As a GA Pilot I would strongly recommend training before flying any of these aircraft. Watched 2 ultra-lights go in because the pilots did not understand what a stall is. Neither survived. Had ultra-lights fly into fields with no radio and nearly get themselves and others killed. GET a HAND HELD Aviation radio before going to any airfield and learn how to read aviation charts. The life you safe maybe your own.
I used to hang around with a guy who was hell on wheels. Not much sense but wasn’t afraid to do some of the most wild dangerous stuff. Years on he told me he built or bought an ultralight and only took it up once. I guess he learned his lesson cheap this time having lost a foot years earlier in a seadoo accident screwing around. Locally we have had a few killed locally usually from a stall, spin incident. I wouldn’t want to try one of those myself without at least 5 hours of some kind of instruction and I owned a Cessna 150 for many years. Seriously , those things can and do kill people and due to its classification unless you are in with the as aviation community you never even hear of the incidents . Aviation of any sort needs a reasonably sound education concerning what you’re dealing with. Also consider how most of these videos and articles are sales pitches. Much of what is being said isn’t applicable to you in real life. Best example is landing in your back yard. It better be a very big yard like mine which is an old farm field . Ignorance of “ High, Hot, Humid” can led to a very bad day .
Good qualified teaching is mandatory...you can't jump into a car and drive it without the relevant protocol.,the same with a weapons license..nor will insurance cover you easily...in my opinion self teaching only goes so far! And yes l did gliding before getting a restricted PPL
Even someone with thousands of hours flying a Skyhawk needs training to fly an ultralight. The ones that don't usually don't live long. They routinely kill ATP pilots who think that because they can fly a 737, an ultralight must be easy when, in reality, the airliner is easier to fly. You had better have some magic stick and rudder skills if you want to skip training.
@@Lurch-Bot i would rather know what i am doing rather than get into a car or plane with out training. there are old piolts . there are bolod pilots , but there ar no old bold pilots
Flying is the last thing most private citizens haven’t done ! Like driving a car or boating ! I never did learn to fly but wish I had ! Watching this allows my mind to dream ! 😂
I took flying lessons in a weight shift micro light but couldn't get the hang of landing just like a kamikaze pilot i.e. judging height. Wish I had kept it up though.
@@kenmay1572 As an A&P who has had aerobatic training, unusual attitude recovery training, glider training and has flown helicopters and jets on occasion, I will never fly any sort of weight shift aircraft. Ever. They are inherently dangerous and you have zero margin for error and zero ability for the aircraft to fly straight and level hands off. If you lose control, there usually is no recovery. I also probably will never fly an autogyro for different but equally concerning reasons. Go get your LSA cert and fly a real plane.
Y2K AirComand Gyrocopter. used $6k airspeed 70 mph , 4 hrs. in a two seat trainer / $100@ hr. and 15 hrs. running the runway . Join a club , for safety sakes. It is a hoot flying!!!
I have an eye condition and can't get a GA license. I paraglide and that's a lot of fun, but this looks amazing. I think I'm going to get that Merlin lite in a few years.
If you can get a drivers license, you can get a license to fly a LSA. Paragliding isn't quite as insane as flying a hang glider or other weight shift aircraft but is similarly undesirable. There are so many things that can cause your canopy to collapse and then you fall to your death. Parachutes are emergency devices of absolute last resort and not a smart way to fly for cheap. I bought a very nice S-12 with about 150 hours on it for $14k. After installing a BRS and avionics (GPS, AHRS and ADS-B in), I was right at $20k for a plane that had 200 hours left on the motor. That doesn't sound like a lot but it is for a Rotax 2 stroke. They're cheap to overhaul anyway.
Hey thank you for featuring our Snake Trike! This is truly a fun aircraft and one of the best and most economical ways to get into aviation. I'd like to connect with you and show you our fixed wing single seat Part 103 aircraft, the Minifox. We plan to have it at Oshkosh in 2025 and would love to get some feedback prior to its showing.
I forgot the name, but there is a low wing aluminum monoplane that qualifies under FAR 103. I'm sure it's not cheap. I don't know much about it, but I do care about something that can handle a high elevation grass field with somewhat unpredictable winds. Yes, I am a pilot with about 1000 hours, but GA regulations, rules, and annuals got too expensive to keep up with.
The two seater is what you learn in before you go fly an ultralight. I own a S-12 which used to be known as a 'Fat Ultralight' prior to the LSA rules being drafted. A two seater that was designed for training ultralight pilots. Tube and fabric construction high wing strut braced monoplane, with a wing mounted 2 stroke pusher engine, a configuration used by so many ultralight designs.
Fun fact: A Fokker DR1 can legally be flown with a LSA certificate in the US. If I ever have the money, I'm going to build a replica and shove a Rotec R2800 in it. I'll probably use all tube and sheet construction for the 'frame with Stitts fabric because that's what I'm comfortable working with but you won't know the difference just having a casual look. It is about the only plane I could build in the ELSA category that I would enjoy flying as much as my S-12, which pretty much handles like a nimble little WWI fighter. A DR.1 replica would make for an excellent aerobatic aircraft, especially since I would probably use modern airfoil designs. Make the wings fully cantilever and then also brace with wires for good measure. I'd give it proper laminar flow tail surfaces too, as opposed to a couple sheets of plywood. You know, make it something better. Something Fokker himself would be impressed with. Something even stronger than a Pitts.
Freedom to die. Ultralights frequently kill high time GA pilots. So do LSAs. They are nothing like flying a regular category GA trainer. A trained monkey could fly a Skyhawk. You need good stick and rudder skills to fly a plane this light. The only reason I'd just hop in an ultralight and go flying is because I've flown an S-12 for well over 100 hours.
Great video! Some beautiful planes and heli's there! And ok, so you don't need a licence to fly but I'd certainly get some rigorous training before going up in on e of these!
More like 'you don't need a license to die'. Ultralights kill high time GA and ATP pilots all the time because people don't realize just how much more challenging they are to fly. They think because they can fly a Skyhawk, they can fly an ultralight, lol. A trained monkey can fly a Skyhawk.
Many models shown do not fall under Pt 103 exemptions. They are registered sports aircraft much more comparable to Light Sport Aircraft in specifications
The turboshaft version of the Mosquito is a regular category experimental, not just because of weight but by virtue of having a turbine engine. There are no helicopters in the LSA category. I wish there were because I've flown a helicopter a few times and I really enjoy it. I'm just too heavy for the ultralight version to fly well. Though I would probably just build the turbine version and fly rogue. I'm A&P certified. Don't need any training on how to operate a turbine engine. I used to taxi 747s. Even accidentally flew one once for 20 seconds or so when they forgot to fuel the plane for a high speed taxi test.
@@Lt_Tragg other countries, such as Germany have something comparable to Pt. 103 as well as LSA (the regulations differ in detail, but are, in essence, fairly comparable)
Prospective UL flyers should check out the Badlands F series and the Top Rudder 103 Solo. Both are excellent, and the Badlands is offered with a four stroke engine option for those, like me, who don’t like 2 strokes.
Nothing wrong with a 2 stroke. I have a 582 on my S-12. It is the 21st century and we have synthetic 2 stroke oil, which pretty much eliminates any piston seizure risk provided you operate the engine properly. It will also allow your engine to make more power and higher peak RPM than with regular oil. The main issue most pilots have is the reverse torque effect when used as a tractor engine. Because my plane is a pusher, it yaws the same direction as a normal rotation tractor engine. But you have to learn to push the stick forward when you reduce the throttle and pull back when you throttle up, which, I guess, a lot of pilots struggle with. To me it is just applied mechanics, something I understand well. A 4 stroke will be substantially heavier for the same power output. Not really something you want on a severely weight restricted ultralight. Just don't be lazy and premix your oil. Oiling systems are inconsistent and prone to failure.
I was close to buying one (UL 103) in 2007 just before the housing crash in Florida. Now in Virginia, wish I could get back into it, not much interest in ultralights the area I'm in currently.
@@Raggzzaug11 I will be moving to the UP of Michigan in the future and plan to purchase their E model with BRS. When I was flying in my 20's I was fearless. Now at 82 I am more careful. 😉
@@kentwilliams3326 It is not like flying a standard category GA trainer. You need training in a LSA plane of the same config. It doesn't have anything to do with being careful and it doesn't matter how many hours you have. The smaller the plane, the harder it is to fly and pusher planes have some quirks to them. They kill ex airline pilots fairly regularly. I own an S-12 and you should look for an instructor who has one to get trained but don't learn on one that has the 912. You want to learn in a 2 stroke variant (582) because that will better prepare you for flying the 103. Flying a S-12 2 up is going to give handling characteristics and climb performance similar to flying the 103. When I fly my S-12 solo, it is like flying a nimble little WWi fighter. And, yes, I do some basic aerobatics in it and I am hardly fearless or young. You can get up to 50HP in the 103 and then it will fly similarly. It is also utility rated just like the S-12. So if you're going to go for the 50hp, make sure you do some solo flying in the S-12. Small amounts of weight and power make big differences in the handling of LSA and ultralight aircraft. Good luck and happy flying!
This is an irish man narrating this video. This is video is for the USA flyers. I am sure there is many hoops to jump through in Ireland 🇮🇪 just to get even a kite into the air. Great video please do a video on irish microlite legal requirements 🙏
I can. Much of the coursework has little to do with flying skills or the type of flying an ultralight pilot would do. Meanwhile, flying a spam can is very different from flying something like a PPG. OTOH, I totally recommend professional instruction and some hours at the stick (or bar or toggles) of something.
I can't imagine watching a video that led with the fact that the FAA has rules stating specifically that operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates, and then stating in public that I'd need to get a medical certificate and pay someone $10k+ for several months of training in a lot of skills that I won't use to operate aircraft that fly under different rules in places that I won't fly before I could fly one of those. That is absolutely baffling to me.
The whole point of the ultralight category is to not need a pilots license and doing so would just waste money when you are trying to fly for cheap. Yes, you need training, but going and getting a PPL because you want to fly an ultralight is a bit excessive. Assuming you pick it up well, 20 hours of instruction in a similar style LSA should be sufficient. Being a good pilot is more about studying theory than it is about hours in the air. Plenty of high time pilots die the first time they stall while turning onto final because they failed to learn the proper recovery procedure. And if you don't pick up the mechanics of flying quickly, you probably have no business flying an ultralight. The smaller the plane, the trickier the flying and there are plenty of competent Skyhawk and Cherokee pilots out there who have no business flying such a light aircraft. Airline pilots too.
Europe Ultralight light can be up to 2 seater and can weigh more then the US 254lbs. Which is why the light sport aircraft are being considered "ultralight"
I love airplanes and flying but with my intense vertigo issue I have it's hard to even watch people fly but most of these clips weren't so bad. If I flew I'd get the slowest one and fly it 5 feet off the ground for 20 minutes then probably never fly it again. But I can dream.
They have to stay in class G airspace. You cannot fly an ultralight in controlled airspace and for very good reason. If you want to fly in controlled airspace, you need at least a LSA cert.
That Fokker D8 is what I'm talking about! All the others look like kit planes and have the usual visual dissonance. But the Fokker looks right Airdrome Aeroplanes should seriously consider doing more WW1 replicas. Too bad that modern radials suitable for ultralights and light sports aren't available. I'm talking to you Rotax! There's a product opening just for you!
Landing can be challenging. Flying can too, depending on what else is happening in the sky. Weather is nothing to sneeze at, and it can change rapidly. Then there's unusual attitudes, disorientation, and mechanical issues. Even takeoff can get weird if the weight and balance is off or it's gusty.
That's correct. The FAA has determined that you and your 2lb drone are more dangerous than a few hundred pounds of aluminum, flesh and fabric. Therefore you need to be tested, tracked and then fined for any violations.
