Where is UL growing?

[rawheels]

Our airport has had a lot of ultralights in the past. However, most of the pilot's in the group have transitioned through the years to LSA or GA, and nobody is back-filling the void. I get questions all the time about how someone can get into ultralights, but my standard answer is you basically have to get LSA training and then buy a used UL and train yourself in the single seat. There is one CFI in the area who spent the money to buy a SLSA powered parachute to train people, but for fixed wing it is pretty much cub/champ or plastic LSA training because the SLSA aircraft are so expensive.

So, it just makes me wonder where in the country UL flying is growing, and what is the secret?

[Floatsflyer]

ULs are not dead, they're on life support. Two-placed ULs merged into LSA as converted E-LSA up until 2008 I think. But single seat true ultralights are still being developed as evidenced by this legal Part 103 "flying float" called the Connie, an amphibious UL still in the flying prototype stage. So for those that want to legally operate and fly with no licence and no medical, this could be the one. But you'll still have to learn in a 2 place LSA.

http://youtu.be/VMjLR_cktZo

[rawheels]

Still no answers on where UL flying is actually growing, but there is lots of good info in the "Learning to fly ultralights" thread. http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?...ly-Ultralights Single seat training may be the answer.

An ultralight that has been in planning for 6 years and based on a rotax engine no longer in production, doesn't seem like much life support. However, if we can get the training figured out I think there will be a market again for Part 103 and a reason for manufacturers to design new products.

[Ken Finney]

There is one area of ULs that if not red hot, is pretty close: powered paragliding. Lots of the same excitement there as there was is ULs 30 years ago.
www.footflyer.com

[Buzz]

There is one area of ULs that if not red hot, is pretty close: powered paragliding. Lots of the same excitement there as there was is ULs 30 years ago.www.footflyer.com

I think this begs the question of what people think of when they say "ultralights".

There are some powered footlaunched hanggliders out there and there are some powered paragliders. But those are very narrow segments of ultralight flying.

I'm not trying to exclude them [I started out in Rogallos], but when I think the average person is thinking "getting into flying an ultralight", they are not envisioning a powered paraglider. Especially if they are over 40.

Am I correct in assuming that powered paragliding is not taught [for the most part] using dual instruction? If so, could it's growth partially be because the dealers are able to train, unlike ultralight dealers today?

-Buzz

[Dana]

There are "some" powered hang gliders-- they're quite difficult to set up and launch without assistance-- but there are many thousands of active powered paraglider pilots in the US today. It may not be what people think of when people think of "getting into ultralights", but it has its own appeal... it's a blast! The easy transportability and lack of need for a hangar is also a big plus. Many PPGers, including myself, are also (and first) airplane pilots... and I think the average age is well over 40. Few younger adults have the $7-10K for such an impractical toy (of course, this applies to all forms of ultralights).

Re training, yes, most PPG instruction is not dual. There is some controversy over whether this is advisable, but it works because the most difficult part of PPG is getting the wing inflated and getting airborne. Once you learn to control the wing on the ground-- takes most people about 10 hours of practice before even strapping the motor on-- the rest is easy... and the low speeds mean even if you screw up, equipment damage (broken propellers and cages) is more likely than injury.

There is actually a 103 dual training exemption still available for PHG and PPG... but it's limited to foot launch only. A 2 seat PPG with wheels is considered a powered parachute, and must be certificated and flown by a certificated pilot.

[steveinindy]

Still no answers on where UL flying is actually growing

I think the answer, unpleasant as it might be, is simply to say "nowhere". Even as someone with a lot of ultralight time myself, I am hard pressed to think of any "new" ultralight pilots I have met as I travel for my work. Most of the guys I know who used to fly ultralights have either died (from reasons other than crashes; most of our de facto local group were old pilots who had lost their medicals for one reason or another), retired from flying or moved up to something like an LSA. The effective death knell of the UL world was the end of the two seat option. I just don't know many folks who are looking to put up with all of the restrictions in terms of weight and performance inherent with Part 103. If you can't easily do a hamburger run with your friend or your wife....even the speed restrictions of LSA are a bit oppressive honestly.

Maybe not as many of us fly for the pure "love of flying" as we like to claim otherwise it would stand to reason that Part 103 would probably be a little more widely used.

[Norman Langlois]

I have to agree the UL is in a bad way. I am a late comer to the UL class .I made it through even though in a very controversial way. I tried to put a spark into the UL I am growing old fast and even if my plane has a desirable element. I can no longer see it going into production. Because of the reasons Stevenindy has stated and my own experience with the opposition to the single seat methodology.
The plane is a success if still needing refinement. It flew extensively on the labor day week end as seen here in my recently posted videos and
I had hoped to put into kit production .I have been informed VIA opinion that they wont do the work [implying that potential buyer /builder wont]

[Norman Langlois]

I had hoped that by building a desirable looking plane and using the water , would help since there are no airport restrictions and in my case in NH no use restrictions no registration boat or other wise. The training locations are spacious and if the aircraft is well behaved as is mine with one exception. That is static not moving with wind.[needs improvement]. Otherwise with a boat and communications the training would go pretty well. for a reasonable UL training program. Water to air needs a well behaved trainer, I believe mine is.

[jedi]

ULs are not dead, they're on life support. Two-placed ULs merged into LSA as converted E-LSA up until 2008 I think. But single seat true ultralights are still being developed as evidenced by this legal Part 103 "flying float" called the Connie, an amphibious UL still in the flying prototype stage. So for those that want to legally operate and fly with no licence and no medical, this could be the one. But you'll still have to learn in a 2 place LSA.

http://youtu.be/VMjLR_cktZo

I think you will find these video's are all ten or more years old and the aircraft is or never was in production. Baily made some nice designs but none were ever produced due in part to the comments you see here. Somebody please tell me if this plane is available anyplace.