Microlight Planes

DownTheSwanny

Saw those at Bray this year.
Anyone any information on them or where they fly from?

Saruman

I flew one at an airfield near Kilkenny

nosedive

It depends on the type of flying you're after OP.

There are flexwing microlights and 3-axis microlights.

Check out nmai.ie and bmaa.org I believe there's flexwing and 3 axis training in Kilkenny.

You can also check out ultraflight.ie who train students on some of the most modern microlights available - and don't listen to snobbery from GA pilots who tell you they fly 'proper' planes like 40 year old Cessna 172s and 50 year old Pipers (unless it's a Cub!). These machines will go just as far, almost just as fast on a fraction of the fuel and maintenance bills.

Go fly!

tippilot

Ultraflight in Abbeyshrule and Irish Aerosports in Kilkenny.

They both operate three axis microlights, which are basically just like any light aircraft but fall into the microlight category by their weight class- 450kg Max take off weight.

Irish Aerosports also train on Flex wing microlights, which is the type that of aircraft that were in Bray.

http://nmai.forumm.biz/the-gallery-f10/bray-air-show-and-the-nmai-2010-t798.htm

If you are thinking about having a go yourself, either Irish Aerosports or Ultraflight are a very good place to look. Vincent in Kilkenny and Mattie in Abbeyshrule are both top blokes.

Saruman

Yeah it was Vincent in Kilkenny that I used. He showed me his fixed wing which looked just like a small plane and also some older ones he had in his hanger.

Holybejaysus

I have a question regarding ultralights. Can you log the time in them for hour building? Say you wanted to get to 1000 hours fast, would those hours be recognized by the JAA on an ultralight?

Cessna_Pilot

Holybejaysus wrote: »

I have a question regarding ultralights. Can you log the time in them for hour building? Say you wanted to get to 1000 hours fast, would those hours be recognized by the JAA on an ultralight?

Just curious but why would anyone need 1000 hours fast on an ultralight, or SEP?

Holybejaysus

Cessna_Pilot wrote: »

Just curious but why would anyone need 1000 hours fast on an ultralight, or SEP?

Let's say you wanted to have 1000 hours on your c.v. when applying for a job, or even if you wanted to do the instructors rating and had to get to 250 hours. (I think?) I know there isn't a market for SEP's here, but suppose there was. Would ultralight hours be counted for time building?

tippilot

Short answer is no.

One thing you could look into: Ultraflight have a Class A Samba, ie >450kg MTOW. You might be able to get a deal on a block of hours with them.

Best route for an hour builder is without doubt to get the FAA licence issued and head Stateside.

DownTheSwanny

Just logged in after a long long absence. I researched this at length and talked to many people. Looked at many websites and got in touch with some people.
I got in touch with a guy through the NMAI website forum and we talked at length regarding the whole training issue and the different types of microlight. He offered to take me for a flight and we arranged to meet at a small grass airfield only a few miles from my home. He flew down from Donegal in his plane, to put it mildly I was blown away ! We flew to the Aran Islands, up to another strip in Mayo and back home, I was hooked !
His advice to me was invaluable, he advised me strongly to do all my training to the British standard up in the north, and get a British licence. I now know that he was 100% correct with this advice, the time to get a licence, the cost, the hours required, the superior British system and the professional approach by the northern schools compared to the southern ones makes it a no brainer.
The school I used was Kernan Aviation outside Portadown and I really recommend anyone even considering learning to use them. I had my licence in 30 hours and have flown a bit over 100 hours since then in a microlight aeroplane I bought for €8000.
Great fun altogether.

nosedive

Glad to hear there's another microligther in our midst - it's something I can't wait to get back into.

What I don't understand is this perception that training in Ireland is so miserable. I don't get what you're saying about the advantages of training in the north - your biggest point seems to be that you got your licence in 30 hours - you can do that here.

Training here also means you don't have to go through the hoops of getting permission from the IAA to operate in Ireland, but I'm sure you've already done that haven't you..........

It seems to me there's a band of people who trained up north and are pushing people towards this option - you got one man's opinion and you lapped it up.

happy_head

Anyone know off hand how easy a PPL-A holder could get involved and get flying one of these? ie. will my PPL-A automatically allow me to fly after a check out ride or is it a totally different ballgame that involves separate training? Also, I have an uncle who owns quite a large field within the DUB CTA nearly under the approach path for RWY 28 about 4 miles from threshold, If i were to get "hooked" on flying these and ended up buying one does anyone reckon i could take off and land using this field (i'd get out of the CTA as soon as im off the ground)?

triocha

happy_head wrote: »

Anyone know off hand how easy a PPL-A holder could get involved and get flying one of these? ie. will my PPL-A automatically allow me to fly after a check out ride or is it a totally different ballgame that involves separate training? Also, I have an uncle who owns quite a large field within the DUB CTA nearly under the approach path for RWY 28 about 4 miles from threshold, If i were to get "hooked" on flying these and ended up buying one does anyone reckon i could take off and land using this field (i'd get out of the CTA as soon as im off the ground)?

