Flexwings on a JAA Licence
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Strathaven Airfield
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Hi Twisted,
Thanks.
Still doesn''t say anywhere that you actually must have the rating - I stick by my premise that your JAR-FCL and old Group A allows you to fly any microlight without training or test.
ps We went through all this for years after JAR-FCL came in, because some light aircraft instructor/examiners got told they could no longer instruct/examine on microlights, and after a few years the CAA backed down for the very reason that there is no international definition of a microlight, so it couldn't be excluded from an international light aircraft licence.
Things are different for the NPPL though, since it is a UK licence and there is a UK definition. There are even provisions in the NPPL for a microlight pilot with flexwing expereince to have to do further training before P1 on a three-axis - which wasn't in the old microlight licence such as the one I have.
Grandfather rights are a minefield, eh!
Thanks.
Still doesn''t say anywhere that you actually must have the rating - I stick by my premise that your JAR-FCL and old Group A allows you to fly any microlight without training or test.
ps We went through all this for years after JAR-FCL came in, because some light aircraft instructor/examiners got told they could no longer instruct/examine on microlights, and after a few years the CAA backed down for the very reason that there is no international definition of a microlight, so it couldn't be excluded from an international light aircraft licence.
Things are different for the NPPL though, since it is a UK licence and there is a UK definition. There are even provisions in the NPPL for a microlight pilot with flexwing expereince to have to do further training before P1 on a three-axis - which wasn't in the old microlight licence such as the one I have.
Grandfather rights are a minefield, eh!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: South Norfolk, England
Age: 58
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You certainly used to be able to fly any microlight on the strength of your UK PPL A, but many Grandfather rights seem to be pushed aside these days (including the licence itself shortly 
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I self taught myself to fly a flexwing (a Griffon tripacer)... or rather self taught myself to stop before I killed myself
I'd take off, fly the length of our longest field (2000m ish) and land. In the end I could fly around the field at low level, but never got the courage up to climb away, which was daft as it would probably have been the safest option. In the end, a couple of heavy landings made me decide to give up as I couldn't find any flexwing instructors within 50 miles. I sold the microlight for more than I payed for it and went back to flying PFA types. I did enjoy the flexwing and found the control imputs quite natural. The bit I struggled with was the rather course foot throttle, which seemed to only work full on or off.
SS
) I self taught myself to fly a flexwing (a Griffon tripacer)... or rather self taught myself to stop before I killed myself
I'd take off, fly the length of our longest field (2000m ish) and land. In the end I could fly around the field at low level, but never got the courage up to climb away, which was daft as it would probably have been the safest option. In the end, a couple of heavy landings made me decide to give up as I couldn't find any flexwing instructors within 50 miles. I sold the microlight for more than I payed for it and went back to flying PFA types. I did enjoy the flexwing and found the control imputs quite natural. The bit I struggled with was the rather course foot throttle, which seemed to only work full on or off.SS
