UL Interested How to Fly?

[wmgeorge]

OK, new guy here But I have been around and ridden motorcycles, snowmobiles and engines all my life. Grew up on a farm and was welding a gokart up when I was 12 years old back in the 1950's. Can fix or fab out of metal not an issue, even have a small home machine shop.

Even spent 4 years in the USAF as a Air Craft Electrician, worked on the Cessna 310 up to B52's. At one time I had the books for ground school to learn how to fly.

Now many years later I got interested in Ultra Lights, Aerolite 103 or a Phantom (used) are some that caught my eye. So what books can I buy that can give me an overview on flying one? Yes I know you can't learn from a book to fly, but the basics.

Yes I am a Retired Master Electrician and worked in the commercial HVAC field a Union shop for years, taught and also have a ham radio license from the 1970's.

[Bill Berson]

Most of the ultralight books are from the 70’S and 80‘s. Such as Ultralight Kit Book by Jack Lambie and others.
Try Amazon used books.

[wmgeorge]

Thanks for the Reply Bill I did check out that book on Amazon and usually they like to pop up with suggestions.... not this time! Maybe some other poster on here will have another suggestion, if not I will order this one or both.

I did find and order two Ultralight Airmanship: How to Master the Air in an Ultralight (Ultralight Aviation Series) and A Professional Approach to Ultralights we will see.

[Sam Buchanan]

I would consider the classic "Stick and Rudder" to be an essential read. It was written back in the day when many light aircraft had similar flight characteristics to ultralights, and the physics of flight have not changed in the decades since.

[wmgeorge]

I would consider the classic "Stick and Rudder" to be an essential read. It was written back in the day when many light aircraft had similar flight characteristics to ultralights, and the physics of flight have not changed in the decades since.

Yes Sam I saw that one and almost ordered, but I have two to read now and haven't even seen a UL up close. I would like to take a test ride in one. Last flight was passenger in a hot air balloon and was NOT impressed. Pilot was bossy and a know it all, ended up sort of crash landing on a farmers field and started a grass fire!

[robert l]

Check around and find someone with a two seat FlightStar, it's about the same as flying a Phantom, only not as crisp. Kolb also has two seat, side by side, aircraft. You may find someone that instructs in one of those. Google USUA, you may find some ultralight instructors on their page.
Bob

[jedi]

I would consider the classic "Stick and Rudder" to be an essential read. It was written back in the day when many light aircraft had similar flight characteristics to ultralights, and the physics of flight have not changed in the decades since.

agree. Available in many libraries.

Better choice is See How it Flies. Download free and read. Google it.

I am UL, Light Sport and many other CFI. PM me with contact info for more detailed discussions.

[Norman Langlois]

Fallow up with Jedi He has done well by me. And that [See how it flies]is a real good read. I own one of the UL instruction books once available at the EAA store. Purchased back in 07. I don't need it anymore.

[wmgeorge]

Fallow up with Jedi He has done well by me. And that [See how it flies]is a real good read. I own one of the UL instruction books once available at the EAA store. Purchased back in 07. I don't need it anymore.

I am still doing my research and thank you all for your help. I did join EAA and laugh if you wish but purchased MS Flight Simulator X the disks plus a joystick and just getting acquainted with terms and hardware. I will be 75 this summer so I perhaps do not have time to build a kit or a plane from scratch :) but its keeping me interested. Yes, I have a lot more hobbies to keep me busy.

[wmgeorge]

Is there some reason, and I am on Lots of other Forums and Facebook all the time but this one when I type its almost like there is a key logger or something going on, its really slow like about 2 key strokes behind what I am typing.

[Michael Miles]

Hi there wm - I see you have MS Flight Sim X. There's a book with downloadable misions for real world flight training experiences:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BOZGMXY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can get an ultralight plane an practice with that.

This a good book too if you're building your own (I think a pdf file might be available on google):

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051VF0AS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

planes here (and/or google):

https://simviation.com/1/front-page
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads.html
http://simviation.com//downloads.html
http://www.fsplanet.com/database.htm

X-plane is a good sim too with good flight dynamics.

Michael

[Norman Langlois]

Hi WM
I didn't speak of how I got my training. I did in another thread before and got slapped down by a few negative attitudes. I started with 10 yrs of combat flight sims 7 yrs of which were with a very special flight controller. Custom built by me. One of the main arguments is the fact of a plastic desktop joystick. It will not contribute much in the way of motor skill. From a sim user motor skills are everything if one wants to stay alive in the combat scene. Training on something unrealistic? You should invest in rudder pedals. and as much real input device as you can create or buy.
I did still fallow up with a CFI. and read the aforementioned book See How it Flies as well the Ul training manual I had purchased.
On top of designing my own Ultra light Seaplane. That part alone teaches more about the plane than just buying and flying.
I'm not recommending taking my path. It only reflects on my will to fly and over come all obstacles.
You can buy a plastic joystick and make a similar controller as the one I did . Just take care not to short circuit the electronics.
The motor skills coupled with the right tool . do more than half the training should one have to take the single seat avenue for the actual real flight training. This is my training tool.71707171

[wmgeorge]

Thanks for the replies, I was beginning to think this Forum was dead. Yes I have Flight Sim X up and running, and yes I know its not real but for someone who has never flown an air craft of any kind its a learning thing.
Actually I came accross the Afford a Plane Group on Face Book, checked into and ordered the plans. It may never happen but who knows, my first year of retirement I built a 3 point backhoe for my JD Tractor.

[wmgeorge]

Insurance? What about Liability Ins for a Ultra Light or Sport Air craft? Yes and thanks for the suggestion I did order that book and I hope the disk comes with it.