I always love it when you show up in my "from your subscriptions" bar. Love your content and your attitude. Still as logical, honest, and wise as the person i looked up to as a child. Thanks Matt!
First video of yours I’ve ever watched and now you have a new subscriber. I always appreciate men who take “the high road” (pun intended) in situations like yours. Honesty and integrity are becoming rare these days. I hope to get into flying ultralights very soon. Keep up the great work.
28:55 At 11 o'clock is where I grew up. I got a little bit homesick when I saw that. Thanks for flying there. 32:16 - Rosedale straight ahead. I used to skate on that little lake when I was a kid. Wish this pandemic would be over so my wife and I could return for a visit with my family. Keep up the good work. I thought you handled the encounter with Transport Canada very well.
I love how you to tell this story and your approach to your own mistakes. I think the most important lesson of this video is to those aviation "gurus", especially instructors to never make fun of somebody less experienced for double-checking their airplane or wearing safety gear, because it can not only lead to legal trouble, but can actually be very dangerous. Greetings from a flight instructor from Germany!
Great attitude. As far as safety goes the heck with what others think or if they make fun of you. Shame on them for faulting someone who is doing what they can to be safe. We want you to be around for a long time so we can enjoy your travels.
Submission to violent THREATS of death and or Jail time is showing maturity. To act otherwise he would have ended up dead, in jail, or financially ruined. But to "praise" submission shows how indoctrinated you really are. Any single individual has NO choice but to submit to "Government". Think as a serf, live as a serf. Note: Be thankful that people like me exist. Otherwise you would be living in 8x8 cubicle outside an iPhone factory.
Samual Whittemore Was it hard to find a tinfoil hat that fit ya ? Your reply says a lot more about you than I ever could..... you keep fighting the fight for us sheep 🙄
Great talk Matt, I enjoyed the flying and the talk. I think every ultralight instructor should make watching this video part of their instruction !! Great information and presented in a very good way. two thumbs up on this one buddy.. Down River Tim (Oak Point area). PS. glad you explaned the cuts on your cheek, I was thinking the TC guys must have roughed you up to make this video lol...
You're a good guy with good intentions. I like your videos and am happy for you that it worked out without penalty and bitter feelings on your part. Praying for Continued good luck and continued safe fun.
Personally, I would always do a thorough pre-flight each and every time. I like to know, not assume. It's not like we can just pull over if there is a problem. :)
Just a quick comment. When I was taking my private pilot training we did a lot of dead stick practice runs where the instructor would cut the engine speed and say "you have an engine failure, please locate an appropriate landing site and prepare for landing". By the time it was getting exciting, he would advance the throttle and then tell what I did right and what I did wrong. However, with everything you develop a pattern, and mine was "he will advance the throttle before I actually touch down". To my surprise one time he didn't, and I actually did a dead stick landing in a farmer's field. After landing (and subsequent adrenaline rush), he said ok now what? I replied, check the plane for damage, after taxi to edge of field, then pace off a take off vector for distance and obstructions, final double check and take off. He approved and then suggested that I taxi through a break in the tree barrier to the adjacent field, where I found a dirt airstrip. Couldn't see it from where the "emergency" started, and rather than searching further I had settled for a "valid" field. Couple points he made, sometimes widening you search is helpful, landing in an unknown field may look good until you find that hidden boulder or tree stump, and finally remember that you are landing on someone's property and you should be contacting them afterward to determine if they are upset with you. It turned out the field and strip belonged to a friend of his and he had approval ahead of time.
Thank you for sharing your experience!s with us who are still on the fence or saving to get into the various Aviation hobbies! This video is one that I feel many hopeful future pilots, low time, and experienced pilots can take something away from...
I wish I was young again! I've just turned 60 and was diagnosed a Diabetic 20 years ago. I can't imagine being a pilot and being told to hang you plane license in the hanger your not flying any longer. I was 15 when I got in my first plane, a friend who was also 15 took me up in his plane. So long ago I can't remember what it was but I really enjoyed it. I messed up by not doing the things I wanted to do but did the things my other friends were doing which was nothing but wasting time and energy. I can't imagine being 8 years old and watching you guys on RUclips and dreaming of following in your foot steps. What an inspiration you guys are! Thank you for sharing what you enjoy, the good and the bad! God Bless you!
Enjoyed the video. Looks like a lot of fun. My brother-In-Law has a paraglider and took his first flight a few weeks ago. Nice landing the the field. Never know when you might have to run to the woods to take a dump.
As an Ex Challenger 2 pilot, I found your video very interesting and wishing I hadn't sold mine . Some of my best flights were in the winter with the doors on and heat going, not sure I could fly as exposed as you are in the Beaver though.
Admittedly, very interesting story. However, a wee bit long winded. Still glad you brought us along. Glad it worked out well for you; you are a nice man. I'll be tuning in for more.
For US airspace I recommend people read the Ultralight Advisory Circular Part 103 from 1984.. it's the document the FAA spread out back in the day to tell officers how to inspect ultralights to determine if they're compliant and gives some invaluable information.
I will say this Matthew; never once have you made fun of me for anything safety related and that alone speaks to the quality of your character. Those in glass houses.... I will be in touch soon my friend, time to get some hours in. :) Safe flying!
Matt, great videos! As a safety professional and avid motorcyclist for 20 plus years, I believe in safety and I have always worn a helmet, even in states where helmets are not required! I can't understand why helmets are not required in the USA? I also appreciate your positive teaching style. I am going back to light sport training this year, 2020, and finish learning to fly ultralights. I do have a question. Any thoughts on the Aerolite 103? Byron
I love everything about the Aerolite 103 with the exception of the yoke; I prefer a stick, but that's just simple personal preference. If I lived in the US and was limited to Part 103 flying, that's the plane I'd get.
Well you popped up in my recommendations and now I have subscribed :) I had interest in a private pilot's license decades ago but abandoned it for lack of funds after three training sessions. Now I have begun powered paragliding this year and who knows maybe I'll take up pursuing a private pilots license in the future. This was very educational and inspirational. I look forward to watching more of your videos.
Great advert for Transport Canada. Great video and advice. I carry out an “after flight” (AF) check after every flight and a “before flight” (BF) walk round before getting in, also as an ex-crop duster pilot (and RAF crewman) I have found snags on both AF and FB that could have compromised the aircraft performance. So, it has made me so “Hard Nosed” there is no way anybody would ever stop me from doing those checks, I would just point out that I wouldn’t fly with them and if it good enough for the RAF it is good enough for me. A chap did take the “P” out of me, for the mask I have on (you can see it in my latest video), say “Was I trying to look like Biggles?”, I took a little time to explain that it helps to cut out the engine noise on the radio. We all react differently to what people say, I am happy to listen advice but don’t give a fig to those who make comment that should know better, don’t let some loon make you go against you better judgment again.
Absolutely excellent cut to "Future Matthew". I get the same "Why do you want to fly them? They're dangerous!" response from other (fixed-wing) pilots. I fly an autogyro. I then relate to them that in the past 10 years in the UK, there have been three fatalities in which an autogyro was involved. 1 - The pilot had a heart-attack at the controls. That could have happened behind the wheel of a car or at the controls of a 747. Nothing to do with the inherent safety, or lack thereof, of autogyros. 2 - A protester on the ground tried to stop an autogyro taking off by running in front of it and the prop turned him to hamburger. Not really an autogyro issue, more of a public stupidity issue. 3 - A door popped open in flight in a Magni M24 Orion and the solo student was told by his instructor to ignore it because it would not be a problem. He did not heed his instructor's advice and leant over to close the door. The gyro rolled and crashed into the ground. Magni quickly made a modification to ensure that the engine could not be started unless interlocks were engaged which ensured that a door was properly closed prior to takeoff. Partly pilot-error and partly the design of the door-catches on the Magni. I then point out that in an engine-out situation, I can put down in something the size of a tennis court and that landings happen at about walking pace. I enjoy the open-cockpit experience. I prefer it to closed-cockpits. I love the almost completely unobstructed view of the sky and the ground (if I can see more, I have better situational awareness - I consider that to be safer than the average Cessna), the manoeuvrability of the aircraft, and its capabilities. I also like the fact that I burn just less than 16 Litres of Mogas an hour for all that enjoyment and that because she has a small footprint, I pay around half of the hangarage fees that many other aircraft owners have to pay. ... and... because they are so unusual, I get helicopter pilots (who are often regarded as the cool guys) coming over to examine my bird and ask questions about how she actually flies. You chased your dream, Matthew. You achieved something that required work and dedication. Not only that, you're flying the aircraft which inspired you in the first place. There are very few things which can beat that. There would be times that I would say, "Damn. This is not easy!!" and my instructor would say, "No. If it was easy, then anyone would be able to do it." We worked hard for the privilege of taking to the skies and the officials from the aviation authorities know this. They generally aren't arseholes who want to revoke your licence. They just want to ensure that aviation in general has an ever-improving safety record so that those who worked to achieve the required standards and their passengers can enjoy the freedom flight brings as safely as is humanly possible. There are already more than enough people who think that what we do is dangerous, despite it being more likely that we will be killed on the road on the way to the airport. We don't need to be giving them ammunition to lobby for draconian regulation and airport closures - That will inevitably hurt us.
Wow! What a great comment! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole thing! Autogyros are super cool and I hope to actually get to fly in one someday. The Magni M-16 is something I'd love to tuck into the side of my hangar for when it's too windy for the Beaver. Actually, the single seater they used to make would have been the cats meow but it doesn't look like it's in production anymore. Regardless, I'm completely convinced that they are among the safest ways to fly and I wish you the best in your continued quest for flight!
mmatt - Yep. We get up in the air on days that the Cessna and Piper pilots are wandering around on the apron kicking the tyres and casting disappointed glares at the wind-sock. Considering my gyro has an empty weight of 265kg, she's very well behaved in strong winds. The only thing I can think of that might beat an autogyro in terms of safety in an engine-out situation is a paramotor but they're grounded when a mosquito farts ! I hope that you do get to take the controls of an autogyro and that you're taken up by someone who talks you through some of the "gyro-specific" manoeuvres such as the (near)-vertical descent, the "hover" (if you have a windy day), and the ability to stop dead and turn on the spot. ... and don't forget to look up at the rotors spinning above you... especially if you are in the rear seat. I don't know what it is but there is something really awesome about seeing them turning and keeping you in the air which just doesn't come across on video - It's not quite so obvious from the front seat except perhaps when looking sideways into a turn. I can understand that pressure to conform and the fear of being ridiculed by those whom you'd imagine to be more experienced. Remember, with experience often comes complacency. I am the Pilot in Command and if I decide that licking my tyres is going to improve my ability to remain safe in the air, then sod anyone who laughs at me. The ultimate responsibility for myself, my aircraft, my passengers, and those on the ground below me, is mine and mine alone. I'll do a comprehensive pre-flight (the "A - check" or Daily Inspection) before I fly and I will also do a thorough walk-around before I get in the aircraft and if my instructor then does a walk-around, I don't take that as a personal insult, it's an additional and more experienced pair of eyes and if he doesn't want to trust that a student has done a satisfactory walk around before he puts his life in my hands, I can appreciate that. I really enjoyed your video. The audio was a little rough at times, but it is what it is. You're recording in-flight with all of the associated noise and "less-than-studio-quality" pick-up which goes with it. I'm the same as you in my desire to see the take-off and landing. I also like to hear the radio-calls. I subscribed because I intend to watch some more of your flying videos. Thanks for the response.
I do the same thing with my wings as we fly along. It's so cool seeing the very thing keeping you aloft and trying to visualize the airflow that we know so much about happening invisibly right in front of me. :-) So tell me a bit more about the gyro's wind capabilities. I understand that they are quite capable in high winds, but how about thermals and mechanical turbulence? The airfield I fly from gets quite a bit of mixed air due to its geographical surroundings and we get some pretty good thermals too that often leaves us grounded. As for my audio, I work quite hard on it in post to clean it up as best I can but as you know, open cockpits simply aren't conducive to clean audio. ;-) Thanks for subscribing! I hope to have some more videos published soon!
mmatt - I don't really have a lot with which to compare it because the only other thing I've ever flown is a Cessna 172 for about 45 mins. From what other people have said, though, they are far less susceptible to winds. We still feel gusts and turbulence but we're not rolled about in quite the same way. We get a nudge here and there and we do tend to "weather-vain" in crosswinds (easy to correct in consistent winds but in gusts it can be a battle) but I figure that anything with a tail is going to behave in much the same way. We do feel thermals and sink, but again, not quite to the same extent as something with a large wing surface. We have very long but thin wings which are moving very quickly. If you have an airspeed of 70kts, your wings are cutting through the air at 70kts on a calm day and if you have a 30kt gust, that's a significant change in your airspeed as far as your wing is concerned. When we're travelling at 70kts, our wing-tips are travelling a lot faster (8.4m diameter rotor disc with the rotors turning at around 300-350rpm in regular flight - I'm not going to bother working it out), so a 30kt gust is far less significant. A good headwind actually helps a lot during takeoff and landing because the takeoff roll and flare involve pulling the rotor disc back and dragging it through the wind like a kite. This causes a lot of drag and spins up the rotor creating lift. Still days require longer takeoff rolls. The takeoff of an autogyro is something which does require particular attention. Fixed wing aircraft want to fly. Get the thing going fast enough down the runway and just try stopping the thing from taking off... Gyros will do anything but takeoff unless handled correctly - They'll roll over and play dead; They'll leap off the runway and pretend that they want to fly only to belly-flop back down again; or if you're really lucky, they'll just pretend to be a very sluggish motorbike. In a fixed-wing, you pull your stick back to rotate once you have enough airspeed and then you can climb. Once we have our rotors spinning, we pull our stick right back, start our takeoff roll which drags the rotor disc through the air like a kite causing it to spin up faster. Once the rotors are spinning fast enough, the nose will pop up off the ground so we try to pre-empt that by bringing the stick forward but allow the nose to come up just a little and then gradually bring the stick further forward to keep the nose from coming up too high... when she's ready, her rear wheels will unstick but don't be fooled, she's not ready to climb out yet Now, you lower the nose and build airspeed a few feet off the ground until you reach climbout speed (60-70mph) - Now you can pull back and enjoy the ride... A good headwind can help because it provides extra energy to get the rotors spun up thereby reducing the length of the takeoff roll. It is possible to hold the aircraft stationary with the rotors back and have them continue to spin up if the wind is strong enough. Stronger still and she'll do a vertical takeoff and you'll also be able to perform a nice soft vertical landing. Landing is a lot easier. It's much the same principle as a fixed wing - set up the approach (although it will be quite a lot steeper), round out to a level flight in ground-effect and then ease back the stick to flare and set her down. What catches out a lot of pilots is that this is not the end of the story - the rotors are still producing almost enough lift to fly and a gust of wind can tip you over - This is where "active rotor management" comes in and you put the stick forward and into wind and pause for a few seconds before beginning to taxi off the runway, keeping the stick into wind as you make turns. I very nearly had a roll-over on touchdown on my first day of solo and it really smashed my confidence for a while... but that's another page's worth of story... ;)
I fly an Autogyro Cavalon ,,,,,what a view and some of the best flying I have ever done in about 3 years I now have almost 800 hours on my Cavalon and have taken over 200 people for their first gyro ride. Wonderful machines. Fly safe and fly often.
A long time ago I shot an ILS into Millville, NJ, broke out at about 500ft AGL to find ultralights in the pattern. Turns out they were headed for breakfast at a restaurant on the field. There was an FSS on the field and I told them about what I encountered. Turns out there were several ultralights that flew in that morning, all violating the rules. FAA went to the restaurant and advised the “pilots” not to leave until the airport was VFR, which was several days later. Sorry, this left me without a good feeling about some ultralight pilots.
Hi from the land of Aus. Great vid and I commend your mature approach too. Helmets here are mandatory on push bikes, motor bikes, trikes and of course, ultralights! Would be a good idea on pub crawls too!!! Jokes aside, I was kayaking on flat but fast flowing water. Despite a 35C+ day I wore my Cooper ice hockey helmet. No open face for this black duck! Despite 20+ years of paddling, a lapse of concentration and I flipped. No sooner did I open my eyes under the water, than a massive boulder suddenly materialised out of the aerated gloom and SMACK, square in the middle of my forehead! The force of the impact was so violent I remember the bong sound as the back of my head hit the rear deck and the grating of the shin guard against the face of the rock! Despite being almost knocked silly, preservation reflexes kicked in and I instinctively rolled up. I can still remember the huge sense of relief at not seeing blood everywhere- only then did I even realised I had my bash hat on! On closer inspection it had a crack across the front of the outer shell but my head was still intact. The whiplash left me with a murderously stiff neck for the next 4 days but hey! I was alive to suffer it- you just never know--so- never give it a chance! That goes for safety checks too. I don’t even get in a fork lift without a walk around. You stay safe. H
I had a similar experience sometime between 1992-94. I was riding my bicycle to work daily, and wearing a safety helmet. I can't remember why, because California only required minors to wear them and I was an adult. I also had a resentful, resistant attitude towards the "Nanny state and its overreach on regulating behavior." Nonetheless, I hit a patch of spilled gasoline or other slick liquid, and "BAM!", I heard the sound of my head smashing the curb. My vision went blank for a few moments, and when I got to my destination, there was a huge dent in the plastic and styrofoam that protected my head. That dent would have been in my skull if I was not wearing a helmet. I became a helmet believer, and bought a replacement helmet that evening.
Good safety is was makes it fun, by taking away uncertainty. My CFI, while learning to fly in a Quicksilver 2 seat ultralight trainer, drilled safety into my head. "Always be thinking 'WHERE WOULD I LAND IF POWER LOSS?" At all times. Many many times he CHOPPED the throttle and asked where is land. Also, thorough pre-flight. I'll NEVER EVER forget..THE DAY preflight saved my life. I was in a hurry to fly a 40 min cross country, but then remembered to neverI cut corners on the preflight, always check everything. I was finishing pre-flight, but thought to double check my rudder and ailerion cable pulley contact areas...AND THERE IT WAS...My left rudder cable was only holding by 2-3 strands of wire. It had frayed due to contact w/o the the guide pulley/rollers. THAT frightened me., I was only a minute away from firing up the engine. Naturally, I stopped everything, drove to a friend's place, that build ultralights. I helped him measure the fatigued cable and made a new one. I was wheels up about 3 hrs late, but better than it being my last flight. NEVER SHORTCUT PRE-FLIGHT. Thanks for the vid Matt, your great content, as usual, and a chance to tell my story. I thank God, and my CFI. P.S. The ultralight I was, and had been flying since solo, was a Cobra, made by Advanced Aviation. Great ultralight..pusher prop, very low stall, easy to fly. Mostly rudder flying, it had spoilerons, instead of ailerions. I'm looking for a good 2 seat pusher prop now, and that Beaver looks great. I'm in the USA, so I'm having to get my 'sport pilot license, 20 hrs. Thanks again Matt
Kind of a coincidence. I had a flight lesson scheduled on 9/11 that I was unable to take in the Citabria I was training in. After that I was never able to go back. I worked for a corporation where we made aircraft ballscrew type control systems and like you said it tanked and my dreams were killed. Now after watching your channel here for a good while I am now interested in either a Chinook or CGS Hawk II and going for it again. Maybe some insight as to which is a better choice for learning and some off airport play would be great. I am 6'2" at about 280 pounds with shorter legs and more torso for my height.
The Hawk would be better for training because its easier to take-off and land, but Chinook is easier to get in and out of. The Chinook probably edges out the Hawk for off airport play but they are both quite capable.
I had a student I was teaching in his 503 Beaver who’s been watching your videos for a long time (he really liked your wing pods). I remember him mentioning you one day and asked me why you didn’t have to wear a helmet. I showed him the CARs reg and looked up your aircraft reg and sure enough it was registered as a basic. I told him I had no idea why you weren’t wearing one but that you were supposed to be. I know that in the Canadian ultralight world, people can sometimes be a bit rebellious (especially when it comes to complying with the rules), so I’m glad to see that you are being a better example for your students. I’ve also been made fun of for caring about safety and “wasting time” doing preflight checks and run up checks even when I had just flown the plane a little while ago. I know how it feels to be made fun of for liking ultralights and light sports. Some people just don’t understand the pure joy and challenges that come with this type of aviation. Ultralights are no less legitimate than flying a precision approach to minimums. Safe flying! Beavers are hella fun!
I've been watching some glider videos when your video was suggested. Glad I watched it. Some awesome New Brunswick footage. I grew up in that landscape, Grand Falls area. Spent the 90s traveling around New Brunswick and some of Nova Scotia. Also lived in Saint John and Moncton, before it got big. I subscribed and plan on watching more of your videos. Thank you for the content.
Awesome! Nice to have a previous local watching. :-) I fly in and around the Woodstock area now but I've got a few older videos from when I flew up in the Edmundston and Grand Falls areas. Check them out if you get a chance.
Many years ago, I worked at a small airport. I had to clean an airplane where a man had walked into the propeller. The chief mechanic and I steam cleaned this plane every day for two weeks before we got the blood out from under rivets. Many years later I was working at a helicopter manufacturing company. I was walking with another inspector through a hanger of completed aircraft, being prepared for firist flight. I ducked under a tail boom rather than walk into a rotor path. The other guy made fun of me. I asked him if he had ever cleaned a man off a plane. He said No. I replied, "I have.". Let them make fun of you, if they want.When it was necessary for me to fly,, I did a walk around with the pilot. If the pilot didn't want to do a walk around, I didn't fly.
Thanks for the story and thanks for the humor and good attitude! I nearly died because I didn’t want to be ridiculed by the guys I windsurfed with. I will never choose macho over safety again.
@@mmatt And that is why I like living in the desert. Flying through washes is a lot of fun. And if you do happen to wipe out, you plow into nice, deep sand ;-)
@@mmatt I know of three ultralight pilots who survived wire strikes and a couple of more who died..... All of them had known the wire was there but a lapse of attention got them.... Never ever fly around lower than 50 ft, anywhere, not worth the risk for such a cheap thrill.... I was flying a Beaver 550 when I hooked a wire in the landing gear and flipped over and impacted the ground vertical nose down..... Fortunately I had massively reinforced the pilot cage, replacing those flimsy front down tubes with 3mm wall structural tubing and steel underneath, so that all I got was a smashed ankle. Without that protection I would have been hamburger.... Now have 3000+ hrs of safe flying.
Great story, good to see such a positive attitude to flight safety. I totally understand the frustration you get with general aviation personal bad mouthing ultralights. They are as safe as you are willing to fly and maintain them. I took my Beaver RX550 to Puerto Rico, and flew it to Dominican Republic after many years in Prince George BC. I left the airframe there. I brought the engine, instruments and prop back in suitcases, put them in the CH- 701 seen in my profile picture. my profile picture is on the peak of Sugarbowl mountain.
Hi Matthew, For Ultralights in the USA, the FAA says as long as we are not exceeding 254 pounds, no more than 5 gallons of fuel, and no faster than 50 knots, NO License or Medical needed. SO, the FAA can't do any enforcement action on us because we don't have a license...
Whats the limit's in Canada on how low you can be? Does it change over non-populated area's vs populated? If I remember correctly if your over non-populated places (in the US) you can go basically as low as you want. Like over the ocean or open fields like he was.
i don't know how many times I've watched this video but there is something about it that I really like. I enjoy the rest but I like this one the best. keep on keepen on
That’s a Beaver ultralight. Loved training students in them. I had the first 2 seater in Ontario and helped the factory complete a lot of the R&D via flying the pants off of it in my fight school. I too had my commercial pilots licence and then stumbled across the UL’s and feel in love with them. Enough about me. Great video really enjoyed it. Thx.
Yep, I know what you mean. I was finishing up my instrument training with a new instructor on cross countries. We landed for lunch and I told him I was having the plane refueled (3 most useless things to a pilot: fuel on the ground, airspace above you, runway behind you). He said don't bother, there's enough fuel. Being a 150hr or so pilot I listened to him. On the return flight we did some instrument approaches at another airport and got diverted a little more than planned. We we running on fumes on the return trip but we made it. I never flew with that instructor again (interestingly enough he was injured in an ultralight accident). I always follow my instincts in regards to safety regardless of how much experience a person has that is flying with me. Also when you're cranking and banking, due to many variable factors that could be present, you could induce an accelerated stall. To me it may be fun but seriously fatal.
You're right, cranking and banking should only be done at sufficient altitude to recover from an accelerated stall until you are intimately familiar with your aircraft. Once you know its limitation and your own, you can then decide what altitudes are safe to conduct such shenanigans.
Helmet laws have been a sore spot with me for decades. I am a life long motorcyclist and generally reject laws that infringe my personal freedoms. I usually wear a helmet for practical reasons, it is much easier on a rider to protect ones head/ears from wind buffeting so I wear a helmet for that kind of protection. Some people are safety conscious and take that to extremes, insisting ALL riders must wear helmets at all times. That's where I have a problem. I'd feel the same in the air of course. Safety is a matter that some see as a crusade, I prefer to make my own asessment, my own decisions in my own safety.
Mate you worry too much about what other people think. Remember that as a rule - people are much more interested in themselves than they are in you. Fly safe, and focus on youself and improving your game. Great vid.
Loved the ride around your cabbage patch Matt, with weather similar to todays here in the UK. The lockdown prevents us from flying GA except in certain circumstances so watching someone else flying is a pleasurable substitute. Are you anywhere near Gananoque? I know Canada's a big place but my wife and daughter did a tandem skydive from there and I got a champagne sunset ride in a Beaver in 2001 having met my daughter who was working at a summer camp in Vermont. My daughter had planned to go up the Twin Towers on 9/11. We had returned home a week earlier but her and her boyfriend were suffering from hangovers after a heavy session the previous evening and overslept, waking up to F16's over Central Park. They dodged a bullet ! Happy days, thanks for sharing your story, I'm looking forward to my first flight after the lockdown is over. Stay safe, James.
As an instructor and RUclipsr I think it's your duty to promote safe & fun flying and not be that "mentor" that's going to crush you for trying to be safe. Loved the way you handled your meeting with TC. And yes, as the old saying goes, "You always get more bees with honey than with vinegar". After seeing your videos I now would love to get an ultralight. Maybe one day. Cheers from the South-East of NB!!!
Thanks for the video. We all make the occasional mistake and if we share them we can learn from each other, instead of making all the mistakes ourselves. Nice work. Kolb among the wind towers.
I had a plane fly over my home last year at something 100 AGL...he did it 5 or 6 times while flying some kind of circuit...my home was a turn point...it is so unusual it gives one a feeling that it is as menacing as the scene from the Hitchcock movie, because one doesn't know the reason for this...
Oh man.....that picture Matt. I thought I was the only kid staring at that. I gave my copy of From The Ground Up to my 12 year old son who joined cadets just this year. That picture was everything....even the sunset colours of the fabric. Awesome. :)
Sensitivity decreases with age, as experience increases. The result is confidence and decrease of needless risk. As a motorcycle rider, it is said " There are old riders and there are bold riders, but very few old bold riders"
The people at enforcement in Moncton are ok guys. Very reasonable in situations. Hats off to you for keeping your cool and making this segment an educational experience for your subscribers.
Lot of work going into this video. I'm interested in buying one of these. Hanger fees near me are hundreds each month otherwise I'd already have one. Thanks for the GRES work you do.
I know of three ultralight pilots who survived wire strikes and a couple of more who died..... All of them had known the wire was there but a lapse of attention got them.... Never ever fly around lower than 50 ft, anywhere, not worth the risk for such a cheap thrill.... I was flying a Beaver 550 when I hooked a wire in the landing gear and flipped over and impacted the ground vertical nose down..... Fortunately I had massively reinforced the pilot cage, replacing those flimsy front down tubes with 3mm wall structural tubing and steel underneath, so that all I got was a smashed ankle. Without that protection I would have been hamburger.... Now have 3000+ hrs of safe flying.
hi matt just subscribed to you channel its totally brilliant and am now thinking about taking up flying ..yup im old 61 and very over weight but you have now given me something to aim for thanks very much.. i live in northern ireland and there is a small airfield not far from where i live so i may pop down and have a chat with them over the weekend
Enjoy your videos. Glad to hear you will not do a sloppy pre-flight inspection or fail to adhere to the law as written. Your students look to you for information that might save their hide. It sounds to me like your mentor understands human nature as well as the skill of flying. I really enjoy watching you fly around in Canada.
I totally agree with you brother. It's especially important with Ultralights to perform a thorough walk around, in some cases their more prone to malfunctioning based on the limited redundancy,, not certifiable parts engines Etc... My first plan was an Aerolight 103, powered with a Hirth F23 50HP engine. Most ultralights do not come equipped with a POH, so I decided to make my own. The engine did, however, come with a preflight checklist with about 25 things items check before each flight so I incorporated that into my preflight list I created. So... before each flight, there were about 75 things to check which took me 30 minutes to go through. Spending 30 minutes was worth my life. Unfortunately, a lot of folks that fly them simply want to get up and go. For me, it was all about taking the time, maintaining the vehicle, engine, and getting into the habit of pre-flighting I prepared for my private pilot cert. I also received 10 hours of training prior to performing simple crow hops. After putting on 15 hours on the engine without ever flying the pattern I took another 3 days, 8 hrs a day to fly at a local airport with plenty of room. On the 3rd day, I soloed. During the 3 days, I followed the old ultralight USUA ultralight training guidelines that used to be mandated here in the US. Any way I can stress enough the importance of adequate training, and pre-flighting, as the primary ingredients to safety no matter what your flying.
My dream was to get a private pilot certification, but I was in a bad accident at the time and my injuries precluded me from doing so and never got back into it... So, I know the feeling of not being able to take my wings and get out there flying.. Life is short and opportunities are short lived.. But I will always love flying no matter how I do it... RC, Sim still a lot of fun...!
Hi Mmatt, when common sense returns and 'Karen' gets a kick (u no where), I look forward to subscribing again - (got cut off by YT?) for swearing (good common Australian dialogue)... Peace Love and Light to everyone who loves to "fly". Australia seems to have gone 'socialist with Communist tendencies'... "CLEAR PROP", except mine does not have a prop or jet. It is quiet!
I was surprised there was no retort about motorcycles during the part of the conversation involving "ultralights are dangerous". You already know and are willing to assume all those risks, and being on the ground with varying road conditions and traffic has a lot more hazards too.
BRS Parachute Thrill rides, freedom of flight. People get killed walking across the street so my guess is your just not educated on these rather stereotype stigmatized. Like the cancer patient taking Narcotics for pain “drug addicts” dig a little deeper and you can find good information and safe ultralights along with why people even fly them. Ps I’m no expert just what I’ve learned from air expos and reading.
wkdravenna -you obviously did not read and rushed to judgement! It makes me laugh! I was commenting on your post and what you said! Never said anything about “REAL PILOT” that was your post 😂 I asked a question: BRS
So one message is-everyone sets an example for someone else. Your mentor sets one with you, and others. You set one with your peers...and everyone who watches you on RUclips. Thanks for upping the bar. By example. That’s leadership.
So enjoying your videos, in which I just started watching. In the seventies I started my flying lessons at the old flying club in Moncton. I soloed in 11 hrs and logged 30 hrs. Well I had a bank loan at the time and going to high school I soon ran out of cash and paying back my loan at a parting job. So thats my story. Do you require a licence to fly the plane you’re using for your RUclips. At my age, would love to try it again.
Yes, anything that flies in Canada requires either a permit or licence. You can get an ultralight permit fairly easily though if you can find an instructor.
After several touch and go's, I was on final and cleared to land when I saw a plane descending and looked like he was going to land on the other end of the runway. I called tower and informed them "I got a "Bogey" at my 12 O Clock". Tower immediately informed me to make a right hand turn and gave me a vector outbound. I complied and stated to "get that guys N#" ! He did not land and continued through the "Controlled" airspace without two way communication. In other words...He busted the airspace without permission from ATC and continues to fly another 20 miles to the next airport and landed. I headed back toward my home airport and stated "I had enough fun and requested a "Full Stop Landing". Permission granted. Next day I was called into the tower to meet the guy who almost caused a near miss. I informed them I was not there to lower the gavel down on anyone, but a good pilot is always learning and It is not up to me what action the FAA will take. I don't know what happen to the guy but I never heard from him again.
I love the beaver design so much. It's like a bushplane style ultralight. But I can't help but picture a flying jetski the way the fairing looks. They should make one that looks like the Zenith 701...that would be badass.
This attitude from the certified aircraft world against ultralights has been around since I have been flying. Unfortunately this attitude is what is killing aviation. Certified aircraft are dead, they are so expensive that the average person cannot afford it, which in turn makes it even more expensive. I also do not understand why I should fly a fifty year old antique that costs a fortune when I can fly a new aircraft which will outperform these antiques in every way.
I'm a wanna be pilot. Because of the attitude in some snobby quarters , I ne er could afford a plane or a good ground school. So at 75 I fly a drone!!! Like a lot of guys when I was younger and had a family to support, the snobs made it out of reach. But without a boring story , I got my licks in washing old planes and fixing radios. God bless you guys who can own a craft! 😎👍
The only "dangerous" ultralight is one that's being flown by someone who can't be bothered to at least study the same materials licensed pilots do. Weather, ground school, navigation, aerodynamics, avionics, powerplants, regs, and safety. At least some of the afore mentioned. Very sorry to hear you got reported, but glad it was all sorted, in the end. Thanks for sharing this with us. Oh, and uh, do watch those props, when walking close to aircraft. Eh? LOL ;)
Beautiful landing, I see so many others drifting all over the runway, and bouncing repeatedly upon touching down. I'm wondering if the excessive bouncing is due to not having as flexible landing gear as your plane has. Does that sound reasonable?
It just comes down to practice and experience. I find most people hate practicing the take off and landing. They say doing circuits is boring. Those are the people you'll see bouncing and drifting all over the place. Anyone can land any plane smoothly and with full control - but it takes practice and determination to get it right.
I really enjoyed your video and I've shared the link to it with my aeroclub (angelesflying.com)! May I ask about your radio, intercom, headset and helmet...what are you using? In our aeroclub we need to find a good combination to use in the club's Quicksilver MXL II's with the screaming Rotax 582 overhead. Personally I'm using an old JRC JPH-500 radio (no longer made), a DRE-201 intercom (no longer made), Clarity Aloft Classic headset (in-ear buds), and a Rollbar Icaro helmet...and it all works great for me and other pilots say they hear me clearly. So I'm searching for recommended combinations of radio and intercom and then over-the-ear headsets and full-face helmets if possible.
Thank you! I have found that the combination of a good mic muff with leather pouch and a high quality intercom designed for open cockpits works best for UL flying. I use the Oregon MicMuff products on my BRG headset and a Flight Tech intercom. As for my helmet, it's simply a BMX bike helmet from WalMart to which I bolted the components of my headset. Cheap, yet effective. :-)
@@mmatt Thanks so much for your feedback. Yes, I've used the same Oregon MicMuff but even with that, the direct wind and screaming 582 makes communication difficult in the Quicksilver. Anyway I will definitely look into the BRG headset and Flight Tech Intercom combination. Hahaha, I've also used modified bike helmets in the past and they work pretty good. Have a great day and fly safe.
What would be 2 or 3 US legal (meaning 255 lbs with 5 gallon tank) ultralight you would recommend for the beginning pilot, but yet would still be somewhat satisfying to fly when one gains more experience and skills? I think what it takes to become a "sport pilot" in the u.s. is basically what you guys have to have to fly even the lighter single-seat ultralights. Yes?
I've never flown any of the planes I'm about to list but they are the ones I'd be considering if I was limited to the US UL restrictions: - Aerolite 103 - Folb Firefly - Quicksilver MXL - TEAM MiniMax 103 And yes, a licence or permit is required to fly any type and/or size of aircraft in Canada.
Always do a PROPER walkaround/preflight! My cables are always tight, fabric is clean and not damaged. Fuel free of contaminants, and nav/comm system is 100% operational. Mechanical equipment is tight and proper. Ultralights have excellent glide ratios to forward momentum.
So, when I'm looking up at Skydiving Business plane, flying right over Shelton Washington Wal-Mart parking lot, I can see an count rivets heads holding metal sheets together on plane, Might Be Too Low in its flight path?
...so there is a lot about not wearing your helmet but the description of the video says "low level flying." When did you talk about the low level flying? I listened to basically the whole thing and then skipped through it again. When video titles don't match the content then I do not subscribe to those channels.
Maybe I forgot to mention that in the video, if so, sorry about that. If you read the video description though, you'll see that I was originally reported for low-level flying but that accusation was unfounded. The enforcement agents watched all my videos and couldn't find any examples of illegal low-level flying but they did notice that I wasn't wearing a helmet so that's why I got in trouble.
@@mmatt Ah! Isn't the 1000ft rule for residential area's and structures any case? I mean crop dusters fly low all the time even if they are not necessarily spraying in that instance.
@@rsbrehm In Canada, we have 2 rules with regards to minimum altitudes: - when we are over populated areas, we must remain within gliding distance of a safe landing spot, and remain 1000' over any obstacle that is within 2000'. - when we are over non-populated areas, we must remain 500' away from any person, vehicle, or structure. We may disregard either of those rules however for the purposes of taking off or landing, aerial application, police work, and a few others. So those crop dusters are probably not breaking any laws so long as they are that low for the purpose of carrying out their job. Here is the full text if you're interested: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-433/page-56.html
I know this video is a year old, but how can they fine you for being less than 500' feet from any vehicle? How can they physically show the proof that you were less than 500' ? The court system wants 100% solid proof to be able to convict. Do you carry a Lazer measurement tool or a tape measure?
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I always love it when you show up in my "from your subscriptions" bar. Love your content and your attitude. Still as logical, honest, and wise as the person i looked up to as a child. Thanks Matt!
First video of yours I’ve ever watched and now you have a new subscriber. I always appreciate men who take “the high road” (pun intended) in situations like yours. Honesty and integrity are becoming rare these days. I hope to get into flying ultralights very soon. Keep up the great work.
28:55 At 11 o'clock is where I grew up. I got a little bit homesick when I saw that. Thanks for flying there. 32:16 - Rosedale straight ahead. I used to skate on that little lake when I was a kid. Wish this pandemic would be over so my wife and I could return for a visit with my family. Keep up the good work. I thought you handled the encounter with Transport Canada very well.
This was awesome, very well done! Matt, you are a class act!
I love how you to tell this story and your approach to your own mistakes.
I think the most important lesson of this video is to those aviation "gurus", especially instructors to never make fun of somebody less experienced for double-checking their airplane or wearing safety gear, because it can not only lead to legal trouble, but can actually be very dangerous.
Greetings from a flight instructor from Germany!
Great attitude. As far as safety goes the heck with what others think or if they make fun of you. Shame on them for faulting someone who is doing what they can to be safe. We want you to be around for a long time so we can enjoy your travels.
Glad to see you take a “non-adversarial” approach to the situation, shows your maturity for sure. Also hats off to the TC guys for being human 🍺
Submission to violent THREATS of death and or Jail time is showing maturity. To act otherwise he would have ended up dead, in jail, or financially ruined. But to "praise" submission shows how indoctrinated you really are. Any single individual has NO choice but to submit to "Government". Think as a serf, live as a serf.
Note: Be thankful that people like me exist. Otherwise you would be living in 8x8 cubicle outside an iPhone factory.
Samual Whittemore Was it hard to find a tinfoil hat that fit ya ? Your reply says a lot more about you than I ever could..... you keep fighting the fight for us sheep 🙄
@@samualwhittemore228 Excellent comment.~!!!
Yes, Helmet-hats off to the gentleman!
@@samualwhittemore228 Why don't you go attack a cop and see what happens. You'd be an interesting read in the obituaries.
Great talk Matt, I enjoyed the flying and the talk. I think every ultralight instructor should make watching this video part of their instruction !! Great information and presented in a very good way. two thumbs up on this one buddy.. Down River Tim (Oak Point area). PS. glad you explaned the cuts on your cheek, I was thinking the TC guys must have roughed you up to make this video lol...
Many hours in the back and some in the front seat of a RX-550. Great to see your footage, brings back many fond memories.
You're a good guy with good intentions. I like your videos and am happy for you that it worked out without penalty and bitter feelings on your part. Praying for Continued good luck and continued safe fun.
Personally, I would always do a thorough pre-flight each and every time. I like to know, not assume. It's not like we can just pull over if there is a problem. :)
Just a quick comment. When I was taking my private pilot training we did a lot of dead stick practice runs where the instructor would cut the engine speed and say "you have an engine failure, please locate an appropriate landing site and prepare for landing". By the time it was getting exciting, he would advance the throttle and then tell what I did right and what I did wrong. However, with everything you develop a pattern, and mine was "he will advance the throttle before I actually touch down". To my surprise one time he didn't, and I actually did a dead stick landing in a farmer's field. After landing (and subsequent adrenaline rush), he said ok now what? I replied, check the plane for damage, after taxi to edge of field, then pace off a take off vector for distance and obstructions, final double check and take off. He approved and then suggested that I taxi through a break in the tree barrier to the adjacent field, where I found a dirt airstrip. Couldn't see it from where the "emergency" started, and rather than searching further I had settled for a "valid" field. Couple points he made, sometimes widening you search is helpful, landing in an unknown field may look good until you find that hidden boulder or tree stump, and finally remember that you are landing on someone's property and you should be contacting them afterward to determine if they are upset with you. It turned out the field and strip belonged to a friend of his and he had approval ahead of time.
Fun story! Thanks for sharing. :-)
Thank you for sharing your experience!s with us who are still on the fence or saving to get into the various Aviation hobbies! This video is one that I feel many hopeful future pilots, low time, and experienced pilots can take something away from...
I wish I was young again! I've just turned 60 and was diagnosed a Diabetic 20 years ago. I can't imagine being a pilot and being told to hang you plane license in the hanger your not flying any longer. I was 15 when I got in my first plane, a friend who was also 15 took me up in his plane. So long ago I can't remember what it was but I really enjoyed it. I messed up by not doing the things I wanted to do but did the things my other friends were doing which was nothing but wasting time and energy. I can't imagine being 8 years old and watching you guys on RUclips and dreaming of following in your foot steps. What an inspiration you guys are! Thank you for sharing what you enjoy, the good and the bad! God Bless you!
Enjoyed the video. Looks like a lot of fun. My brother-In-Law has a paraglider and took his first flight a few weeks ago. Nice landing the the field. Never know when you might have to run to the woods to take a dump.
"It's a protective hat, not a helmet..." Kudos man I'd have had a REAL hard time not getting sarcastic with them on that one lol.
I like his "protective hat" he should see if that student he had that joined the airforce could send him a sticker for it.
Thanks for the vid. I can always relate. Started listening for the IPSC, stayed for the planes. Keep it up.
Thank you Matt. Enjoyed this video and your talk!
As an Ex Challenger 2 pilot, I found your video very interesting and wishing I hadn't sold mine . Some of my best flights were in the winter with the doors on and heat going, not sure I could fly as exposed as you are in the Beaver though.
First thing I thought when I saw the thumbnail: "Man- that's a dope-ass helmet ... I wonder where I can get one of those?"
Ha ha! It's a BMX bike helmet from Walmart that I bolted my headset components to.
Admittedly, very interesting story. However, a wee bit long winded. Still glad you brought us along. Glad it worked out well for you; you are a nice man. I'll be tuning in for more.
For US airspace I recommend people read the Ultralight Advisory Circular Part 103 from 1984.. it's the document the FAA spread out back in the day to tell officers how to inspect ultralights to determine if they're compliant and gives some invaluable information.
I will say this Matthew; never once have you made fun of me for anything safety related and that alone speaks to the quality of your character. Those in glass houses....
I will be in touch soon my friend, time to get some hours in. :) Safe flying!
Is that anything like "people in dacron covered airplanes shouldn't throw cigarette butts"?
I'm impressed with your skill, professionalism, honesty, maturity, and attitude.
Great info, and fun to watch! Thanks Matt
Matt, great videos! As a safety professional and avid motorcyclist for 20 plus years, I believe in safety and I have always worn a helmet, even in states where helmets are not required! I can't understand why helmets are not required in the USA? I also appreciate your positive teaching style. I am going back to light sport training this year, 2020, and finish learning to fly ultralights. I do have a question. Any thoughts on the Aerolite 103? Byron
I love everything about the Aerolite 103 with the exception of the yoke; I prefer a stick, but that's just simple personal preference. If I lived in the US and was limited to Part 103 flying, that's the plane I'd get.
Well you popped up in my recommendations and now I have subscribed :) I had interest in a private pilot's license decades ago but abandoned it for lack of funds after three training sessions. Now I have begun powered paragliding this year and who knows maybe I'll take up pursuing a private pilots license in the future. This was very educational and inspirational. I look forward to watching more of your videos.
Glad to have you aboard! :-) PPG is an awesome sport. I hope to get into it myself someday.
Great advert for Transport Canada. Great video and advice.
I carry out an “after flight” (AF) check after every flight
and a “before flight” (BF) walk round before getting in, also as an ex-crop
duster pilot (and RAF crewman) I have found snags on both AF and FB that could
have compromised the aircraft performance. So, it has made me so “Hard Nosed” there
is no way anybody would ever stop me from doing those checks, I would just
point out that I wouldn’t fly with them and if it good enough for the RAF it is
good enough for me.
A chap did take the “P” out of me, for the mask I have on
(you can see it in my latest video), say “Was I trying to look like Biggles?”,
I took a little time to explain that it helps to cut out the engine noise on
the radio.
We all react differently to what people say, I am happy to listen
advice but don’t give a fig to those who make comment that should know better,
don’t let some loon make you go against you better judgment again.
Absolutely excellent cut to "Future Matthew".
I get the same "Why do you want to fly them? They're dangerous!" response from other (fixed-wing) pilots.
I fly an autogyro.
I then relate to them that in the past 10 years in the UK, there have been three fatalities in which an autogyro was involved.
1 - The pilot had a heart-attack at the controls. That could have happened behind the wheel of a car or at the controls of a 747. Nothing to do with the inherent safety, or lack thereof, of autogyros.
2 - A protester on the ground tried to stop an autogyro taking off by running in front of it and the prop turned him to hamburger. Not really an autogyro issue, more of a public stupidity issue.
3 - A door popped open in flight in a Magni M24 Orion and the solo student was told by his instructor to ignore it because it would not be a problem. He did not heed his instructor's advice and leant over to close the door. The gyro rolled and crashed into the ground. Magni quickly made a modification to ensure that the engine could not be started unless interlocks were engaged which ensured that a door was properly closed prior to takeoff. Partly pilot-error and partly the design of the door-catches on the Magni.
I then point out that in an engine-out situation, I can put down in something the size of a tennis court and that landings happen at about walking pace.
I enjoy the open-cockpit experience. I prefer it to closed-cockpits. I love the almost completely unobstructed view of the sky and the ground (if I can see more, I have better situational awareness - I consider that to be safer than the average Cessna), the manoeuvrability of the aircraft, and its capabilities. I also like the fact that I burn just less than 16 Litres of Mogas an hour for all that enjoyment and that because she has a small footprint, I pay around half of the hangarage fees that many other aircraft owners have to pay.
... and... because they are so unusual, I get helicopter pilots (who are often regarded as the cool guys) coming over to examine my bird and ask questions about how she actually flies.
You chased your dream, Matthew. You achieved something that required work and dedication. Not only that, you're flying the aircraft which inspired you in the first place. There are very few things which can beat that. There would be times that I would say, "Damn. This is not easy!!" and my instructor would say, "No. If it was easy, then anyone would be able to do it."
We worked hard for the privilege of taking to the skies and the officials from the aviation authorities know this. They generally aren't arseholes who want to revoke your licence. They just want to ensure that aviation in general has an ever-improving safety record so that those who worked to achieve the required standards and their passengers can enjoy the freedom flight brings as safely as is humanly possible. There are already more than enough people who think that what we do is dangerous, despite it being more likely that we will be killed on the road on the way to the airport. We don't need to be giving them ammunition to lobby for draconian regulation and airport closures - That will inevitably hurt us.
Wow! What a great comment! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole thing! Autogyros are super cool and I hope to actually get to fly in one someday. The Magni M-16 is something I'd love to tuck into the side of my hangar for when it's too windy for the Beaver. Actually, the single seater they used to make would have been the cats meow but it doesn't look like it's in production anymore. Regardless, I'm completely convinced that they are among the safest ways to fly and I wish you the best in your continued quest for flight!
mmatt - Yep. We get up in the air on days that the Cessna and Piper pilots are wandering around on the apron kicking the tyres and casting disappointed glares at the wind-sock.
Considering my gyro has an empty weight of 265kg, she's very well behaved in strong winds.
The only thing I can think of that might beat an autogyro in terms of safety in an engine-out situation is a paramotor but they're grounded when a mosquito farts !
I hope that you do get to take the controls of an autogyro and that you're taken up by someone who talks you through some of the "gyro-specific" manoeuvres such as the (near)-vertical descent, the "hover" (if you have a windy day), and the ability to stop dead and turn on the spot.
... and don't forget to look up at the rotors spinning above you... especially if you are in the rear seat. I don't know what it is but there is something really awesome about seeing them turning and keeping you in the air which just doesn't come across on video - It's not quite so obvious from the front seat except perhaps when looking sideways into a turn.
I can understand that pressure to conform and the fear of being ridiculed by those whom you'd imagine to be more experienced. Remember, with experience often comes complacency. I am the Pilot in Command and if I decide that licking my tyres is going to improve my ability to remain safe in the air, then sod anyone who laughs at me. The ultimate responsibility for myself, my aircraft, my passengers, and those on the ground below me, is mine and mine alone. I'll do a comprehensive pre-flight (the "A - check" or Daily Inspection) before I fly and I will also do a thorough walk-around before I get in the aircraft and if my instructor then does a walk-around, I don't take that as a personal insult, it's an additional and more experienced pair of eyes and if he doesn't want to trust that a student has done a satisfactory walk around before he puts his life in my hands, I can appreciate that.
I really enjoyed your video. The audio was a little rough at times, but it is what it is. You're recording in-flight with all of the associated noise and "less-than-studio-quality" pick-up which goes with it.
I'm the same as you in my desire to see the take-off and landing. I also like to hear the radio-calls.
I subscribed because I intend to watch some more of your flying videos. Thanks for the response.
I do the same thing with my wings as we fly along. It's so cool seeing the very thing keeping you aloft and trying to visualize the airflow that we know so much about happening invisibly right in front of me. :-)
So tell me a bit more about the gyro's wind capabilities. I understand that they are quite capable in high winds, but how about thermals and mechanical turbulence? The airfield I fly from gets quite a bit of mixed air due to its geographical surroundings and we get some pretty good thermals too that often leaves us grounded.
As for my audio, I work quite hard on it in post to clean it up as best I can but as you know, open cockpits simply aren't conducive to clean audio. ;-)
Thanks for subscribing! I hope to have some more videos published soon!
mmatt - I don't really have a lot with which to compare it because the only other thing I've ever flown is a Cessna 172 for about 45 mins.
From what other people have said, though, they are far less susceptible to winds. We still feel gusts and turbulence but we're not rolled about in quite the same way. We get a nudge here and there and we do tend to "weather-vain" in crosswinds (easy to correct in consistent winds but in gusts it can be a battle) but I figure that anything with a tail is going to behave in much the same way. We do feel thermals and sink, but again, not quite to the same extent as something with a large wing surface.
We have very long but thin wings which are moving very quickly. If you have an airspeed of 70kts, your wings are cutting through the air at 70kts on a calm day and if you have a 30kt gust, that's a significant change in your airspeed as far as your wing is concerned. When we're travelling at 70kts, our wing-tips are travelling a lot faster (8.4m diameter rotor disc with the rotors turning at around 300-350rpm in regular flight - I'm not going to bother working it out), so a 30kt gust is far less significant. A good headwind actually helps a lot during takeoff and landing because the takeoff roll and flare involve pulling the rotor disc back and dragging it through the wind like a kite. This causes a lot of drag and spins up the rotor creating lift. Still days require longer takeoff rolls. The takeoff of an autogyro is something which does require particular attention. Fixed wing aircraft want to fly. Get the thing going fast enough down the runway and just try stopping the thing from taking off... Gyros will do anything but takeoff unless handled correctly - They'll roll over and play dead; They'll leap off the runway and pretend that they want to fly only to belly-flop back down again; or if you're really lucky, they'll just pretend to be a very sluggish motorbike. In a fixed-wing, you pull your stick back to rotate once you have enough airspeed and then you can climb. Once we have our rotors spinning, we pull our stick right back, start our takeoff roll which drags the rotor disc through the air like a kite causing it to spin up faster. Once the rotors are spinning fast enough, the nose will pop up off the ground so we try to pre-empt that by bringing the stick forward but allow the nose to come up just a little and then gradually bring the stick further forward to keep the nose from coming up too high... when she's ready, her rear wheels will unstick but don't be fooled, she's not ready to climb out yet Now, you lower the nose and build airspeed a few feet off the ground until you reach climbout speed (60-70mph) - Now you can pull back and enjoy the ride... A good headwind can help because it provides extra energy to get the rotors spun up thereby reducing the length of the takeoff roll. It is possible to hold the aircraft stationary with the rotors back and have them continue to spin up if the wind is strong enough. Stronger still and she'll do a vertical takeoff and you'll also be able to perform a nice soft vertical landing.
Landing is a lot easier. It's much the same principle as a fixed wing - set up the approach (although it will be quite a lot steeper), round out to a level flight in ground-effect and then ease back the stick to flare and set her down. What catches out a lot of pilots is that this is not the end of the story - the rotors are still producing almost enough lift to fly and a gust of wind can tip you over - This is where "active rotor management" comes in and you put the stick forward and into wind and pause for a few seconds before beginning to taxi off the runway, keeping the stick into wind as you make turns. I very nearly had a roll-over on touchdown on my first day of solo and it really smashed my confidence for a while... but that's another page's worth of story... ;)
I fly an Autogyro Cavalon ,,,,,what a view and some of the best flying I have ever done in about 3 years I now have almost 800 hours on my Cavalon and have taken over 200 people for their first gyro ride. Wonderful machines. Fly safe and fly often.
Enjoyed the video and story!! Thanks for the ride!
34:40 It's always good to see someone excited for snow. :)
A long time ago I shot an ILS into Millville, NJ, broke out at about 500ft AGL to find ultralights in the pattern. Turns out they were headed for breakfast at a restaurant on the field. There was an FSS on the field and I told them about what I encountered. Turns out there were several ultralights that flew in that morning, all violating the rules. FAA went to the restaurant and advised the “pilots” not to leave until the airport was VFR, which was several days later. Sorry, this left me without a good feeling about some ultralight pilots.
Cheers for a great flight. Glad all worked out for you with Transport Canada. 👍✈️😊
Hi from the land of Aus. Great vid and I commend your mature approach too. Helmets here are mandatory on push bikes, motor bikes, trikes and of course, ultralights! Would be a good idea on pub crawls too!!! Jokes aside, I was kayaking on flat but fast flowing water. Despite a 35C+ day I wore my Cooper ice hockey helmet. No open face for this black duck! Despite 20+ years of paddling, a lapse of concentration and I flipped. No sooner did I open my eyes under the water, than a massive boulder suddenly materialised out of the aerated gloom and SMACK, square in the middle of my forehead! The force of the impact was so violent I remember the bong sound as the back of my head hit the rear deck and the grating of the shin guard against the face of the rock! Despite being almost knocked silly, preservation reflexes kicked in and I instinctively rolled up. I can still remember the huge sense of relief at not seeing blood everywhere- only then did I even realised I had my bash hat on! On closer inspection it had a crack across the front of the outer shell but my head was still intact. The whiplash left me with a murderously stiff neck for the next 4 days but hey! I was alive to suffer it- you just never know--so- never give it a chance! That goes for safety checks too. I don’t even get in a fork lift without a walk around. You stay safe. H
I had a similar experience sometime between 1992-94. I was riding my bicycle to work daily, and wearing a safety helmet. I can't remember why, because California only required minors to wear them and I was an adult. I also had a resentful, resistant attitude towards the "Nanny state and its overreach on regulating behavior."
Nonetheless, I hit a patch of spilled gasoline or other slick liquid, and "BAM!", I heard the sound of my head smashing the curb. My vision went blank for a few moments, and when I got to my destination, there was a huge dent in the plastic and styrofoam that protected my head. That dent would have been in my skull if I was not wearing a helmet. I became a helmet believer, and bought a replacement helmet that evening.
I see Karen cares about aviation laws as well as covid19. She’s on top of it!
Good safety is was makes it fun, by taking away uncertainty. My CFI, while learning to fly in a Quicksilver 2 seat ultralight trainer, drilled safety into my head. "Always be thinking 'WHERE WOULD I LAND IF POWER LOSS?" At all times. Many many times he CHOPPED the throttle and asked where is land. Also, thorough pre-flight. I'll NEVER EVER forget..THE DAY preflight saved my life. I was in a hurry to fly a 40 min cross country, but then remembered to neverI cut corners on the preflight, always check everything. I was finishing pre-flight, but thought to double check my rudder and ailerion cable pulley contact areas...AND THERE IT WAS...My left rudder cable was only holding by 2-3 strands of wire. It had frayed due to contact w/o the the guide pulley/rollers. THAT frightened me., I was only a minute away from firing up the engine. Naturally, I stopped everything, drove to a friend's place, that build ultralights. I helped him measure the fatigued cable and made a new one. I was wheels up about 3 hrs late, but better than it being my last flight. NEVER SHORTCUT PRE-FLIGHT. Thanks for the vid Matt, your great content, as usual, and a chance to tell my story. I thank God, and my CFI.
P.S. The ultralight I was, and had been flying since solo, was a Cobra, made by Advanced Aviation. Great ultralight..pusher prop, very low stall, easy to fly. Mostly rudder flying, it had spoilerons, instead of ailerions. I'm looking for a good 2 seat pusher prop now, and that Beaver looks great. I'm in the USA, so I'm having to get my 'sport pilot license, 20 hrs. Thanks again Matt
I miss flying. Never could do ultralights. Did fly hang gliders for over a decade. Good times. Enjoyed the story and flight.
Walkaround or hang check is one of the most important thing you can do as a pilot.
Kind of a coincidence. I had a flight lesson scheduled on 9/11 that I was unable to take in the Citabria I was training in. After that I was never able to go back. I worked for a corporation where we made aircraft ballscrew type control systems and like you said it tanked and my dreams were killed. Now after watching your channel here for a good while I am now interested in either a Chinook or CGS Hawk II and going for it again. Maybe some insight as to which is a better choice for learning and some off airport play would be great. I am 6'2" at about 280 pounds with shorter legs and more torso for my height.
The Hawk would be better for training because its easier to take-off and land, but Chinook is easier to get in and out of. The Chinook probably edges out the Hawk for off airport play but they are both quite capable.
I had a student I was teaching in his 503 Beaver who’s been watching your videos for a long time (he really liked your wing pods). I remember him mentioning you one day and asked me why you didn’t have to wear a helmet. I showed him the CARs reg and looked up your aircraft reg and sure enough it was registered as a basic. I told him I had no idea why you weren’t wearing one but that you were supposed to be. I know that in the Canadian ultralight world, people can sometimes be a bit rebellious (especially when it comes to complying with the rules), so I’m glad to see that you are being a better example for your students. I’ve also been made fun of for caring about safety and “wasting time” doing preflight checks and run up checks even when I had just flown the plane a little while ago. I know how it feels to be made fun of for liking ultralights and light sports. Some people just don’t understand the pure joy and challenges that come with this type of aviation. Ultralights are no less legitimate than flying a precision approach to minimums. Safe flying! Beavers are hella fun!
I've been watching some glider videos when your video was suggested. Glad I watched it. Some awesome New Brunswick footage. I grew up in that landscape, Grand Falls area. Spent the 90s traveling around New Brunswick and some of Nova Scotia. Also lived in Saint John and Moncton, before it got big.
I subscribed and plan on watching more of your videos. Thank you for the content.
Awesome! Nice to have a previous local watching. :-)
I fly in and around the Woodstock area now but I've got a few older videos from when I flew up in the Edmundston and Grand Falls areas. Check them out if you get a chance.
Many years ago, I worked at a small airport. I had to clean an airplane where a man had walked into the propeller. The chief mechanic and I steam cleaned this plane every day for two weeks before we got the blood out from under rivets.
Many years later I was working at a helicopter manufacturing company. I was walking with another inspector through a hanger of completed aircraft, being prepared for firist flight. I ducked under a tail boom rather than walk into a rotor path. The other guy made fun of me. I asked him if he had ever cleaned a man off a plane. He said No.
I replied, "I have.".
Let them make fun of you, if they want.When it was necessary for me to fly,, I did a walk around with the pilot. If the pilot didn't want to do a walk around, I didn't fly.
Thanks for the story and thanks for the humor and good attitude! I nearly died because I didn’t want to be ridiculed by the guys I windsurfed with. I will never choose macho over safety again.
Thank you for sharing this content. Much appreciated
BETTER BE AWARE OF POWER LINES. I HAD A FRIEND THAT LOVED TO FLY UNDER POWERLINES ....HE BLEW IT
I stay far away from power lines. I don't fly low through just any field, they are always examined closely from a safe distance before I go low.
@@mmatt And that is why I like living in the desert. Flying through washes is a lot of fun. And if you do happen to wipe out, you plow into nice, deep sand ;-)
Yep. My dad’s best friend died doing a low level, lost to a power line across a lake...
@@mmatt I know of three ultralight pilots who survived wire strikes and a couple of more who died..... All of them had known the wire was there but a lapse of attention got them.... Never ever fly around lower than 50 ft, anywhere, not worth the risk for such a cheap thrill....
I was flying a Beaver 550 when I hooked a wire in the landing gear and flipped over and impacted the ground vertical nose down..... Fortunately I had massively reinforced the pilot cage, replacing those flimsy front down tubes with 3mm wall structural tubing and steel underneath, so that all I got was a smashed ankle. Without that protection I would have been hamburger.... Now have 3000+ hrs of safe flying.
Great story, good to see such a positive attitude to flight safety. I totally understand the frustration you get with general aviation personal bad mouthing ultralights. They are as safe as you are willing to fly and maintain them. I took my Beaver RX550 to Puerto Rico, and flew it to Dominican Republic after many years in Prince George BC. I left the airframe there. I brought the engine, instruments and prop back in suitcases, put them in the CH- 701 seen in my profile picture. my profile picture is on the peak of Sugarbowl mountain.
Hi Matthew, For Ultralights in the USA, the FAA says as long as we are not exceeding 254 pounds, no more than 5 gallons of fuel, and no faster than 50 knots, NO License or Medical needed. SO, the FAA can't do any enforcement action on us because we don't have a license...
ahahahahaha what a naive assumption. They can and will bust you if you violate FAR103 which does regulate what you are allowed to do...
There are other penalties than revoking a license. There are civil fines up to $10,000 per occurrence.
Talks about being reported for flying low, while flying low
Love this guy
Whats the limit's in Canada on how low you can be? Does it change over non-populated area's vs populated? If I remember correctly if your over non-populated places (in the US) you can go basically as low as you want. Like over the ocean or open fields like he was.
@@whoisntwhoisit2126 You are correct, same in Canada.
i don't know how many times I've watched this video but there is something about it that I really like. I enjoy the rest but I like this one the best. keep on keepen on
Thanks man, I never figured a video with such a long monologue would do so well but here we are... lol
That’s a Beaver ultralight. Loved training students in them. I had the first 2 seater in Ontario and helped the factory complete a lot of the R&D via flying the pants off of it in my fight school. I too had my commercial pilots licence and then stumbled across the UL’s and feel in love with them. Enough about me. Great video really enjoyed it. Thx.
Yep, I know what you mean. I was finishing up my instrument training with a new instructor on cross countries. We landed for lunch and I told him I was having the plane refueled (3 most useless things to a pilot: fuel on the ground, airspace above you, runway behind you). He said don't bother, there's enough fuel. Being a 150hr or so pilot I listened to him. On the return flight we did some instrument approaches at another airport and got diverted a little more than planned. We we running on fumes on the return trip but we made it. I never flew with that instructor again (interestingly enough he was injured in an ultralight accident). I always follow my instincts in regards to safety regardless of how much experience a person has that is flying with me. Also when you're cranking and banking, due to many variable factors that could be present, you could induce an accelerated stall. To me it may be fun but seriously fatal.
You're right, cranking and banking should only be done at sufficient altitude to recover from an accelerated stall until you are intimately familiar with your aircraft. Once you know its limitation and your own, you can then decide what altitudes are safe to conduct such shenanigans.
Helmet laws have been a sore spot with me for decades. I am a life long motorcyclist and generally reject laws that infringe my personal freedoms. I usually wear a helmet for practical reasons, it is much easier on a rider to protect ones head/ears from wind buffeting so I wear a helmet for that kind of protection. Some people are safety conscious and take that to extremes, insisting ALL riders must wear helmets at all times. That's where I have a problem. I'd feel the same in the air of course. Safety is a matter that some see as a crusade, I prefer to make my own asessment, my own decisions in my own safety.
Mate you worry too much about what other people think. Remember that as a rule - people are much more interested in themselves than they are in you. Fly safe, and focus on youself and improving your game. Great vid.
Loved the ride around your cabbage patch Matt, with weather similar to todays here in the UK. The lockdown prevents us from flying GA except in certain circumstances so watching someone else flying is a pleasurable substitute. Are you anywhere near Gananoque? I know Canada's a big place but my wife and daughter did a tandem skydive from there and I got a champagne sunset ride in a Beaver in 2001 having met my daughter who was working at a summer camp in Vermont. My daughter had planned to go up the Twin Towers on 9/11. We had returned home a week earlier but her and her boyfriend were suffering from hangovers after a heavy session the previous evening and overslept, waking up to F16's over Central Park. They dodged a bullet ! Happy days, thanks for sharing your story, I'm looking forward to my first flight after the lockdown is over. Stay safe, James.
As an instructor and RUclipsr I think it's your duty to promote safe & fun flying and not be that "mentor" that's going to crush you for trying to be safe. Loved the way you handled your meeting with TC. And yes, as the old saying goes, "You always get more bees with honey than with vinegar". After seeing your videos I now would love to get an ultralight. Maybe one day. Cheers from the South-East of NB!!!
Thanks! Come on up for a visit sometime and I'll take you flying. :-)
@@mmatt Oh, that would be a bad and costly idea for me. lol . Would be worth the 4hrs drive for sure!
@@robertgallant6422 You're welcome to come anytime. :-)
“You’re gonna die if you fly an ultralight.” If you don’t fly an ultralight, on the other hand, you’ll live forever.
Thanks for the video. We all make the occasional mistake and if we share them we can learn from each other, instead of making all the mistakes ourselves. Nice work. Kolb among the wind towers.
I had a plane fly over my home last year at something 100 AGL...he did it 5 or 6 times while flying some kind of circuit...my home was a turn point...it is so unusual it gives one a feeling that it is as menacing as the scene from the Hitchcock movie, because one doesn't know the reason for this...
Oh man.....that picture Matt. I thought I was the only kid staring at that. I gave my copy of From The Ground Up to my 12 year old son who joined cadets just this year.
That picture was everything....even the sunset colours of the fabric. Awesome. :)
Sensitivity decreases with age, as experience increases. The result is confidence and decrease of needless risk. As a motorcycle rider, it is said " There are old riders and there are bold riders, but very few old bold riders"
The people at enforcement in Moncton are ok guys. Very reasonable in situations. Hats off to you for keeping your cool and making this segment an educational experience for your subscribers.
Though I am not a pilot, I like to watch ultralight videos and this was just as good as the others. Learning is always good.
Lot of work going into this video. I'm interested in buying one of these. Hanger fees near me are hundreds each month otherwise I'd already have one. Thanks for the GRES work you do.
I know of three ultralight pilots who survived wire strikes and a couple of more who died..... All of them had known the wire was there but a lapse of attention got them.... Never ever fly around lower than 50 ft, anywhere, not worth the risk for such a cheap thrill....
I was flying a Beaver 550 when I hooked a wire in the landing gear and flipped over and impacted the ground vertical nose down..... Fortunately I had massively reinforced the pilot cage, replacing those flimsy front down tubes with 3mm wall structural tubing and steel underneath, so that all I got was a smashed ankle. Without that protection I would have been hamburger.... Now have 3000+ hrs of safe flying.
Always within reach of somewhere to pop it down if i goes quiet........
hi matt just subscribed to you channel its totally brilliant and am now thinking about taking up flying ..yup im old 61 and very over weight but you have now given me something to aim for thanks very much.. i live in northern ireland and there is a small airfield not far from where i live so i may pop down and have a chat with them over the weekend
Awesome! That's a great idea! Most small airports have very friendly people, especially to those looking to learn how to fly. Good luck! :-)
Enjoy your videos. Glad to hear you will not do a sloppy pre-flight inspection or fail to adhere to the law as written. Your students look to you for information that might save their hide. It sounds to me like your mentor understands human nature as well as the skill of flying.
I really enjoy watching you fly around in Canada.
I totally agree with you brother. It's especially important with Ultralights to perform a thorough walk around, in some cases their more prone to malfunctioning based on the limited redundancy,, not certifiable parts engines Etc... My first plan was an Aerolight 103, powered with a Hirth F23 50HP engine. Most ultralights do not come equipped with a POH, so I decided to make my own. The engine did, however, come with a preflight checklist with about 25 things items check before each flight so I incorporated that into my preflight list I created. So... before each flight, there were about 75 things to check which took me 30 minutes to go through. Spending 30 minutes was worth my life. Unfortunately, a lot of folks that fly them simply want to get up and go. For me, it was all about taking the time, maintaining the vehicle, engine, and getting into the habit of pre-flighting I prepared for my private pilot cert. I also received 10 hours of training prior to performing simple crow hops. After putting on 15 hours on the engine without ever flying the pattern I took another 3 days, 8 hrs a day to fly at a local airport with plenty of room. On the 3rd day, I soloed. During the 3 days, I followed the old ultralight USUA ultralight training guidelines that used to be mandated here in the US. Any way I can stress enough the importance of adequate training, and pre-flighting, as the primary ingredients to safety no matter what your flying.
Where in Canada are you?
New Brunswick
My dream was to get a private pilot certification, but I was in a bad accident at the time and my injuries precluded me from doing so and never got back into it... So, I know the feeling of not being able to take my wings and get out there flying.. Life is short and opportunities are short lived.. But I will always love flying no matter how I do it... RC, Sim still a lot of fun...!
A good sim with VR is a great substitute for the real thing. Plus you can do all the dangerous stunts you'd never try in real life. ;-)
Amen
Hi Mmatt, when common sense returns and 'Karen' gets a kick (u no where), I look forward to subscribing again - (got cut off by YT?) for swearing (good common Australian dialogue)... Peace Love and Light to everyone who loves to "fly". Australia seems to have gone 'socialist with Communist tendencies'... "CLEAR PROP", except mine does not have a prop or jet. It is quiet!
I was surprised there was no retort about motorcycles during the part of the conversation involving "ultralights are dangerous". You already know and are willing to assume all those risks, and being on the ground with varying road conditions and traffic has a lot more hazards too.
They were nice guys just doing their job. I had no need to be snarky with them. They don't write the law, they just enforce it.
"Ultralights are scary, you're gonna die" basically the talk a "real pilot" gave me about paramotors. Still alive.
BRS Parachute
Thrill rides, freedom of flight.
People get killed walking across the street so my guess is your just not educated on these rather stereotype stigmatized.
Like the cancer patient taking Narcotics for pain “drug addicts” dig a little deeper and you can find good information and safe ultralights along with why people even fly them.
Ps
I’m no expert just what I’ve learned from air expos and reading.
Mr C. are you saying he isn't a "real" pilot.
wkdravenna -you obviously did not read and rushed to judgement! It makes me laugh! I was commenting on your post and what you said! Never said anything about “REAL PILOT” that was your post 😂
I asked a question: BRS
@@CaptainCurt07 Are you Mr.C ?
wkdravenna --your comments was directed to me actually, don’t be a troll that’s not cool
So one message is-everyone sets an example for someone else. Your mentor sets one with you, and others. You set one with your peers...and everyone who watches you on RUclips. Thanks for upping the bar. By example. That’s leadership.
So enjoying your videos, in which I just started watching.
In the seventies I started my flying lessons at the old flying club in Moncton. I soloed in 11 hrs and logged 30 hrs. Well I had a bank loan at the time and going to high school I soon ran out of cash and paying back my loan at a parting job. So thats my story. Do you require a licence to fly the plane you’re using for your RUclips. At my age, would love to try it again.
Yes, anything that flies in Canada requires either a permit or licence. You can get an ultralight permit fairly easily though if you can find an instructor.
Wow mmatt, Sounds like we chewed the same dirt. Great video. I am "Subscribed" !
Awesome, glad to have you aboard! :-)
I hope your outcome was the same...
After several touch and go's, I was on final and cleared to land when I saw a plane descending and looked like he was going to land on the other end of the runway. I called tower and informed them "I got a "Bogey" at my 12 O Clock". Tower immediately informed me to make a right hand turn and gave me a vector outbound. I complied and stated to "get that guys N#" ! He did not land and continued through the "Controlled" airspace without two way communication. In other words...He busted the airspace without permission from ATC and continues to fly another 20 miles to the next airport and landed. I headed back toward my home airport and stated "I had enough fun and requested a "Full Stop Landing". Permission granted. Next day I was called into the tower to meet the guy who almost caused a near miss. I informed them I was not there to lower the gavel down on anyone, but a good pilot is always learning and It is not up to me what action the FAA will take. I don't know what happen to the guy but I never heard from him again.
I love the beaver design so much. It's like a bushplane style ultralight. But I can't help but picture a flying jetski the way the fairing looks. They should make one that looks like the Zenith 701...that would be badass.
I agree.... on both points. :-)
This attitude from the certified aircraft world against ultralights has been around since I have been flying. Unfortunately this attitude is what is killing aviation. Certified aircraft are dead, they are so expensive that the average person cannot afford it, which in turn makes it even more expensive. I also do not understand why I should fly a fifty year old antique that costs a fortune when I can fly a new aircraft which will outperform these antiques in every way.
Some of the heat should be coming off the ultralight community as most of the aviation community shifts their hate to UAS operators :-(
I'm a wanna be pilot. Because of the attitude in some snobby quarters , I ne er could afford a plane or a good ground school. So at 75 I fly a drone!!! Like a lot of guys when I was younger and had a family to support, the snobs made it out of reach. But without a boring story , I got my licks in washing old planes and fixing radios. God bless you guys who can own a craft! 😎👍
The only "dangerous" ultralight is one that's being flown by someone who can't be bothered to at least study the same materials licensed pilots do. Weather, ground school, navigation, aerodynamics, avionics, powerplants, regs, and safety. At least some of the afore mentioned. Very sorry to hear you got reported, but glad it was all sorted, in the end. Thanks for sharing this with us. Oh, and uh, do watch those props, when walking close to aircraft. Eh? LOL ;)
Love it. Brings back memories. Do you carry oxygen on your ultra lite?
Nope. I rarely fly high enough to justify the added weight.
Beautiful landing, I see so many others drifting all over the runway, and bouncing repeatedly upon touching down. I'm wondering if the excessive bouncing is due to not having as flexible landing gear as your plane has. Does that sound reasonable?
It just comes down to practice and experience. I find most people hate practicing the take off and landing. They say doing circuits is boring. Those are the people you'll see bouncing and drifting all over the place. Anyone can land any plane smoothly and with full control - but it takes practice and determination to get it right.
I really enjoyed your video and I've shared the link to it with my aeroclub (angelesflying.com)! May I ask about your radio, intercom, headset and helmet...what are you using? In our aeroclub we need to find a good combination to use in the club's Quicksilver MXL II's with the screaming Rotax 582 overhead. Personally I'm using an old JRC JPH-500 radio (no longer made), a DRE-201 intercom (no longer made), Clarity Aloft Classic headset (in-ear buds), and a Rollbar Icaro helmet...and it all works great for me and other pilots say they hear me clearly. So I'm searching for recommended combinations of radio and intercom and then over-the-ear headsets and full-face helmets if possible.
Thank you!
I have found that the combination of a good mic muff with leather pouch and a high quality intercom designed for open cockpits works best for UL flying. I use the Oregon MicMuff products on my BRG headset and a Flight Tech intercom. As for my helmet, it's simply a BMX bike helmet from WalMart to which I bolted the components of my headset. Cheap, yet effective. :-)
@@mmatt Thanks so much for your feedback. Yes, I've used the same Oregon MicMuff but even with that, the direct wind and screaming 582 makes communication difficult in the Quicksilver. Anyway I will definitely look into the BRG headset and Flight Tech Intercom combination. Hahaha, I've also used modified bike helmets in the past and they work pretty good. Have a great day and fly safe.
What would be 2 or 3 US legal (meaning 255 lbs with 5 gallon tank) ultralight you would recommend for the beginning pilot, but yet would still be somewhat satisfying to fly when one gains more experience and skills?
I think what it takes to become a "sport pilot" in the u.s. is basically what you guys have to have to fly even the lighter single-seat ultralights. Yes?
I've never flown any of the planes I'm about to list but they are the ones I'd be considering if I was limited to the US UL restrictions:
- Aerolite 103
- Folb Firefly
- Quicksilver MXL
- TEAM MiniMax 103
And yes, a licence or permit is required to fly any type and/or size of aircraft in Canada.
@@mmatt Thanks for your time. Appreciate the guidance.
first video of yours ive seen. looks like a lot of fun
If God wanted us to defy gravity, he would have given us wings.
I suppose you don't drive...? For if God had wanted us to drive, He would have given us wheels... :-P
I was joking.
thanks for bringing me on this flight as a former ppg pilot and skydiver I miss flying
Great video & story! I'm glad this popped up in my recommendations. Subbed and dinged the bell. Happy to have found a Canadian ultralight pilot :)
Awesome! Thanks! :-)
Always do a PROPER walkaround/preflight!
My cables are always tight, fabric is clean and not damaged. Fuel free of contaminants, and nav/comm system is 100% operational.
Mechanical equipment is tight and proper.
Ultralights have excellent glide ratios to forward momentum.
Two investigators for a ‘helmet’ infraction. Unreal. Waste of resources.
So, when I'm looking up at Skydiving Business plane, flying right over Shelton Washington Wal-Mart parking lot, I can see an count rivets heads holding metal sheets together on plane, Might Be Too Low in its flight path?
Not if he's in the process of taking off or landing. There is no minimum altitude for that.
mmatt some times he's really low over parking lot, then at times he's really high is similar position to landing?
I appreciated, just love your video.
Thumbnail: BUSTED
Actual: politely discussed flying with police and agreed to wear a helmet. Matter closed.
...so there is a lot about not wearing your helmet but the description of the video says "low level flying." When did you talk about the low level flying? I listened to basically the whole thing and then skipped through it again. When video titles don't match the content then I do not subscribe to those channels.
Maybe I forgot to mention that in the video, if so, sorry about that. If you read the video description though, you'll see that I was originally reported for low-level flying but that accusation was unfounded. The enforcement agents watched all my videos and couldn't find any examples of illegal low-level flying but they did notice that I wasn't wearing a helmet so that's why I got in trouble.
@@mmatt Ah! Isn't the 1000ft rule for residential area's and structures any case? I mean crop dusters fly low all the time even if they are not necessarily spraying in that instance.
@@rsbrehm In Canada, we have 2 rules with regards to minimum altitudes:
- when we are over populated areas, we must remain within gliding distance of a safe landing spot, and remain 1000' over any obstacle that is within 2000'.
- when we are over non-populated areas, we must remain 500' away from any person, vehicle, or structure.
We may disregard either of those rules however for the purposes of taking off or landing, aerial application, police work, and a few others. So those crop dusters are probably not breaking any laws so long as they are that low for the purpose of carrying out their job.
Here is the full text if you're interested:
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-433/page-56.html
@@mmatt nice. I'm not as familiar as with FAR through the FAA but it sounds uniform.
What type of helmet and camera do you have on helmet? Los great
I run Contour+ action cams
I know this video is a year old, but how can they fine you for being less than 500' feet from any vehicle? How can they physically show the proof that you were less than 500' ? The court system wants 100% solid proof to be able to convict. Do you carry a Lazer measurement tool or a tape measure?
Useful information here. Thanks.
What radio do you use for communications with ATC
whats the difference between a basic and advanced ultralight? ive never heard of these terms before
www.tinyurl.com/afafaq
That will probably answer all your questions about Canadian Ultralights.
@@mmatt thanks
@ 15:28 - AWESOME Edit ! .... Video “Liked” .
nice low level flying.what model are you flying