Anyone here fly ultralights?

[fuzzybabybunny]

This Popular Mechanics article is what got me interested.

$30,000 isn't bad for something that you can fly in.

Anyone here fly ultralights? How safe are they?

The article discusses five ultralights, and it looks like the Powrachute Pegasus is the most safe because it's basically a flying parachute. I'd hazard that the Mosquito XE helicopter is the least safe if something were to go wrong...

The Air Creation GTE Trek seems like an in-between. If something were to go wrong could it hang glide to safety?

Ultralight flight just seems like so much fun. I'm can't help but go through the picture taking opportunities if I had something like this.

EDIT: Geez, this is only $17K.

 

[compnovice]

I remember seeing a Discovery program a few years back saying that you can get ultralight knock-down kits for $5000-10,000...

Get one now, and spend a few months in building that thing. You will surely find if you are a good mechanic

 

[Old Hippie]

I went for a ride in one of these things @ five years ago, down in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. When I came home, I did a lotta research...buying books, visiting clubs. Too rich for my blood.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I knew someone who killed themselves in one.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Great way to commute - no traffic jams

 

[Hammerhead]

I saw one flying overhead when I was out surfing one time. It's the weirdest thing.

 

[skyking]

One of my instructors got started into aviation in ultralights, and he had some great stories to tell. It sounded like a great deal of fun. Short of gliders, it is the most pure form of flying for the fun of it.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: compnovice
I remember seeing a Discovery program a few years back saying that you can get ultralight knock-down kits for $5000-10,000...

Get one now, and spend a few months in building that thing. You will surely find if you are a good mechanic

A big bag of useless looking parts at the end of construction, FTL.

 

[steppinthrax]

For the price of some of those you probably could save some money building one yourself. I mean some of them look more/less like a go-kart with wings.

 

[rudder]

For 15K you can find a great used X-Air.

Almost one step above an ultralight. These are considered sport light aircraft. I was never a fan of this type of aircraft but for 3 gallons of auto fuel per hour versus 6 gallons of avgas... these are a lot cheaper to fly. Plus you can spend $300 and be certified to do your own maintainence on these. You can't do that with a Cessna.

They do have limitations though... they are slow and the range is limited. Also, if it is real windy I can always go up in the trusty Cessna when all the ultralight pilots are grounded.