Being new and reading your constructive comments (Thanks Chris for the lastest) ive learnt a little bit already. You got to remember im totally new to "Real Flying" and i have been offered the chance for some money to invest in a plane with a friend. So not knowing anything I came here to at first get the P1ss taken out of me but now I have had some interesting pointers and information on how to think or even start to do anything. I liked the look of that C42 Micro plane cause people are right I dont want to spend my life building this plane but I will enjoy a quickish build. Ive built model aircraft many a times and spend months doing my last one and now I have the chance to build a real one I think asking information about it was a good idea. Thanks for your constructive comment :)

I've flown the Icarus C42 - it impressed me a lot with well adjusted handling, no obvious vices, effective flaps, fast cruise, good climb and a particularly elegant structure. The downside is the weight which is right on the limit of microlight approval, so although you fly it as a microlight, your carrying capacity is right on the limit of 86kg+86kg+1hr.

Personally I'd go for the Skyranger which is just as pleasant to fly, similarly constructed, only very slightly lower performance, but crucially about 15kg lighter with a better instrument fit, and about £10k cheaper. (On a purely subjective note, I also would much rather be receiving product support from the Skyranger's importer than the C42's).

If you want really quick build, I'd look at the X'Air, SkyRanger, or one of the Rans series. Most of these are microlights, but microlight kits do seem generally to come with a lot less work to do on them.

(Incidentally, re: only 2-seaters - aren't the Pitts S1, Isaacs Fury, Isaacs Spitfire, Turbulent, Minimax all PFA approved single seaters, whilst the Zozy (3 seats), Jabiru 4-seater and some Jodel version or other available through Shoreham?)

G

That sky ranger looks so cool :) going to look into that :)

The only PFA approved aircraft are single or two seaters - apart from the Jodel series of 2+2 and 4 seaters - and they are only approved on the basis that they have certified engines and propellers and fully stress analyses.

The chances of the PFA approving any other 4 seaters at the moment is very low.

Scratch the Jabiru - non-certified engine and prop.

Scratch the Z801 - some structural issues - but they could doubtless be resolved with effort.

Scratch the Cozy - no structural analysis, uncertified prop.

Maybe coming - the Mission. The MCR04 - but issues over the engine and prop!

There is some level of frustration (see the biggest posts on the PFA bulletin board as and when its running again), over this situation.

At the moment the only 4 seater it is posible to build is a Jodel with a certified engine and propeller combination.