I am about to start my journey to learn to fly a fixed wing ultra light here in the UK. The regulations are a bit stricter to pilot one of these. You need to do min 25 hours training, plus get a medical certificate (self declaration) from the CAA. This will get you the NPPL licence which is enough for me. I just want to fly around for fun, which ultralights/microlights offers in bucket loads😊. Also UK has increased the MTOM for aircraft to 600Kg! Plenty of choice now! I’d love one of those TL Streams!
Congrats! Yeah, regulations really differ, but glad they increased the motm! I'm doing a research about flight design CT series, have you checked them? looks interesting to me.
Yup, my open cockpit kolb is way more fun than any cessna or Cherokee I USED to spend a fortune flying. Building your own airstrip on some desert land makes it even better
New rules in europe ups the limit for UL from 472 kg to 600 kg. A very usefull upgrade and that makes it possible to carry both a passenger and fuel. At 472 kg we always had to make that choise. I had to do my training with only 15 liters of gasoline in the tank. A lot of refuling and always on the edge. New rules make training much safer when you don't have to fly on fumes.
I fly the best-selling UL in Germany the Comco IKarus C42b and I am very satisfied.I travel through Europe at 91 knots,4,2 Gallonen Super Benzin/h from Gas Station and at the lowest possible cost. 👍
I have little knowledge around ultralights, so all very interesting, thanks. I did have one flight in a trike while getting my Hangglider licence, but that scared the pants off me tbh.
Whats your opinion on ultralights? Making this video I understood how different US and EU are in terms of aviation regulations, so would love to hear both sides.
I fly LSA myself, and I honestly do not understand why this is such a mystery? First, size is relative. Why are some watches so expensive? A few watches will surpass the value of the Ion A5, but will still fit in its glovebox (of it has any). I am not into watches and think it is weird that they cost so much. The reasons are low production volume, meaning that you will not have a huge factory with lots of robots building airplanes. They are close to handbuilt one by one. Second, it still has to be built to strict standards. You can be a bit sloppy putting a car together, but not a plane. The engine and the avionics that goes into the plane is also very, very expensive. The plane itself, the engine, the avionics and all the little pieces (nuts, bolts, wires etc.) usually is about 1/4 each. All of these are also made in low numbers and to high speficications. The screen in the middle of the cockpit of the A4 is an Garmin G3X. The base version for certified aircraft beings at about 10k USD. But you need extra gauges for redundancy. If we are talking about the certified version, then the cost of having it certified is also very, very high. The engine has to be certified, all the avionics have to be certified, and the plane itself has to be certified. The cost of this has to be paid for by the builders, and then next by the owners. Again, low volume means very high cost. And even if it isn't certified, then the maker themselves has to vouch for the safety. Wich still means testing, testing and more testing. Wich costs. Yeah, flying can be done cheap. But the cheaper it is, the more of a test pilot you'll have to be. Flying will never, ever be cheap. And the reason is simply that almost everything that can go wrong in the air has a relatively high chance of killing everyone onboard, innocent bystanders on the ground, and getting the maker of whatever went wrong, sued from now and to eternity.
I agree with @Hamperokken. Icon, to my undersanding, tries to come to the aviation market but does it like a tech startup haha. Nevertheless, great plane, great performance and wide application. But id rather think of pipistrel, tecnam or FD when in search for a new lsa, than Icon.
Because this is a marketing product for people who don’t know what to do with their money. One of the worst aircraft in history, considering its price.
Originally I think the icon was supposed to be $150k they took non refundable deposits then doubled the price alot of people refused to buy them and can't get their deposits back from this fraud and I believe alot of people don't want to deal with a company like that and you have to pay for their training and some other stuff
I definitely agree on plastic planes, if thats how you call those DIY things people design and weld/glue on their backyards haha. For the ultralights, i saw accidents statistics in EU, where these are very popular. Almost no fatalities, thanks to BRS. But as i said in the video, there is a big difference between some extra cheap ultralights, and proper, certified manufacturers. Can't rely on 15k plane.
