Purchasing an AX2000

[chillindan]

I'm thinking of purchasing an AX2000 and, never having owned an aircraft before, I wondered what I should look out for when I go to have a look at one? Has anyone got any advice? I'm looking at the one with HKS700E 4 stroke engine ideally as I don't fancy a 2 stroke.

Also does anyone know if and where you can get spares for the HKS engine?

Many thanks,
CD

[Genghis the Engineer]

Nothing particularly wrong with the AX2000, although if you don't need it to be Type Approved, I'd look at the X'Air which is a better sorted development of the same family.

The HKS700E is tiny, gutless, and unreliable with poor spares availability. Really, the 2-stroke 582 is a much less problematic engine. On the X'Air, I'd rather have a 582 or Jabiru.

For any microlight, before you buy - pay a BMAA inspector to go over the aeroplane with you. If you're taking a quick initial look, download the BMAA Type Approval Data Sheet (or Homebuilt Aircraft Data Sheet as applicable) and permit inspection checklist and use those to go over it. Very importantly, ensure he puts a Bettsometer on the wing and gives you an honest estimate of how many years until the sails will need replacing.

Have your inspector go over the paperwork as well, as paperwork not in order can cost you a lot of aggro.

Spares for the AX3 and AX2000 (including new sails) are available from P&M aviation in Rochdale, who are successor to Pegasus / Solar Wings who manufactured the aeroplane originally. Spares for Rotax and Jabiru engines are readily available from their importers. I suspect that HKS spares could prove problematic.

G

[Heston]

Genghis's advice is good and thorough. I'd particularly endorse his recommendation to get a BMAA inspector to look at it and the paperwork.

The Xair is a good choice. But I do like the AX2000 a lot. I've owned both and have in the past used the AX for instruction.

The earlier AX3 is not as good as the AX2000 but they can be had very cheaply.

I'd also endorse what G said about the Rotax 582 two-stroke. Its a good engine and much better than the HKS for the reasons he gives. Dont listen to clubroom "experts" and their scare stories about poor reliability of two-strokes. They need to be looked after and fed properly thats all.

Its true that the HKS sips fuel compared to the 582, but for average use that really shouldn't be a problem. And yes, spares for the HKS are difficult to get these days..

Edited to add: if you look on AFORS you'll see several AX2000s with HKS engines for sale and very few with 582s. But a check on G-INFO shows that there are many more with 582s on the register than with HKSs. There's a reason for that disparity.

[DirtyProp]

The HKS700E is tiny, gutless, and unreliable with poor spares availability. Really, the 2-stroke 582 is a much less problematic engine. On the X'Air, I'd rather have a 582 or Jabiru.

Interesting.
Here in Czech Rep. the Jab doesn't have a good rep.
Over-heating issues and such.

[Genghis the Engineer]

The Jabiru has problems anywhere - in particular cooling (although it's fine on an X'Air where it's in open airflow) and occasionally incompatibility of parts as well - but it's still a far superior engine to the HKS700E !

G

[chevvron]

I've only flown AX3s with the Rotax 503, however I've flown a Shadow with the 582 and can confirm it is a nice smooth engine. The AX3 is a great 'fun' aeroplane but don't expect to go anywhere fast!
I would love to find an AX2000/582 down south to share or purchase.

[chillindan]

Thanks for all the advice, having spoken to a couple of people as well I'm also considering looking at an SSDR like the Merlin 100 or the Sherwood Kub. I like the idea of having my own aircraft so that I can use it whenever there is a weather window and I am available. At the moment, I am reliant on hiring from my club, which is fine, but invariably I am limited to 2 hour slots, as they need the aircraft to teach on. I'd like to just get in and fly somewhere, maybe stay over, maybe not. Just have a bit more freedom...

[Small Rodent Driver]

Not sure why you would want to pursue an AX2000 when for similar money there are plenty of good Rans S6,s out there. The taildragger variants are particularly cheap.

Much more capable than an AX in terms of cruise, space, comfort, ease of derigging etc etc.

Looks like a proper aeroplane too.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Because the AX is type approved for training, has a UK source of spares, a coherent flight manual, and stall characteristics that are compliant with the airworthiness standard? (Or the X'Air all but the type approval). Plus you're dealing with the BMAA, not the LAA - which in my experience is massively more user friendly if you want any mods done.


