local club, PFA strut or what-have-you for the social element, even if they do fly from their own strip.
I fly a microlight from a non-school airfield with no CFI. I fly a light aircraft from a (different) non-school airfield with no CFI. That's what I do for both licences (albeit that for the light aircraft they also get £100 out of me every other year for the duty instructional flight as well).
G
Algirdas, it's 5 hours in 13 months currency, then just before each 13th month is up you trot down to a local club with your logbook, find an R-examiner, and ask them to stamp your logbook. If you aren't a member of the club some charge a few quid, but I think that most people belong to a local club, PFA strut or what-have-you for the social element, even if they do fly from their own strip.
I fly a microlight from a non-school airfield with no CFI. I fly a light aircraft from a (different) non-school airfield with no CFI. That's what I do for both licences (albeit that for the light aircraft they also get £100 out of me every other year for the duty instructional flight as well).
G
Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,183
Likes: 1,120
From: UK
There is another option.
It's cheaper, lighter, more portable and (to me anyway) a lot more fun.
FLPA
Foot Launched Powered Aircraft.
Or to the uninitiated a hang-glider with an engine attached to the pilot!
The wing folds up onto the roof of your car and the power unit will fit into a large boot. (car not a wellington)
Cost of a suitable second-hand wing: £500 - £1500
Power unit: Brand new £3000, used, £1000 - £2000
Training: No idea at the moment but check with the BHPA (British Hang-gliding & Paragliding Association).
http://www.bhpa.co.uk/
or try Airways in Derbyshire
http://www.airways-airsports.com/
For more info try here.
http://www.hanggliding.plus.com/powered.htm
It's cheaper, lighter, more portable and (to me anyway) a lot more fun.
FLPA
Foot Launched Powered Aircraft.
Or to the uninitiated a hang-glider with an engine attached to the pilot!
The wing folds up onto the roof of your car and the power unit will fit into a large boot. (car not a wellington)
Cost of a suitable second-hand wing: £500 - £1500
Power unit: Brand new £3000, used, £1000 - £2000
Training: No idea at the moment but check with the BHPA (British Hang-gliding & Paragliding Association).
http://www.bhpa.co.uk/
or try Airways in Derbyshire
http://www.airways-airsports.com/
For more info try here.
http://www.hanggliding.plus.com/powered.htm
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: At work
Well those foot launched A/C look a bit too primitive to me, but I imagine fun.
Finals19 always liked the Shadow from when it was first introduced, the Sirrocco also looked good. Other fixed wing A/C that look fun are the Mike Whittaker designs, don't seem to see many though. Problem is most of these would be outside my price range, unless something unplanned happens!
Maybe going 3-axis would be more sensible, I don't knoww....
Finals19 always liked the Shadow from when it was first introduced, the Sirrocco also looked good. Other fixed wing A/C that look fun are the Mike Whittaker designs, don't seem to see many though. Problem is most of these would be outside my price range, unless something unplanned happens!
Maybe going 3-axis would be more sensible, I don't knoww....
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
I confess, in a longish and varied flying career, I'm very happy that there has consistently always been wheels (or occasionally skids) between me and the ground whenever I hit it. Although I'm open minded on most subjects of what makes a good flying machine, I've become quite fond of wheels (as opposed to feet anyway).
G
G
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K.
Have you thought about Motorgliders? If you have any gliding experience, the conversion is simple and you have the option of turning the engine to 'Silence' for some real flying. Probably can't quite get into the right price range for outright ownership but a single seat Fournier starts at about £8k. Costs are as for a PFA Homebuilt with a VW. My Ogar syndicate, 6 people, costs £35/Month and £18/Hr.wet. The £18 would apply no matter how many in the group.
Mike W
Mike W
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: UK
Raven-X
I've had one for a few years, and am very happy with it.
It's a basic but useable trike, the wing is excellent in more turbulent conditions, and it will trim to a decent speed.
The standard Raven-X comes with a 447, which is fine solo but a little underpowered 2-up for cruising. (That said, I had a happy week trundling around the Hebrides with a backseat pax in mine). Having said that I've just re-engined mine with a twin carb 503 which is in flight testing at the moment but looking very promising; giving me a climb of around 600fpm (up from about 350fpm at MTOW before), using about half of our 400m runway, and a cruise around 55mph (compared to the 45mph I was getting before). Basically I'm quite happy with it. And mine is a 1987 aeroplane with a sail which is still nearly as good as new.
The downsides of the Raven are that the parts are a bit expensive and slow in coming (but on the other hand, I don't get through many), the wing is a bit of a bu66er to shift on your own at 56kg, and if you've learned in something else you really need a couple of hours with an instructor - it's quite different to the standard flying school Quantums and Blades to handle.
Fuel capacity is a little limited (25 litres, burns about 13/hr with a 447) unless you've got the 50 litre long range fuel tank mod, which in itself is less than user friendly - but it works and you get used to it quickly enough. Also if you are buying second hand, try and get a trailer and intercom / helmets - you often can, and getting those with the aeroplane will save you quite a lot (it did me ;-) ).
But, I'm very happy with my Raven X and not about to sell it.
P
It's a basic but useable trike, the wing is excellent in more turbulent conditions, and it will trim to a decent speed.
The standard Raven-X comes with a 447, which is fine solo but a little underpowered 2-up for cruising. (That said, I had a happy week trundling around the Hebrides with a backseat pax in mine). Having said that I've just re-engined mine with a twin carb 503 which is in flight testing at the moment but looking very promising; giving me a climb of around 600fpm (up from about 350fpm at MTOW before), using about half of our 400m runway, and a cruise around 55mph (compared to the 45mph I was getting before). Basically I'm quite happy with it. And mine is a 1987 aeroplane with a sail which is still nearly as good as new.
The downsides of the Raven are that the parts are a bit expensive and slow in coming (but on the other hand, I don't get through many), the wing is a bit of a bu66er to shift on your own at 56kg, and if you've learned in something else you really need a couple of hours with an instructor - it's quite different to the standard flying school Quantums and Blades to handle.
Fuel capacity is a little limited (25 litres, burns about 13/hr with a 447) unless you've got the 50 litre long range fuel tank mod, which in itself is less than user friendly - but it works and you get used to it quickly enough. Also if you are buying second hand, try and get a trailer and intercom / helmets - you often can, and getting those with the aeroplane will save you quite a lot (it did me ;-) ).
But, I'm very happy with my Raven X and not about to sell it.
P
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Essex, UK
I learnt to fly microlights on a Raven 912 and did my solo work on a Raven X. They are great machines and the wing has the fastest Vne of all UK flexwings (even faster than the Quik). Turbulence and thermal handling is the best there is.
I am sure that it could have been developed into something to rival the Quik, had the thought of a 100mph+ flexwing not been frowned upon in Gatwick, 10 years ago.
You could get a trial flight in one at Medway Microlights, Stoke Airfield, Isle of Grain, Kent. The factory is next to the airfield.
Medway Microlights
Stoke Flying Club
I am sure that it could have been developed into something to rival the Quik, had the thought of a 100mph+ flexwing not been frowned upon in Gatwick, 10 years ago.
You could get a trial flight in one at Medway Microlights, Stoke Airfield, Isle of Grain, Kent. The factory is next to the airfield.
Medway Microlights
Stoke Flying Club
