Looking for a high performance fixed wing microlight.
 

Hi all...my mate is currently 20 hrs into his fixed wing microlight pilots course...and is starting to consider which aircraft best suits his needs for when he gets his licence,

He very much likes the French Banbi MRC 01 but they are thin on the ground and the new price is just a tad to much for him....he wants an aircraft with a high cruise speed such as the Banbi....I fly flexwings so I cant help him much with advice re fixed wing a/c,

I wonder could anybody give us a few ideas of likely contenders BMAA or LAA with a high cruise speed that are not group A type a/c.

Nick.

Aveko VL3 comes to mind. Be warned, not only for this type, that high performance from a small craft and a small engine requires a good deal of compromise in the design - I am unsure if a craft of this category is a safe fit for a beginning pilot.

The Jabiru UL450 takes a lot of beating when comparing, price, performance and fuel burn

I used to fly an Aerospool WT9 Dynamic a couple of years back.

Very nice aircraft, quite demanding to fly accurately - have a google for it - also some stuff on you tube.

Lots of MCR01 ULM’s for sale in France. Importing should be no issue;

PlaneCheck Aircraft for Sale - New planes and price reductions

Rod1

Does it qualify as a microlight in the UK? Wing loading is fairly high isn't it?

Might be worth checking on.

Thanks for your comment so far....yes there is a microlight version in the UK...not sure if its an LAA or BMAA machine,

I should have also said it needs to have a good wing fold system.

Bummer! That cuts me out of the discussion.
I was gonna show you this....a picture I came across today:

Photos: Magic GS-700 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Colombian built, I believe the Colombians have quite a market in Europe too.
Rotax powered, cruise 90+ Kts, and pretty STOL.

###Ultra Long Hauler###

Just saw an article and it cought my eye, very high performance microlight, but i have no idea if it qualifies as such in the UK. wings and horizontal stabilizer can be removed for transportation if needed and cruise speed of 290 km/h. Check out Shark Aero. And no, i don't get anything, just think it might be a very interesting plane to fly.

CT2K, CTSW are probably the best value second hand at the moment if you want speed, but check the empty weight, and favour one that's been hangared.

Nothing wrong with the banbi, but buy a British one. Importing from France is likely to just create a world of troubles to solve when all you want to do is fly.

Slower, but not that much slower, look at the C42 and Eurostar. They are also extremely robust, which might suit a new pilot well.

Also look at the Microlight version Jabirus.

The Dynamic is gorgeous, but very expensive and perhaps a bit of a handful for a new pilot.

I can't think of anything fast with wing fold, but if the second feature is more important, look at the Escapade, which is very nice, very well supported, and has an excellent wing fold mechanism. But no, it's not all that fast.

G

There are three versions of the MCR01 approved in the UK. The original VLA, the CLUB which is also in the VLA cat and the ULC which is the micro. 100’s of ULC’s flying around the world, with many in France. If you do not want a France one you can use G-INFO to contact the UK owners. All are looked after by the LAA. I fly a Club and help with the UK owners group. One word of warning – the Banbi is actuly an MC100 which is not approved in the UK but is in Europe. If you ask for a Banbi in France you will end up with the wrong aircraft – a plan built all metal predecessor to the MCR01.

All MCR01 aircraft can be quickly de-rigged but no wing fold. The ex UK distributer Jerry Davis kept his in a trailer and riged it / de-riged it as required. There is a video on the web of him doing this!

Rod1

May I pop my head above the parapet and suggest a Europa.?

Comes in tricycle as well as the original monowheel version. Fills the criteria requested - deriggable, quick (110-120 kt cruise). They are an absolute joy to fly. You'd have to be keen to master landing the monowheel version, but thee trikes are pussycats - relatively speaking.

You get a lot of aeroplane for their secondhand price.

But not a microlight.

G

Very fast - anyone know if this does qualify in the UK as either LAA or microlight??

"anyone know if this does qualify in the UK as either LAA or microlight??"

How about both – 500+ micros on the LAA

Rod1

Genghis does the Dynamic have a wing fold...your right...a fantastic looking a/c I think he will like the look of that,

Rod you seem well up on the Banbi Range of a/c...what is a realistic cruise speed for the microlight version...and any bad points for them,

I have tried to get him to think about something a bit more sedate but he is having non of it....not for me all this rushing about...I just love to potter about in my flexwing at 55mph watching the world go by.

To the best of my knowledge, no, the Dynamic has no wing fold mod.

It's also around £70k, which makes it a particularly expensive toy!

LAA and BMAA are organisations by the way, both can handle both light and microlight aeroplanes. However the vast majority of microlights are with the BMAA, who in turn have only just got or are just getting approval to handle light aeroplanes.

So, LAA = almost all "Permit" light aeroplanes (2,000 or so) and a few microlights (500 or so)

BMAA = almost all microlights (3,500 or so) and just starting to handle a few new design permit light aeroplanes.


G

Referring to G the E comment on the Europa not being a microlight.

Like anything posted for free on this forum, his 'information' isn't necessarily gospel. If its other features attract you, put the Eurpoa back on your possible list

A quick check on the LAA TADS for the type states :-

The Eurostar EV-97 is a microlight with a max gross weight of 450 Kg.
mike hallam

Mike – I think you are confusing Europa – not a micro and Eurostar – can be.

Regards the MCR01 ULC it will cruse at 120kn at 18.5lph on a 912uls. It has an identical fuselage to the other MCR01’s but it has a bigger wing . It will operate out of 250m of grass but you cannot keep it outside and it can be susceptible to turbulence but less so than some micros. If he would like a go in my MCR which is similar I would be happy to help.

Rod1

I'm also pretty clear in my mind that a Europa is not an EV-97 Eurostar.

The first is an all composite light aeroplane with an MTOW of 590kg, the second is an all metal microlight aeroplane with an MTOW of 450kg.

What a Eurpoa is, or isn't, I'm less clear. I suspect it may be the bastard child of the two.

G