OT - Ultralights

[captain_john]

Well, I am gonna spill my guts here and now. Get some sheet plastic out, 'cause it could get messy!

I just don't think ultralights are worth the 10-15 THOUSAND dollars they cost. The dollar for fun ration is waaaaay out of proportion.

Yesterday, we gave it some thought and I understand we aviators need to band together. We get so much attention as a whole from the media when something happens and together we stand. Publicly I support the U-light guys and really admire them for their enthusiasm for the endeavor, but I personally think they are too fragile, costly and impractical.

If you have one and enjoy it, that is great. I just don't think it would be for me.

What is your take on these things?

CJ

[captain_john]

This thing scares the BEJESUS outta me!

http://www.beaujonultralights.com/plans7.html



I just can't imagine flying it, balancing it with your feet and all!

I mean really now.

CJ

[arffguy]

I have met a few ultralight pilots who tired of the lack of range, sold it and bought a "normal" (no offense) type of airplane. They say that they are alot of fun but after you circle the town a few hundred times you really get the urge to go somewhere. Of course there are guys who travel a ways in them. But I agree that the cost is up there with buying a used 150. Even more, look at the price of powered parachutes. I mean, I know the chutes cost some bucks but that much?

[DDURAKOVICH]

Yeah, but the operating cost of that 150, as well as the cost to get the ticket might well make the difference!

I agree, that thing scares me to, but the thought of the freedom, wind in your face (although I imagine a Pitts or a Starduster Too under me) has some appeal. And these days, with the hours transferable to a real ticket.....

Dave

[arffguy]

I think some of the designs look fun. It's probably a heck of lot of fun. We used to have an airline pilot around here that owned a Breezy. I'm not trashing on any particular design. I just agreed that costs have gotten higher. It's probably the liability insurance issue. Guys marketing kits are probably making little profit, if any. I used to think EAA stood for Extremely Affordable Aviation but now it seems to mean Extremely Affluent Aviators. Also I think it was Van himself who said that you should be careful when sitting around trashing other designs because sooner or later the conversation will come around to the one that you yourself are flying. Like, oh, for instance, that the RV has become the "Spam Can" of the homebuilts etc.

[Ron]

Hey Guy's,

There are a lot of proven ultralight design's available these day's. And they are very strong as long as they are maintained properly. I just sold my challenger II amphib, put it together with all new parts, under 20,000. Talk about cheap amphib fun! Oh Yeah, that included plan b.......my ballistic recovery chute

[l & d lewis]

Surprizingly we have a pretty good group of ultraliter's here in Alaska, mostly trikes. I'm amazed to watch as they change from floats in the summer to skis in the winter. I've seen them flying skis with the temps hovering around 0, let alone the windnchill. I spoke several times with Mike Jacober at Arctic Sparrow who flew his Antaries trike over Mt. McKinley at 22,000 ft, his enthusiasm for the sport is infectious. I've met several pilots who fly corporate jets and turbos, but love their UL's. There are a number of designs I'd like to try, some I wouldn't, and some I probably will some day. Same goes for Light Sport, its all a different experience...Larry