Ultralight aviation#Types
{{Redirect|Ultralight|the style of backpacking|Ultralight backpacking}}
{{Short description|Aviation field involving lightweight aircraft}}
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Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailerons, elevator and rudder, calling the former "microlight" and the latter "ultralight".
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, mostly stimulated by the hang gliding movement, many people sought affordable powered flight. As a result, many aviation authorities set up definitions of lightweight, slow-flying aeroplanes that could be subject to minimum regulations. The resulting aeroplanes are commonly called "ultralight aircraft" or "microlights", although the weight and speed limits differ from country to country. In Europe, the sporting (FAI) definition limits the maximum stalling speed to {{convert|65|km/h|kn|0|abbr=on}} and the maximum take-off weight to {{convert|450|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, or {{convert|472.5|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} if a ballistic parachute is installed. The definition means that the aircraft has a slow landing speed and short landing roll in the event of an engine failure.Boric, Marino, Spoilt For Choice, Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al (editors): World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 10. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
In most affluent countries, microlights or ultralight aircraft now account for a significant percentage of the global civilian-owned aircraft. For instance, in Canada in February 2018, the ultralight aircraft fleet made up to 20.4% of the total civilian aircraft registered.{{cite web|url = http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/smACtRes.aspx?ym=201802|title = Canadian Civil Aircraft Register: Number of Aircraft by Category Result |access-date =20 March 2018|author = Transport Canada|author-link = Transport Canada|date=February 2018}} In other countries that do not register ultralight aircraft, like in the United States, it is unknown what proportion of the total fleet they make up. In countries where there is no specific extra regulation, ultralights are considered regular aircraft and subject to certification requirements for both aircraft and pilot.
Definitions
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File:Pegasus quantum 15-912 microlight g-byff kemble arp.jpg ultralight trike]]
File:DFEAscenderIIIC01.jpg ultralight on a camping flight]]
File:UltraflightLazairSeriesIII.jpg ultralight covered in clear Mylar]]
=Australia=
In Australia, ultralight aircraft and their pilots can either be registered with the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA){{cite web|url = http://www.hgfa.asn.au/HGFA/HGFA.htm|title = The HGFA |access-date =25 May 2008|last = Hang Gliding Federation of Australia|year = n.d.}} or Recreational Aviation Australia (RA Aus).{{cite web|url = http://www.auf.asn.au/admin/mission.html|title = About the RA-Aus association and our mission|access-date = 25 May 2008|last = Recreational Aviation Australia Inc|date = August 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519233742/http://www.auf.asn.au/admin/mission.html|archive-date = 19 May 2008}} In all cases, except for privately built single seat ultralight aeroplanes,{{cite web|url = http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2013C00316/Html/Volume_4#_Toc358792547|title = PART 200 Aircraft to which CASR do not apply |access-date =25 May 2008|last = Legal Services Group Civil Aviation Safety Authority |date=July 2007}} microlight aircraft or trikes are regulated by the Civil Aviation Regulations.
=Canada=
{{Main|Ultralight aircraft (Canada)}}
=United Kingdom=
Pilots of a powered, fixed wing aircraft or paramotors do not need a licence, provided its weight with a full fuel tank is not more than {{convert|75|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, but they must obey the rules of the air.{{cite web|url=https://www.bmaa.org/information-library/pilot-licensing/learning-to-fly-in-sub-70-kg-aircraft|title=The British Microlight Aircraft Association, new page 3852|website=www.bmaa.org|access-date=21 May 2018}}
For heavier microlights the current UK regulations are similar to the European ones, but helicopters and gyroplanes are not included.[http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=1416&pagetype=90&pageid=8379 British Civil Aviation Authority] Aircraft Types
Other than the very earliest aircraft, all two-seat UK microlights (and until 2007 all single-seaters) have been required to meet an airworthiness standard; BCAR Section S.[https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP482_BCARS_Issue7_19Dec_2018.pdf CAP 482 British Civil Airworthiness Requirements Section S - Small Light Aeroplanes], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226011742/https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP482_BCARS_Issue7_19Dec_2018.pdf |date=26 February 2021 }}, retrieved 8 December 2020
In 2007, Single Seat DeRegulated (SSDR), a sub-category of single seat aircraft was introduced, allowing owners more freedom for modification and experiments. By 2017 the airworthiness of all single seat microlights became solely the responsibility of the user, but pilots must hold a microlight licence;{{cite web|url=https://www.bmaa.org/information-library/pilot-licensing/the-nppl|title=The British Microlight Aircraft Association, new page 3852|website=www.bmaa.org|access-date=21 May 2018}} currently NPPL(M) (National Private Pilots Licence).
