WHAT ARE MICROLIGHT AIRCRAFT?
The legal definition of a microlight
Modern microlights essentially fall into two categories. The weightshift or flexwing type of aircraft has a trike unit suspended under a wing evolved from the hang glider. Control is by using the control bar to shift the weight of the trike (ie the combined mass of the pod, engine and occupants) relative to the wing. The 3-axis type of microlight on the other hand looks like, and some cases will outperform a traditional light aircraft. Both are covered by the basic definition:
"Microlight aeroplane means an aeroplane designed to carry not more than two persons which has:
(a) a maximum total weight authorised not exceeding:
- 300kg for a single seat landplane
- 450kg for a two seat landplane
- 330kg for a single seat amphibian or floatplane, or
- 495kg for a two seat amphibian or floatplane
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and
(b) either a wing loading at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 25kg per square metre
or a stalling speed at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 35 knots calibrated airspeed"
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This page will be developed to give more information about specific models, costs, performance etc. in the near future. Have a look at the Gallery section to see some pictures of microlight aircraft.
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