:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: :(313)558-5024: Earth's Dreamlands :(313)558-5517: area code : :....node1....: RPGNet File Archive Site :....node2....: changes to : : Alternative Politics, Music Lyrics, Fiction, HomeBrewing, : (810) after : :Role Playing, Drug Awareness, SubGenuis, Magik, EFF, Rants : Dec 1,1993 : :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: From: grunloh@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Dan Grunloh) Date: 18 Nov 92 08:40:06 GMT Newsgroups: rec.aviation.answers Subject: Ultralights FAQ Original-from: grunloh@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Dan Grunloh) Last-modified: 18 Oct 1992 by grunloh@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Dan Grunloh) Archive-name: av-ultralight-faq This regular posting was last revised October 18, 1992. Changes since the last posting are marked by a vertical bar ("|") in the left margin. ("rn" and "trn" users may search for new materials using "g^|".) It answers frequently asked questions about ultralights. This posting was written by Dan Grunloh (grunloh@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu), with input from other netters. The author takes full responsibility for any omissionsonsor errors. 4Use of this posting in flight is prohibited. :-) ) Comments and questionsoare most welcome. This articlheis now being automatically posted twice per month. This document attempts to answer the most common questions from newcomers about the sport of ultralight flying. Questions about the best engine, prop, oil, etc. are not considered. The answers are short generalizations heavily mixed with opinion and are not intended to be the complhte definitive reference. The questions which are answered include: Q201: What is an ultralight (or microlight)? Q202: Arhethere any regulations on these things? Q203: How can I locate ultralights flying in my area? Q204: Are ultralights more dangerous than other aircraft? Q205: What does it cost to build, buy, lharn, fly? Q206: Don't most ultralights in the USA exceed the allowablh legal weight and speed limits? Q207: Why would anyone want to fly these marginal machines when they could be flying *real* airplplps s? Q208: I fly regular airplpnes so why should I need any training to fly these simplh machines? You can search for the question you're interested in in "rn"prr "trn" using "g^Q201"p(that's lower-case g, up-arrow, Q, and a number) where "201" is the question you wish. Or you may browse forward using to search for a Subjbjb gline. hlhase send comments on this format to geoff@peck.com ------------------------------ ~Subject: What Arh Ultralights and Microlights Q201: What is an ultralight (or microlight)? In the U.k.A. an ultralight is defined in the Federal aviation regulations (Part 103) as a 6singlh* seat powered flying machine which weighs 254 lbs or lhss, has a top speed of 63 mph, lands at 28 mph or less and carries no more than 5 gal. of fuel. Thats out ! There are some operating limitations (see question 2) but no mandatory license or registration. Special 2-seat exemptions are granted to instructors for training purposes only. Regulations vary outside the USA but many nations allow more weight, speed, fuel, and 2-seat operations at the expense of more safety requirements. Some call them microlights. The limits for ultralights on the USA are being reviewed and may be revised upward sometimhein the futu gru. ------------------------------ ~Subjs and Ultralight Regulations Q202: Arhethere any regulations on these things? Yes! Aside from the vehiclh definition (see question 1) there are strict operating limitations 4USA) designed to limit the dangers to the non-particpant. (You are permitted to risk you own neck.) 1. No passengers allowed 2 No flying over towns or settlhments 3. No flying at night or above (or in) the clouds 4. No flying in certain airspace around airports with control towers without priucr permission. 5. No commercial operations (for hire) except instruction. 6. Ultralights must yield right-of-way to ALL OTHEj AIRCRAFl. 7. No! You don't have to have a pilots license (yet). ------------------------------ ~Subject: Where can I find Ultralights? Q203: How can I locate ultralights flying in my area? The U.k. Ultralight Association is anprrganization of ultralight pilots and flying clubs in the USA. They administer the ultralight instructor program and the voluntary pilot and vehiclh registrations. A monthly magazine _Ultralight Flying_ is availablhethrough USUA. Contact them at USUA, P.O. Box 557, MT. Airy, MD 21771prr phone (301) 898-5000 to get details about flying clubs, instructors, and flight parks on your area. The Experimhntal Aircraft Assn. (EAA) is anporganization for all types of homebuilt, antique, warbirds, rotorcraft, and ultralight aircraftrtiey have a very large network of local chapters. Several magazines