@@bigmetalbirds well I am from Austria and this year 2023 we had incredible high accidents in aviation. And 95% were Ultralight planes. And almost Everytime it’s the poor airmanship. Here in Europe a monkey is allowed to fly those planes. Most UL Pilots only have the BFZ radio license which is nothing. They don’t follow rules, they don’t know where they are in the aerodrome circuit? They fly and land everywhere! I have the French mountain rating which costs 7-8000 euro. For my plane it’s mandatory. You learn about weather in the mountains, possible approaches and when and how to stop an approach on a mountain field. You do 50 landings at different altiports and altisurfaces! You have praxis and Theorie and a final test. And I made more than 1800 Taildragger landings and 80% STOL shortfield. But I learned so much from the French and Italien mountain instructors. And then came the UL pilots with their planes: They need NOTHING!!! And can land everywhere even on the dangerous altisurfaces. They don’t follow the rules and are a risk for all other pilots. They fly like rude cowboys over nearby houses and bring people to stand up against aviation. Ultralight or microlight planes are a real threat to aviation! Of course there are super trained and well prepared pilots that are way better than any Cessna pilot on this planet. But from my 15 year experience of really intense flying (4-500 hours a year) when I hear that there are UL planes in the air I avoid those fields or if really nessacery I take 200% attention, because mostly you have pilots who are a real danger for themselves and others !!! Solution: There must be the same flight training and theoretical part like for real pilots! And minimum EFZ or AFZ radio licenses The UL planes got so much better year by year !!! And safer!!!! The grassmower Rotax engines are still a problem, but also improve The pilots of UL need better training in flight shool. That would make the Sky! way safer
@@RIKAAR_Ambient He obviously wasn't capable of a useful response. But AI, well all we biologists know it as Artificial Insemination, so what can I say?
I am about to start my journey to learn to fly a fixed wing ultra light here in the UK. The regulations are a bit stricter to pilot one of these. You need to do min 25 hours training, plus get a medical certificate (self declaration) from the CAA. This will get you the NPPL licence which is enough for me. I just want to fly around for fun, which ultralights/microlights offers in bucket loads😊. Also UK has increased the MTOM for aircraft to 600Kg! Plenty of choice now! I’d love one of those TL Streams!
Congrats! Yeah, regulations really differ, but glad they increased the motm! I'm doing a research about flight design CT series, have you checked them? looks interesting to me.
The light sport market is huge in Europe and even OZ too with up to 600kgs (1322Lbs) now allowed.
Weight shift trikes and ultralights/microlights with an open cockpit are unbeatable for a true flying experience
Yup, my open cockpit kolb is way more fun than any cessna or Cherokee I USED to spend a fortune flying. Building your own airstrip on some desert land makes it even better
New rules in europe ups the limit for UL from 472 kg to 600 kg. A very usefull upgrade and that makes it possible to carry both a passenger and fuel. At 472 kg we always had to make that choise. I had to do my training with only 15 liters of gasoline in the tank. A lot of refuling and always on the edge. New rules make training much safer when you don't have to fly on fumes.
I fly the best-selling UL in Germany the Comco IKarus C42b and I am very satisfied.I travel through Europe at 91 knots,4,2 Gallonen Super Benzin/h from Gas Station and at the lowest possible cost. 👍
Geil! :)
I have little knowledge around ultralights, so all very interesting, thanks. I did have one flight in a trike while getting my Hangglider licence, but that scared the pants off me tbh.
Did you look into Jabiru aircraft at all?
Whats your opinion on ultralights? Making this video I understood how different US and EU are in terms of aviation regulations, so would love to hear both sides.
Few mins ago, I saw a gun in his left hand and cell in his right hand
I don’t know how you could not have one of the Jabiru models on this list…
LOL at 2:05.
In contrast to the planes mentioned there is the ICON A5. A very small, very cute amphibian, but why is it so expensive?
I fly LSA myself, and I honestly do not understand why this is such a mystery? First, size is relative. Why are some watches so expensive? A few watches will surpass the value of the Ion A5, but will still fit in its glovebox (of it has any). I am not into watches and think it is weird that they cost so much.
The reasons are low production volume, meaning that you will not have a huge factory with lots of robots building airplanes. They are close to handbuilt one by one. Second, it still has to be built to strict standards. You can be a bit sloppy putting a car together, but not a plane. The engine and the avionics that goes into the plane is also very, very expensive. The plane itself, the engine, the avionics and all the little pieces (nuts, bolts, wires etc.) usually is about 1/4 each. All of these are also made in low numbers and to high speficications. The screen in the middle of the cockpit of the A4 is an Garmin G3X. The base version for certified aircraft beings at about 10k USD. But you need extra gauges for redundancy.