In many ways, an Ultra-Light is more dangerous than a typical General Aviation aircraft due to it's light weight. It is more easily upset in turbulent winds and when flown at a lower altitude there's less time for recovery. That is, even if you've gotten instruction in unusual attitudes. They also have very little crosswind component. I'm an experienced pilot and have flown many different aircraft. I once owned a KitFox 4 and flew the Kitfox 5 for many years and understand the pull that flight has. I was also into Skydiving, flying a Ram-Air type parachute. If you insist on flying any one of these aircraft, take some flying lessons. Especially with someone who has experience flying that type. It could save your life.
At (1:07) the vid shows german ultralight planes. U need a license and a medical examination, a testimonial flight every year an a minimum flighttime in the past 24 months.
The German Breezer is the only one that doesn't look like a potential death trap. Most of these ULs have the engines mounted in a position that, in the likely event of a crash, the structure will fold and dump it (the engine) onto the pilot. No thank you.
Lol, any light aircraft will fold like origami in a crash. Don't crash. you could flip the Breezer on a hard landing and die from massive head trauma when the canopy breaks.
@@stever4181 You could gather all your biker buddies and go tell the British version of the FAA you're not going to listen to their stupid rules! We did that a couple hundred yrs ago. Lol! Your King John was told to stick it too ya know! 😆
@@ddouglas3687 Whoa little britches I am an American living in England or Limy Land. My wife is English. I do have some ancestry that came from England but that was in 1635, Yep 1635. Not 17 or 18 or 19 but 1635. One of my relatives is John Tyler. The 10th President of the US
@@stever4181 woah yourself tiny britches my side got here in 1632! The other side, mom, got here 1640! I don't know which country is worse off at this point however but please do not mess in the affairs of Dragons for you sir are crunchy and good with ketchup! 🐉 And yes I am a Douglas! And related to King James 6 of Scotland aka King James I of England! All in good fun though👍
Smaller blades, smaller mass, less force needed to induce autorotation. I'm sure it can autorotate just fine. Whether or not the pilot is smart enough to stay out of the death zone is another matter.
I remember back in the early eighties people were getting killed left and right in these ultralight and some were experienced Pilots too they were putting Ace Hardware bolts in them you got to have Aviation Hardware if you want to live😅
SAE grade 5 and 8 bolts are used in the construction of LSA and ultralight aircraft and there is nothing wrong with that. Actual aviation hardware is very expensive and to use it would defeat the purpose of building a cheap plane. The experienced pilots were dying because they didn't understand that ultralights are the most difficult planes to fly. Way different than flying a Skyhawk. A trained monkey could fly a Skyhawk. You have to get the proper training, IDC if you have 20,000 hours flying airliners. Actually the airline pilots need even more training than the GA pilots. Flying an airliner is easy by comparison.
@Lurch-Bot when it comes to my life, nothing's cheap. I've been flying for 45 years, and I have seen a lot of good bolts that are not going to break the bank like I said I throw my buddies Ultra Lite for the first time I had no problem flying it I just don't like the flimsiness of it you got to fly in a calm day or you going to be in trouble don't get me wrong I got nothing against them I'll take one any day
@Mostop - Nice video but FYI you are incorrectly pronouncing FAR Part 103. FAR is the abbreviation of _Federal Aviation Regulation_ and is pronounced F A R, not the word far. The 103 in Part 103 is pronounced 1 0 3, not one hundred and three. Since you're referring to US regulations/requirements you should use the standard American English pronunciation. Regards from Thailand!😁
You're totally wrong there about the FARs, bub. I'm an A&P and I have never heard an aviation professional say F-A-R. And this is a bot vid and they aren't able to say one-oh-three.
Would you drive a car without getting training? Well, lol, maybe some do. But with flying you're talking about moving in three dimensions simultaneously. Having learned how to fly and possessed a private licence I, too, would strongly recommend at least a minimum of training before venturing forth in an ultra-light.
Since this is talking about American law... Yes, _most_ people do drive without any training beyond practice... Obtained by driving. Most states let you start driving with nothing but a 25 question written test, and a full license after a very short drive test. Same with motorcycles. For instance, my driving test to get a full license was to drive around the block (obeying traffic laws) and then park back at the DMV.
You need one in the US too. Traditional RC aircraft would fall under the new drone regulations. You even need a transponder. When I was a kid you didn't need a license to fly one and I suspect a lot of RC pilots are ignoring the regs.
Ultralight aircraft are single-seat vehicles that weigh less than 254 pounds, excluding fuel and the pilot. Max 5 gal, cannot exceed 55 knots at full power in level flight, cannot have a power-off stall speed greater than 24 knots. Per my state.
*I'm not a pilot or own any airplanes but have a question. All these ultra lites shown have registered aircraft numbers painted on the outside of the plane. Do you need to register ultra lites as you do with real planes and if so does it cost the same price?*
Ever since seeing Mad Max Road Warrior, and The God's Must Be Crazy 2, I have wanted to get an ultralight. But them pesky bills and insufficient cash flow have stymied me.
Me too... That little plane in The Gods must be crazy 2 definitely got me fantasizing... Probably costs less than a bass boat... But I still can't afford the plane. I've already got a bass boat as it happens, but I can't really afford to run the thing at the moment... The fact is, I need a piano more than a bass boat or a plane, actually. Anyone want to trade a baby grand for a bass boat? ha ha. Peace.
No licence in the US ?? In Europe you do need one and a medical too, but no renewal is not needed, so, pilots do have a pilot training before flying in an Ultra Light...
At some point men had to get in barely airworthy planes and fly them without any training and while most of them survived there's not really a good reason to do it today.
Sure thing... As a scientist, I don't actually believe in the effectiveness of either of those things... though I guess that second one could take a lot of different forms... such as this reply perhaps...? I wish you peace, love, and health.
They aren’t so scary. I spent a couple days getting familiar with my Microcopter SCH-2A, just getting up off the ground and hovering, taxiing around our fields, etc. I found it quite easy to get the hang of and by the end of the week I was comfortable buzzing all around the valley I live in. For around $20 in fuel I can fly for about an hour, and I added a backup fuel cell “for emergencies.”
@@MilitantPrepping And I bet you have no concept of what the death curve is or how to perform an autorotation. How about retreating blade stall? No? Then you have no clue what you're doing and are an accident waiting to happen. Your backup fuel cell is illegal if it can feed fuel into the engine. I know all this because I went to A&P school and have had actual flight instruction in a helicopter. If you had any clue what you're doing, you would be scared.
@@Lurch-Bot cool story, champ. I’ve been IFR certified on rotorcraft for years, I got my PPL out of Mouna Loa flight school in Oahu, Hawaii, not long after getting out of the military, where I also did some stuff. Pretty safe to say I may have performed an autorotation or two in my life, I might have even had to freewheel a bird in Indian country after a real world incident in the Stan, but I wouldn’t wanna bore you with those kinds of shenanigans. Try to relax a little, yeah? Maybe when you get home from turning wrenches you pour yourself a glass of wine, light some candles and turn on some Jewel, and juuuuuuust breaaathe!
As a GA Pilot I would strongly recommend training before flying any of these aircraft. Watched 2 ultra-lights go in because the pilots did not understand what a stall is. Neither survived. Had ultra-lights fly into fields with no radio and nearly get themselves and others killed. GET a HAND HELD Aviation radio before going to any airfield and learn how to read aviation charts. The life you safe maybe your own.
Yup , I’m all for training in this area !
Stalls are for model T's. Nothing can stop the determined idiot.
I used to hang around with a guy who was hell on wheels. Not much sense but wasn’t afraid to do some of the most wild dangerous stuff. Years on he told me he built or bought an ultralight and only took it up once. I guess he learned his lesson cheap this time having lost a foot years earlier in a seadoo accident screwing around. Locally we have had a few killed locally usually from a stall, spin incident.
I wouldn’t want to try one of those myself without at least 5 hours of some kind of instruction and I owned a Cessna 150 for many years. Seriously , those things can and do kill people and due to its classification unless you are in with the as aviation community you never even hear of the incidents . Aviation of any sort needs a reasonably sound education concerning what you’re dealing with. Also consider how most of these videos and articles are sales pitches. Much of what is being said isn’t applicable to you in real life. Best example is landing in your back yard. It better be a very big yard like mine which is an old farm field . Ignorance of “ High, Hot, Humid” can led to a very bad day .
Good qualified teaching is mandatory...you can't jump into a car and drive it without the relevant protocol.,the same with a weapons license..nor will insurance cover you easily...in my opinion self teaching only goes so far! And yes l did gliding before getting a restricted PPL
@@drizlerHang around? Hang glider pilot? Wow!
Licence not required sure...but training is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Id rather say - strictly necessary
i agree.
Even someone with thousands of hours flying a Skyhawk needs training to fly an ultralight. The ones that don't usually don't live long. They routinely kill ATP pilots who think that because they can fly a 737, an ultralight must be easy when, in reality, the airliner is easier to fly. You had better have some magic stick and rudder skills if you want to skip training.
@@Lurch-Bot i would rather know what i am doing rather than get into a car or plane with out training. there are old piolts . there are bolod pilots , but there ar no old bold pilots
یک سوال : حداکثر ارتفاعی که این هواپیماها میتوانند پرواز کنند چند متر است؟
Flying is the last thing most private citizens haven’t done ! Like driving a car or boating !
I never did learn to fly but wish I had !
Watching this allows my mind to dream ! 😂
I took flying lessons in a weight shift micro light but couldn't get the hang of landing just like a kamikaze pilot i.e. judging height. Wish I had kept it up though.
@@kenmay1572 As an A&P who has had aerobatic training, unusual attitude recovery training, glider training and has flown helicopters and jets on occasion, I will never fly any sort of weight shift aircraft. Ever. They are inherently dangerous and you have zero margin for error and zero ability for the aircraft to fly straight and level hands off. If you lose control, there usually is no recovery. I also probably will never fly an autogyro for different but equally concerning reasons. Go get your LSA cert and fly a real plane.
Y2K AirComand Gyrocopter. used $6k airspeed 70 mph , 4 hrs. in a two seat trainer / $100@ hr. and 15 hrs. running the runway . Join a club , for safety sakes.
It is a hoot flying!!!
I have an eye condition and can't get a GA license. I paraglide and that's a lot of fun, but this looks amazing. I think I'm going to get that Merlin lite in a few years.
If you can get a drivers license, you can get a license to fly a LSA. Paragliding isn't quite as insane as flying a hang glider or other weight shift aircraft but is similarly undesirable. There are so many things that can cause your canopy to collapse and then you fall to your death. Parachutes are emergency devices of absolute last resort and not a smart way to fly for cheap.
I bought a very nice S-12 with about 150 hours on it for $14k. After installing a BRS and avionics (GPS, AHRS and ADS-B in), I was right at $20k for a plane that had 200 hours left on the motor. That doesn't sound like a lot but it is for a Rotax 2 stroke. They're cheap to overhaul anyway.
The Fokker was my choice
Hey thank you for featuring our Snake Trike! This is truly a fun aircraft and one of the best and most economical ways to get into aviation. I'd like to connect with you and show you our fixed wing single seat Part 103 aircraft, the Minifox. We plan to have it at Oshkosh in 2025 and would love to get some feedback prior to its showing.
Very cool design, can't wait to see where you guys take these.
@@juliecool Looks like a baby S-12. I already have an actual S-12 though. I 'd be very surprised if the Minifox is utility rated.
Imagine flying an aeroplane without a licence, in the UK you can't ride an electric bike without a licence.
Oi mate! Ya got a loicense fer them shoes?! A bit sporty fer a civilian, innit?
same here in germany mate !
Germany is so disgusting...
everything is forbidden !
no wonder so much germans are always in a bad mood...
Y'all still accept the existence of a monarch… 🤷♂
@serversurfer6169 ,
I'm an American making fun of the Brits. Sorry for not being more clear.
@@jameswoodard4304 Ah. Me too! 😅
Thanks for puting Metric information on the videos.
Should be metric only
@@kixigvak agree.
Thank you for the bait and switch. The cover image two-seater would have been nice to learn about--even though it isn't an FAR 103 ultralight.
The cover image looks VERY much like an L/19. I flew these, once long ago, and clicked to find the A/C/ Bait and switch
Yup, just added Mostop to the 'do not suggest' list.
I forgot the name, but there is a low wing aluminum monoplane that qualifies under FAR 103. I'm sure it's not cheap. I don't know much about it, but I do care about something that can handle a high elevation grass field with somewhat unpredictable winds. Yes, I am a pilot with about 1000 hours, but GA regulations, rules, and annuals got too expensive to keep up with.
That still image is the reason I watched this. Stupid.
The two seater is what you learn in before you go fly an ultralight. I own a S-12 which used to be known as a 'Fat Ultralight' prior to the LSA rules being drafted. A two seater that was designed for training ultralight pilots. Tube and fabric construction high wing strut braced monoplane, with a wing mounted 2 stroke pusher engine, a configuration used by so many ultralight designs.
Love the Fokker DVII video or a full size DVII flying at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York.
Fun fact: A Fokker DR1 can legally be flown with a LSA certificate in the US. If I ever have the money, I'm going to build a replica and shove a Rotec R2800 in it. I'll probably use all tube and sheet construction for the 'frame with Stitts fabric because that's what I'm comfortable working with but you won't know the difference just having a casual look. It is about the only plane I could build in the ELSA category that I would enjoy flying as much as my S-12, which pretty much handles like a nimble little WWI fighter. A DR.1 replica would make for an excellent aerobatic aircraft, especially since I would probably use modern airfoil designs. Make the wings fully cantilever and then also brace with wires for good measure. I'd give it proper laminar flow tail surfaces too, as opposed to a couple sheets of plywood. You know, make it something better. Something Fokker himself would be impressed with. Something even stronger than a Pitts.
@@Lurch-Bot There are a lot of them under construction in garages and hangars in the USA.
Well, nothing like the freedom these might bring, I mean.... I can feel it just thinking about flying. be safe & peace
Freedom to die. Ultralights frequently kill high time GA pilots. So do LSAs. They are nothing like flying a regular category GA trainer. A trained monkey could fly a Skyhawk. You need good stick and rudder skills to fly a plane this light. The only reason I'd just hop in an ultralight and go flying is because I've flown an S-12 for well over 100 hours.
Great video! Some beautiful planes and heli's there! And ok, so you don't need a licence to fly but I'd certainly get some rigorous training before going up in on e of these!
You do need a license to fly. There is not a single place on earth that will let you fly with no license!!!!!!
More like 'you don't need a license to die'. Ultralights kill high time GA and ATP pilots all the time because people don't realize just how much more challenging they are to fly. They think because they can fly a Skyhawk, they can fly an ultralight, lol. A trained monkey can fly a Skyhawk.
Nut @@Bank-E
Really, a very fun production!
Many models shown do not fall under Pt 103 exemptions. They are registered sports aircraft much more comparable to Light Sport Aircraft in specifications
Except in other countries such as Canada.
@@Lt_TraggFAA Part 103 does not apply in Canada.
The turboshaft version of the Mosquito is a regular category experimental, not just because of weight but by virtue of having a turbine engine. There are no helicopters in the LSA category. I wish there were because I've flown a helicopter a few times and I really enjoy it. I'm just too heavy for the ultralight version to fly well. Though I would probably just build the turbine version and fly rogue. I'm A&P certified. Don't need any training on how to operate a turbine engine. I used to taxi 747s. Even accidentally flew one once for 20 seconds or so when they forgot to fuel the plane for a high speed taxi test.
@@Lt_Tragg other countries, such as Germany have something comparable to Pt. 103 as well as LSA (the regulations differ in detail, but are, in essence, fairly comparable)
I love the Merlin light
You don't seem to understand the difference between Light Sport and Ultralight. They are not the same and they are quite different.
Prospective UL flyers should check out the Badlands F series and the Top Rudder 103 Solo. Both are excellent, and the Badlands is offered with a four stroke engine option for those, like me, who don’t like 2 strokes.
That is the two I have been looking at also. Leaning towards the Ruckus.
Nothing wrong with a 2 stroke. I have a 582 on my S-12. It is the 21st century and we have synthetic 2 stroke oil, which pretty much eliminates any piston seizure risk provided you operate the engine properly. It will also allow your engine to make more power and higher peak RPM than with regular oil.
The main issue most pilots have is the reverse torque effect when used as a tractor engine. Because my plane is a pusher, it yaws the same direction as a normal rotation tractor engine. But you have to learn to push the stick forward when you reduce the throttle and pull back when you throttle up, which, I guess, a lot of pilots struggle with. To me it is just applied mechanics, something I understand well.
A 4 stroke will be substantially heavier for the same power output. Not really something you want on a severely weight restricted ultralight.
Just don't be lazy and premix your oil. Oiling systems are inconsistent and prone to failure.
How much weight can these carry ?
The 103 looks quite good and has a huge following.
I was close to buying one (UL 103) in 2007 just before the housing crash in Florida. Now in Virginia, wish I could get back into it, not much interest in ultralights the area I'm in currently.
@@Raggzzaug11 I will be moving to the UP of Michigan in the future and plan to purchase their E model with BRS. When I was flying in my 20's I was fearless. Now at 82 I am more careful. 😉
@@kentwilliams3326 It is not like flying a standard category GA trainer. You need training in a LSA plane of the same config. It doesn't have anything to do with being careful and it doesn't matter how many hours you have. The smaller the plane, the harder it is to fly and pusher planes have some quirks to them. They kill ex airline pilots fairly regularly.
I own an S-12 and you should look for an instructor who has one to get trained but don't learn on one that has the 912. You want to learn in a 2 stroke variant (582) because that will better prepare you for flying the 103. Flying a S-12 2 up is going to give handling characteristics and climb performance similar to flying the 103. When I fly my S-12 solo, it is like flying a nimble little WWi fighter. And, yes, I do some basic aerobatics in it and I am hardly fearless or young. You can get up to 50HP in the 103 and then it will fly similarly. It is also utility rated just like the S-12. So if you're going to go for the 50hp, make sure you do some solo flying in the S-12. Small amounts of weight and power make big differences in the handling of LSA and ultralight aircraft.
Good luck and happy flying!
@@Lurch-Bot Thanks. Maybe I should stick to something safer, like a good motorcycle. My total time SEL is only 80 hours.
This is an irish man narrating this video. This is video is for the USA flyers. I am sure there is many hoops to jump through in Ireland 🇮🇪 just to get even a kite into the air. Great video please do a video on irish microlite legal requirements 🙏
This is a text-to-speech computer program narrating the video, in a vaguely Irish accent.
@colindoyle2225 Thanks for the heads up.
@@colinrdoyle Sounds more like someone from Liverpool or Manchester. Or a Welshman.
That German made Breezer B400 is sweet! Wish they would've mentioned a price on it.
? Just asking: Can you buy one in the U.S. ....Cost? ...you can sign me up for one.
@greggwhittenberger9177 I have no idea. First I've ever heard about it.
google your query.
Part One - Oh - Three!
Yeah, and Eff. A. Are. Take note, robot.
Allowances are not Loopholes
No mention of the Hummel Ultracruiser?
Love the Fokker D.
I can't imagine flying ANYTHING without first getting a private pilot rating.
Once upon a time, everyone did...
I can. Much of the coursework has little to do with flying skills or the type of flying an ultralight pilot would do. Meanwhile, flying a spam can is very different from flying something like a PPG. OTOH, I totally recommend professional instruction and some hours at the stick (or bar or toggles) of something.
I can't imagine watching a video that led with the fact that the FAA has rules stating specifically that operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates, and then stating in public that I'd need to get a medical certificate and pay someone $10k+ for several months of training in a lot of skills that I won't use to operate aircraft that fly under different rules in places that I won't fly before I could fly one of those. That is absolutely baffling to me.
Great video clips.
Thanks love the video ...Ive always love to fly & now I have Hope with an Ultralight to Buy & actually Pilot One ..yea !!!
Sounds like a great way to thin the idle rich heard to me
As others have said, get a pilots license if you want to fly.....not to please "the man", just to learn how to not die.
The whole point of the ultralight category is to not need a pilots license and doing so would just waste money when you are trying to fly for cheap. Yes, you need training, but going and getting a PPL because you want to fly an ultralight is a bit excessive. Assuming you pick it up well, 20 hours of instruction in a similar style LSA should be sufficient. Being a good pilot is more about studying theory than it is about hours in the air. Plenty of high time pilots die the first time they stall while turning onto final because they failed to learn the proper recovery procedure.
And if you don't pick up the mechanics of flying quickly, you probably have no business flying an ultralight. The smaller the plane, the trickier the flying and there are plenty of competent Skyhawk and Cherokee pilots out there who have no business flying such a light aircraft. Airline pilots too.
There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots!
Magnificent!
man it's been so long since i been up there
What was that max weight allowed again?, I missed it.
You guys know that the Euro symbol is € and that you used the symbol for British Pound, right? Hope that the rest of the data in vid is correct!
Anyone know what the thumbnail bush plane is ? Thanks
It's the Zlin Savage Bobber, and it's sadly NOT an ultralight, otherwise I might be induced to own one.
@@SeeUsFly Thanks for letting me know !
Europe Ultralight light can be up to 2 seater and can weigh more then the US 254lbs. Which is why the light sport aircraft are being considered "ultralight"
The alloy descriptions and pronunciations were hilarious, I know I heard '4130 aluminum" in there.
I love airplanes and flying but with my intense vertigo issue I have it's hard to even watch people fly but most of these clips weren't so bad. If I flew I'd get the slowest one and fly it 5 feet off the ground for 20 minutes then probably never fly it again. But I can dream.
It would be nice if you had range data and cost for all the aircraft instead of just some of them.
Approximately $ 25,000 for cost, and range is limited by that 5 gallon tank and 55 mile top speed. Your realistic range is about 55 miles.
@@L0stEngineer Thanks
At that moment I was the most fearsome weasel in the entire swamp.
Do ultralites have to stay in E Class airspace?
They have to stay in class G airspace. You cannot fly an ultralight in controlled airspace and for very good reason. If you want to fly in controlled airspace, you need at least a LSA cert.
video starts at 1:37
Thanks for using Aircraft as a plural
The waitress was not amused when he ordered green eggs and ham.
No Legal Eagle or AirBike?
That Fokker D8 is what I'm talking about! All the others look like kit planes and have the usual visual dissonance. But the Fokker looks right
Airdrome Aeroplanes should seriously consider doing more WW1 replicas. Too bad that modern radials suitable for ultralights and light sports aren't available. I'm talking to you Rotax! There's a product opening just for you!
The balloons floated away along with all my hopes and dreams.
Flying is easy. Landing is hard.
Landing can be challenging. Flying can too, depending on what else is happening in the sky. Weather is nothing to sneeze at, and it can change rapidly. Then there's unusual attitudes, disorientation, and mechanical issues. Even takeoff can get weird if the weight and balance is off or it's gusty.
You do in Australia
If weather conditions change suddenly, as we experienced today in a small town in the Midwest, any of these contraptions would turn into death traps.
They can't handle a whole lot of cross wind
Is Part 103 guidelines or rules? Because as a drone 'pilot' under Part 107 i need a license but nothing similar under part 103 according to this video
That's correct. The FAA has determined that you and your 2lb drone are more dangerous than a few hundred pounds of aluminum, flesh and fabric. Therefore you need to be tested, tracked and then fined for any violations.
In many ways, an Ultra-Light is more dangerous than a typical General Aviation aircraft due to it's light weight. It is more easily upset in turbulent winds and when flown at a lower altitude there's less time for recovery. That is, even if you've gotten instruction in unusual attitudes. They also have very little crosswind component. I'm an experienced pilot and have flown many different aircraft. I once owned a KitFox 4 and flew the Kitfox 5 for many years and understand the pull that flight has. I was also into Skydiving, flying a Ram-Air type parachute. If you insist on flying any one of these aircraft, take some flying lessons. Especially with someone who has experience flying that type. It could save your life.
I'm sure youv've never flown one.....
I have several hundred hours in several different part 103 aircraft... never had a incident......
Hold my beer 🍺.... 🤣
in our country even drones are regulated by the authorities
As they should be because some douchebag drone drivers like to fly their drones in airplane patterns and near airplanes.
@@rogerbee697 How have those regulations stopped the odd douchebag from flying near airplanes? Still no record of impacts all these years later
In the United States, the regulations and operator requirements for drones are far more significant and complex than part 103.
@@L0stEngineer That's because drones are often operating in controlled airspace. You can't fly an ultralight in controlled airspace.
At (1:07) the vid shows german ultralight planes. U need a license and a medical examination, a testimonial flight every year an a minimum flighttime in the past 24 months.
Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
Bait & Switch... many are not Part 103
The German Breezer is the only one that doesn't look like a potential death trap. Most of these ULs have the engines mounted in a position that, in the likely event of a crash, the structure will fold and dump it (the engine) onto the pilot. No thank you.
Lol, any light aircraft will fold like origami in a crash. Don't crash. you could flip the Breezer on a hard landing and die from massive head trauma when the canopy breaks.
Yet I need a license to fly a drone that fits in my pocket…
For real, harder to get license for it than a license for a gun.
What's the problem with getting a license?
It's governmental overreach
You need a pilot licence in Great Britain for these planes
And like wise part 103 applies to Americans not Brits, lol.
Cuz the video is talking about America and the American FAA😂👍
@@ddouglas3687 Isn't it a shame?
@@stever4181 You could gather all your biker buddies and go tell the British version of the FAA you're not going to listen to their stupid rules!
We did that a couple hundred yrs ago. Lol!
Your King John was told to stick it too ya know! 😆
@@ddouglas3687 Whoa little britches I am an American living in England or Limy Land. My wife is English. I do have some ancestry that came from England but that was in 1635, Yep 1635. Not 17 or 18 or 19 but 1635. One of my relatives is John Tyler. The 10th President of the US
@@stever4181 woah yourself tiny britches my side got here in 1632! The other side, mom, got here 1640!
I don't know which country is worse off at this point however but please do not mess in the affairs of Dragons for you sir are crunchy and good with ketchup! 🐉
And yes I am a Douglas!
And related to King James 6 of Scotland aka King James I of England!
All in good fun though👍
@6:51 It is really hard to believe that little co-axial can 'effectively' auto-rotate with those teeny-weeny blades.
Smaller blades, smaller mass, less force needed to induce autorotation. I'm sure it can autorotate just fine. Whether or not the pilot is smart enough to stay out of the death zone is another matter.
I remember back in the early eighties people were getting killed left and right in these ultralight and some were experienced Pilots too they were putting Ace Hardware bolts in them you got to have Aviation Hardware if you want to live😅
SAE grade 5 and 8 bolts are used in the construction of LSA and ultralight aircraft and there is nothing wrong with that. Actual aviation hardware is very expensive and to use it would defeat the purpose of building a cheap plane.
The experienced pilots were dying because they didn't understand that ultralights are the most difficult planes to fly. Way different than flying a Skyhawk. A trained monkey could fly a Skyhawk. You have to get the proper training, IDC if you have 20,000 hours flying airliners. Actually the airline pilots need even more training than the GA pilots. Flying an airliner is easy by comparison.
@Lurch-Bot when it comes to my life, nothing's cheap. I've been flying for 45 years, and I have seen a lot of good bolts that are not going to break the bank like I said I throw my buddies Ultra Lite for the first time I had no problem flying it I just don't like the flimsiness of it you got to fly in a calm day or you going to be in trouble don't get me wrong I got nothing against them I'll take one any day
@@Lurch-Bot that's good
Where's the thumbnail plane?
@Mostop - Nice video but FYI you are incorrectly pronouncing FAR Part 103. FAR is the abbreviation of _Federal Aviation Regulation_ and is pronounced F A R, not the word far. The 103 in Part 103 is pronounced 1 0 3, not one hundred and three. Since you're referring to US regulations/requirements you should use the standard American English pronunciation. Regards from Thailand!😁
You do know about automated narration?
@@mtkoslowski And you think that makes it OK? Sadly, too much of that is being used on YT lately.
Most people here in the USA call it “far 103” and not “F-A-R 103” because it’s easier to say. We all know what it means.
If you wish to be precise it is “part one -zero-three” as “Oh” is a letter. We all know what is meant.
You're totally wrong there about the FARs, bub. I'm an A&P and I have never heard an aviation professional say F-A-R. And this is a bot vid and they aren't able to say one-oh-three.
Cool! I can fly under freeway underpasses and land in parks!!
No, it doesn't work that way.
Would you drive a car without getting training? Well, lol, maybe some do. But with flying you're talking about moving in three dimensions simultaneously. Having learned how to fly and possessed a private licence I, too, would strongly recommend at least a minimum of training before venturing forth in an ultra-light.
Since this is talking about American law... Yes, _most_ people do drive without any training beyond practice... Obtained by driving.
Most states let you start driving with nothing but a 25 question written test, and a full license after a very short drive test. Same with motorcycles.
For instance, my driving test to get a full license was to drive around the block (obeying traffic laws) and then park back at the DMV.
@@DH-xw6jp Yea, our license testing is far too easy and it shows. Morons on the road everywhere!
Come on how many people really go out and fly without any training. Let's hear it.
No one says Part 100 and 3.
That bugged me too. Lol
Transformation doesn't take place with a vacuum; instead, it occurs when we are indirectly and directly connected to all those around us.
In Europe even for a rc drone you need a licence
That’s your fault for being a servant.
@@chiefjoseph8154Kinda what I was thinking. So you fly a drone without a license, who would know?
Europe is a Police State.
You need one in the US too. Traditional RC aircraft would fall under the new drone regulations. You even need a transponder. When I was a kid you didn't need a license to fly one and I suspect a lot of RC pilots are ignoring the regs.
@@jamescook7713 It really isn't.
Ultralight aircraft are single-seat vehicles that weigh less than 254 pounds, excluding fuel and the pilot. Max 5 gal, cannot exceed 55 knots at full power in level flight, cannot have a power-off stall speed greater than 24 knots. Per my state.
A airplane that can land on water is great because you can land almost Anyware in Sweden. Fokker D-VIII great to and the price is not high.
It isn't what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it's what we say to ourselves about what happens.
*I'm not a pilot or own any airplanes but have a question. All these ultra lites shown have registered aircraft numbers painted on the outside of the plane. Do you need to register ultra lites as you do with real planes and if so does it cost the same price?*
103 is almost always pronounced one-oh-three. Also, the idiom is Part 103, not FAR Part 103.
There are no aircraft you can fly with out a licence in the UK. All aircraft require licences to fly. Including nanolights requiring a Nppl.
Ever since seeing Mad Max Road Warrior, and The God's Must Be Crazy 2, I have wanted to get an ultralight. But them pesky bills and insufficient cash flow have stymied me.
Me too... That little plane in The Gods must be crazy 2 definitely got me fantasizing... Probably costs less than a bass boat... But I still can't afford the plane. I've already got a bass boat as it happens, but I can't really afford to run the thing at the moment... The fact is, I need a piano more than a bass boat or a plane, actually.
Anyone want to trade a baby grand for a bass boat? ha ha.
Peace.
Thanks for sharing
You don’t need a license to fly an ultralight but I do to fly and RC Model Airplane!
Even experienced pilots need training. Ultralights are a totally unique aircraft.
It part 103, not part 100 and 3. English please.
Why does a rule change for an airplane have to be a loophole?
No licence in the US ?? In Europe you do need one and a medical too, but no renewal is not needed, so, pilots do have a pilot training before flying in an Ultra Light...
3:15 That is british pounds (£) and not Euros (€).
At some point men had to get in barely airworthy planes and fly them without any training and while most of them survived there's not really a good reason to do it today.
Hold my beer 🍺....
Yeah, actually most of 'em didn't survive in the early days.
Interesting ❗ But why do you have to repeat 103 as many times as 103 times❓
Narrator on the Fokker “unfortunately rendering its impact negligible…”. Do you understand it was a German plane?
Don't for get the "advanced" construction methods using RIVETS...
@@donaldcarey114
rivets don't make you an invader of my country.
what is the problem?
*Dutch
Its hard to beleive you can still build one for about $4,000.00 with a rotax engine and a 5 blade adjustable pitch prop!
To anyone who sees this, please pray for my health and send positive energy my way.
Sure thing... As a scientist, I don't actually believe in the effectiveness of either of those things... though I guess that second one could take a lot of different forms... such as this reply perhaps...?
I wish you peace, love, and health.
Scary. Brave people flying crazy machines.
They aren’t so scary. I spent a couple days getting familiar with my Microcopter SCH-2A, just getting up off the ground and hovering, taxiing around our fields, etc. I found it quite easy to get the hang of and by the end of the week I was comfortable buzzing all around the valley I live in. For around $20 in fuel I can fly for about an hour, and I added a backup fuel cell “for emergencies.”
@@MilitantPrepping And I bet you have no concept of what the death curve is or how to perform an autorotation. How about retreating blade stall? No? Then you have no clue what you're doing and are an accident waiting to happen.
Your backup fuel cell is illegal if it can feed fuel into the engine. I know all this because I went to A&P school and have had actual flight instruction in a helicopter.
If you had any clue what you're doing, you would be scared.
@@Lurch-Bot cool story, champ. I’ve been IFR certified on rotorcraft for years, I got my PPL out of Mouna Loa flight school in Oahu, Hawaii, not long after getting out of the military, where I also did some stuff. Pretty safe to say I may have performed an autorotation or two in my life, I might have even had to freewheel a bird in Indian country after a real world incident in the Stan, but I wouldn’t wanna bore you with those kinds of shenanigans. Try to relax a little, yeah? Maybe when you get home from turning wrenches you pour yourself a glass of wine, light some candles and turn on some Jewel, and juuuuuuust breaaathe!
The A plane looks like a copy of the well known legal eagle
15:35 A weight shift aircraft is more dangerous to fly. Stall one of those and GL recovering. That's how Lilienthal died.
I’ll stick to RC and live to a ripe old age😊
Lol, those are the most challenging planes of all to fly.
Yeah, "licence not required" in the Namibia desert - in most countries you can't fly *anything* without a licence.
Incredible that there are flying devices that don't legally require training.
Pigeons etc
Slepcev Storch should be included
I could be wrong but in Canada I think a license is required to fly anything
Canada is a communist country, and there are no men left in Canada. Soy boy bun toppers.
What about a kite? Can you go fly a kite?
Guy says 31,000 Euros, but the graphic shows Pounds Sterling...
where would i park my helicopter? and where do l put my groceries n stuff..?
Not one bad or negative word was spoken about these aircraft? Guess they must all be perfect?
The more loopholes and regulation, the better.