=New Zealand=
Ultralights in New Zealand are subject to NZCAA General Aviation regulations[https://www.aviation.govt.nz/rules/ Civil Aviation Rules], Accessed 1 October 2022 with microlight specific variations as described in Part 103[https://www.aviation.govt.nz/rules/rule-part/show/103 Part 103 - Microlight Aircraft - Operating Rules], Accessed 01 October 2022 and AC103-1.[https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/advisory-circulars/ac103-1.pdf Advisory Circular 103], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217041226/https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/advisory-circulars/ac103-1.pdf |date=17 February 2022 }}, Accessed 7 October 2021
=United States=
{{Main|Ultralight aircraft (United States)}}
The United States FAA's definition of an ultralight is significantly different from that in most other countries and can lead to some confusion when discussing the topic. The governing regulation in the United States is FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles. In 2004, the FAA introduced the "Light-sport aircraft" category, which resembles some other countries' microlight categories. Ultralight aviation is represented by the United States Ultralight Association (USUA), which acts as the US aeroclub representative to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Types
There are several categories of aircraft which qualify as ultralights in some countries:
- Fixed-wing aircraft: traditional airplane-style designs.
- Weight-shift control trike: use a hang glider-style wing, below which is suspended a three-wheeled carriage which carries the engine and aviators. These aircraft are controlled by pushing against a horizontal control bar in roughly the same way as a hang glider pilot flies.
- Powered parachute: fuselage-mounted engines with parafoil wings, which are wheeled aircraft.
- Powered paraglider: backpack engines with parafoil wings, which are foot-launched.
- Powered hang glider: motorized foot-launched hang glider harness.
- Autogyro: rotary wing with fuselage-mounted engine, a gyrocopter is different from a helicopter in that the rotating wing is not powered, the engine provides forward thrust and the airflow through the rotary blades causes them to autorotate or "spin up" thereby creating lift.
- Helicopter: there are a number of single-seat and two-place helicopters which fall under the microlight categories in countries such as New Zealand. However, few helicopter designs fall within the more restrictive ultralight category defined in the United States of America.
- Hot air balloon: there are numerous ultralight hot air balloons in the US, and several more have been built and flown in France and Australia in recent years. Some ultralight hot air balloons are hopper balloons, while others are regular hot air balloons that carry passengers in a basket.
=Electric=
Advancements in batteries, motors, and motor controllers has led to some practical production electric propulsion systems for some ultralight applications. In many ways, ultralights are a good application for electric power as some models are capable of flying with low power, which allows longer duration flights on battery power.{{cite web|url = http://www.avweb.com/news/snf/SunNFun2008_Electraflyer_TrikeMotorglider_BatteryPower_197632-1.html|title = Electraflyer Flies Trike, Motorglider On Battery Power|access-date =13 April 2008|last = Grady|first = Mary |date=April 2008}}
In 2007, the first pioneering company in this field, the Electric Aircraft Corporation, began offering engine kits to convert ultralight weight shift trikes to electric power. The 18 hp motor weighs {{convert|26|lb|abbr=on}} and an efficiency of 90% is claimed by designer Randall Fishman. The battery consists of a lithium-polymer battery pack of 5.6kWh which provides 1.5 hours of flying in the trike application. The company claimed a flight recharge cost of 60 cents in 2007.{{cite web |url= http://www.electraflyer.com/tech.html |title=ElectraFlyer Technical details |access-date=13 April 2008 | publisher = Electric Aircraft Corporation |year=2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071016052647/http://www.electraflyer.com/tech.html |archive-date=16 October 2007 |url-status= dead}}
A significant obstacle to the adoption of electric propulsion for ultralights in the U.S. is the weight of the battery, which is considered part of the empty weight of the aircraft despite efforts to have it considered as fuel.{{cite magazine |url=http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/108002-february-2013/20 |title=Reddy Kilowatt Meets the Ultralight |work=Experimenter |date=February 2013 |volume=2 |number=2 |page=20 |access-date=16 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073735/http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/108002-february-2013/20 |archivedate=2016-03-04}} As the specific energy of batteries improves, lighter batteries can be used.
See also
References
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