Which microlight?
Discussion
I've seen lots of good advice for budding PPLs here so wonder if any one's got any thoughts on my current dilemma? I can't justify a full blown PPL but have finally decided to go for a microlight licence. I'll be 59 soon and appreciate learning takes longer for old gits like me. I am however one of those loons that jumps out of perfectly good aeroplanes, so I'm not completely in the dark regarding aviation (or hanging around for good weather).
Anyway; any thoughts on weight-shift or three axis? Pro's & cons for each, thank you!
Anyway; any thoughts on weight-shift or three axis? Pro's & cons for each, thank you!
Thanks for the replies, regarding indoors/outdoors, I guess practicality suggests indoors is better. I did experience a weight shift flight many years ago and loved it though.
The NPPL sounds tempting too, but then I assume the cost of flying 'proper' aircraft would be much more? I don't want to end up doing the minimum amount to remain current. Would hours in a microlight count if I did decide to upgrade in the future?
The instructor I've spoken to suggested I get a lesson in each and take it from there. Sounds like a good idea, fingers crossed for the weather over the next few weeks then!
The NPPL sounds tempting too, but then I assume the cost of flying 'proper' aircraft would be much more? I don't want to end up doing the minimum amount to remain current. Would hours in a microlight count if I did decide to upgrade in the future?
The instructor I've spoken to suggested I get a lesson in each and take it from there. Sounds like a good idea, fingers crossed for the weather over the next few weeks then!
Thanks once again, some useful information there and pretty much convinced me the NPPL(M) route will do for me. I'll certainly have a go in each before I decide.
That was an interesting point Rizzo regarding the fatalities amongst glider pilots. I guess anyone who has had a go at a flight sim has a rudimentary idea of what pulling/pushing a stick does, let alone how to make it bank. Weight-shift seems counterintuitive so in a high pressure situation I can see how muscle memory could kick in. I'll see how it goes.
That was an interesting point Rizzo regarding the fatalities amongst glider pilots. I guess anyone who has had a go at a flight sim has a rudimentary idea of what pulling/pushing a stick does, let alone how to make it bank. Weight-shift seems counterintuitive so in a high pressure situation I can see how muscle memory could kick in. I'll see how it goes.
GliderRider said:
Is started off on model aircraft, then flew gliders, then went to weight-shift hang gliders, then flew various microlights (weightshift and three axis) and light aircraft, then back to gliders and now back to model aircraft. At no point did I have any issue whether I should push or pull. The only thing I found was that weight-shift microlights tend to have steering like a homemade go kart (push left/go right), which took some remembering when confronted by rudder pedals again, but that was the only concern.
With a hang glider, more so than a weight-shift microlight, you are moving your body in the direction you want to go, rather than trying to make the wing go somewhere as you do when sitting in a trike.
That's good to know, I think I'll stop confusing myself and wait to have a go. Fingers crossed for tomorrow's weather, not sure it's looking good here With a hang glider, more so than a weight-shift microlight, you are moving your body in the direction you want to go, rather than trying to make the wing go somewhere as you do when sitting in a trike.
GliderRider said:
Having flown for several hours in a friend's Skyranger on 2nd January one year, my first question would be, 'Does it have a heater?', If the answer is 'No', move on!
Having jumped out of planes at minus something silly, I know what you mean. A minute in freefall is bad enough, sitting there for several hours can't be very pleasant, maybe open flying isn't such a good idea after all.RizzoTheRat said:
One thing you might find an issue though if you're not used to small aircraft. I used to vaguely know one of the Red Devils and he he hated landing in thier Islander. He said why would he trust an aircraft when he had perfectly good parachute on his back 
Yeh, that's a good point, I forgot what it's like to land in a plane 
geeks said:
Where as I still cant really get my head around regularly jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft (I have once, great fun but not for me) 
That pic above was out of the back of a Soviet era Mi8 helicopter. There was a thread in the scale model section a few years back by a guy making a model of the one he crashed in 
No way would I get in one without a parachute renmure said:
Doing that in a Flexwing gives me the physical interaction with the aircraft, the full-on exposure to the elements and a genuine thrill and buzz. Every time I take passengers they experience the same buzz. I've never had the same thrill in a 3-axis aircraft but obviously that's not the same for everyone else.
Physical interaction? full-on exposure? You weren't kidding! You didn't tell me about getting thrown all over the place in turbulence 
The 3-axis was quite civilised, but decided to go the flex-wing route.
I'm about nine hours in now & loving it. Now I know a little more, that Quik of yours is awesome! I'm on the look out for a Blade 912 but not in a hurry. Naturally, the weather is playing a huge factor in progression, lucky if I can get a couple of hours in a week but I'll keep plodding on!
Thanks for the advice Renmure, I'll have a think about the Quik/Blade thing, makes sense. I'll need to have a think about costs and also, if my instructor is okay with the remainder of my dual training in one. I don't think I could justify buying an aircraft and paying for hangarage for it to be sitting around waiting for me to qualify. Great pics again!
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