Thanks both.
Genghis, I'll certainly take you up on your kind offer, as and when you can fit me in.
Chevvron, does your title mean you have some experience of the Microlight of the same name?

I learned on the Jabiru-powered Thruster Sprint, and never had an engine problem; more than capable. I then went to a Jab-powered Skyranger (very briefly), before buying into a C42 syndicate. I love the C42 - Rotax 912, great cabin, and great performance. It is a level above the 'basic flying' you're after, but well worth it for the comfort!

The Kolb Twinstar has quick folding wings as standard, so could be trailer'd fairly easily.

Snapper.

Thanks. I know what you mean about the C42. We have Ikarus at Swansea where I instruct and it's an incredible aeroplane. However, I fly light singles routinely, so I'm really after the very basic stuff for my own amusement.

Pram.

What's the Twinstar like to fly?

My club switched to Chevvrons in about '95 after Angus Fleming came and demonstrated a Hirth (45hp) engined one to us. We actually had the Konig 4 cyl radial (32hp) versions with the C wing ie upward moving flaps. Imagine my surprise one day when pre-flighting the 'spare' aircraft which up till then had been stored in a trailer; I pulled the flap handle and no flaps appeared! Looking under the wing I discovered why; it had the B wing with downwards moving flaps!!
One thing about both versions ie Konig and Hirth was how quiet they were; the locals around Halton complained like mad about Rotax engines but didn't seem to notice the Chevvrons.
Incidentally I asked Angus about his Mid West rotary engined version. He said the engine was OK, but egt's were too high (over 1000 deg!) for use in the Chevvron.
The Chevvron was a good tourer with a cruise of about 70 kt, roughly the same as a Shadow, but takeoff and landing were 'heart in mouth' jobs; climbout at 40 kts and flap limiting speed 50 kts for the approach, and believe me you needed to use the flaps as it was easy to flare into ground effect, then you'd float and float and.........

Chevvron.

Can you elaborate on 'upward-moving flaps'? I'm intrigued.

Basically they're called flaps but operated like spoilers, but they're not really spoilers 'cos being at the trailing edge, there's no lift producing surface behind them over which to 'spoil' lift! They move upwards ie opposite direction to 'normal' flaps thus creating drag and decreasing angle of attack.

There's a Chevvron with trailer on Afors for £8500. Not mine, but I'd like it...

Chevvron,

Defunct? Has Halton Microlight Club closed?

I was looking at that Chevvron on AforS yesterday. Always been tempted. It ticks every box for me - cheapish, two seats, mid wing, high aspect ratio and reasonable glide angle, and de-riggable. Hands off! :)

The question is, how does it handle, and how well does it soar? Is it any good for cross country soaring? As you might be able to tell I'm looking for the opinion of glider pilots as well as microlight pilots.

Should I pursue one or would I be disappointed?

There were two clubs at Halton at one time; the Ridgerunners on which many RAF personnel learned to fly spawned the RAF Halton Microlight Club, the two having entirely seperate administration and funding systems.
Ridgerunners started with a Thruster, then an AX3 and even attracted Paul Dewhurst as CFI. Then after a spell with two AX 3s, 3 or 4 Chevvrons were purchased and the AX 3s sold. This club sadly folded in early '97, but the RAF Halton Microlight Club 'soldiers' on.

I flew with them for a few years, mostly on a syndicated Spectrum - lovely little aeroplane, although sadly very few around nowadays.

G

I have no personal experience but it's a high wing tail dragger with 2 seats side by side. The engine is mounted above and behind the wing, so it has a high thrust line and means that applying power tends to push the nose down. I'm sure I've seen a write up in one of the mags. I will have search and see if I can find it.
There are some photo's here.

Pram.

Thanks for the pictures and I'll be really grateful if you do unearth the write-up. The vis from the cockpit looks fantastic.

snowbird
 

Hello there. I'm new to this, and have read this post with interest - however, I disagree on several points.

The Snowbird was developed over 7 years; it was 5 years before the first one was sold. The design was tested to within an inch of it's life, and it passed and outstripped every specification that the CAA required.
The propellor rpm is related to the reduction gear, not the engine rpm.
The LED ASI was incorporated to keep the gross weight down, and anybody replacing the instruments could probably exceed the maximum weight for a microlight.
I disagree with the statement that the spoilers require no rudder. I also disagree that your remark 'as a result the aircraft is designed with a glossy underpowered rudder, so has no crosswind capability' . I was able to successfully land a mark 2 Snowbird from a starting position of 90 degrees 200ft off the ground with no spoilers (this is the secondary effect of the rudder). I also landed a Snowbird in Ireland with a 90 degree 30 knot crosswind behind an F 16.

Nice little plane, that Thruster……….reminds me of mine:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3820316/Scre...2019.25.17.jpg

It´s a Genesis, I think there are only very few flying around, still.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3820316/Scre...2019.26.15.jpg

Here´s a small movie for downloading.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3820316/Take...0Anconcito.AVI


Kai Manuia!

###Ultra Long Hauler###

I would recommend the Rans S6. I have one, so I would say that. Look out for one with 2 stroke Rotax, Even the 503 (like ours) gives good performance and will stretch to touring if that is what want to do. 582 power gives the best combination of power and weight carrying capacity We have been abroad in ours every year since I got my licence in 2003. Cheap to maintain, handling is easy, 70mph cruise, good cockpit space if you are tall, some luggage space. Looks like a "real" aeroplane. It can be folded in 35 mins but I would not want to trailer it regularly. You need to keep it somewhere dark when not in use to protect the dacron from UV.

Rans6.....

XAir
 

Hi BristolScout

I dont think you can get much better value for money than flying the XAir!

I have one which is now up for sale (I am getting a share in a Rans based just three miles from my house) and it is the must fun to fly.

Funnily enough I trained on the C42 at Swansea (with Ash) and between the two aircraft, the C42 may be newer and more "plane" like but I have a bigger grin when I fly the XAir with its Rotax 582.

For bimbling around the gower its a lot of fun! If you want a close up look at one, feel free to drop me a message.

Snowbird
 

The Snowbird is alive and well, under new ownership and soon to emerge back in to daylight!!!

Based in Gloucestershire, back-to-basics flying in a UK manufactured aircraft......very exciting!!!

See: Welcome - Snowbird Aviation

Oh, and as for "buying a Dynamic".......ha ha ha ha ha.....a joke, surely? :ugh: