Flexwing microlight crash, pilot killed.

[Fuji Abound]

From my point of view, using this website as a source of information, and given that i'm a 30 hours PPL student, I would be very interested to know peoples opinions on the chances of this trip being conducted safely. Given that the trip would have to be purely VFR and given the weather conditions recently, would a trip like this be considered as a high risk exercise?

.. .. .. leaving aside this incident totally.

Yes. I think the trip is entirely possible and has been done before in all sorts of light(er) aircraft.

Today there are two aspects to a trip such as this.

Firstly of course the weather. Well the weather doesnt really change that much wherever you are. Of course there are geographical differences - challenges to be met in the tropics that you almost certainly dont find in more temperate zones and visa versa. Having flown a fair bit in the WI, Africa and the US in light aircraft you will never experience quite the same thermal activity in the UK for example. As ever a understanding of the weather and a committment not to push your own limits will keep you safe enough most of the time.

Second, logistics. This is likely to be a more significant challenge! There will be a raft of logistics in obtaining appropriate clearances, up to date charts, landing permissions, fuel, and of course maintenance. There are companies that will do it all for you but it takes time, effort, planning and knowledge. Most of us can happily get around most of Europe without too many issues but the onward route logistically would be a great deal more challenging.

Deadlines will inevitably arise whether it be because permitts are about to expire or funds are running out. It is easy to say these should never be a factor but that would be to ignore the reality of trips like this. Of course they are a factor, the trick is balancing the risk against the pressures - not always easy.

For the absolute avoidance of doubt I am NOT making any judgement about this man's call as I have no real idea of the circumstances it is simply a general observation in reply to your question.

[Vino Collapso]

The manufacturers website says the QuickR has a standard fuel capacity of 65 litres. What endurance would that give you at a reasonable cruise speed, a setting that is not best economy?

I know this machine had an extra 80 litre tank.

[stuartjbrooks]

Fuji - thanks for your reply.

I must admit I was surprised to read the pilot stating " I'm departing on the 18th no matter what" in his online blog, as if have learned only one thing so far, its that one cannot commit to flying, when vfr only. I have been taken up on some days of poor vis, and its no fun at all. It has been drilled into me from day one that the go / no go decision is one of the most important in terms of safety. Obviously, having such a trip ahead, with the pre planning involved, makes such a decision that bit harder...

Stuart

[gasax]

Most of these 912S powered machines run at fairly low power settings - so less than 15lt/hr and probably 70kts ish. With that additional tankage that amounts to up to 10 hours and 700 miles - if the tanks were full.

But with a hop across the Channel they may not have been.

But with those sort of modifications the machine would have been able to fly long legs - pretty necessary for the later parts of the trip.

Stall speed is given as 40mph and the runway requirements about 200m so much more like light aircraft requirements than earlier weightshifts.

[Saab Dastard]

I'm starting a separate thread about this and moving today's posts and closing the original.

SD

[sleemanj]

From my point of view, using this website as a source of information, and given that i'm a 30 hours PPL student, I would be very interested to know peoples opinions on the chances of this trip being conducted safely. Given that the trip would have to be purely VFR and given the weather conditions recently, would a trip like this be considered as a high risk exercise?

Off topic, but...

Many, MANY have done such trips, including in flexwings.

The book "Freedom Flight" ( Ricky de Agrela, Alan Honeyborne ) is a good read about a world flight undertaken in flexwings which included actually flying through China (pretty well unheard of).

Two pilots died on that trip, but as always, it wasn't the trip that killed them. Poor decisions, unfortunate circumstance, these are things that can (as evidenced here right in this thread) happen right at your doorstep just as easily as 20,000 Km away.

Most recent similar trip (in microlights) I remember is a recent attempt using RANS Coyotes, umm, Australia back to Poland I think from memory, I don't know if they completed the trip (or maybe they are still on the way). Was last year I think.

The book by Cliff Tait, "Flight of the Kiwi" is also a good one if you're considering a long distance flight like this.

One day, one day... dreams are free.

[Dawdler]

Attn Stewart Brookes

SB, It has been done before by Brian Milton many years ago - er not without incident.

Brian Milton - The first man to fly a Microlight Around the World
.

[pbrookes]

... and by Colin Bodilll ( Colin Bodill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[SkyCamMK]

To Oz

Don't forget Eve Jackson the first, in a Shadow back in the eighties.

[J.A.F.O.]

Martin was trying to raise money for a great cause, the fundraising is at just 2% of his target, it would, perhaps, be a fitting tribute to Martin if we could raise the money anyway.

Martin Bromage is fundraising for Help for Heroes - JustGiving