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Ask anybody who flies an Ultralight, and they
will describe it along the lines of a "really fun light airplane that is
able to fly slowly, that is very safe, that anybody can quickly learn to
fly, and that doesn't require a pilot license to operate".
There was a time when people thought of
ultralights as little more than flying lawn chairs. Heck, in at least one
case it was! There may have been some truth to that statement back then,
but all that has since changed. Today's ultralights are actually sophisticated, tough, tried and tested flying machines. The days of
the weed-eater engines strapped to tricycles with wings are long gone.
Unfortunately, so are the prices, but... you get what you pay for... and when
it's your butt on the line, it feels good to know that real technology and
quality components are at work as you cross the sky.
Many radically different vehicles qualify as
ultralights. There are delta winged weight shift trikes , two and
three axis aerodynamically controlled fixed wing craft, powered parachutes,
gliders, rotorcraft and lighter than air vehicles, all of which are
available in a huge variety of shapes, colors, sizes and flavors.
In overly simplistic terms, to be considered
ultralights (and thus be allowed to fly without registration or a pilot
license), they can only carry one person, they must not exceed a maximum
weight of 254 Lbs empty weight (excluding floats and safety equipment), their
top speed must not exceed 63mph, their stall speed must not exceed 28mph, and
the maximum amount of fuel they can carry is 5 gallons.
There are also two-seaters
that can only be used as trainers.
The one thing that is certain, however, is
that ultralights are LOTS OF FUN!
For those of you that want a more precise
definition of what an ultralight is, the FAA passages that follow should
keep you riveted for some time, so go get yourself a cup of coffee before
continuing...
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Title 14--Aeronautics and Space 