Chillindan - the running cost of a 2 seat aircraft with a Permit to Fly will be a few hundred a year more than a deregulated single seater - but for that you get airworthiness oversight and a passenger seat. Personally whilst I enjoy a bit of single seat flying occasionally, I like to take my friends flying more. Whether you're competent to look after an aircraft without independent oversight is a question worth asking yourself.

If you do fancy a deregulated single seater however - the Sherwood Kub has an excellent history and current product support. I'd also look at the Chaser or the Minimax, which by all accounts are great to fly and whilst the Minimax doesn't have a UK manufacturer, it has a really good owners community who can support you.

No idea about the Merlin 100, but it's certainly pretty.

G

[ajojets]

I'm with Small Rodent ,the AX is like flying a cartoon aircraft and as aerodynamic as a brick. The Rans is a far better aircraft, bumbles along at 80/90 mph, all spares are UK available,

[S-Works]

I loved the AX3 and the AX2000, used to fly them all the time with Flylight at Sywell who did my Microlight licence back at the dawn of time.

Lovely aircraft to fly, dog slow, freezing cold with a great view!! I can remember doing no end of trips with nothing but a map and a jerry can of fuel in the right seat!!!

Happy memories!!!

[Heston]

AX2000 when for similar money there are plenty of good Rans S6,s out there

Not so. A decent AX2000 with a 582 engine should be gettable for £5k. A Rans with a 582 for that money would need alot of work.

Hence the advice to get an inspector to look at it first - the quality of a second hand microlight (I mean the standard to which it has been maintained) can vary a lot, and this might not be obvioous to the untrained eye.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by bose-x

I loved the AX3 and the AX2000, used to fly them all the time with Flylight at Sywell who did my Microlight licence back at the dawn of time.

Lovely aircraft to fly, dog slow, freezing cold with a great view!! I can remember doing no end of trips with nothing but a map and a jerry can of fuel in the right seat!!!

Happy memories!!!

Was that Paul Dewhurst's school?
As I said, the AX is a great 'fun' aircraft and you need to 'fly' it all the time keeping an eye on the slip indicator. It was great for flying cadets and 'demonstrating' the effects of controls; I was quite happy flying air experience in vis down to about 4,000m due to it's low speed characteristics; I would never even consider that in anything faster.

[Genghis the Engineer]

It still is Paul's school.

G

[Small Rodent Driver]

Because the AX is type approved for training, has a UK source of spares, a coherent flight manual, and stall characteristics that are compliant with the airworthiness standard? (Or the X'Air all but the type approval). Plus you're dealing with the BMAA, not the LAA - which in my experience is massively more user friendly if you want any mods done.

I don't believe the OP mentioned that he had any aspirations to train on the AX?

As for spares, Rans owners I have known have never had any issue gaining access to spares for the design.

Coherent flight manual and compliant stall characteristics? These are simple aircraft, the flight manuals for which could be accommodated on the back of a fag packet. As for stall characteristics, surely acceptance into the UK microlight category would only be granted if the the stall characteristics are compliant?

The Rans has a proper engine mount and steel structure around the important bit. The occupants.

Gets my vote.

[Monocock]

GtE is spot on re the 582.

I've owned 18 aircraft in 27 years. Two were Rotax 582, and the others were Lycomings, Conti's, Jab's and one (dismal) HKS.

The only engine that's been totally reliable* in my 3000 hours is the 582!!

* Starting and cheap to maintain.
Lyc's and Conti's have all cost me thousands to keep flying over the years - largely because they're so friggin' old, and many have been abused, requiring lapped valves, new rings, honing etc etc. When(if) a 582 gets troublesome, £3k pretty much buys a new engine for another 5 years!! And, it takes about 2 hours to fit it!!

[N707ZS]

I know where there's a nice Jabiru UL for sale in the north east of the uk!

[Small Rodent Driver]

I know where there's a nice Jabiru UL for sale in the north east of the uk!

A nice Jabiru? That's a bit like saying Belgian and celebrity in the same sentence.

[N707ZS]

Here's a few Belgian Jabiru's for you then,


Hottest Belgian Models | List of Fashion Models from Belgium

[Heston]

Very nice girls I'm sure. But they aren't celebrities are they? I'm not a Jabiru fan either.