3-axis microlights
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3-axis microlights
Having flown the heavy stuff for most of my life, I want to get back to basic flying. Obviously flexwing has its attractions but I'm also interested in the very basic three-axis machines, essentially very simple two seater. Any recommendations (or otherwise!) welcomed. thanks.
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Rans S6
Personal bias after fourteen years of cheap flying, including touring in Europe. Mine is the Group A version, but there is little difference in performance and cost to the microlight version.
There are lots of excellent microlight aircraft around, from the very basic to the very sophisticated (expensive!)
PM if you want to know more.
Safe Flying,
Richard W.
There are lots of excellent microlight aircraft around, from the very basic to the very sophisticated (expensive!)
PM if you want to know more.
Safe Flying,
Richard W.
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any of the Rotax engined microlights, are great, depending on your pref for high or low wing, I tried most before deciding, all reasonable to run / maintain
& before others bang on about mtow, unless you got a steel bladder, most have a fair range
& before others bang on about mtow, unless you got a steel bladder, most have a fair range
Depends upon what sort of flying and how much you want to spend.
But, I'd look at the Thruster T600, X'Air (the original not the later "Falcon" model), and Chevvron 2-32c for starters. If you want ultra-cheap look at the Thruster TST or Cyclone AX3 which are selling for around £4-£5k for a reasonable 2-seater these days, or if a bit more money to play with a Sky Ranger or Eurostar.
If you aren't in a hurry however, the microlight show at Popham on the May bank holiday weekend would be a worthwhile trip - you'll see a huge range, chat to their pilots, and no doubt if you take your chequebook that there will be some spirited attempts to sell you a few which you can use to grab a few free trips and see what you think.
G
But, I'd look at the Thruster T600, X'Air (the original not the later "Falcon" model), and Chevvron 2-32c for starters. If you want ultra-cheap look at the Thruster TST or Cyclone AX3 which are selling for around £4-£5k for a reasonable 2-seater these days, or if a bit more money to play with a Sky Ranger or Eurostar.
If you aren't in a hurry however, the microlight show at Popham on the May bank holiday weekend would be a worthwhile trip - you'll see a huge range, chat to their pilots, and no doubt if you take your chequebook that there will be some spirited attempts to sell you a few which you can use to grab a few free trips and see what you think.
G
I think there's a few still flying, and I've certainly flown a couple of Snowbirds, but not recently.
Nice cockpit environment and quite reasonable performance. There are a few peculiarities - the original aircraft showed propeller rather than engine RPM which takes a bit of getting used to (although I think that most owners changed it for a standard RPM gauge) and I seem to remember an odd LED ASI that pretty much everybody replaced also, and the aircraft has no ailerons - it uses upper surface spoilers on each side this requires almost no rudder. As a result the aircraft was designed with a grossly underpowered rudder so has almost no crosswind capability. The other thing was the Rotax 532 engine which wasn't overly reliable - but if it dies I'm pretty certain that there's a mod to do a straight change to a 582.
There was a chap in South Wales trying to get Snowbird building up and running again a few years ago as a kitplane but he sadly died before he sold any kits and although she tried very hard his widow couldn't persuade anybody to take it on.
A nice aeroplane for its day, but I'm not sure I'd buy one now - primarily because if anything bent I'd have to reverse engineer and make my own spares, which would be a nuisance.
G
Nice cockpit environment and quite reasonable performance. There are a few peculiarities - the original aircraft showed propeller rather than engine RPM which takes a bit of getting used to (although I think that most owners changed it for a standard RPM gauge) and I seem to remember an odd LED ASI that pretty much everybody replaced also, and the aircraft has no ailerons - it uses upper surface spoilers on each side this requires almost no rudder. As a result the aircraft was designed with a grossly underpowered rudder so has almost no crosswind capability. The other thing was the Rotax 532 engine which wasn't overly reliable - but if it dies I'm pretty certain that there's a mod to do a straight change to a 582.
There was a chap in South Wales trying to get Snowbird building up and running again a few years ago as a kitplane but he sadly died before he sold any kits and although she tried very hard his widow couldn't persuade anybody to take it on.
A nice aeroplane for its day, but I'm not sure I'd buy one now - primarily because if anything bent I'd have to reverse engineer and make my own spares, which would be a nuisance.
G
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I recently flew a Thruster. This one had a two-stroke engine that was as smooth as anything. For £2x,000 and negligible running costs, it's worth a serious look.
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From the drawing board of Yuri Yakovlev himself, the Aeroprakt A22 is the most exquisitely engineered two seater 'pure and simple' aircraft anywhere in the world.
Built to real world aviation engineering standards, and then some.
Or if you want the ultimate weightshift single seat classic, there's only one contender.
Built to real world aviation engineering standards, and then some.
Or if you want the ultimate weightshift single seat classic, there's only one contender.
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One further question, having read, marked and inwardly digested the foregoing. I'm familiar with the Rotax engine family but know nothing about Jabiru. Any pointers again much appreciated.
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the "remos" isn't available in the UK, if you want the ultimate 3 axis, uk wise, its the Dynamic. www.ylac.co.uk
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If you want the ultimate micro;
http://www.avnet.co.uk/lts/pages/ulc.htm
You will also find a Club version (VLA), which is quicker, cheaper and lifts 30kg more for the same running costs. I built one and am very pleased with it! See review in Aug 07 Flyer.
Rod1
http://www.avnet.co.uk/lts/pages/ulc.htm
You will also find a Club version (VLA), which is quicker, cheaper and lifts 30kg more for the same running costs. I built one and am very pleased with it! See review in Aug 07 Flyer.
Rod1
3 Axis Microlight
Have a look at the FK 9 Mk IV Utility from B&F Technik Factory. Looks the biz with a Mercedes Smart engine (with clutch).
See pictures here http://www.innov-air.com/index.php?id=Galleries&gal=67
See pictures here http://www.innov-air.com/index.php?id=Galleries&gal=67
Originally Posted by BristolScout
I want to get back to basic flying.
Originally Posted by tangovictor
if you want the ultimate 3 axis
Originally Posted by Rod1
If you want the ultimate micro;
Originally Posted by Frelon
the biz with a Mercedes Smart engine
BristolScout - you did ask about Jabiru engines. They're Australian built air-cooled 4-stroke direct drive engines. As an engine they can be excellent - a bit (~8kg) lighter and cheaper than the Rotax 912 equivalent and the more recent ones actually seem to be generating the power claimed on the brochures (the earlier ones most definitely didn't). It doesn't however like high inertia propellers, is a bit temperamental over cooling, and the product support in the UK isn't as good as for the Rotax product.
Personally I think that the Jabiru engined X'Air, Escapade, Easy Raider & Thruster (especially if fitted with a reasonably lightweight wooden prop) are fantastic aeroplanes, but even there would be a little wary over product support. Most of the market tends to prefer the heavier and more expensive Rotax product for that reason alone.
G
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“I'd point out that not everbody seems to be answering”
Maybe, but it is fun!
The Jabs seem to suffer from lots of small problems requiring £500 a go. The Rotax seem to just work. This is based on aircraft around my area but does seem to apply to all 5 Jab owners I know and 10 plus Rotax owners. When I asked PFA eng about engine reliability 5 years ago, the Rotax was the most reliable in the fleet and the Jab was well down, but I think the Jab has probably improved its QA since. The geared Rotax can produce much more power at takoff with a CS prop than a Jab can with a light wooden prop. A 80 hp Rotax will work in a Europa for example, but an 85hp Jab will not do the job.
Rod1
Maybe, but it is fun!
The Jabs seem to suffer from lots of small problems requiring £500 a go. The Rotax seem to just work. This is based on aircraft around my area but does seem to apply to all 5 Jab owners I know and 10 plus Rotax owners. When I asked PFA eng about engine reliability 5 years ago, the Rotax was the most reliable in the fleet and the Jab was well down, but I think the Jab has probably improved its QA since. The geared Rotax can produce much more power at takoff with a CS prop than a Jab can with a light wooden prop. A 80 hp Rotax will work in a Europa for example, but an 85hp Jab will not do the job.
Rod1
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Genghis.
Thanks again for a mine of useful information. Yes, I am looking at the cheap and cheerful end of the market for a number of reasons, not least in that I'd like to promote affordable flying in my area which doesn't have the affluence of the SE of England. I'm very conscious from my weekend instructing that an awful lot of young (and not-so-young) people want to fly desperately but can't afford to maintain SEP currency.
From what everyone has so kindly advised here, and from trawling the net, I'm getting warm feelings for the Thruster. One thing that I can't seem to establish is whether it is a routinely trailable machine. I noted an ad in Microlight Flying for one including trailer, but is this an aeroplane that can be routinely dismantled and trailed or is it preferable to keep it rigged normally?
Thanks also to those advising about the posh aircraft. It's wonderful to feel such enthusiasm shining through.
Thanks again for a mine of useful information. Yes, I am looking at the cheap and cheerful end of the market for a number of reasons, not least in that I'd like to promote affordable flying in my area which doesn't have the affluence of the SE of England. I'm very conscious from my weekend instructing that an awful lot of young (and not-so-young) people want to fly desperately but can't afford to maintain SEP currency.
From what everyone has so kindly advised here, and from trawling the net, I'm getting warm feelings for the Thruster. One thing that I can't seem to establish is whether it is a routinely trailable machine. I noted an ad in Microlight Flying for one including trailer, but is this an aeroplane that can be routinely dismantled and trailed or is it preferable to keep it rigged normally?
Thanks also to those advising about the posh aircraft. It's wonderful to feel such enthusiasm shining through.
I've got a 1/10th share in an old Thruster TST which I'm very fond of. At the moment it's U/S, but should be up and running again later this month if you'd like to come and have a go. It's on a strip in Hampshire, so not a million miles from you.
Yes, it's a lovely little aeroplane - slow, but cheap and reliable and I get a lot of fun out of it. But, to trailer it is a bit of a pain - the wings don't derig all that easily and whilst you'd be fine for a 2-person flying holiday to trailer it there and back, I don't think I'd recommend it every time you fly.
Cheap and cheerful - yep the TST does that nicely and is fairly unique in being contentedly left on a tie-down, very cheap, 2-seats + dual controls, yet still with full product support. The only other aeroplane that I can think of offhand that ticks all of those boxes would be a Cyclone AX3 (which has one further advantage - doors!).
G
Yes, it's a lovely little aeroplane - slow, but cheap and reliable and I get a lot of fun out of it. But, to trailer it is a bit of a pain - the wings don't derig all that easily and whilst you'd be fine for a 2-person flying holiday to trailer it there and back, I don't think I'd recommend it every time you fly.
Cheap and cheerful - yep the TST does that nicely and is fairly unique in being contentedly left on a tie-down, very cheap, 2-seats + dual controls, yet still with full product support. The only other aeroplane that I can think of offhand that ticks all of those boxes would be a Cyclone AX3 (which has one further advantage - doors!).
G
My now defunct club at Halton started with a Thruster and an AX 3. Never got the hang of landing the Thruster, but the AX 3 was a superb 'fun' machine; very STOL, not too fast in the cruise (60kt ish), control response very quick; you had to 'fly' it all the time and as I was used to C150/152 it was a pleasant change; got so bored in those Cessnas.