Any microlight pilots here? Or PPL owners?
Discussion
Dyn'Aeros seem to be quite highly rated too:
An NPPL is inexpensive in comparison to a full PPL, but it does have its limitations. It's only for daytime flight - which shouldn't bother you looking at the aircraft you're interested in. Also, you don't automatically have the rights to fly abroad. Luckily there is an exception for flights in France so you can go for a spot of lunch in Le Touquet if you like
An NPPL is inexpensive in comparison to a full PPL, but it does have its limitations. It's only for daytime flight - which shouldn't bother you looking at the aircraft you're interested in. Also, you don't automatically have the rights to fly abroad. Luckily there is an exception for flights in France so you can go for a spot of lunch in Le Touquet if you like
Mobsta said:
Had the idea of taking the GF to do some microlight flying, with more lessons if she enjoyed it. It certainly seems far cheaper than a PPL, with 25 hours airtime being the minimum, compared with 45 for PPL (although both figures would be exceeded in practise if you did go for your license). And at £80-something an hour too, which is a fair bit cheaper than the traditional light aircraft route.
By the looks of it, microlights these days can outperform many small light and training aircraft, and can be aesthetically stunning too, not those old flying lawnmowers people tend to associate with microlights (although the weight shift flex wings look like good fun!).
Heres a modern fixed wing microlight, the VM 1 Esqual
One of the issues of being in the UK, is that kit builts are regulated by the LAA, and factory built microlights are regulated by the BMAA, both under derogation from the CAA.By the looks of it, microlights these days can outperform many small light and training aircraft, and can be aesthetically stunning too, not those old flying lawnmowers people tend to associate with microlights (although the weight shift flex wings look like good fun!).
Heres a modern fixed wing microlight, the VM 1 Esqual
And sadly, none of them have approved the Esqual. So we can't get them here.
Maybe we'll be able to get it under the EASA CS-VLA standard soon?
Reminds me of the poor guy that approved the TL Sting 2000 as a UK kit. The week after he finally (with modifications) got UK LAA approval, the factory (in the Czech republic, IIRC) got EASA CS-VLA approval allowing the original (non-modified) factory built aircraft to be sold all across Europe including here.
Madness, and a good example of mindless empire building. Whats the point in having stringent UK CAA/LAA standards that nobody has to bother with anymore as we've now migrated to the CS-VLA standard.
Anyway, here's a gratuitous pic
Andy (fixed wing micro pilot)
Mobsta said:
Jonsey, were you told to read the microlight pilots handbook? I read it once, many years ago, thought it was an official study book, ordered it but have since got the impression there is nothing official about it. I thought you had to study it in order to fly!??
the "bible" is cosgrove 7th edition. this contains, in theory, everything you need to know - although a few facts have changed since it was printed and i believe the author is deaded so there will be no updates. e.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microlight-Pilots-Handbook... you do not need to read it, but you neeed to know the facts in it air law is the perceived hardest of the exams down to the number of facts to be learnt. I find cosgrove to be a bit light and dry on the air law (in total there are 5 exams to do - multiple choice 70%+ required of which air law is one). i find: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Microlight-Pilots-Geof... to be very useful and easier to read than the cosgrove air law section.
there are some online exam practice papers etc that can help you out
mrloudly said:
Personally I find the Silence Twister so much sexier;
Zippee said:
mrloudly said:
Personally I find the Silence Twister so much sexier;andytk said:
mrloudly said:
That's where I found it 
What always p.sses me off is the chance of getting it legal here is about zero...
Hopefully they'll get it passed as a CS-VLA through EASA, and then anyone in Europe (incl. us) can buy it. The CAA can go swivel. What always p.sses me off is the chance of getting it legal here is about zero...Andy
people were approved to work on it ... Maybe it's better now, I don't know?
Zippee said:
mrloudly said:
Personally I find the Silence Twister so much sexier;
Mobsta said:
mrmaggit said:
Spitfire anybody?
Id certainly have mine painted as a spitfire, if I had one 
Heres a 90% scale kit-built spitfire flying past Beachy Head, available in kit form for £130k
Taken from an article, here
monkey work on that, you can fix/service the replica Spit yourself :-))
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