Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: Any of you guys fly? I'm thinking about buying an ultralight

  1. #1
    Senior Member lancruza's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    King, NC
    Posts
    523

    Any of you guys fly? I'm thinking about buying an ultralight

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  2. #2
    Inactive
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    AmishLand, PA.
    Posts
    7,526
    yes levan, i do.
    2019-04-03_084528.jpg

  3. #3
    Senior Member Dobe1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Alexandria VA
    Posts
    198

  4. #4
    Senior Member 34nineteen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Kolache Factory
    Posts
    4,424
    I'd been wanting to get my pilots license for YEARS now and am getting to a point where I may just do it.

    But, what to with it once I get it? I'd been budgeting about $7-10K to get the license, but then again that amount of money buys a lot of airline tickets.

    It seems like that new "Light Sport" license may be a better way to go for practicality-wise for me... but my analogy is such.... "why spend $1500 for a Blast, when an XB is about $1000 more all day long?"

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Central Soviet state of new jersey.
    Posts
    2,674
    Dobe, priceless !

    Yes, though I haven't done it in years, I can still fly but unlike!e lunatic, I am not licensed.

    If I were going to get into it now, I'd probably buy a gyro copter, good speed, pretty safe, and a lot of fun.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
    Posts
    49
    Quote Originally Posted by lancruza View Post
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    I've owned two of them, an RX Beaver on amphib Full Lotus floats and a Ridgerunner on straight aluminum floats. Great flying fun without all the regulations, at least in Canada. I would suggest that before you buy, you get some seat time in one to see if it's for you and line up an instructor. Many flight schools provide introductory flights. And keep in mind that although they are not regulated as much as other planes you do have to learn how to fly and more importantly how to land! Ultralights provide the flying experience safely and economically with some restrictions of course. I personally loved sightseeing from about 500 feet, something you only get in other aircraft as you are climbing to or descending from altitudes where you don't even have the sensation of height! Good luck and happy landings!

  7. #7
    Senior Member lancruza's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    King, NC
    Posts
    523
    John....you are the man! I was a student pilot trying for my private pilots license about 10 years ago. I was getting close to my to solo flight. One day my daughter calls me and says, "let's go grab a bite to eat tonight." When we met for supper she told me that she thought she was about to be proposed to. She was. He asked me, then he asked her. It was a great decision. He's a great son in-law. Now I have two great grandkids. BUT......there went my flying lessons(wedding to pay for). It was $149/hr wet at the time. It's $209/hr now. I would love to go the private pilot route, but it probably ain't gonna happen. Priorities have changed. I just want to get up in the sky and putt around a little. So, I've been looking at ultralights. Here's the one I like the best so far... CGS Hawk - enclosed cab - engine options like Hirth and Rotax.

    Thanks mosquito. Now I have a couple more aircraft to go and research. Great ideas on seat time and definitely on instruction. We'll see what happens. I'm in research mode now. I've never been an impulse buyer. I can't afford to be. Fun, fun, fun.

    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by lancruza; 04-06-2019 at 11:23 AM.

  8. #8
    Senior Member lancruza's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    King, NC
    Posts
    523
    Quote Originally Posted by 34nineteen View Post
    I'd been wanting to get my pilots license for YEARS now and am getting to a point where I may just do it.

    But, what to with it once I get it? I'd been budgeting about $7-10K to get the license, but then again that amount of money buys a lot of airline tickets.

    It seems like that new "Light Sport" license may be a better way to go for practicality-wise for me... but my analogy is such.... "why spend $1500 for a Blast, when an XB is about $1000 more all day long?"
    I believe your logic is sound. The LSA license is definitely less expensive to obtain than a PPL, but it's still expensive. I'm looking at going the ultralight route for multiple reasons. According to FAR103, no license is required to fly an ultralight. Another reason is that I can perform my own maintenance and work on my own aircraft, which would save a ton of money. There are limitations with flying an ultralight, but none of those bother me, for what I want to do. I believe the most cost effective way to get into aviation is with an ultralight. If I start there and then want to do more, I would probably go for the LSA license next. One step at a time for me. Lot's of ultralights around at reasonable prices. I'm trying to find a trainer here in my neck of the woods that I can trust and get some good instruction from. I luved flying in the Cessna 172 in flight school. I'm hoping I can get my flying fix by trying ultralights. I've been looking at everything from trike type powered parachutes, backpack paragliders, and ultralights. Lots of different options. Options are good.

    I say go for it. There's nothing like two wheels. And there's nothing like being in the air. Here's a good read that will give you some ideas on cost. It ain't cheap, but it's doable. Have fun in whatever you do. -

    http://sportpilottraining.sportaviat.../airplane-lsa/

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Central Soviet state of new jersey.
    Posts
    2,674
    Don't forget, you can also build your own plane and although you would have to get a pilot's license, you could do all the annuals yourself, just make sure you know what your doing and that you indeed do it.

  10. #10
    Senior Member 34nineteen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Kolache Factory
    Posts
    4,424
    Damn lancruza! I’m dying to see what you do!



Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •