Simviation Forums

Hi Guys

I seriously cosidering getting my private pilots licence and buying a second-hand microlight. Does anyone here already fly one?

Thx Matt

Good for you, Matt... ...!

Lots of fun, and the only way anyone can afford to take to the skies nowadays... ...!
..tell that to the young, budding pilots here...  ;)... ...!

Paul... ...!

Have fun in a Microlight....or (Ultralights as our American friends call them)... ...!

P.S. have a look in your local library, there are some good books, with pictures, dealing with Microlights...!

Hi Matt:

Like Paul said "Good for you"

I am afraid I can't say much about "microlights or ultrallights" as I have never owned one.

A suggestion might be to visit a club in your immediate area and take a flight first.  Try it to see if you like it.

I have been up many times in "ultralights" owned by fellow pilots and it is a different type of flying altogether.
The Weather, Location (for example Air Traffic Control), time of day all play significant roles when flying that type of aircraft.

Like Paul says they are fun and cheap to operate, however some of the ultralight aircraft I have flown  in are the price of a used Cessna 150 or monocoupe which can be flown quite comfortably year round.  This is something else you should look at and you can do the comparison in prices right at home on the internet.

Also Matt unless you are going to fly at least (100) one hundred hours a year is it worth the cost of purchasing the aeroplane of your choice or is it cheaper to rent?  That is a few things you can find out on the internet or at your local flying club.  Don't be afraid to go out and ask questions Matt, most pilots I know will only give you their opinion which usually turns out to be good advice.

Please don't think I am trying to turn you off buying Matt, just giving you some options to look at and think about before you spend your hard earned cash.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Sounds cool. I don't think you even have to have a pilot's license, it's just suggested to have a bit of instruction first.

Sounds cool. I don't think you even have to have a pilot's license, it's just suggested to have a bit of instruction first.

That might be so in the US & some other countries but I note that Matt is in the UK. You need a licence here but you can fly a microlight on a restricted licence called the NPPL (National Private Pilot's License). http://www.pfa.org.uk/the_pfa/nppl.asp
This involves less hours (minimum 30) & works out much cheaper than a full PPL & it's possible to update to this later if you wish. The NPPL covers aircraft up to a certain weight & even some conventional types like the Piper Cub. I recently looked into it myself & there are various ways of doing it. Microlights come in all shapes & sizes ranging from the basic flexwings (like a powered hang-glider) to much more sophisticated miniature aeroplanes built from the latest materials. Some flying clubs specialise in microlight training & my nearest one at Popham operates a system where you purchase a share in the one you're learning on. This is how they explain it. [quote]THE SKY DOESN'T COST THE EARTH!
Usually the first thing that most people want to know though is how much it will cost. The nitty gritty details of this are somewhat complex but to put things into the proverbial nutshell, using a finance package, we can generally arrange things so that it works out to only about

Just to sidle in on the conversation here- If you look up in the FS2004 forum, you'll notice the Mr. Littleport has signed up for the course reccommended by Doug. This is what it's all about people! we're helping one and other!

Littleport- Congrats! I think you'll have a blast.