What'd it take to get YOU up in a microlight
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Londonish
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A weightshift - quite a lot!
A proper 3-axis - anytime. Currently do most of my flying in a sportstar in LSA guise (100kg more MTOW over UK microlight), on a conventional register (not microlight, so regular hours in the book), and love it. Costs the same as a C150 to hire, similar cruise, much better performance, more comfort, quieter and plain fun to fly. (I do have a soft spot for the 150 tho). Only downsides are more limiting crosswind performance, and a tendancy to get bumped around more.
Interestingly those friends I take as pax are *more* comfortable with the sportstar vs the 150/172/warriors. Not an educated position viewpoint, but 'cos it's a lot shinier and doesn't look like it should have retired 30 years ago.
A proper 3-axis - anytime. Currently do most of my flying in a sportstar in LSA guise (100kg more MTOW over UK microlight), on a conventional register (not microlight, so regular hours in the book), and love it. Costs the same as a C150 to hire, similar cruise, much better performance, more comfort, quieter and plain fun to fly. (I do have a soft spot for the 150 tho). Only downsides are more limiting crosswind performance, and a tendancy to get bumped around more.
Interestingly those friends I take as pax are *more* comfortable with the sportstar vs the 150/172/warriors. Not an educated position viewpoint, but 'cos it's a lot shinier and doesn't look like it should have retired 30 years ago.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: wiltshire
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Glad to see that Ken Wells enjoyed his flight over the falls, the aircraft is an aerotrike from S.A. flown by myself and my mate "Smithy", when we ran "Batoka Sky".Fond memories.......
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Between a Rock & A Hard Place
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Speaking as a pilot of "the spam can" to get me in a bike with a bit of canvas over the top would require something of an exothermic reaction! Ino ther words when hell freezes over I'll think about it!
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Speaking as a pilot of "the spam can" to get me in a bike with a bit of canvas over the top would require something of an exothermic reaction! Ino ther words when hell freezes over I'll think about it!
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
Join Date: Oct 2007
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What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Join Date: Mar 2002
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What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Gliders love such days and can travel for hours and hundreds of miles on no fuel. Microlighters can make the most of thermals and save fuel.
Being able to climb at 300ft per minute with the throtle closed can't be bad for a powered aircraft.
Regards,
DFC
What would get me up in a microlight?
Enough spare time to do the annual + permit renewal on mine, then to fly it. Since it's currently 8pm on Saturday evening and I'm still working, this seems unlikely right now.
G
Enough spare time to do the annual + permit renewal on mine, then to fly it. Since it's currently 8pm on Saturday evening and I'm still working, this seems unlikely right now.
G
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Suffolk
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hours loggable for SPE and costing less
I had a flight in a weight shift a couple of years ago when looking for a cheap way to get back into flying (lapsed SEP PPL) - whilst it was fun to be back up in the sky, when I looked into the cost of dual and solo hire it wasn't far off the cheaper end of the SEP range. And as microlight hours aren't loggable, the benefits weren't there for me.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ireland
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Microlights... not really any good ..?
Wouldn't want to fly one in anything over 40kn X-wind.
Strips any shorter than 100 yards to be avoided.
Real trouble with that old mogas stuff.. only sold countrywide at 1/2 price of Avgas.
Other than that... probably OK.
Wouldn't want to fly one in anything over 40kn X-wind.
Strips any shorter than 100 yards to be avoided.
Real trouble with that old mogas stuff.. only sold countrywide at 1/2 price of Avgas.
Other than that... probably OK.
And as microlight hours aren't loggable
What's important? Flying hours and experience - or status as a PPL(SEP)?
I fly both generally, but given a blunt choice I'd take the former in microlights. In syndicates I'm paying about £30/hr for microlight flying, and £70/hr for an interesting large SEP, so microlights offer about twice as much for my money. Even if I just use a slow microlight for touring it works out at a similar £/mile (at-least solo or 2-up) I just fly more hours - shame that!
G
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Speaking as a pilot of "the spam can" to get me in a bike with a bit of canvas over the top would require something of an exothermic reaction! Ino ther words when hell freezes over I'll think about it!
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
There has been a lot of discussion about strngth, and I am sure that microlights are strong, but they are also LIGHT! I don't like flying a 150 as it seems to suffer the winds a little more than a warrior or 172 that are heavier. What the hell does a thermic day do to a microlight??
Don't get me wrong, turbulence is a part of flying, but when you are constantly fighting to remain straight and level in a PA28, what chance is there in something smaller??
Try a microlight - I guarantee bucketloads more fun than any spamcan (not diffiicult!).
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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Microlights are fun, and as safe or unsafe as any other aircraft - ie pretty safe if you learn properly and fly within your own and the aircraft's limitations. I do know what I'm talking about; I soloed one, but then decided that three different control systems and that many different aircraft in which to maintain currency was maybe one too many. 
If I ever can't pass Class 1 medicals and instruct on helicopters, I might well go back to microlights - of either type. Microlight clubs also have quite a good social scene. 
I'm amazed that a thread started by someone who showed such complete and utter ignorance of what they were talking about should have generated so much interest.
But then, I joined in also, so there you are.
If I ever can't pass Class 1 medicals and instruct on helicopters, I might well go back to microlights - of either type. Microlight clubs also have quite a good social scene. I'm amazed that a thread started by someone who showed such complete and utter ignorance of what they were talking about should have generated so much interest.
But then, I joined in also, so there you are.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Linolnshire
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Microlights
I have been flying Tin for 25 years (mainly Pipers, Arrows to Navajos) before discovering microlights. Five years later, I own one, I commute in one and I manufature them!
I still fly tin, but the microlght (Thruster T600N) is still the one that puts the grin on my face, and I believe is the safest thing I fly. (Down to the low inertia). 50% of my return flights home, I switch the engine off at 1,200' and 1.5nm and glide home.
I know several that regularly journey to France, two up with camping gear.
"Give it a try".
I still fly tin, but the microlght (Thruster T600N) is still the one that puts the grin on my face, and I believe is the safest thing I fly. (Down to the low inertia). 50% of my return flights home, I switch the engine off at 1,200' and 1.5nm and glide home.
I know several that regularly journey to France, two up with camping gear.
"Give it a try".
And microlight hours aren't loggable
Only if you are hourbuilding for an ATPL, or want to use them to let you fly an SEP
Only if you are hourbuilding for an ATPL, or want to use them to let you fly an SEP
Eg, if say 12 hours needed biannually, you could be current with 10 micro, 1 SSEA and 1 TMG.
CG
BTW I am NOT suggesting that that'll mean you're 'current' current. That's a matter for the individual and his/her hirer.
CG
Join Date: Oct 2004
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comparing a Brand new Thruster to an old Cub, it maybe cheaper- just- but like for like and the microlight will be cheaper,a nd running costs are a fraction of eaven Cub costs
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Bakota Sky
Great to hear from you. That was a great trip over Vic Falls, How are you doing?
One of the things I will always remember was flying at 20' down some tracks looking for Rhino's and the fact that animals seem to ignore Microlights but "hide" from Helicopters and fixed wing.
A mate of mine Roddy flew PA28's out of Vic falls doing tourist flights. But you could never get close to the wild life as you could in a Microlight.
That photo was taken in 1997, never forget to hospitality you guys showed us. Vic falls was a great place unitl Adolph Mubabe destoyed Zimbawe. No wonder you based yourself over the border in Zambia!
Thanks again.
Ken[IMG]
[/IMG]
One of the things I will always remember was flying at 20' down some tracks looking for Rhino's and the fact that animals seem to ignore Microlights but "hide" from Helicopters and fixed wing.
A mate of mine Roddy flew PA28's out of Vic falls doing tourist flights. But you could never get close to the wild life as you could in a Microlight.
That photo was taken in 1997, never forget to hospitality you guys showed us. Vic falls was a great place unitl Adolph Mubabe destoyed Zimbawe. No wonder you based yourself over the border in Zambia!
Thanks again.
Ken[IMG]
[/IMG]