If its a UK CAA issued EASA PPL then you can fly 3-axis mircolights on your SEP(A) rating tomorrow!
However, if your licence is IAA, then you have to do a 5 hour course and a test!!!!!

happy_head

triocha wrote: »

If its a UK CAA issued EASA PPL then you can fly 3-axis mircolights on your SEP(A) rating tomorrow!
However, if your licence is IAA, then you have to do a 5 hour course and a test!!!!!

Thanks for the reply triocha, it's an IAA PPL, but 5 hour course isnt too bad. I will definately be having a shot of it! Does the same rule apply for flexwing microlights?

DownTheSwanny

nosedive wrote: »

Glad to hear there's another microligther in our midst - it's something I can't wait to get back into.

What I don't understand is this perception that training in Ireland is so miserable. I don't get what you're saying about the advantages of training in the north - your biggest point seems to be that you got your licence in 30 hours - you can do that here.

Training here also means you don't have to go through the hoops of getting permission from the IAA to operate in Ireland, but I'm sure you've already done that haven't you..........

It seems to me there's a band of people who trained up north and are pushing people towards this option - you got one man's opinion and you lapped it up.

Its not a perception i'm afraid. Seems the Irish schools are out to rip the arse out of it and use students as a cash cow, typical rip off Ireland mentality. I have met would be pilots who have done tons of hours in southern schools and no sign of solo flight, yet when they switch to the northern schools it seems to come together for them, coincidence?, I don't think so.
I have found that most pilots get their licenses in the northern schools and that says something about the training they get and also tells me that the training in the south is sub standard or a rip off, it certainly has got that reputation amongst the microlighting guys.
I didn't take one mans opinion, I researched it, talked to many before making my decision where to train, the fact it was a northern school I trained at was a result of my thorough research and for what its worth I believe that I was 100% correct.
My advice to anyone is to go to the north to train, they wont regret it and they will have the best chance to get their license in a realistic time frame at a cost that can be budgeted for.
And yes, the IAA have given me an Irish license, seems that they even see the superiority of the UK system when they issue a license on the back of a proper license, I mean they dont even have a syllabus for microlight training in the south, they use the British one !

Xpro

I was in abbyshrule myself and few weeks ago i stopped in for a cup of tea and i was admiring those little sambas. Very nice plane, especialy the carbon fiber structure. I did ask about flying one and nobody said i would need to do 5 hours and a test to fly one? Can someone please give me more details about this? I tough PPL allows you to fly microlights, but it is vice versa for NPPL holders?
Regards,

pclancy

Anyone flown a Piper/Czech Sport or a Tecnam Sierra?

Want.

Stovepipe

The Czech Sportscruiser is a pleasant aircraft to fly, with good handling, an excellent view from the cockpit and low fuel consumption, so it's not too hard on the pocket. the low wing tecnam is equally pleasant to fly but it's cockpit is more framed so it has a slightly lesser view. both have good low-speed handling. the tecnam has a bit of a reputation for it's behaviour in a crosswind landing.Both are worth a try.

regards
Stovepipe

Mr Benevolent

DownTheSwanny wrote: »

Just logged in after a long long absence. I researched this at length and talked to many people. Looked at many websites and got in touch with some people.
I got in touch with a guy through the NMAI website forum and we talked at length regarding the whole training issue and the different types of microlight. He offered to take me for a flight and we arranged to meet at a small grass airfield only a few miles from my home. He flew down from Donegal in his plane, to put it mildly I was blown away ! We flew to the Aran Islands, up to another strip in Mayo and back home, I was hooked !
His advice to me was invaluable, he advised me strongly to do all my training to the British standard up in the north, and get a British licence. I now know that he was 100% correct with this advice, the time to get a licence, the cost, the hours required, the superior British system and the professional approach by the northern schools compared to the southern ones makes it a no brainer.
The school I used was Kernan Aviation outside Portadown and I really recommend anyone even considering learning to use them. I had my licence in 30 hours and have flown a bit over 100 hours since then in a microlight aeroplane I bought for €8000.
Great fun altogether.

Where did you base your microlight? How much is it costing (roughly) to run per year?