Anyone into UltraLights? (train, sport, price, best)

[leadingedge04]

Hello. As I sit here working at my local FBO I stumbled a upon a few you tube viedeos of ultralights. I was thinking "hmmm". Right now I dont have enough $ for a PPL but maybe this? Are they fun? Whats a price range? Whats the training like? I have enough room in my backyard for a runway. Is there one where I can take a PAX up?
Info is greatly appreciated. thanks!

[Chava61]

I know someone who is an ultralight instructor. If you are interested in the person's contact information, please send me a direct message.

[J Arp]

I've been saving up for forever for an ultralight or full fledged plane. Flying is a lot of fun but like a lot of fun hobbies it gets expensive.

[drjones96]

The old man used to fly Weedhoppers back in the day ('80's). That's about the only way that an average Joe is going to get into flying these days. When even your most basic general aviation airplane can be well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars...and you can get and ultralight for less than $20k.....

[J Arp]

Originally Posted by drjones96

The old man used to fly Weedhoppers back in the day ('80's). That's about the only way that an average Joe is going to get into flying these days. When even your most basic general aviation airplane can be well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars...and you can get and ultralight for less than $20k.....

You can find an old Cessna 150/152 for that or less though. I just can't see paying 20k for an ultralight but e-bay is always has more than a few of those...

[irman]

Originally Posted by leadingedge04

Hello. As I sit here working at my local FBO I stumbled a upon a few you tube viedeos of ultralights. I was thinking "hmmm". Right now I dont have enough $ for a PPL but maybe this? Are they fun? Whats a price range? Whats the training like? I have enough room in my backyard for a runway. Is there one where I can take a PAX up?
Info is greatly appreciated. thanks!

Please clarify *Ultralights*. Your idea what it is !

Next, what is your budget like ? Less than 30K, 20K, 10K ?

You say *enough room in backyard*. OK, like how many feet wide and long ?
How much nothing after that ? Like no trees, or power lines ?

Then, are you looking for a fun machine or a traveling machine ?
Fun Machine = short distances, low speed flight.
Traveling Machine, = can go from one place to another with enough fuel left (30 minutes of flight) with passenger AND luggage.

Thinking of flying *on your own* most of the time, or with a bunch of friends, who are also pilots with their own machines ?

Are you willing to PAY for Instruction and then all the other cost related to your ticket ? You'd be surprised that additional costs are almost never ending ..... (maintenance, airworthiness, annuals, etc)
You mention *not enough money for a PPL*.
Uhmmm .... Even *SportPilot* will cost you dearly.
So you are thinking *no License Flying* ?

Where are you located now (Vermont ?)? Best way is to find out what you really like to do, then get a demo ride or something.

DM or PM me for more info.

[drjones96]

Originally Posted by J Arp

You can find an old Cessna 150/152 for that or less though. I just can't see paying 20k for an ultralight but e-bay is always has more than a few of those...

Yeah but we all know that only having the airplane itself isn't enough to fly. You need 'other' things.....like a hangar....and spare parts....etc.

My dad had a 60hp Rotax and made and enclosed cabin for his 'ultralight'. LOL He fully customized it as well. We took the basic kit and just started making improvements from one end to the other. Example: The basic kit just has a straight axle for the main landing gear. We raised the gear and substituted fiberglass gear legs for a softer ride on grass feilds. And the original nose gear used to be like a bicycle style but we changed it to work like a bell crank mechanism. We flat pushed the envelope of what you could do with one. Wonder who has it now.

[J Arp]

Originally Posted by drjones96

Yeah but we all know that only having the airplane itself isn't enough to fly. You need 'other' things.....like a hangar....and spare parts....etc.

My dad had a 60hp Rotax and made and enclosed cabin for his 'ultralight'. LOL He fully customized it as well. We took the basic kit and just started making improvements from one end to the other. Example: The basic kit just has a straight axle for the main landing gear. We raised the gear and substituted fiberglass gear legs for a softer ride on grass feilds. And the original nose gear used to be like a bicycle style but we changed it to work like a bell crank mechanism. We flat pushed the envelope of what you could do with one. Wonder who has it now.

Yeah believe me I know. All those 'others' is what is keeping me from making a move on buying anything. I'm a poor boy, if fuel goes up too much more I'll have to settle with buying a glider and bumming tows off people.