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Microlight Lessons

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The Aircraft

There are several different types of microlight, from the simpler powered hang-glider types ("flexwings") to craft with enclosed cockpits that look and perform just like conventional light aircraft. One of their key advantages is that you do not require a large airfield - a farmer's field will do! Many microlights can be packed up, placed on a trailer, taken home and stored in your garage. With relatively slow flying speeds and low inertia the microlight is one of the cheapest and safest forms of recreational flying in the UK.

The Sport

The world of Microlighting has advanced so much over the last 15-20 years that it has become the most affordable and safest form of motorised flight in the UK.

The advancement of four stroke dedicated aviation engines now make the aircraft more reliable than before, faster, as well as sleeker looking.

There are two types of Microlight aircraft, one is derived from hang-glider technology and the basic principle to operating the weight-shift, as it is called, is by moving the wing in the airflow to manoeuvre the aircraft in the air, usually you are open to the elements in this type of aircraft.

The other type of Microlight aircraft is the simple stick and rudder control, very similar to normal aircraft, being in an enclosed cockpit, these have surfaces on the wings and tail-plane which can be moved in the airflow, to manoeuvre the aircraft in the air, they are better known as 3-Axis types.

There is a trend now to call it Sports Aviation, but the word Microlight still will remain. The rest of the world has them too, the Americans call them Ultra-light aircraft, and there are many more pseudonyms.

The weight-shift aircraft are able to carry two people and fuel up to 4 hours duration in the air. Pilot and passenger sit in tandem like a motorbike; they have been likened to 3D motor biking. The 3-Axis types usually have side by side seating arrangements like the normal cockpit of a small aircraft.

During your trial lesson, you will, depending on the length of the lesson have an opportunity to have a go at flying the aircraft yourself, in the 3-Axis type this is a simple matter of passing control, from the Qualified Instructor to yourself with the instructor overseeing your every move. In the weight-shift, passing control, because of the tandem seating arrangement can be a little difficult, so initially you have a choice. If you want to have a go at flying the aircraft your instructor will generally ask you to sit in the P1 seat at the front, don’t worry all instructors on these types prefer to sit in the rear seat anyway, it’s the norm for them. Its then a simple matter of the instructor showing you what to do, how much, and when, and he can oversee you all the time in the air.

Sports aviation has had a growth spurt, there are many schools operating within the UK, and you know that you will get top class service, as being a Microlight Instructor is a dedicated career.

The weather plays a very important part in all forms of flying, but Microlights are a little more susceptible to the elements than other forms, so bear that in mind. Contrary to popular belief, the wintertime is the best time to fly in the UK, ok its cold, but we can wrap up against that. The difference is the stability of the air, cold crisp winter days are the best, saying that though, last thing on a summers evening can be just as enjoyable.

Sport Aviation encompasses many differing forms of light aviation from hang-gliders & paramotor, (parachute with an engine strapped to the back of the operator); right through to the 200 mph fast ships of the sleeker end of the microlight market. We have an association which has over 4,000 members, which co-ordinates the Sport of Microlighting in the UK, this is called the BMAA (British Microlight Aircraft Association), see below.

Article courtesy of Chris Stow, author of The Microlight Syllabus Made Simple - Weight-shift and The Microlight Syllabus Made Simple - 3-Axis.

Flying Solo

To fly a microlight solo and unsupervised with or without a passenger you will need a Private Pilots Licence (Aeroplanes) Microlight. The pre-requisites for obtaining the PPL (A) Microlight are:

• aged at least 17
• a valid medical declaration of fitness

To obtain a PPL (A) Microlight licence the applicant must:

• undertake a minimum of 25 hours flying training with a qualified flying instructor, of which 10 hours must be flown solo (termed solo supervision) in the 9 months previous to application
• pass written examinations set by the CAA at a minimum of 70%. Subjects are: Air Law, Aeroplanes Technical Pt.1, Navigation & Meteorology and Human Performance
• complete and pass a practical flying test carried out by an examiner.

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