Frequently Asked Questions| [ Home | DANMAC Sites | Newsletter | Events Diary | Photo Album ] |
Frequently Asked Questions| [ Home | DANMAC Sites | Newsletter | Events Diary | Photo Album ] |
| A one or two seat powered aeroplane whose maximum total all-up weight
authorised at take-off does not exceed 390kg. The wing loading must not exceed
25kg per square metre and the fuel capacity must not exceed 50 litres. Basically it's a very light aircraft. In fact to the untrained eye, a lot of Microlights look like any other light aircraft |
| I won't pretend that people don't have accidents in microlights because
they do, but if flown within the limits of both pilot and machine they really
are quite safe. The combination of strict controls and excellent standards of training in the UK mean that accidents on the whole tend to be fairly rare and often only involve a few cuts and bruises. Although these machines look fairly flimsy, they are in fact extremly robust, and are tested to well beyond their documented limits of operation. In addition, each machine must undergo an annual inspection and test flight by a BMAA appointed inspector. |
| In 2001 two of our club members climbed to over 13,000ft but generally
most pilots prefer to stay between 1,000 and 3,000 feet. Microlights tend to cruise at anything between 40mph and 70mph approximately. The actual speed across the ground is very much dependant on the wind direction and speed, but even when you have a stiff tailwind you never really get the impression of travelling very fast because the ground is so far away. |
| Again this is very dependant on type of machine, engine and fuel capacity,
remember the maximum fuel capacity is just 50 litres). I guess the average is about 150 miles in still air. i.e. 2 - 3 hours. |
| In a word YES. You need a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) to be able to
legally fly a microlight in the UK. This involves at least 25 hours of flight training - which normally breaks down to about 12 duel and the remainder solo. You will need to pass 4 multiple choice exams, an oral exam, a flight test and you will need to complete 2 cross country flights of around 50 miles each. You will also need a declaration of fitness from your local GP (Basically a card that says that you aren't prone to sudden black-outs etc). |
| A second hand machine can cost anything from about £2,500 upwards. New
machines are usually anything from about £8,000 to £25,000. They do tend to hold their value though, so really the actual cost of your machine is the lost interest and the fact that the money is tied up. Spare parts are expensive, so it's best not to bend your aircraft, although there are some insurance companies that will provide fully comprehensive insurance. Learning to fly will typically cost around £1,200 based on £60 per hour. Running costs are usually between around £10 - £20 per hour which is on a par with running a family car. |
| Microlighters come from all walks of life, the very nature of the sport
breaks down the barriers of sex, race and physical ability. The sport is
genuinely accessible to anyone with an interest in becoming airbourne. Everyone I have encountered who are associated with the sport are always very friendly and eager to offer their help and advice. |
| There are number of clubs dotted around the UK. There is a full list on
the British Microlight Aircraft Association
(BMAA) Homepage. The BMAA also produce a video called 'The Dream' at the ridiculously inexpensive price of £6.50. This is an excellent introduction to the sport. Your local club will also be able to provide you with any further information you might require and also arrange a trial flight for you. Of course you can always e-mail me for more information, or if you live anywhere near Nottingham, why not pop in to one of DANMAC's monthly meetings (See DANMAC hompage for details). |