Airline pilot here: I think it’s great you have a love for aviation. As others have mentioned, not communicating with ATC nor having a transponder at that altitude, while legal, is reckless. You’re putting many lives in danger. Even on a VFR day, a jet moving quickly would have little time to react IF they see you.
How many times have airliners hit ultralights? If radar can't see them why is stealth tech a thing? I think you need to stop drinking the kool-aid. If an airline hits an ultralight its because the liner pilot screwed up. Radar picks them up fine and they can be seen easily from 1000s of yards away by eye leaving plenty time to react. I would like a hit of whatever you are smoking, though.
Years ago I was flying an MD-80 into Austin Texas. At about 5-6000 feet we popped out of the clouds, and one of these aircraft was just off to our left. We missed him by less than 200 feet. I could see his white sneakers as he banked away from us. ATC didn’t see him and neither did we on our tcas. Scared the hell out of us and imagine him too!
@@TheBattousai2004 They can't fly in controlled airspace (where aircraft are required to be under control of ATC). Visibility has to be at least 3 miles and remain clear of clouds. They can't fly over congested parts of cities, towns, or large assemblies of people. Otherwise they are on their own. Radar can't pick them up. Neither can, as we read in @nickcolyvas875's post, TCAS. Flying those things is a dangerous activity.
I’m certain he inspects every nut and bolt on that thing just as I used to do during my preflight checks in my ultralight. Regular maintenance as well. He was perfectly safe and legal.
Most general aviation crashes happen due to pilot error most are during take off and landing. Airframe, and loss of control are rare even though it does scare me. The thing is with ultralights is lack of training even certified pilots who have lot of hours in Cessna's and other common GA planes end up crashing trying to fly an ultralight has much lighter wing load. No matter how experienced you are always get training.
The issue here is not the aircraft .it's the foolish idea that he made to operate it at this altitude with no radio ,no transponder ,and no beacon whatsoever.
Seems to me that if a commercial aircraft flew under him at that altitude, then he crossed over the approach or departure path of a nearby airport. Doesn’t strike me as a vey smart thing to do without communication with ATC and/or a transponder.
Not sure if they are allowed to do so. sUAS pilots can monitor ATC, but are not allowed to Xmit. They are also not allowed to use a transponder, although there is a similar Remote ID device for sUAS. Recently that has become a requirement to fly outside FAA Drone Zones.
Ultralight pilots are allowed to use the air band. In fact, if they intend to cross into class D or even E that reaches the ground around an airport, they HAVE to communicate with ATC. Most of the time we stick to class G and the part of E from 1200 feet up to 17999 feet. My municipal airport invites ultralights and is okay with them as long as they have airport comms. @@alobowithadhd6191
It was a GA aircraft and was miles away. Hardly a threat. There’s never been mid air between ultralight and commercial airliner so it’s non issue. Mid airs occur in pattern, usually on base to final. Not in the middle of uncontrolled airspace
Just found this video. As soon as I started watching it I knew the comment section was going to be Lecture City. Back in the late 80s when I could afford it I owned a '58 J35 Bonanza for several years. Aviation has been a lifelong interest/study. The lectures are absolutely correct - without comms you were a total menace up that high. Then there's the other side... I bought a 10-yo twin engine Lazair ultralight kit that had been about 20% completed from a fellow who had long ago lost interest and spent a years worth of weekends completing the project in my garage. Test flying that, in hindsight, was probably not using best judgment (I got my share of lectures too) but I was never more thrilled. Lost one engine on the first run! Sold it five flights later, before it bit me. So, seen both sides and I can truly share the feeling! But next time, get a radio and put some strobes on that thing. The Bonanza side will greatly appreciate it.
As an ex pilot ,low time,I try never to criticize afellow pilot,but you have no business at that altitude .stay low and enjoy the scenery. That's what they were meant for.
I agree 100% Keith - also personally I would never fly one of these Ultra lights or the even more frail paraglider. So much low quality white metal and dollar store quality fasteners and cables, lol ... I've seen this type of hardware fail in all sorts of applications void of the stresses aircraft undertake not to mention the even greater risks the unstable atmosphere provides without warning. So I worry for the naive taking to the sky in such large numbers these days thanks to UA-cam. It is all fun and games until one is falling from the sky wishing they had went to flight school and saved for a real aircraft or not flown at all. Cheers
Right, how dare he do something legal you don't approve of. It's not like planes hit each other and other things at low altitude ever. ....I've even seen planes hit deer........bugger off expilot, you don't own the skies
Active flight instructor here. I'd love to build and fly one of these Quicksilvers one day - but would ABSOLUTELY carry a radio and an ADS-B In device tied to a phone or iPad, just to get some kind of awareness of some traffic around and contribute if at all possible. Have your fun, keep it legal, and BY ALL MEANS if there's a way you can add safety, don't hesitate. What a view!
Ultralights are fun, especially down low where they're supposed to be enjoyed. You are over 9,000 feet too high and a danger to all other aircraft, since we can't see you physically or electronically. Case in point: About a year ago an ultralight was at 5,000 feet SW side of Houston. A turboprop pilot was in communication with ATC, and neither knew ultralight was there. They collided and killed both If anyone wants to fly their own craft above 500 feet, you need the proper equipment to keep everyone safe. Please don't post stunts like this. It misleads the public and creates needless hazards to life.
1st, Ultralights show on radar. If they didn't know something was there it's because they weren't paying proper attention. 2nd, Even planes the atc knows are there collide all the time. Is flying to dangerous? Because far more planes have in air accidents than ultralights. You didn't think this through, Mr Virtue signaled. Bugger off
You are correct. ATC radar has filters that don’t discern small things like birds or drones. At best, they can pick up an aircraft that doesn’t have a transponder, or has one and it’s not on, as a primary target. This particular ultralight has nothing to reflect back to radar, so it cannot be seen. At the very least, he should have a two-way radio so he can listen to traffic in the area and warn them if he’s operating in the area they’re reporting as headed.
@@rw2629 That is wrong. Radar reflects off everything, even clouds. Are you telling me this thing is less substantial than a cloud? The radar sees the the flat planes of an ultralight, something ten times bigger than a drone, like you see lights off a mirror. You need to shut up because you are wrong. Atc can see em fine.
Years ago a friend of mine got into flying ultra lights and one problem he noted was that flying on hot days at high altitude you could get into a thermal that literally would keep pushing you back up no matter how hard you worked the controls to descend. One time he said he had to cut the motor and go into a steep dive just to get low enough, fortunately the mother restarted when he was out of the thermal and he made a safe landing. He sold the aircraft shortly after that.
The thermals don't actually push. Thermals are merely a rising columns of air and one simply flies along with it. Save for gaining altitude an airplane performs exactly the same way in a cross wind. It is neither pushed or pulled. This phenomenon is explained in a great book on flying technique called "...Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying ( ISBN 978-0-07-036240-6) is a book written in 1944 by Wolfgang Langewiesche, describing how airplanes fly and how they should be flown by pilots. It has become a standard reference text for aviators..."
Well I guess it's because you're not a pilot, and from the sound of it he wasn't much of one either. Reason being you can land an Ultralight without your motor being on. Fairly easy..
No radios, no transponder, NO BRAINS! Flying around at 10,000ft is asking for a midair with EVERYONE! It is damn near impossible for us to see small GA aircraft when doing 250 knots below 10,000 ft little less you tooling around in a kite! Be responsible and stick to low altitudes buddie! It’s dangerous for all!
I was a powered parachute pilot for 12 years. Although i usually stay at or below 1000 AGL, I did take several trips to ceiling. I always communicated with the local ATC including my frequency to avoid mishaps. It was always kinda spooky, though, due to the low airspeed and always being on the watch. I did use a transponder, which kept me in good graces with local ATC. I only had one close call all those years - it was a guy in a Kit Fox with no communication. Tower was not pleased . . .
@@mosasa1307tower was not pleased with the kit fox pilot probably. A kit fox is an experimental aircraft that is quite small but it does have a cockpit to install instruments in. Knowing that a parachutist is more capable of communication for collision avoidance than a pilot with practically a full blown plane is absurd in that case.
I think you are either brave or nuts (or both) flying at that altitude and then taking your phone out without it being tethered in some fashion (or attached, securely, to the strut next to you). I’m glad you made it safely to Terra Firma!
This guy is obviously stupid on multiple levels. Hopefully the FAA gives him a visit. I don't care if he kills himself but idiots like this endanger others.
28 years ago flew the same plane. Quicksilver MX isn’t it? Anyway, very similar, but I used to fly it around and would look down and then look at the cables and the flimsy wing, I thought to myself, hell no. I had no money but went home and bought a $5000 BRS parachute on a credit card. Enjoyed flying much more after that.
Like you, I used to fly a Quicksilver many years ago. It was back in approx the very early 1980s. All my enjoyable flying was down low over interesting terrain. I did some high altitude flights too but I felt uneasy and cold the whole time. It was so much more interesting at low altitude. I flew right over the stacks of the Queen Mary once and looked right down into the stacks. Landed on the warf afterwards next to the harbor after doing a bit of acrobatic (sort of) stuff over an RV and Boat show nearby. I miss doing stuff like that. Now I just fly my chair in front of my computer.
I too flew a Quicksilver ultralight about 1981. As a PPL I thought no problem. And it wasn’t a problem. Until the engine quit at 200 feet on takeoff. It gave me an opportunity to practice my first ever dead stick landing. No problem. BTW, that experience did not turn me off to ultralights. I later bought, built and flew a Pterdactyl Fledge. Then I got hooked on hang gliding and did that for 20 years. I now fly a much more reliable Cessna 150M.
@@ZagiBob Similar progression to mine and in the same time period too maybe. Mine was 1) hang gliders 2) ultralights 3) airplanes 4) arm chairs :o) I wouldn't think that there would be very many people out there with such a life sequence! I flew hang gliders at Torry Pines with a guy who flew a Fledge. Was it you?
Dang, you got balls of steel. You wouldn't catch me flying that high in the air sitting on a jungle gym with wings. I would have a hard enough time just riding a regular plane.
Did that in my ultralight many years ago. It's an eerie experience because you lose all sense of motion. You're just floating in the air sitting in a lawn chair. Made for a nice front row seat to a sunset.
as someone who's afraid of heights it's absolutely mind boggling that this is real and you are in fact over the clouds while not being enclosed , same with skydiving and all that , just can't wrap my head around it
You get used to it. And you don't feel that fear of heights feeling after launch. I still get shaking knees when I stand at a cliff side or on a roof though. It's a strange phenomenon.
I recognize that patch of real estate near srq off of Fruitville Rd. I used to fly model airplanes with my grandfather off a grass strip that had an old WW2 style hanger on it. Strip still looks there but the hanger is gone. When I was cfi at the flight school I taught at, we used to take out students out to that practice area right there. Be safe, and happy landings
That is what concerns me with the ultra lights. They are small and hard to see. Things happen really fast and unless you are sporting a transponder, nobody knows your there. They are fun to fly, and below 1000 ft AGL is where they shine. I had most fun below 200 in the open areas.
The Cloud cover is the problem if you are flying in certain Country's you have to have sight of the surface and remain clear of clouds both vertically and horizontally. How does he know what airspace he is in without a chart or in radio contact plus the Radar return of this micro light would be very difficult for a radar controller to see. This flying is not responsible in anyway shape or form. @@ericapelz260
Exactly. This is why these should be equipped with a transponder and a two way radio...despite what the regs say. Just because your allowed to operate with minimal equipment doesnt mean you should.
As an airline pilot, I will join the chorus of those pointing out that flying that high without contacting ATC, or at least having an altitude encoding transponder is beyond irresponsible. I hope the FAA finds you and deals with you. You are potentially putting hundreds of lives in danger. Shame on you!
Ten grand isn’t very high. I’m sure he doesn’t make a habit of it. Probably took him a long long time to make the climb, but there always comes a time in every ultralighters life to push the envelope. It was legal, it was safe, and no one got hurt but possibly you and your feelings
Doesn’t matter much. At 200 knots, if they’re watching the panel for 30 seconds, they’ll never see you. At 120 knots, 45 seconds. ADSB-out might save you from the jet, but not likely from the 182.
Wow! The very fact that a kite with struts can reach 3000m at all is a marvel in itself. I'm guessing that in the event of engine failure, the glide capabilities of such a light craft would see you to the ground in one piece.
I flew in a 2 seater style like this years ago. All i remember was the racket from the motor and vibrations. Was cool being able to look down and have essentially 100% visibility. Grew up riding 2 stroke motorcycles and the noise of those was nothing compared to an ultra light.
I was flying at 10,000 feet one time on an IFR flight plan and happened to fly past an ultralight cruising at the same altitude. Told ATC and they said that they didn't have them on radar and appreciated the call out. Please, for your sake and others stay low where you should be and don't endanger those flying at higher altitudes.
@@FourthWayRanch Absolutely incorrect. Enjoy your ultralight down low where it belongs, but you are putting yourself and others in danger when you go up high with a tiny airplane and without a transponder so ATC can see you and help others avoid you. Read other comments in this video to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this is stupid. Legal, but stupid.
@@R182video you're stoooo pid I'm glad I got into this discussion caus I thought I was stuck below 1200', I've got the new smart carbs on the kolb that adjust the mixture for you, I'm going to 17999 every chance I get now
Transponder and radio at that altitutde, even for the sake of VFR traffic utilizing flight following. I wouldn't do more than taxi that rig without a parchute. A ballistic parachute for the aircraft would also be on the list. Nice view from up there.
I recently took my microlight to 7,000ft (with a transponder) but lost phone signal so didn't have a "radar" (nor Skydemon) which is why I prefer staying at 4k or under
i am pretty sure that someplace in the part 103 restrictions it states an altitude limit that your not supposed to fly above without a radio.. and another altitude limit without a transponder.. i am sure you exceeded BOTH of those.. ;)
Echoing @keithjones197, as an air traffic controller with more than 30 years experience, flying a slow ultralight at that altitude is extremely risky. Even a Cessna 180 is flying at twice the ultralight's speed and likely would not expect it in his or her flight path. The ultralight's profile would be hard to discern at any distance. Closing at 90 knots would complicate avoiding the ultralight.
The wing area of a quicksilver ultralight, for example, and the c180 are virtually the same, visually no more difficult to identify. The relative speed difference in the case of the 180 overtaking from behind would reduce the amount of time for identification, but approaching head on would actually give more time. Not much different than operating a Cub or a Taylorcraft or whatever in that airspace.
Looked the same to me. If that airliner was at 3000 feet preparing to land, and we are looking down at him like at a 45 degree angle, from 10000 feet... there are what, 1.5 miles of separation? I forgot my high school trig stuff. Seems plenty far away.
I have been flying for 25 years. This would frighten me if I were cruising in the Piper Archer. These are hard to see, and I don’t think they belong too far above pattern altitude for that reason. I once was on a x country flight, and a Cessna came out of nowhere. I tried to avoid the airplane by turning to the right. Just as I turned right, that airplane also turned right. So, I tried to do a 180. Then that airplane turned towards me. Thank God they saw me and got out of my way. If it was an ultralight moving at 50 kts I hate to think what would have happened as I was cruising at 110 kts. Also, I am not seeing where your instruments are located?? I am sure you have something but I am not readily seeing them.
Tats nice. I dont think you should be a pilot. It's dangerous. You have no business up there in a piper cub. Stay on the ground where it's safe and leave the air for Boeing and airbus. You private pilots are to dangerous without more over sight. What if a 747 or an A380 runs over you or something. Come to think of it, you shouldn't have a driver's license. To dangerous. More people die in cars than planes. And cancel showers, you might slip and fall. Get the picture?
That thing doesn't need instruments. The motor is right behind your head so you know whether it's running or not. Your airspeed is somewhere between 0 and "oh my God this thing is slow." Climb rate is "yes." Like an Ercoupe, yaw and roll are both controlled by the stick, so you don't need a turn coordinator... Those things are more like motorized kites than regular airplanes.
He has none just his cellphone. That is why at least 90 percent of commenters are chewing his as out how irresponsible he is being as we all are sure he has and still is doing stupid stuff like this many times.
The wing area is the same as your Archer, so no more difficult to see. If you were approaching each other head on, his slower airspeed would give you more time to see and avoid. If you’re coming up on him from behind, your airspeed minus his means the closing speed would be something like 30 knots, plenty of time to see and avoid.
FYI: Service ceiling in a Quicksilver MX is 14,000ft, but CFRs require that at the minimum, flight crew be provided with and use supplemental oxygen after 30 minutes of exposure to cabin pressure altitudes between 12,500 to 14,000 and immediately above 14,000 (fitness permitting).
I once had a Martin Mars water bomber fly between me and the ground when I was only at between 500-750 ft after being up 10, 000ft at Youbou, British Columbia. It wasn't scary, I just thought, Jesus that's a big plane, and I wonder if they saw me?
I’m not even a pilot and my first thought was “ what the hell are you doing at 10,000’ in an ultra light?”😳 I listened to a 2 tours in VietNam loach helicopter pilot describing his wartime expierences who said he took his aircraft to 10,000’ one time and would never do it again voluntarily. This guy had been shot down 16 times and you could tell he thought that was dicey.
I’m surprised that engine was still running as well as it was at that altitude. I took my Challenger single place to 10500 and the engine was barely running. I think it was turning around 4500 rpm at WOT up there. It was also super cold. I had ski jacket, overalls gloves and the like. I was shivering up there. Needless to say I didn’t stay up there very long. I only did it once. After that I never felt the need to do it again. I think the highest I had my Quicksilver Sprint was 6700 feet. It sure gives you a different perspective. I went on to get my PPL and bought an old Cessna that I had for 10 years then got out of flying. I have to admit that I had more fun in ultralights than I ever did in GA. ULs are less restrictive and you can take them with you on trips. Just unfold it, put it in a trailer and away you go.
Glad you lived to tell the tale! I would be worried something would fail that far up, plus you could get lost. I'd need to see roads to navigate. Be safe and live your life! TC
That's why I don't think I'll ever get up there that high. Too many other faster planes. I'd be so scared to get hit. Low and slow for me. Glad to see you up there tho. I got my plane up to 150' on Tuesday. I'll be doing circuits soon and taking small trips.
Remember, most at 10K are moving at 150 kts+, looking at their high dollar glass panel or side chicks (aka corporate secretaries). They will probably never see you without strobes, bright colors and turning constantly. Good luck.
I was HG’ing at Lookout early 2000’s, was about 4,000 above the mountain, about 6,000 MSL when a Regional jet flew by close enough for me to see startled faces in the windows. Prolly about 200-300 feet away. It was loud.
You can die at 100’. Flying high doesn’t increase the risk, it just gives you more time to plan your death 😂 honestly the quicksilver is very safe and has an excellent record. I’ve flown them and I trust the structure more than the engines, that’s for sure. You can land them anywhere at 25mph…
A lot of comments about the altitude. But if you are in class G airspace everything is legal. Others can expect an aircraft with no radio and transponder in that airspace. They should fly accordingly or climb to other airspace.
FAA oughta love this!! Above the clouds, no flight suit, no headphones, and no kind of avionic’s so someone could possibly see him…..ballsie, I’ll give him that
My brother, an ex navy pilot died in one of those. He was blown into high power electric wires. High or low these ppl are daredevils and nothing will stop em from achieving their dreams.
I believe the FAA rules should change requiring all aircraft, including ultralights, to have a transponder and ADS-B out within 30 nautical miles of class B or C airports AND, say, above 3000 AGL. Just too dangerous without this. They can still fly there; we just need to be able to see them.
It's amazing, you have total reliance on basically a few steel tubes, and canvas. Is there a maximum height your plane will fly or could it keep climbing?
No transponder, no comms and ATC, no helmet or O2 not even in flight gear - this isn’t grass roots flying this is flying lawn chair stuff and that commercial traffic is a factor with no TCAS it’s really unwise. When I was training we had a near miss with a rogue untracked paraglider and later in my career we were diverted due to a hot air balloon that strayed into the circuit. Flight is a privilege not a right, it has to be done right or not at all. One man’s freedom could be a whole lot of other people’s hell. You people scare us regulated law abiding flyers. I mean you don’t even have a runway with a sock in the vicinity of horses.
You’re telling me the tower had to inform you of the presence of a hot air balloon??? Wow, man, recommend you look out the windshield more often than fixate on your cockpit. Also, define “rogue paraglider”. You need to learn how to share the sky. Mid airs occur during final, almost always in the pattern and never has there been mid air with ultralight and commercial jet.
It sounds like a case of “this is my sky and only my sky”, right? I’m still laughing about the hot air balloon “incident”. I mean really? You couldn’t see a hot air balloon in broad daylight??? Hahahaha.
@@eckleyy Yeah, for elderly cardiac patients. FAA regulations require O2 for flights above 18K. Most otherwise healthy adults can tolerate altitudes up to 14K while at rest with no ill effects. Assuming this wasn't this ultralight pilot's first time above 10K it's reasonable to assume further that he has the requisite altitude tolerance to get that high without risking hypoxia. As already pointed out by others, there's a host of other reasons for not going that high.
You sir are certifiably crazy. Please ultralights, 🙏🏻If your going to fly up that high. Use adsb in and out. At the very least in. They are so hard to see especially with white wings and clouds around. I get it. Your in a pretty remote area, airspace wise (I would hope and imagine anyway) your doing frequent scans. It’s just so risky with no adsb. Looks awesome for sure. I do want to get an ultralight or gyro plane one day. They look like a blast to buz around in. But I wouldn’t fly anything without adsb and a radio.
ADSB in as well as com. with frequent position calls. Not everyone has ADSB. My brother and I survived a near miss head on. C150 verses sea plane. We didn't see him, he didn't see us. Missed by no more than 3 feet. If you're looking into ultralight flight stick with something that has a main wing and a tail section. To me gyros and weight shifts are just dumb. I was looking into a amphib Kolb Firestar because it had folding wings for trailering.
In the UK you'd go to jail for flying at 10,000 without a transponder, radios, oh, and ATC clearance. That's if you didn't cause a midair collision first.
You're proud you live in a rather socialist nanny state? I wouldn't be. Things may be more dangerous here in the states, but for many of us, having more freedoms is worth it. Yes, I've lived in England. 1960-1965. It was a land of too many regulations even back then.
@Robnord1 What a ridiculous attempt to use to use the freedom versus socialist nanny state argument. I'm a big proponent of small government and freedom. However, doing dumb sht in the sky or on the road that endangers others has NOTHING to do with freedom. In fact, just like driving you have to follow the rules of the sky just like there are rules for driving. One such rule is you cannot pose a collision hazard to other aircraft like this jack wagon is doing at that altitude and speed.
Reminds me of the days flying fixed wing gliders. He probably could have enjoyed a little thermal fun with those flat bottom clouds. I often encountered thermals that nearly exceeded my best rate of decent. And on one flight a giant twin engine turbo prop flew directly under me. Clearing me by maybe 200 feet. Scared the bejesus out ob me.
That is not safe. First thing. You should be wearing a full face helmet, gloves and some sort of insulated flying suit if you are going to be flying @ 10,000ft. Suppose your sunglasses fell off? Just because you can fly @ 10k doesn't mean you should. I would definitely suggest wearing a parachute if you are going to be flying 3k or above.
It would have been quick, if he hit. How many others would have possibly needlessly lost their lives, however. If you haven’t got a transponder and aren’t visually well set up, you shouldn’t fly at high altitudes in a string-bag.
When I took flying lessons the instructor firmly told me that unless I had a flight plan showing it I was never to go up to 10,000 ft. And that was on a single-engine Piper Cherokee 6. Unlicensed ultralights should have a 5,000 foot limit unless it’s in a rural area not near any major airports. You’re lucky, pal.
That's awesome. I was at 3000 feet on my second paramotor flight, outside my municipal airport's traffic pattern. I got to see a mooney come in through the pattern and land. I have an air band radio and I give my position a lot. I just worry that bigger planes won't be listening to my local airport frequency. I fully plan to go to 10,000 feet, but I have been following the traffic patterns in my area and know which parts to avoid. Thankfully the airliners around my town are all still above 15,000 feet because they're heading to Charlotte or Columbia. I wish I had some sort of transponder that was cheap and easy to run off a battery. I would get one.
I would assume you must be flying in a cleared area for an ultralite to be at that altitude? As a consumer drone pilot, I have to be very aware of NOFLY areas, and even then keep below 500 feet in just about every area. It looks amazing, but seems very dangerous to be at 10,000 feet in an area where jets are flying and coming in for landings.
@@MrArray1967 he should not be flying at an altitude above 500 feet without a strobe at least. With no radio communication other aircraft are not proactively looking for him.
Have been to 4500 meters (15'000 ft) on my paraglider and had 2x Swiss F-18s fly under me (was quite relieved to see they were going slowly about 1000m below me - heard the noise long before I could see them!)
What is the L/D of the ultralight? If the engine stops, how well does it glide? Catch any lift from thermals? I'm glad to see you scanning around you. My flight instructor asked me once, where I was looking. I said forward. He said to scan, as you just never know if another airplane will pass over or sneak in from behind.
The quicksilver mx is not good with thermaling it just doesn’t have that capability due to the wing design. Glide ratio is pretty bad maybe slightly better than a standard sport skydiving canopy, but does extremely well unpowered. You just need to pick a spot within 45 degree cone in emergency.
you're like one of them people who go out in the middle of the ocean with a kayak... there may not be missive animals up there to eat you but that thing looks like a strong gust in the wrong direction will send you flying out that chair
@@UltralightAirplaneDriverso you only respond to the dumb enablers? Try addressing the criticism in this comment section like a man instead of running away like a child.
I'm sure it's been mentioned but quick couple of questions. Do you have a radio or ADSB on that ultralight? If you have a radio, flight following would be an excellent choice just so they know where you are and can let others know as well. ADSB would let everyone else know where you are regardless if on flight following or not. It's difficult enough for me to spot actual aircraft when I'm flying much less an ultralight. Anywhere between 4,500 and 9,500 is prime altitude for GA aircraft so use good judgement! Just a few thoughts
Probably difficult for you to see others is your fixation on the ADSB . I’ve seen pilots literally fixate on everything except the view outside the window
@@glen7016 who said I’m “fixated” on ASAB?? Of course I look at it but I don’t fixate on it. That being said, if you’re saying it’s not difficult to see other aircraft while in the air, you’re a lot better than me and every other pilot I know.
Crazy. No, this is literally insane. Any number of things could go wrong with either the aircraft or the occupant. And where’s the PPE in the event of a hard landing? Any aircraft approaching you at 450 mph wouldn’t even see you before colliding. You have no business endangering the lives of innocent people.
The only time a commercial airliner would be below 10k is in controlled a, b, c, or d airspace. Ultralights don’t fly in those areas, with the exception of class d where they are required to be in contact with tower and require special permission. If an airliner collided with an ultralight (which has never happened btw), and ultralight was outside these highly controlled areas, the commercial airliner would be at fault I would think
@@jeffg4392 I guess that traffic control devices such as stop lights ... speed limit signs .... interstate markers are too much regulation.... yea right... that'll work.... have you ever driven in a "third world "country that doesn't have any traffic regulations???... and you think that NYC or Los Angeles traffic or Chicago traffic is bad
1000' is all you need to reach terminal velocity and even then you only need a fraction of that to turn into a bag of mush when you hit the ground so what's another 9000' diff gonna make?
I'm just some retired Air Force Senior Numnutz 1C, 😦 BUTT!!😮 If you are going to fly at that kind of altitude maybe a nice little ultra big STROBE fkn LIGHT?!?!??!??!🤓 ...might give a little more sense that you might be SEEN!!!!👀👀
I've been a pilot since the 70s. Have two experimental planes and a J3 Junior ultralight. It is equipped with a transponder. Obviously don't need to use it. But you never know and there is a lot of military aircraft that fly quite low. Also my runways in the trees. Point is it doesn't take a much larger aircraft passing overhead for an ultralight that weighs 277 lb ( safety equipment allowance) to lose control.
Using the iPhone, or whatever the hand-held device was, for altitude and navigation, only works if you don't drop it and it holds a charge for quite a while. It appears that your safety depended on always having it available, but you had no security cord for the device either around your neck or attached to a point on the Ultralight from which you could always retrieve it, if you lost your grip on it. Flying without a light-weight emergency parachute seems to be a completely unnecessary risk - and no fuel system and no internal combustion engine is 100%, or even 95%, failure free. Perhaps you could glide from a 9,900+ foot altitude back to a landing spot, if the engine failed, but with such seemingly small wheels(wide-angle wing camera lens may make them look smaller than they actually are), it seems the landing spot you select, and commit to landing on, would have to be very smooth to avoid a wheel catching and the plane nosing over, possibly inflicting major damage to the airframe and to you. I am not a pilot, so my concerns may be unwarranted in the scheme of things. People like me watch these videos, because we would like the idea of the freedom offered by an Ultralight and the opportunity to fly an Ultralight on more than one flight, but without any unnecessary risk of crashing or becoming disoriented on the first flight, or any thereafter. Thanks for sharing this video of your experience.
I am a pilot, and the biggest risk here is not so much the things you mentioned, but rather that when your pilot life and social media life get intertwined, you will start taking on higher risk actions in order to keep your content engaging.
Do you have a transponder in that thing? If not, you need to get one if you’re going to be up that high. I’m in the right seat all the time in our Cirrus and my husband and I are constantly looking for ultralights and other aircraft that are in the air without transponders.
I dont mind if you take yourself out. In this case you endager others unless you have a Transponder ATC can use to ensure you dont Bird Strike a Heavy.
Thanks for sharing this video. It certainly started discussion on ADSB mandate for UltraLight and PPG . After all, if 0.5lb drone need to boardcast IDs, it would make no sense to not require ADSB for UltraLight and PPG.
Airline pilot here: I think it’s great you have a love for aviation. As others have mentioned, not communicating with ATC nor having a transponder at that altitude, while legal, is reckless. You’re putting many lives in danger.
Even on a VFR day, a jet moving quickly would have little time to react IF they see you.
You are being generous when you say 'little' time.
How many times have airliners hit ultralights? If radar can't see them why is stealth tech a thing? I think you need to stop drinking the kool-aid. If an airline hits an ultralight its because the liner pilot screwed up. Radar picks them up fine and they can be seen easily from 1000s of yards away by eye leaving plenty time to react. I would like a hit of whatever you are smoking, though.
@@jeffstrom164 you clearly just showed your intellect to everyone.....
@@86309 prove me wrong
@@86309 If that was snark, I'm here for it. The delusion level is......delusional.
Years ago I was flying an MD-80 into Austin Texas. At about 5-6000 feet we popped out of the clouds, and one of these aircraft was just off to our left. We missed him by less than 200 feet. I could see his white sneakers as he banked away from us. ATC didn’t see him and neither did we on our tcas. Scared the hell out of us and imagine him too!
Was wondering about just this, how is safety maintained in keeping ultralights away from commercial aircraft.
I'd bet dollars to donuts that "the hell" wasn't all it scared out of him.
What frikin jet? What minute mark?
@@TheBattousai2004 They can't fly in controlled airspace (where aircraft are required to be under control of ATC). Visibility has to be at least 3 miles and remain clear of clouds. They can't fly over congested parts of cities, towns, or large assemblies of people. Otherwise they are on their own. Radar can't pick them up. Neither can, as we read in @nickcolyvas875's post, TCAS. Flying those things is a dangerous activity.
"I could see his white sneakers." Nice detail.
The faith you have in that motorized kite is unfathomable.
I’m certain he inspects every nut and bolt on that thing just as I used to do during my preflight checks in my ultralight. Regular maintenance as well. He was perfectly safe and legal.
These are on the market for 40 something years and generally very safe. The Quicksilver is also incredibly forgiving.
Most general aviation crashes happen due to pilot error most are during take off and landing. Airframe, and loss of control are rare even though it does scare me. The thing is with ultralights is lack of training even certified pilots who have lot of hours in Cessna's and other common GA planes end up crashing trying to fly an ultralight has much lighter wing load. No matter how experienced you are always get training.
The issue here is not the aircraft .it's the foolish idea that he made to operate it at this altitude with no radio ,no transponder ,and no beacon whatsoever.
Seems to me that if a commercial aircraft flew under him at that altitude, then he crossed over the approach or departure path of a nearby airport. Doesn’t strike me as a vey smart thing to do without communication with ATC and/or a transponder.
Not sure if they are allowed to do so.
sUAS pilots can monitor ATC, but are not allowed to Xmit. They are also not allowed to use a transponder, although there is a similar Remote ID device for sUAS. Recently that has become a requirement to fly outside FAA Drone Zones.
Ultralight pilots are allowed to use the air band. In fact, if they intend to cross into class D or even E that reaches the ground around an airport, they HAVE to communicate with ATC. Most of the time we stick to class G and the part of E from 1200 feet up to 17999 feet. My municipal airport invites ultralights and is okay with them as long as they have airport comms. @@alobowithadhd6191
It was a GA aircraft and was miles away. Hardly a threat. There’s never been mid air between ultralight and commercial airliner so it’s non issue. Mid airs occur in pattern, usually on base to final. Not in the middle of uncontrolled airspace
Just found this video. As soon as I started watching it I knew the comment section was going to be Lecture City. Back in the late 80s when I could afford it I owned a '58 J35 Bonanza for several years. Aviation has been a lifelong interest/study. The lectures are absolutely correct - without comms you were a total menace up that high. Then there's the other side... I bought a 10-yo twin engine Lazair ultralight kit that had been about 20% completed from a fellow who had long ago lost interest and spent a years worth of weekends completing the project in my garage. Test flying that, in hindsight, was probably not using best judgment (I got my share of lectures too) but I was never more thrilled. Lost one engine on the first run! Sold it five flights later, before it bit me. So, seen both sides and I can truly share the feeling! But next time, get a radio and put some strobes on that thing. The Bonanza side will greatly appreciate it.
A radio and strobe won’t do shit if you don’t show up on active radar.
TLDR
As an ex pilot ,low time,I try never to criticize afellow pilot,but you have no business at that altitude .stay low and enjoy the scenery. That's what they were meant for.
There are old pilots and bold pilots but there are very few old bold pilots.
I agree 100% Keith - also personally I would never fly one of these Ultra lights or the even more frail paraglider. So much low quality white metal and dollar store quality fasteners and cables, lol ...
I've seen this type of hardware fail in all sorts of applications void of the stresses aircraft undertake not to mention the even greater risks the unstable atmosphere provides without warning.
So I worry for the naive taking to the sky in such large numbers these days thanks to UA-cam. It is all fun and games until one is falling from the sky wishing they had went to flight school and saved for a real aircraft or not flown at all. Cheers
nonsense, out west we have mountains to cross.
Right, how dare he do something legal you don't approve of. It's not like planes hit each other and other things at low altitude ever. ....I've even seen planes hit deer........bugger off expilot, you don't own the skies
Absolutely. He has no business being up that high on one of these things.
Active flight instructor here. I'd love to build and fly one of these Quicksilvers one day - but would ABSOLUTELY carry a radio and an ADS-B In device tied to a phone or iPad, just to get some kind of awareness of some traffic around and contribute if at all possible. Have your fun, keep it legal, and BY ALL MEANS if there's a way you can add safety, don't hesitate. What a view!
Ultralights are fun, especially down low where they're supposed to be enjoyed. You are over 9,000 feet too high and a danger to all other aircraft, since we can't see you physically or electronically. Case in point: About a year ago an ultralight was at 5,000 feet SW side of Houston. A turboprop pilot was in communication with ATC, and neither knew ultralight was there. They collided and killed both If anyone wants to fly their own craft above 500 feet, you need the proper equipment to keep everyone safe.
Please don't post stunts like this. It misleads the public and creates needless hazards to life.
NEVER Saw The met or whatever! At WHAT point On The TIME Clock, is It able to be Seen? Thankyou
1st, Ultralights show on radar. If they didn't know something was there it's because they weren't paying proper attention. 2nd, Even planes the atc knows are there collide all the time. Is flying to dangerous? Because far more planes have in air accidents than ultralights. You didn't think this through, Mr Virtue signaled. Bugger off
@@eileenstehr7680 right at the beginning about :31
You are correct. ATC radar has filters that don’t discern small things like birds or drones. At best, they can pick up an aircraft that doesn’t have a transponder, or has one and it’s not on, as a primary target. This particular ultralight has nothing to reflect back to radar, so it cannot be seen. At the very least, he should have a two-way radio so he can listen to traffic in the area and warn them if he’s operating in the area they’re reporting as headed.
@@rw2629 That is wrong. Radar reflects off everything, even clouds. Are you telling me this thing is less substantial than a cloud? The radar sees the the flat planes of an ultralight, something ten times bigger than a drone, like you see lights off a mirror. You need to shut up because you are wrong. Atc can see em fine.
Years ago a friend of mine got into flying ultra lights and one problem he noted was that flying on hot days at high altitude you could get into a thermal that literally would keep pushing you back up no matter how hard you worked the controls to descend. One time he said he had to cut the motor and go into a steep dive just to get low enough, fortunately the mother restarted when he was out of the thermal and he made a safe landing. He sold the aircraft shortly after that.
The thermals don't actually push. Thermals are merely a rising columns of air and one simply flies along with it. Save for gaining altitude an airplane performs exactly the same way in a cross wind. It is neither pushed or pulled.
This phenomenon is explained in a great book on flying technique called "...Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying ( ISBN 978-0-07-036240-6) is a book written in 1944 by Wolfgang Langewiesche, describing how airplanes fly and how they should be flown by pilots. It has become a standard reference text for aviators..."
Well I guess it's because you're not a pilot, and from the sound of it he wasn't much of one either. Reason being you can land an Ultralight without your motor being on. Fairly easy..
@@memirandawong That's what he meant, but he used the term 'pushed' as in - pushed up from underneath
....ultra lights glide....he wasn't in danger....
I had that happen with as a novice with a parachute once, thought I was going to be up there all day !!
Man's really flying a paper clip up at 10,000 feet.
A paper clip that can bring down a Jumbo Jet
Shit the wright brothers pulled it off with some 20th century wood and wire. With an very unreliable engine
With no parachute
No radios, no transponder, NO BRAINS! Flying around at 10,000ft is asking for a midair with EVERYONE! It is damn near impossible for us to see small GA aircraft when doing 250 knots below 10,000 ft little less you tooling around in a kite! Be responsible and stick to low altitudes buddie! It’s dangerous for all!
I imagine he was tooling around in Class Bravo airspace as well, being that close to an Airport.
Yea, everybody get out of this guy's way, so he can fly around in his rocket.
Also , he's probably NOT going to show up on TCAS ....SMH
It's beyond me! There's no rules , regs , for these lite crafts, and these altitudes! Putting lives in danger!
he didn't drop fone this time but it can happen. i'd hate to think what could happen if it landed on someone.
I was a powered parachute pilot for 12 years. Although i usually stay at or below 1000 AGL, I did take several trips to ceiling. I always communicated with the local ATC including my frequency to avoid mishaps. It was always kinda spooky, though, due to the low airspeed and always being on the watch. I did use a transponder, which kept me in good graces with local ATC. I only had one close call all those years - it was a guy in a Kit Fox with no communication. Tower was not pleased . . .
Was Tower displeased with his actions or yours? Also, what is a Kit Fox?
@@mosasa1307tower was not pleased with the kit fox pilot probably. A kit fox is an experimental aircraft that is quite small but it does have a cockpit to install instruments in. Knowing that a parachutist is more capable of communication for collision avoidance than a pilot with practically a full blown plane is absurd in that case.
Was your powered Parachute light sport registered I don't think can really talk to the tower from an un-registered ultralight.
@@Mike-01234 yes
~ Yet another example of why I am convinced that this is indeed the dumbest time to be alive on planet earth ... 🙄"'
Dumb and exciting at the same time.
I think you are either brave or nuts (or both) flying at that altitude and then taking your phone out without it being tethered in some fashion (or attached, securely, to the strut next to you). I’m glad you made it safely to Terra Firma!
Like riding a bicycle on the freeway.
This guy is obviously stupid on multiple levels. Hopefully the FAA gives him a visit. I don't care if he kills himself but idiots like this endanger others.
Ya it's the same as the idiots that drive dicking around on their cell phone.
That worried me. If dropped, it's then pot luck that it doesn't land on somebody.
That's the part I didn't understand. Why he didn't tether his phone. What gave him that much confidence that he wouldn't drop it?
28 years ago flew the same plane. Quicksilver MX isn’t it? Anyway, very similar, but I used to fly it around and would look down and then look at the cables and the flimsy wing, I thought to myself, hell no. I had no money but went home and bought a $5000 BRS parachute on a credit card. Enjoyed flying much more after that.
So what you are saying is you started flying a powered paraglider and you felt much safer doing so??
Lol
Like you, I used to fly a Quicksilver many years ago. It was back in approx the very early 1980s. All my enjoyable flying was down low over interesting terrain. I did some high altitude flights too but I felt uneasy and cold the whole time. It was so much more interesting at low altitude. I flew right over the stacks of the Queen Mary once and looked right down into the stacks. Landed on the warf afterwards next to the harbor after doing a bit of acrobatic (sort of) stuff over an RV and Boat show nearby. I miss doing stuff like that. Now I just fly my chair in front of my computer.
I too flew a Quicksilver ultralight about 1981. As a PPL I thought no problem. And it wasn’t a problem. Until the engine quit at 200 feet on takeoff. It gave me an opportunity to practice my first ever dead stick landing. No problem. BTW, that experience did not turn me off to ultralights. I later bought, built and flew a Pterdactyl Fledge. Then I got hooked on hang gliding and did that for 20 years. I now fly a much more reliable Cessna 150M.
@@ZagiBob Similar progression to mine and in the same time period too maybe. Mine was 1) hang gliders 2) ultralights 3) airplanes 4) arm chairs :o)
I wouldn't think that there would be very many people out there with such a life sequence! I flew hang gliders at Torry Pines with a guy who flew a Fledge. Was it you?
This is why we can’t have flying cars
Flying cars would be a complete disaster.
You would have to call in to ADAM -12
We could, but their use should be limited to people with a lot of training/experience and an IQ above room temperature.
Flying cars=flying idiots. Loads of 'em!😊
Dang, you got balls of steel. You wouldn't catch me flying that high in the air sitting on a jungle gym with wings. I would have a hard enough time just riding a regular plane.
Did that in my ultralight many years ago. It's an eerie experience because you lose all sense of motion. You're just floating in the air sitting in a lawn chair. Made for a nice front row seat to a sunset.
as someone who's afraid of heights it's absolutely mind boggling that this is real and you are in fact over the clouds while not being enclosed , same with skydiving and all that , just can't wrap my head around it
You get used to it. And you don't feel that fear of heights feeling after launch. I still get shaking knees when I stand at a cliff side or on a roof though. It's a strange phenomenon.
Not only that, I have had airliners fly underneath me while in a hang glider 😳.
Aviation is probably not for you my friend
I recognize that patch of real estate near srq off of Fruitville Rd. I used to fly model airplanes with my grandfather off a grass strip that had an old WW2 style hanger on it. Strip still looks there but the hanger is gone.
When I was cfi at the flight school I taught at, we used to take out students out to that practice area right there.
Be safe, and happy landings
That is what concerns me with the ultra lights. They are small and hard to see. Things happen really fast and unless you are sporting a transponder, nobody knows your there. They are fun to fly, and below 1000 ft AGL is where they shine. I had most fun below 200 in the open areas.
They're not smaller than quite a few other light airplanes. If they were, they couldn't meet the low speed stall requirement.
He is descending through IFR altitudes and not even communicating with ATC
@@yardmanvibes3559WTF? You don't even know if he's in controlled airspace. IFR is about visibility and weather. VFR - See and avoid.
The Cloud cover is the problem if you are flying in certain Country's you have to have sight of the surface and remain clear of clouds both vertically and horizontally. How does he know what airspace he is in without a chart or in radio contact plus the Radar return of this micro light would be very difficult for a radar controller to see. This flying is not responsible in anyway shape or form.
@@ericapelz260
Exactly. This is why these should be equipped with a transponder and a two way radio...despite what the regs say. Just because your allowed to operate with minimal equipment doesnt mean you should.
I feel like I'd be more comfortable with a parachute on that high lol. Thats nuts
i had the same thought
Falls from 50ft are usually fatal anyway.
Maybe, but anything above 50 feet is deadly, and parachutes don't work below a certain altitude anyway.
I am a private pilot and own a Cirrus. Watching your video gave me the willies.
We had a nickname for people like you “aviation snob”. Always looking down on ultralights
That coming from a Cirrus pilot is borderline hilarious.
As an airline pilot, I will join the chorus of those pointing out that flying that high without contacting ATC, or at least having an altitude encoding transponder is beyond irresponsible. I hope the FAA finds you and deals with you. You are potentially putting hundreds of lives in danger. Shame on you!
Thank you Sir. I'm a private pilot. And I pray the FAA finds a way to deal with these idiots.
It's not so much having a transponder in 'free' airspace but it sure is not being aware and flying into approach paths near a restricted airspace!
Were you good at being an airline pilot? Then stick with it. There’s nothing wrong with taking an ultralight up to medium height from time to time…
@@glen7016 WTF is “medium height?”
Ten grand isn’t very high. I’m sure he doesn’t make a habit of it. Probably took him a long long time to make the climb, but there always comes a time in every ultralighters life to push the envelope. It was legal, it was safe, and no one got hurt but possibly you and your feelings
Not watching for over 15 minutes just to see a jet fly under you!
Every ultralight, hang glider, parachute fan, etc. should be required to be 100% hunter orange and covered in reflective tape.
And to carry a SSR transponder
Don't forget spy balloons!
Doesn’t matter much. At 200 knots, if they’re watching the panel for 30 seconds, they’ll never see you. At 120 knots, 45 seconds. ADSB-out might save you from the jet, but not likely from the 182.
@@russbell6418so.... . this is very dangerous?
Transponder. Gotta be seen electronically. and strobes. This is crazy scary vulnerable
I don't see how you're not wearing a jacket! I know it's cold up there
What time mark does the jet fly under?
0:27 seconds
Thank you. Don't think I would ever have seen that jet blow by. Scary ! @@feltav5719
14.42
@@johnsharpe3736 He’s on the ground at 14:42 🤔
Not a jet. GA plane about 4 miles away and hardly a near miss lol
Wow! The very fact that a kite with struts can reach 3000m at all is a marvel in itself. I'm guessing that in the event of engine failure, the glide capabilities of such a light craft would see you to the ground in one piece.
Well, I have been to 18,000 feet in a motorless hang glider.
You should see the things planes in ww1 could do. Pilots allways have been crazy.
10,000’ with no comms? Nuts!
I flew in a 2 seater style like this years ago. All i remember was the racket from the motor and vibrations. Was cool being able to look down and have essentially 100% visibility. Grew up riding 2 stroke motorcycles and the noise of those was nothing compared to an ultra light.
I was flying at 10,000 feet one time on an IFR flight plan and happened to fly past an ultralight cruising at the same altitude. Told ATC and they said that they didn't have them on radar and appreciated the call out. Please, for your sake and others stay low where you should be and don't endanger those flying at higher altitudes.
as long as you maintain cloud clearances it's legal up to 18000
@@FourthWayRanch Being legal doesn't equal safe.
@@R182video it it wasn't safe the FAA wouldn't allow it. The safety comes from the cloud clearances and the VFR rules
@@FourthWayRanch Absolutely incorrect. Enjoy your ultralight down low where it belongs, but you are putting yourself and others in danger when you go up high with a tiny airplane and without a transponder so ATC can see you and help others avoid you. Read other comments in this video to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this is stupid. Legal, but stupid.
@@R182video you're stoooo pid I'm glad I got into this discussion caus I thought I was stuck below 1200', I've got the new smart carbs on the kolb that adjust the mixture for you, I'm going to 17999 every chance I get now
Transponder and radio at that altitutde, even for the sake of VFR traffic utilizing flight following. I wouldn't do more than taxi that rig without a parchute. A ballistic parachute for the aircraft would also be on the list. Nice view from up there.
I recently took my microlight to 7,000ft (with a transponder) but lost phone signal so didn't have a "radar" (nor Skydemon) which is why I prefer staying at 4k or under
i am pretty sure that someplace in the part 103 restrictions it states an altitude limit that your not supposed to fly above without a radio.. and another altitude limit without a transponder.. i am sure you exceeded BOTH of those.. ;)
Echoing @keithjones197, as an air traffic controller with more than 30 years experience, flying a slow ultralight at that altitude is extremely risky. Even a Cessna 180 is flying at twice the ultralight's speed and likely would not expect it in his or her flight path. The ultralight's profile would be hard to discern at any distance. Closing at 90 knots would complicate avoiding the ultralight.
Do you know where on the video the jet passing by him his located? I didnt see it.
i had the SAE question!@@zekeigtos7240
@@zekeigtos7240check your vision.
Can you provide one instance of a mid air collision between an ultralight and commercial jet above 8k?
The wing area of a quicksilver ultralight, for example, and the c180 are virtually the same, visually no more difficult to identify. The relative speed difference in the case of the 180 overtaking from behind would reduce the amount of time for identification, but approaching head on would actually give more time. Not much different than operating a Cub or a Taylorcraft or whatever in that airspace.
Looks like the jet was not "below" him, just lower than him to the left by a great margin.
Looked the same to me. If that airliner was at 3000 feet preparing to land, and we are looking down at him like at a 45 degree angle, from 10000 feet... there are what, 1.5 miles of separation? I forgot my high school trig stuff. Seems plenty far away.
I have been flying for 25 years. This would frighten me if I were cruising in the Piper Archer. These are hard to see, and I don’t think they belong too far above pattern altitude for that reason. I once was on a x country flight, and a Cessna came out of nowhere. I tried to avoid the airplane by turning to the right. Just as I turned right, that airplane also turned right. So, I tried to do a 180. Then that airplane turned towards me. Thank God they saw me and got out of my way. If it was an ultralight moving at 50 kts I hate to think what would have happened as I was cruising at 110 kts. Also, I am not seeing where your instruments are located?? I am sure you have something but I am not readily seeing them.
Tats nice. I dont think you should be a pilot. It's dangerous. You have no business up there in a piper cub. Stay on the ground where it's safe and leave the air for Boeing and airbus. You private pilots are to dangerous without more over sight. What if a 747 or an A380 runs over you or something. Come to think of it, you shouldn't have a driver's license. To dangerous. More people die in cars than planes. And cancel showers, you might slip and fall. Get the picture?
That thing doesn't need instruments. The motor is right behind your head so you know whether it's running or not. Your airspeed is somewhere between 0 and "oh my God this thing is slow." Climb rate is "yes." Like an Ercoupe, yaw and roll are both controlled by the stick, so you don't need a turn coordinator... Those things are more like motorized kites than regular airplanes.
@@shadowfaxcrx5141I think his “instruments” was his phone that he held up early in flight
He has none just his cellphone. That is why at least 90 percent of commenters are chewing his as out how irresponsible he is being as we all are sure he has and still is doing stupid stuff like this many times.
The wing area is the same as your Archer, so no more difficult to see. If you were approaching each other head on, his slower airspeed would give you more time to see and avoid. If you’re coming up on him from behind, your airspeed minus his means the closing speed would be something like 30 knots, plenty of time to see and avoid.
Madness, but i admire your brave craziness - I certainly would not be brave enough to even think about it
FYI: Service ceiling in a Quicksilver MX is 14,000ft, but CFRs require that at the minimum, flight crew be provided with and use supplemental oxygen after 30 minutes of exposure to cabin pressure altitudes between 12,500 to 14,000 and immediately above 14,000 (fitness permitting).
I once had a Martin Mars water bomber fly between me and the ground when I was only at between 500-750 ft after being up 10, 000ft at Youbou, British Columbia.
It wasn't scary, I just thought, Jesus that's a big plane, and I wonder if they saw me?
I’m not even a pilot and my first thought was “ what the hell are you doing at 10,000’ in an ultra light?”😳 I listened to a 2 tours in VietNam loach helicopter pilot describing his wartime expierences who said he took his aircraft to 10,000’ one time and would never do it again voluntarily. This guy had been shot down 16 times and you could tell he thought that was dicey.
I’m surprised that engine was still running as well as it was at that altitude. I took my Challenger single place to 10500 and the engine was barely running. I think it was turning around 4500 rpm at WOT up there. It was also super cold. I had ski jacket, overalls gloves and the like. I was shivering up there. Needless to say I didn’t stay up there very long.
I only did it once. After that I never felt the need to do it again. I think the highest I had my Quicksilver Sprint was 6700 feet. It sure gives you a different perspective.
I went on to get my PPL and bought an old Cessna that I had for 10 years then got out of flying. I have to admit that I had more fun in ultralights than I ever did in GA. ULs are less restrictive and you can take them with you on trips. Just unfold it, put it in a trailer and away you go.
*the confidence level that nothing will go wrong* ..... 🙏
Glad you lived to tell the tale! I would be worried something would fail that far up, plus you could get lost. I'd need to see roads to navigate. Be safe and live your life! TC
That's why I don't think I'll ever get up there that high. Too many other faster planes. I'd be so scared to get hit. Low and slow for me. Glad to see you up there tho. I got my plane up to 150' on Tuesday. I'll be doing circuits soon and taking small trips.
👍 nice
Remember, most at 10K are moving at 150 kts+, looking at their high dollar glass panel or side chicks (aka corporate secretaries). They will probably never see you without strobes, bright colors and turning constantly. Good luck.
I was HG’ing at Lookout early 2000’s, was about 4,000 above the mountain, about 6,000 MSL when a Regional jet flew by close enough for me to see startled faces in the windows. Prolly about 200-300 feet away. It was loud.
And rightly so
You don’t even have to be hit. The vortexes from any jet or turboprop would break his wings off!
Looks so peaceful when the world slows down up there. Enjoyed the flight.
It’s is. Thanks
Flying that high with no parachute is nuts if you hope to live a long life.
It's only the last half inch that will kill you. 😉
You can die at 100’. Flying high doesn’t increase the risk, it just gives you more time to plan your death 😂 honestly the quicksilver is very safe and has an excellent record. I’ve flown them and I trust the structure more than the engines, that’s for sure. You can land them anywhere at 25mph…
Catastrophic failure at 10,000 ft or 500 ft probably won’t matter. Fall from 10,000 ft just gives you more time to think about it.
@@martdod More time to piss your pants.
@@rkgsd
A lot of comments about the altitude. But if you are in class G airspace everything is legal. Others can expect an aircraft with no radio and transponder in that airspace. They should fly accordingly or climb to other airspace.
Good logical comment, it is still unwise to fly that high w/o ADSB out and a transponder.
FAA oughta love this!! Above the clouds, no flight suit, no headphones, and no kind of avionic’s so someone could possibly see him…..ballsie, I’ll give him that
Just stupid.
Really, just ignorance squared.
Kinda makes me wonder what it's like getting sucked through a Jet's engine. Or worse, getting tossed around in a Jet's wake turbulence.
or worse just getting hit straight on and causing a major loss of life
You're nuts flying that high without a transponder at the very least! You're a danger to everyone in the air and should be grounded!
As a child, I always wondered what goes on above the clouds. Now I know.
Looked like a ton of fun! I would love to try this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching. If I go higher. I will try to get a block altitude it was a bit sketch 😀
Thesr and both sail planes and hang gliders show up on ATC radar and can fly in non controled airspace VFR
My brother, an ex navy pilot died in one of those. He was blown into high power electric wires. High or low these ppl are daredevils and nothing will stop em from achieving their dreams.
I believe the FAA rules should change requiring all aircraft, including ultralights, to have a transponder and ADS-B out within 30 nautical miles of class B or C airports AND, say, above 3000 AGL. Just too dangerous without this. They can still fly there; we just need to be able to see them.
Wow. I’d for sure drop my car keys and never find them again. Great views - looks like fun! 😅
Or your phone!😜
ultralights should be height restricted or required to have, what it is, ATSB? The gizmo that sends location information to surrounding aircraft.
Amen !
I’ve always wanted an ultralight !!! Just never made choice to acquire one! Looks fun!
It's amazing, you have total reliance on basically a few steel tubes, and canvas. Is there a maximum height your plane will fly or could it keep climbing?
No transponder, no comms and ATC, no helmet or O2 not even in flight gear - this isn’t grass roots flying this is flying lawn chair stuff and that commercial traffic is a factor with no TCAS it’s really unwise. When I was training we had a near miss with a rogue untracked paraglider and later in my career we were diverted due to a hot air balloon that strayed into the circuit. Flight is a privilege not a right, it has to be done right or not at all. One man’s freedom could be a whole lot of other people’s hell. You people scare us regulated law abiding flyers. I mean you don’t even have a runway with a sock in the vicinity of horses.
You’re telling me the tower had to inform you of the presence of a hot air balloon??? Wow, man, recommend you look out the windshield more often than fixate on your cockpit. Also, define “rogue paraglider”. You need to learn how to share the sky. Mid airs occur during final, almost always in the pattern and never has there been mid air with ultralight and commercial jet.
It sounds like a case of “this is my sky and only my sky”, right? I’m still laughing about the hot air balloon “incident”. I mean really? You couldn’t see a hot air balloon in broad daylight??? Hahahaha.
Oxygen? At 10,000 feet? On planet Earth?
I don't know, maybe work on your aerobic fitness.
@@GreenEyedRoguehypoxia begins there
@@eckleyy
Yeah, for elderly cardiac patients.
FAA regulations require O2 for flights above 18K. Most otherwise healthy adults can tolerate altitudes up to 14K while at rest with no ill effects.
Assuming this wasn't this ultralight pilot's first time above 10K it's reasonable to assume further that he has the requisite altitude tolerance to get that high without risking hypoxia.
As already pointed out by others, there's a host of other reasons for not going that high.
You sir are certifiably crazy. Please ultralights, 🙏🏻If your going to fly up that high. Use adsb in and out. At the very least in. They are so hard to see especially with white wings and clouds around.
I get it. Your in a pretty remote area, airspace wise (I would hope and imagine anyway) your doing frequent scans. It’s just so risky with no adsb. Looks awesome for sure. I do want to get an ultralight or gyro plane one day. They look like a blast to buz around in. But I wouldn’t fly anything without adsb and a radio.
ADSB in as well as com. with frequent position calls. Not everyone has ADSB. My brother and I survived a near miss head on. C150 verses sea plane. We didn't see him, he didn't see us. Missed by no more than 3 feet. If you're looking into ultralight flight stick with something that has a main wing and a tail section. To me gyros and weight shifts are just dumb. I was looking into a amphib Kolb Firestar because it had folding wings for trailering.
its illegal to do that in ultralight, FAA wont allow us to use ADSB
In the UK you'd go to jail for flying at 10,000 without a transponder, radios, oh, and ATC clearance. That's if you didn't cause a midair collision first.
You're proud you live in a rather socialist nanny state? I wouldn't be. Things may be more dangerous here in the states, but for many of us, having more freedoms is worth it. Yes, I've lived in England. 1960-1965. It was a land of too many regulations even back then.
@@Robnord1 That's not a freedom, it's utter stupidity. Clown.
Ha! I've seldom lived In a more prohibitive place than the US.
@Robnord1 What a ridiculous attempt to use to use the freedom versus socialist nanny state argument. I'm a big proponent of small government and freedom. However, doing dumb sht in the sky or on the road that endangers others has NOTHING to do with freedom. In fact, just like driving you have to follow the rules of the sky just like there are rules for driving. One such rule is you cannot pose a collision hazard to other aircraft like this jack wagon is doing at that altitude and speed.
@@Robnord1 Clown
Reminds me of the days flying fixed wing gliders. He probably could have enjoyed a little thermal fun with those flat bottom clouds. I often encountered thermals that nearly exceeded my best rate of decent. And on one flight a giant twin engine turbo prop flew directly under me. Clearing me by maybe 200 feet. Scared the bejesus out ob me.
Flying is fun, the enclosure a cockpit provides is excellent and satisfying, I am terrified watching this.
That is not safe. First thing. You should be wearing a full face helmet, gloves and some sort of insulated flying suit if you are going to be flying @ 10,000ft. Suppose your sunglasses fell off? Just because you can fly @ 10k doesn't mean you should. I would definitely suggest wearing a parachute if you are going to be flying 3k or above.
Maybe he should stay at home and watch television. That’s super dooper safe
It would have been quick, if he hit. How many others would have possibly needlessly lost their lives, however. If you haven’t got a transponder and aren’t visually well set up, you shouldn’t fly at high altitudes in a string-bag.
🖕Your chances of a mid air don't go up as your altitude does. Chances are about the same as being hit by lightning.
Exactly !!
When I took flying lessons the instructor firmly told me that unless I had a flight plan showing it I was never to go up to 10,000 ft. And that was on a single-engine Piper Cherokee 6. Unlicensed ultralights should have a 5,000 foot limit unless it’s in a rural area not near any major airports. You’re lucky, pal.
That's awesome. I was at 3000 feet on my second paramotor flight, outside my municipal airport's traffic pattern. I got to see a mooney come in through the pattern and land. I have an air band radio and I give my position a lot. I just worry that bigger planes won't be listening to my local airport frequency. I fully plan to go to 10,000 feet, but I have been following the traffic patterns in my area and know which parts to avoid. Thankfully the airliners around my town are all still above 15,000 feet because they're heading to Charlotte or Columbia. I wish I had some sort of transponder that was cheap and easy to run off a battery. I would get one.
I would assume you must be flying in a cleared area for an ultralite to be at that altitude? As a consumer drone pilot, I have to be very aware of NOFLY areas, and even then keep below 500 feet in just about every area. It looks amazing, but seems very dangerous to be at 10,000 feet in an area where jets are flying and coming in for landings.
And just how are other planes and jets supposed to know he is there? No strobe, no radio traffic no control.
umm VFR supposed to be clear of clouds and looking out their windshields ??? what if it was a slow flying CUB ?????
See and be seen.
I know nothing about the rules that apply but perhaps near this airfield UL are known to be flying?
@@MrArray1967 he should not be flying at an altitude above 500 feet without a strobe at least. With no radio communication other aircraft are not proactively looking for him.
Have been to 4500 meters (15'000 ft) on my paraglider and had 2x Swiss F-18s fly under me (was quite relieved to see they were going slowly about 1000m below me - heard the noise long before I could see them!)
😬 Sketch
Did you take oxygen?
@@f.n.schlub no oxygen needed at that level (if one is fit). 🙂
@@f.n.schlub no
They most likely could see you well before they got close.
What is the L/D of the ultralight? If the engine stops, how well does it glide? Catch any lift from thermals?
I'm glad to see you scanning around you. My flight instructor asked me once, where I was looking. I said forward. He said to scan, as you just never know if another airplane will pass over or sneak in from behind.
There are quite a few videos on here, of a cheeky warbird passing under a student during a flying lesson.
The quicksilver mx is not good with thermaling it just doesn’t have that capability due to the wing design. Glide ratio is pretty bad maybe slightly better than a standard sport skydiving canopy, but does extremely well unpowered. You just need to pick a spot within 45 degree cone in emergency.
you're like one of them people who go out in the middle of the ocean with a kayak... there may not be missive animals up there to eat you but that thing looks like a strong gust in the wrong direction will send you flying out that chair
Might be foolish but this takes a lot of balls.
Stupid aint balls.
It don't get much better than this man, very nice video. I hope to be up in the clouds myself one day, keep on driving That plane.
😁 Thanks
@@UltralightAirplaneDriverso you only respond to the dumb enablers? Try addressing the criticism in this comment section like a man instead of running away like a child.
I'm sure it's been mentioned but quick couple of questions. Do you have a radio or ADSB on that ultralight? If you have a radio, flight following would be an excellent choice just so they know where you are and can let others know as well. ADSB would let everyone else know where you are regardless if on flight following or not. It's difficult enough for me to spot actual aircraft when I'm flying much less an ultralight. Anywhere between 4,500 and 9,500 is prime altitude for GA aircraft so use good judgement! Just a few thoughts
they're not going to give flight following to an ultralight, only requirement is to maintain cloud clearances.
He's way too high for what he's in. !
Probably difficult for you to see others is your fixation on the ADSB . I’ve seen pilots literally fixate on everything except the view outside the window
@@glen7016 who said I’m “fixated” on ASAB?? Of course I look at it but I don’t fixate on it. That being said, if you’re saying it’s not difficult to see other aircraft while in the air, you’re a lot better than me and every other pilot I know.
My daughter was talking to me, so I looked away several times. At what point does the jet appear? Thanks for the video!
0:34 to 0:36
@@russbell6418It’s so teeny. I completely missed it the first time. Watched the entire video then started again. All that for 2 seconds of a blip. 😠
Thank you!@@russbell6418
I like how u filmed coming back down from the heavens. Impressed!
Crazy. No, this is literally insane. Any number of things could go wrong with either the aircraft or the occupant. And where’s the PPE in the event of a hard landing? Any aircraft approaching you at 450 mph wouldn’t even see you before colliding. You have no business endangering the lives of innocent people.
does it have anti-collision lights? Must be cold up there. If you hit a downdraft that thing would probably fold like a kite.
nope, I have been caught in all kinds of weather, the MX is pretty tuff
If this guy had stuffed himself through the windshield of a 787, who has the liability?
787, they arent supposed to be at 9,999 feet
The only time a commercial airliner would be below 10k is in controlled a, b, c, or d airspace. Ultralights don’t fly in those areas, with the exception of class d where they are required to be in contact with tower and require special permission. If an airliner collided with an ultralight (which has never happened btw), and ultralight was outside these highly controlled areas, the commercial airliner would be at fault I would think
I'm surprised that the FAA doesn't require you to have some sort of transponder such that the ATC will see you on the RADAR and warn all air traffic
Same thought. Obviously airport nearby, jet flew under. Imagine being the jet pilot at 10k going 400-500 and that appears in front of you.
@@jamesp13152 that's exactly what I was thinking...450 knots is about 760 fps..... nightmare scenario
Regulate me more big gov, more I say.
@@jeffg4392 I guess that traffic control devices such as stop lights ... speed limit signs .... interstate markers are too much regulation.... yea right... that'll work.... have you ever driven in a "third world "country that doesn't have any traffic regulations???... and you think that NYC or Los Angeles traffic or Chicago traffic is bad
@@terencemcbride9090 land of the free, kinda , sorta.
10,000 ft with a lawn mower. dude you better strap a skydiving rig on next time. that's wild
As an ex pilot you should know that the most lethal altitude to fly is below 2000-3000 feet. No time to recover or land safely in most cases.
My UL club's TPA is 400', but I've done tests and I can *barely* do a 180 to get upwind in 400', let alone get back to the runway.
Won’t lie, no way on gods good earth I would do that in that aircraft. Fair play to you bud!!
🙂 . Thanks 👍
It's a very bad idea .
It's a great idea until it isn't @@CaptainFritz
@the_dark_one6052 That thing needs a stobe light at the top of the king post at the very least if you want to take it up where the traffic is at .
1000' is all you need to reach terminal velocity and even then you only need a fraction of that to turn into a bag of mush when you hit the ground so what's another 9000' diff gonna make?
Looks dangerous like hell
I'm just some retired Air Force Senior Numnutz 1C, 😦
BUTT!!😮
If you are going to fly at that kind of altitude maybe a nice little ultra big STROBE fkn LIGHT?!?!??!??!🤓
...might give a little more sense that you might be SEEN!!!!👀👀
How is it that the camera shots from the back left of plane are steady as the ultra light is bouncing?
I've been a pilot since the 70s. Have two experimental planes and a J3 Junior ultralight. It is equipped with a transponder.
Obviously don't need to use it. But you never know and there is a lot of military aircraft that fly quite low. Also my runways in the trees.
Point is it doesn't take a much larger aircraft passing overhead for an ultralight that weighs 277 lb ( safety equipment allowance) to lose control.
Thanks for putting the effort and money into s 2 camera video. Adds a lot of demsion. Love it. Two cameras, twice the editing! 😊 lookin great 👍
10,000 ft. on what appears to be a glorified bicycle frame out in the elements and no parachute? That is crazy to me. What could go wrong? (Sarcasm)
Using the iPhone, or whatever the hand-held device was, for altitude and navigation, only works if you don't drop it and it holds a charge for quite a while. It appears that your safety depended on always having it available, but you had no security cord for the device either around your neck or attached to a point on the Ultralight from which you could always retrieve it, if you lost your grip on it. Flying without a light-weight emergency parachute seems to be a completely unnecessary risk - and no fuel system and no internal combustion engine is 100%, or even 95%, failure free. Perhaps you could glide from a 9,900+ foot altitude back to a landing spot, if the engine failed, but with such seemingly small wheels(wide-angle wing camera lens may make them look smaller than they actually are), it seems the landing spot you select, and commit to landing on, would have to be very smooth to avoid a wheel catching and the plane nosing over, possibly inflicting major damage to the airframe and to you.
I am not a pilot, so my concerns may be unwarranted in the scheme of things. People like me watch these videos, because we would like the idea of the freedom offered by an Ultralight and the opportunity to fly an Ultralight on more than one flight, but without any unnecessary risk of crashing or becoming disoriented on the first flight, or any thereafter. Thanks for sharing this video of your experience.
I am a pilot, and the biggest risk here is not so much the things you mentioned, but rather that when your pilot life and social media life get intertwined, you will start taking on higher risk actions in order to keep your content engaging.
I did the same flight in a max air hummer with a 22 hp Great flight brother Love the video
Thank You. I enjoyed going on that ride with you.
Do you have a transponder in that thing? If not, you need to get one if you’re going to be up that high. I’m in the right seat all the time in our Cirrus and my husband and I are constantly looking for ultralights and other aircraft that are in the air without transponders.
He's an accident waiting to happen
Just a lap belt? What do you do if you hit a rotor or other mechanical turbulence that flips you over? Just slide out of the seat and fall out?
Doesn't matter, this wing cannot support inverted flight or any noteworthy G anyway😅
I don't think this guy is thinking on all cylinders
If you have to ask the question, aviation is probably not for you. Single lap belt is sufficient. You aren’t going to be thrown from the plane
I dont mind if you take yourself out. In this case you endager others unless you have a Transponder ATC can use to ensure you dont Bird Strike a Heavy.
He doesn't care about his own safety. Why would he care about anyone else's?
Thanks for sharing this video. It certainly started discussion on ADSB mandate for UltraLight and PPG . After all, if 0.5lb drone need to boardcast IDs, it would make no sense to not require ADSB for UltraLight and PPG.
You got guts.
You have to have brains to “ have guts”