ultralights and light airplanes for recreational flying

An ultralight is a "flying vehicle" (not an airplane according to the FAA) that weighs no more than 254 lbs, carries no more that 5 gals of gasoline, has only one seat and can only reach a top speed of 63 mph. If all these conditions are met, then the person flying it does not need a pilot's license and the craft itself does not need to be registered with the FAA.

You cannot fly with another person in your ultralight. You must be flying an "ultralight trainer" in order to fly with second person in the same vehicle. You can only use the vehicle for "recreational" purposes.

Yes. Ultralight instructors teach in an "ultralight trainer". This vehicle can weigh up to 494 lbs, carry up to 10 gals of gas, have 2 seats and go up to 75 mph. Also, the instructor is allowed to charge a fee for his instructions. Ultralight instructors are still NOT required to have a pilots' license.

Instructor's charge different hourly rates. Some are as low as $50 per hour and some as high as $100 per hour. Instructor Hedges charges $65 per hour and requires that each lesson be at least 2 hours in length. The average person requires about 6-10 hours before they are able to solo.

All recreation involves some risks. Ultralights are considered by some to be an "extreme" sport. Resting on a beach involves far less risks than flying an ultralight. The real danger in flying is in the loss of control of the vehicle. A plane out of gas is not normally a "life threatening" situation. Being out of control is. Most ultralights are equipped with a "ballistic" parachute attached to the ultralight. If the ultralight goes out of control the pilot can deploy the parachute that would bring the craft, and its occupants, gently down to earth. Each year a couple ultralighters are saved this way. Unfortunately, traditional planes do not have this safety feature. An onboard parachute is like having a giant safety net always below you.

Mr. Hedges has been flying general aviation aircraft for over 35 years. In 1992 he purchased his first ultralight for $10,000. Within 4 months he became a Basic Flight Instructor (BFI) with the United States Ultralight Association. Over the past 9 years he has accumulated over 1,000 hours and is regarded as one of the most experienced instructors in Florida. He keeps his ultralight at the Lantana, FL airport.

Your first lesson will involve leaving the Lantana airport and flying over the beach and then out to the Everglades. During this flight you will learn straight and level flying, turning, and climbing. Your first lesson will last 2 hours. During that time you will have 30 minutes of ground school and 1 1/2 hours actual flying time. Total cost $130.

Your second lesson will be a mini-cross country either to the south (Miami area) or north (Jupiter). Attached to this website are photos taken during the southern flight to Homestead General UL field. This trip will last over 4 hours of which 3 hours are in actual flying time. The student only pays for the actual time the aircraft is flying and at a reduced rate of $50 per hour. Total cost $150.

Your third lesson will sharpen your takeoff and landing skills. You will learn how to conduct yourself around a "controlled" airport. This includes talking to the tower and entering the traffic pattern used by other aircraft at the same airport. This lesson will take 2 hours of which 30 minutes will be in ground school. Total cost: $130.

Like everything else it depends on what you want and how much money you have to spend. A basic UL can cost as little as $3,000 and be a good, flyable craft. It will be slow and it may eventually bore you. The more money you spend will give you a more substantial UL. This could start moving you closer to having a "real" plane. Real planes require a pilot's license, must be registered with the FAA and must routinely be inspected. At $10,000 - $15,000 you can have a very fine UL with two seats, 10 gals of gas and enough power to make you feel like you are flying.

Your ultralight instructor can "sign you off" to continue to fly, by yourself, in the two-seat ultralight trainer that you have been trained to fly in. This may include a two-seat ultralight that you own. You must carry your log book that contains your instructor's endorsement giving you this opportunity to fly without his presence in your two-seat ultralight trainer. This does not give you the right to take another person with you in the two-seat ultralight trainer until you, also, become an instructor.

There are three major associations representing the interests of ultralighters:

United States Ultralight Association (USUA) - the one that really made ul's legit with the FAA.
Aero Sports Connection (ASC) - A spin off of the USUA and representing all types of UL.
Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) - The largest and most resourceful.

Weather affects everyone, including ultralighters. A strong wind challenges the skills of the pilot and takes the fun out of recreational flying. Certain ultralights handle a crosswind better than traditional aircraft. Some don't. The best time to fly is early morning (right after sunrise), late afternoon (just before sunset), or all day depending upon the weather, your skills and the type of ultralight you are flying.

Without quoting statistics (which are not available), most ultralight fatalities are caused by "Pilot Error". Even experienced ul pilots are capable of making a fatal error. An ultralight equipped with a ballistic parachute greatly reduces the chances of a fatality. If the pilot losses control he can deploy the parachute. If the motor stops and he still has control, the pilot should be capable of a safe short-field landing. The fatal error most pilots do is "turning the plane around" to land at a more convenient place. Don't do it.

Home: Deerfield Bch, FL
Contact: 954-427-1242

Community
Involvement

Home: Deerfield Bch, FL Contact: 954-427-1242

Community Involvement

Home: Deerfield Bch, FL
Contact: 954-427-1242

Community
Involvement