If we are talking about the certified version, then the cost of having it certified is also very, very high. The engine has to be certified, all the avionics have to be certified, and the plane itself has to be certified. The cost of this has to be paid for by the builders, and then next by the owners. Again, low volume means very high cost. And even if it isn't certified, then the maker themselves has to vouch for the safety. Wich still means testing, testing and more testing. Wich costs. Yeah, flying can be done cheap. But the cheaper it is, the more of a test pilot you'll have to be.
Flying will never, ever be cheap. And the reason is simply that almost everything that can go wrong in the air has a relatively high chance of killing everyone onboard, innocent bystanders on the ground, and getting the maker of whatever went wrong, sued from now and to eternity.
I agree with @Hamperokken. Icon, to my undersanding, tries to come to the aviation market but does it like a tech startup haha. Nevertheless, great plane, great performance and wide application. But id rather think of pipistrel, tecnam or FD when in search for a new lsa, than Icon.
Because this is a marketing product for people who don’t know what to do with their money. One of the worst aircraft in history, considering its price.
Originally I think the icon was supposed to be $150k they took non refundable deposits then doubled the price alot of people refused to buy them and can't get their deposits back from this fraud and I believe alot of people don't want to deal with a company like that and you have to pay for their training and some other stuff
All dangerous situations I had in my aviation life have always been with those plastic planes. Poor airmanship was mainly the reason. Lag of training
I definitely agree on plastic planes, if thats how you call those DIY things people design and weld/glue on their backyards haha. For the ultralights, i saw accidents statistics in EU, where these are very popular. Almost no fatalities, thanks to BRS. But as i said in the video, there is a big difference between some extra cheap ultralights, and proper, certified manufacturers. Can't rely on 15k plane.
@@bigmetalbirds well I am from Austria and this year 2023 we had incredible high accidents in aviation. And 95% were Ultralight planes. And almost Everytime it’s the poor airmanship. Here in Europe a monkey is allowed to fly those planes. Most UL Pilots only have the BFZ radio license which is nothing. They don’t follow rules, they don’t know where they are in the aerodrome circuit? They fly and land everywhere! I have the French mountain rating which costs 7-8000 euro. For my plane it’s mandatory. You learn about weather in the mountains, possible approaches and when and how to stop an approach on a mountain field. You do 50 landings at different altiports and altisurfaces! You have praxis and Theorie and a final test. And I made more than 1800 Taildragger landings and 80% STOL shortfield. But I learned so much from the French and Italien mountain instructors.
And then came the UL pilots with their planes:
They need NOTHING!!! And can land everywhere even on the dangerous altisurfaces. They don’t follow the rules and are a risk for all other pilots. They fly like rude cowboys over nearby houses and bring people to stand up against aviation.
Ultralight or microlight planes are a real threat to aviation!
Of course there are super trained and well prepared pilots that are way better than any Cessna pilot on this planet. But from my 15 year experience of really intense flying (4-500 hours a year) when I hear that there are UL planes in the air I avoid those fields or if really nessacery I take 200% attention, because mostly you have pilots who are a real danger for themselves and others !!!
Solution:
There must be the same flight training and theoretical part like for real pilots! And minimum EFZ or AFZ radio licenses
The UL planes got so much better year by year !!! And safer!!!! The grassmower Rotax engines are still a problem, but also improve
The pilots of UL need better training in flight shool. That would make the Sky! way safer
There great.
love them too!
"There great". Great what, and where is 'there'?
2:23 that’s not true
hahaha love the timing you pick to disagree with
They should integrate AI into the light aircraft
Meaning what? Explain yourself.
@@Tinker1950 Airmen Interaction maybe? :D
@@RIKAAR_Ambient He obviously wasn't capable of a useful response.
But AI, well all we biologists know it as Artificial Insemination, so what can I say?
This does not show ultra lights. NOT ONE!
Perhaps you need to familiarise yourself with the rules.
"In terms of safety, Europe is a step ahead" -- LOL!!!!! Yeah, because they over-regulate what should be free.
For the love of God stop saying ‘aircrafts’. ‘Aircraft’ is, like a lot of words (sheep for instance), its own plural.
Thank you yes! This is so irritating to an Englishman. Fully agree😂
@@Aygdlr Placraft or Airane?
:D