Training Sales Service

Somerset Microlights

● Training – Sales – Service 01404 - 891880 www.somerset-microlights.com Dunkeswell Aerodrome Honiton, Devon, EX14 4LJ

WHAT IS A MICROLIGHT? A Microlight is a one or two seat aircraft with a maximum weight, including persons, of not more than 450 kgs. It has a maximum wing loading of 25 kgs / sq mtr or a stall speed not exceeding 41 mph.

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? A new two seater can be obtained from £10,000 to £80,000, a second hand one from around £6,000. Running costs are very low in comparison with other aircraft.

ARE MICROLIGHTS DANGEROUS? Is a car or motorcycle dangerous? No, but the person driving it may be. Any activity carries a risk, you will be taught everything you need to know to avoid danger, from then on it’s up to you. There is a saying “Airplanes bite fools”. All aircraft are built to C.A.A. (Civil Aviation Authority) airworthiness requirements and your instructor is B.M.A.A. (British Microlight Aircraft Association) and C.A.A. qualified.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ENGINE STOPS? Nothing dramatic, the aircraft simply glides and a forced landing is made into the nearest suitable field, most landings are made without using the engine anyway.

WHAT SORT OF PERFORMANCE DO THEY HAVE? Older machines tend to cruise at around 40 mph and need fairly calm weather to fly in. Modern machines cruise at 50 to 60 mph, with top speeds of 120 mph. Most microlights can operate from average sized fields. Climb rates of 1000 ft per minute are not unusual and glide ratios of 7:1 (7,000 ft of distance for every 1,000 ft of height lost) are the norm.

DO I NEED A LICENCE TO FLY ONE? Yes, training will enable you to gain your National Private Pilots Licence, NPPL (Microlight). You must then fly at least 12 hours per 24 months and a 1 hour flight with an instructor to keep your license valid.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LEARN? School Flexwing £ 127.00 per hour School Fixedwing £ 127.00 per hour Own Machine (Or Part Owned) £ 75.00 per hour Ground School £ 32.00 per hour Supervised Solo Flying Hours £ 30.00 per hour

An average cost for training would be around £3,500 - £4,000 (guide only).

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO LEARN? A complete beginner will require an average of 15 hours to go ‘solo’ depending on how often lessons are taken. A further 10 hours of solo flying must be completed on your own

1 machine before taking a general skills test. These solo hours must be supervised by an instructor. Five exams must be taken during training; these are Air Law, Navigation, Meteorology, Principles of Flight and Human Performance. Exams can be taken on site and cost £31.00 each, you may study at home or take ground schooling. The complete course of training can take weeks or months, depending on the weather and often you can dodge off work!

CAN I GO SOLO ON THE SCHOOL MACHINE? No, unfortunately you will not be insured to fly solo on the school aircraft, unless you are a member of either the Fixed or Flexwing syndicate. Otherwise, solo flying must be on your own or part owned machine if it is suitable for the purpose. Most people buy their own machines early to take advantage of the cheaper rate. Please ensure that your chosen machine will be suitable for training, as some older models are not. Shares in Microlights are usually available, though training can only legally take place in a factory built aircraft, if group owned.

DO I NEED A MEDICAL? You need a declaration of fitness, signed by your doctor before you go solo. This says that you do not suffer from epilepsy, blackouts, high blood pressure, diabetes or any disorder liable to cause incapacitation. Colour vision should be normal. If you have any doubt, have your declaration signed before you start training.

HOW OFTEN WILL I BE ABLE TO FLY? Clear skies and light winds are required for your training but as your skill as a pilot improves, you will be able to handle the aircraft in stronger winds. Most microlight pilots fly between 50 and 100 hours per year.

WHAT OTHER EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED? When training some textbooks, a pilot’s logbook, some air charts and a B.M.A.A. syllabus. Once you have an aircraft of your own you will need a trailer to carry it on (unless you intend to keep it rigged at a flying site), a warm flying suit, helmet and gloves, some fuel cans and a funnel. A radio is compulsory at Dunkeswell due to heavy traffic in the circuit. To use a radio you will need to pass a written and practical radio exam, both of which can be arranged through Somerset Microlights.

WILL I HAVE TO JOIN A CLUB? Yes, instructor and student will have to be members of the same club. Membership of the Somerset Microlights Flying Club is free. It is also advised that you join the British Microlight Aircraft Association, B.M.A.A. membership is £65.00 per year.

WHAT SORT OF MACHINE SHOULD I BUY? There are two types of Microlight, Flexwing and 3-axis (also know as fixed wing). The differences are complex, we can advise and help you find a machine to suit your needs.

CAN I TAKE OFF AND LAND ANYWHERE? No, you are subject to the Air Navigation Order (Air Law), you must have permission of the landowner to take off and land. You may not fly in controlled airspace, shown on the air charts. Most average sized flat fields are suitable for Microlight operation.

DO I HAVE TO BOOK A COURSE? No, lessons may be taken and paid for by the hour, or you may book a course if you wish. A 40% charge has to be made for no shows or cancelations without 24 hours notice.