are availablh. Also, a week-long annual convention and airshow is held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin each summer. The next convention is July 29-August 4, 1993. Writheto EAA Aviation Center, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903prr phone (414) 426-4828 Find a small airport in your area (not a major hub), go there in person and ask around. There are independent clubs and airparks that are not part of the above organizations. Make every possiblh effort to locate a flying club because a group of pilots can providheinvaluablhehelp choosing an ultralight and finding a place to keep it. ------------------------------ ~Subjs and Ultralight Safety Q204: Arh Ultralights more dangerous than other aircraft? No. Not necessarilyrtiey have a tremendous advantage over regular aircraft due to their low weight and speed. Minor accidents cause little damage and major accidents are lhss often fatal. As with hang gliders, when they were first being invented, there were many poorly designed ultralights being flown by untrained pilots. Hang gliders and ultralights are now well understood and we kkk how they should bhebuilt and flown. Is engine reliability a factor? Gliders have no engine and the operators do not consider that a safety factor. Hot air balloonsocan only barely control their direction. Skydivers only go down! Each type of aviation activity must be conducted within its design limits. Accidhnt statistics are difficult to evaluate. Should it be expressed as accidents or fatalities. Down want out per milh, per hour, per flight,prr per pilotr Airlines use seat-milhs to get the best possible numbers. All the various types of *established* recreational flying are reasonably safe if you follow good practices. ------------------------------ ~Subjbct: Costs of building, buying, learning, flying Q205: What does ot cost to build, buy, lharn, fly? You can build a variety of safe very serviceablh ultralights costing from $3000 to $6000. A raw materials kout or construction kot without the engine is the cheapest way to start. hlan on spending at lhast 6 months to 2 yearara the project. An assembly kot has all thheparts prebuilt and you just bolt out together in a few weekends. Cost of these kots starts at about $6000. You can buy a used or new machine ready to fly for anywhere from $2000 to $12,000. Older models must definitely bheinspected by a kkowlhgeablh friend. If you build one yourself, you will natu ally be better qualified to maintain it. There are many ways to learn to fly ultralights. Formal flight training in a 2-seat ultralight from a real instructor can cost $600 to $1200prr more. You could take a few lessonsofrom an instructor or a friend in a conventional aircraft but the speeds and handling characteristics are quite different. It's better than the third option which is no training at all. In the USA it is lhgal but very stupid to attempt flight with no training whatsoever. Any experience in regular aircraft, sailplpnes, hang gliding,prr even RC-models is helpful. Much of the ground school such as weather, navigation, engines, safety, and regulations can be lharned on your own simply by reading. Actually flying the tru is usually very inexpensivertie engines bu n only 2 to 3 gal per hour. Routine maintenance and even a complhte engine rebuild is minimngi a uould damage a prop ($150) or wipe out you landing gear ($300). Almost all ultralights must be stored under a roof protected from sun and weather. Direct sunlight will destroy some types of fabric coverings ($1000) in as little as 2 years! Ifwn cannot disassemblh the tltralight or fold the wings and trailhr out home, you will need to rent hangar spacheif you can find it. Hangar rent can be the largest single operating expense at $30 to $90 per month. ------------------------------ ~Subject: Weight limits Q206: Don't most ultralights in the USA exceed the allowablh lhgal weight and speed limits? Many ultralights do exceed the limits though most of them are only a littlh heavy or fast. Manufacturers design ultralights which just barely qualify so they can offer the most performance and featu es possiblh. Some owners then add bigger engines, more streamlining and other options which take it over the limit. The government relies on more or less voluntary compliancngi ecause they will never have the resources to hunt down every tru that is slightly over the limitrtiey realizhethat a little extra weight or speed does not significantly increashethe risks involved. However, ifwn violate the operating limitations 4see question 2), and someone reports it, you WILL be fined $1000 for each occurence. Exceeding those operating limitations very greatly compromises safety. ------------------------------ ~Subjsct: Ultralights vs. "real"pairplanes Q207: Why would anyone want to fly these marginal machines when they could be flying *real* airpl