How many of you PPLs have gone to NPPL and microlights?
Discussion
Morning all,
Ive had my PPL for 6 years and for 4 of those owned and ran my own aircraft, a Beechcraft Sundowner. The costs for the amount of flying I was doing became silly so I sold it in 2010.
Recently Ive been looking into flying microlights instead. the modern versions such as the Eurostar and IkarusC42 seem to be able to offer me much more flexibility in terms of flying ( grass strips, cheaper costs). I dont really have an interest in going down the instrument route, Im really just into bimbling with occasional weekend trips away. I fancy Ireland and Le Mans as well and belive the microlights can offer me the opportunity to do these trips subject to weight restrictions.
Have many of you gone from Group A to microlights and if so what have your experiences been like.
TIA
Ive had my PPL for 6 years and for 4 of those owned and ran my own aircraft, a Beechcraft Sundowner. The costs for the amount of flying I was doing became silly so I sold it in 2010.
Recently Ive been looking into flying microlights instead. the modern versions such as the Eurostar and IkarusC42 seem to be able to offer me much more flexibility in terms of flying ( grass strips, cheaper costs). I dont really have an interest in going down the instrument route, Im really just into bimbling with occasional weekend trips away. I fancy Ireland and Le Mans as well and belive the microlights can offer me the opportunity to do these trips subject to weight restrictions.
Have many of you gone from Group A to microlights and if so what have your experiences been like.
TIA
The misses is doing this currently for same reason as you.....ill follow her.
Well I say currently - cant fly again till after Olympics. 2 grand flight transponder my a*rse!
Weather conditions are VERY limiting (maybe obvious but hadn't considered how often you can't get up cos wind too strong. Obviously the newer enclosed and fixed are better but still.....
And it's very little like flying a plane in some respects
Very cool tho
Well I say currently - cant fly again till after Olympics. 2 grand flight transponder my a*rse!
Weather conditions are VERY limiting (maybe obvious but hadn't considered how often you can't get up cos wind too strong. Obviously the newer enclosed and fixed are better but still.....
And it's very little like flying a plane in some respects
Very cool tho
Nightmare said:
The misses is doing this currently for same reason as you.....ill follow her.
Well I say currently - cant fly again till after Olympics. 2 grand flight transponder my a*rse!
Weather conditions are VERY limiting (maybe obvious but hadn't considered how often you can't get up cos wind too strong. Obviously the newer enclosed and fixed are better but still.....
And it's very little like flying a plane in some respects
Very cool tho
Obviously never flown a CT then? Beats most 150/152 types hands down. In what way is it "very little like flying a plane" ??? As somebody that's currently flying both typesWell I say currently - cant fly again till after Olympics. 2 grand flight transponder my a*rse!
Weather conditions are VERY limiting (maybe obvious but hadn't considered how often you can't get up cos wind too strong. Obviously the newer enclosed and fixed are better but still.....
And it's very little like flying a plane in some respects
Very cool tho
I find that a very strange statement?
mrloudly said:
Obviously never flown a CT then? Beats most 150/152 types hands down. In what way is it "very little like flying a plane" ??? As somebody that's currently flying both types
I find that a very strange statement?
I would have said the entire feel and feedback is very different (flex wing) - don't you? Same as I would say the driving a kart is in some respects very little I've driving a car. The relevant bit of my sentence being "in some respects"I find that a very strange statement?
You need to differentiate between weight shift and three axis microlights. Weight shift is a completely different animal to 3 axis.
Having owned both (still own and fly a self built Tanarg) ((G-AVLN G-BVUV previous) for the pure love of flying you can't beat weight shift. For comfort and economy you can't beat a CT/Eurostar or C.42
For "Tea hopping"in comfort, my money would be on a C.T. or Eurostar all day
Having owned both (still own and fly a self built Tanarg) ((G-AVLN G-BVUV previous) for the pure love of flying you can't beat weight shift. For comfort and economy you can't beat a CT/Eurostar or C.42
For "Tea hopping"in comfort, my money would be on a C.T. or Eurostar all day
I did just that initially and have no regrets. If you think the Eurostar is impressive wait till you try a CT! Most folk use their PPL for weekend jaunts from airfield to airfield or playing around in the local area. If this
is what you're after you can't go wrong with microlight types.
"One reviewer of the CT2K writing COPA Flight in October 2004 described the aircraft as "fast, comfortable, roomy and very capable of long cross country flights for little money" and faulted the aircraft only for its difficulty slowing down from its cruise speed of 130 knots to its final approach speed of 50 knots, requiring careful planning to lose 80 knots between entering the circuit and stabilizing the aircraft on final approach.[1]"
Show me a group "A" with 100hp at 15L/Hr than can achieve these figures. I'm 6'2" and sixteen stone and there's loads of room.
Figures taken from Wiki (I do think it should be in MPH not Knots though)
It's soooo quiet as well!
is what you're after you can't go wrong with microlight types.
"One reviewer of the CT2K writing COPA Flight in October 2004 described the aircraft as "fast, comfortable, roomy and very capable of long cross country flights for little money" and faulted the aircraft only for its difficulty slowing down from its cruise speed of 130 knots to its final approach speed of 50 knots, requiring careful planning to lose 80 knots between entering the circuit and stabilizing the aircraft on final approach.[1]"
Show me a group "A" with 100hp at 15L/Hr than can achieve these figures. I'm 6'2" and sixteen stone and there's loads of room.
Figures taken from Wiki (I do think it should be in MPH not Knots though)
It's soooo quiet as well!
Flexwing flyer here ( so proper flying 
) but I have noticed a big rise in the number of PPL folk at our airfield who are converting over to the likes of the Eurostar for 3 axis flying rather than the heavier stuff. No real interest to me, but they all seem to gushing in praise of the performance and obvious lower costs.
) but I have noticed a big rise in the number of PPL folk at our airfield who are converting over to the likes of the Eurostar for 3 axis flying rather than the heavier stuff. No real interest to me, but they all seem to gushing in praise of the performance and obvious lower costs.Dr Jekyll said:
mrloudly said:
Show me a group "A" with 100hp at 15L/Hr than can achieve these figures. I'm 6'2" and sixteen stone and there's loads of room.
What's the payload though? I looked at learning to fly a microlight but if I wanted to take any fuel I'd need a 5 stone instructor.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff