Microlight Lessons

jimmurt

Hi,

I was thinking of getting flying lessons in a small aircraft (Microlight).

I'm from Carlow so was thinking of checking out Kikenny airfiled. Has anyone ever flown down there and if so what is it like?

Also any advice from people who fly Microlights would be appreciated. Has long does it usually take to get a PPL?

Thanks,
Jim.

xflyer

Unless someone here can help, I suggest you go to http://www.flyinginireland.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=23 forum where they have a Microlight section and several of the contributors are active microlighters.

jimmurt

xflyer wrote: »

Unless someone here can help, I suggest you go to http://www.flyinginireland.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=23 forum where they have a Microlight section and several of the contributors are active microlighters.

Thanks, I'll have a look there.

ambasite

On a slight tangent I know but this book is well worth a read. 'Propellerhead' by Antony Woodward, the story of a guy from England learning to fly microlights, it's a great story. Best of luck with your endeavours.

bladeruner

Not a particularly informative reply but if you have ever flown a regular aircraft then you will crap urself when u get airborne in the microlight.
Reversed controls compared to a regular aircraft and feeling every buffet from the wind.....
Only did 1 lesson...pretty cool though.
Enjoy

nosedive

....not if you try the Samba in Kikenny. Sure, it's lighter than an aeroplane but much the same cruise speed, better power to weight, better glide ratio and more likely better visibility. All the aeroplane drivers think of 20 year old flexwings when they think of microlights.

Modern microlights can match a spam can for probably half the cost. They're the future of private leisure flying!

jimmurt

I read a few good reviews on Propellerhead so I've ordered it (€6 in all ).

I like the look of the Samba XXL. Loks like it would be good craic to learn in.

jmayo

nosedive wrote: »

....not if you try the Samba in Kikenny. Sure, it's lighter than an aeroplane but much the same cruise speed, better power to weight, better glide ratio and more likely better visibility. All the aeroplane drivers think of 20 year old flexwings when they think of microlights.

Modern microlights can match a spam can for probably half the cost. They're the future of private leisure flying!

This is where it gets confusing. AFAIK the samba is an ultralight not technically a microlight but the whole thing gets comfusing with 3 axis microlights and utltralights.

OP, do you want to fly something that looks like a normal small plane i.e. proper enclosed cockpit and fixed wings or would you mind flying a flexwing which is something with hang glider type wings, hanglider type controls and an open cockpit ?

Anyway try these guys in Kilkenny. You oculd also try the gliding down there as well.

http://www.irishaerosports.com/

For ultralights (which do have the proper cockpit and fixed wings) there is also a flight school in Abbeyshrule which may not be that convenient.
You would have to drive up through Portlaoise, Tullamore, etc.

Anyway try this site for more info...

http://www.nmai.ie/

jimmurt

jmayo wrote: »

This is where it gets confusing. AFAIK the samba is an ultralight not technically a microlight but the whole thing gets comfusing with 3 axis microlights and utltralights.

OP, do you want to fly something that looks like a normal small plane i.e. proper enclosed cockpit and fixed wings or would you mind flying a flexwing which is something with hang glider type wings, hanglider type controls and an open cockpit ?

Anyway try these guys in Kilkenny. You oculd also try the gliding down there as well.

http://www.irishaerosports.com/

For ultralights (which do have the proper cockpit and fixed wings) there is also a flight school in Abbeyshrule which may not be that convenient.
You would have to drive up through Portlaoise, Tullamore, etc.

Anyway try this site for more info...

http://www.nmai.ie/

Yeah, the fixed wing Samba is what I'd be interested in.
Thanks for the advice. I look these guys up. In terms of of being able to afford this. How long do you have to be flying before you can fly solo and/or get your PPL.

jmayo

jimmurt wrote: »

Yeah, the fixed wing Samba is what I'd be interested in.
Thanks for the advice. I look these guys up. In terms of of being able to afford this. How long do you have to be flying before you can fly solo and/or get your PPL.

Yeah in Irish weather is it is nice to be inside a cockpit, particularly if the heater is up to scratch.

How long is a peice of string ?
One thing I would advise is try and fly regularly and even better if you could put in chunk of time in one go.
Otherwise you run the risk of covering the same stuff time and again, because you have forgotten some of it and you are rusty, since the last time you flew.
Irish weather doesn't help in this regard.
Maybe playing on flight sim many help, but it is never the same as sitting your ar** in an aircraft and feeling the kick form a wind gust or the kick of a thermal.

Some people go solo after 5 hours, some after 25 hours.
I think you should be aiming for 10 to 15.
It depends on a person's apptitude, how good the instructors are, the duration between flights amongst other things.
I have seen people on intensive courses go solo in a few days, whereas others takes many hours over months.

A couple of points to remember, apptitude is not necessarily related to intelligence or rather intellectual capability.
I have seen some very smart people who just do not grasp certain things.

If you have problem with an instructor, try and raise it with someone in charge as it is your probably hard earned money and it can sadly put people off flying altogether.
Never ever pay big lumpsums up front for any aviation training.
Even though you might not get bulk dicsounts with pay as you go methods, you don't run the risk of being left high and dry with no money and no training.

Anyway according to IAA for PPL (M) you need following:
class II medical
and

minimum of 30 hours total flight time must be obtained, which must include 10 hours of solo time and the required qualifying solo cross country flight. (Note: Microlight pilots are not required to undergo the 5 hours of instrument / radio navigation training required by conventional aeroplane pilots.)

Also

Ground training covers airframe and engine technical knowledge, aircraft performance and ‘weight & balance', meteorology (weather), navigation theory and flight planning, air law (Rules of the Air), radio communications (including Air Traffic Control procedures) and Human Performance & Limitations (the medical, physical and psychological aspects of flying).

Sound like PP (A) but without the extra 15 hours and instrument.

See link
http://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=141&n=178

tippilot

jmayo wrote: »

This is where it gets confusing. AFAIK the samba is an ultralight not technically a microlight but the whole thing gets comfusing with 3 axis microlights and utltralights.

OP, do you want to fly something that looks like a normal small plane i.e. proper enclosed cockpit and fixed wings or would you mind flying a flexwing which is something with hang glider type wings, hanglider type controls and an open cockpit ?

Anyway try these guys in Kilkenny. You oculd also try the gliding down there as well.

http://www.irishaerosports.com/

For ultralights (which do have the proper cockpit and fixed wings) there is also a flight school in Abbeyshrule which may not be that convenient.
You would have to drive up through Portlaoise, Tullamore, etc.

Anyway try this site for more info...

http://www.nmai.ie/

Every aircraft with a MTOW of less than 450kg is considered a microlight, and is covered by the PPL(M) syllabus. The phrase "ultralight" is not in use, from either a regulatory point of view or among flyers.

The only differentiation made between microlight sub types is whether they are flex wing, or three axis(Samba).

jmayo

tippilot wrote: »

Every aircraft with a MTOW of less than 450kg is considered a microlight, and is covered by the PPL(M) syllabus. The phrase "ultralight" is not in use, from either a regulatory point of view or among flyers.

The only differentiation made between microlight sub types is whether they are flex wing, or three axis(Samba).

My mistake, I was going on the manufacturers websites, some clubs and also probably getting confused on US definitions which appears to use ultralight where microlights would be the term in this neck of the woods.
I know there is one license in these parts.