2 TARIFF ( All prices include VAT @ 20% ) Half hour trial flight £ 77.00 One hour trial flight £ 127.00 Dual training in school Fixedwing aircraft £ 127.00 per hour Dual training in school Flexwing aircraft £ 127.00 per hour Dual training in your own/part owned aircraft £ 75.00 per hour Solo supervision in your own aircraft £ 30.00 per hour Exams £ 31.00 each Ground schooling (if required) £ 32.00 per hour Workshop time (repairs etc.) £ 32.00 per hour Hangarage (if required) Fully Rigged Fixed £ 39.61 per week Fully Rigged Flex £ 30.55 per week Derigged Flex £ 15.00 per week Trailer Parking £ 16.20 per week General Skills Test (Either School or Own Aircraft) £ 104.34 + Flying time C.A.A. licence fee (payable to the C.A.A.) £ 145.00 Devon and Somerset Microlight Club £ 40.00 per year B.M.A.A. Membership £ 65.00 per year

Accommodation can be arranged locally if required.

THE FLYING TRAINING IN MORE DETAIL Flying lessons are initially taken in a two seat aircraft with an instructor. Lessons may be taken in the school aircraft or your own, providing it has dual controls and is suitable for training, please enquire. If your own machine is used then the lower training rates apply, however the machine must be assembled, fueled and maintained by yourself. Somerset Microlights may not be held responsible for damage to your aircraft during training (heavy landings etc).

Each dual lesson may consist of a pre flight briefing, flying time and a post flight briefing if necessary. All lesson time counts towards your licence and will be entered into your logbook.

Flying training is conducted in accordance with the B.M.A.A., N.P.P.L. (Microlight) syllabus.

When the appropriate dual training has been completed, you may take a short solo flight providing the Air Law exam has been passed, a declaration of fitness has been signed by your doctor and an instructor has authorised the flight.

Further solo flights may then be authorised after dual check flights, until you have completed a minimum of 10 solo flying hours, 5 of these will consist of cross country flying, including two 40 nautical mile flights. The navigation exam must be passed before your navigation tasks can be completed.

A mock skills test can then be taken to assess your flying skills and knowledge. If all is well, you may take the General Skills Test. Then, providing you have a total of 25 hours total flying training, you may apply to the Civil Aviation Authority for your National Private Pilots Licence (Microlight)

It should be stressed that you are not covered by any personal or aircraft insurance unless arranged by yourself.

Please note that lessons may be cancelled due to adverse weather. Please phone before leaving.

EQUIPMENT YOU WILL REQUIRE We recommend the following books: Flying Training Part 1 or The Microlight Aircraft Handbook. You must also have a pilot’s logbook. You will need a warm flying suit; we recommend the OZEE

3 or Mercury. A helmet is advisable with ear defenders, for this we suggest the Lynx Micro System. Gloves or mittens will be required for most flights and a neck warmer in the winter. Air charts, a navigation ruler and protractor will be required for the exams and practical navigation, a map board also comes in handy. Fuel containers and a filter funnel will be necessary when you have your own aircraft. Most of the above items are available from Somerset Microlights.

CHOOSING AN AIRCRAFT There are basically two types of microlight. The fixedwing ‘3 axis’ and the weightshift or ‘flexwing’ microlight. Both types come in single or two seat form.

The fixedwing is effectively a small conventional aircraft. The wing is fixed to the aircraft and has ailerons to control the roll and an elevator to control the pitch, the 3rd control being the rudder that controls the yaw, hence the term ‘3 axis’. These control surfaces are controlled by a stick and two rudder pedals requiring co-ordination of the hands and feet. The fixedwing market is divided into home built and kit planes, regulated and tested by the Popular Flying Association (P.F.A.) and factory built aircraft which are regulated and tested by the British Microlight Aircraft Association, they are built to a very high standard. The price difference between the kit built and factory built aircraft is not as great as you may think and remember a kit plane may take some 500 hours to build. Some fixedwing aircraft are difficult to rig and therefore best kept in a hanger or on some sort of trailer.

The lower running costs of a microlight, i.e. 2 gallons of fuel per hour as opposed to 4 - 8 gallons for a light aircraft, is attracting many light aircraft pilots to the sport, more so now that the performance of the microlight is catching up with it’s big brother. Prices of 3 axis aircraft range from around £200 for a set of aircraft plans to build from scratch, up to £80,000 for a top of the range factory built aircraft. An average kit can be bought for around £9,000. Many people split these costs by buying shares in an aircraft, which are often available.

The flexwing microlight is derived from the hang glider and although flexwing technology has progressed far, very quickly, it still has the pioneering feel about it. The aircraft consists of a moveable wing that pivots on the ‘trike’ unit so that wherever the weight of the trike is put, the aircraft will roll or pitch in that direction. These inputs are made via a single horizontal control bar in front of the pilot. The flexwing has a more ‘open to the elements’ feel that a fixedwing and is much simpler in construction. This allows it to be easily dismantled by one person to fit on a small trailer in around half an hour. Although it is possible to build a flexwing yourself it is very rarely done, as there are few kits currently available on the UK market, so almost all flexwings are factory built and regulated by the B.M.A.A. Flexwing prices range from around £4,000 second hand to around £48,000 new, with modern engines being very powerful, yet quiet and economic, giving good long distance capability.

The flexwing has a very good short and rough field capability and can generally out climb a fixedwing, whilst cruising at much the same speed. As it has no rudder, the flexwing has no control in yaw, which makes it a little more awkward to land in strong cross winds. The fixedwing can be kicked straight when landing. However this lack of tail and rudder has an advantage in that a flexwing cannot spin. It can be seen that there are many differences between the two types, so we would recommend that you try both to see which aircraft suits you best.

SOMERSET MICROLIGHTS will be please to help you purchase the right aircraft for you and your pocket.