Microlighters

We have a new member Nick. He is looking for someone near Midrand who can give him an introductory flight on a 3-axis plane like the Cheetah or Bushbaby

he can be contacted on 08two 8oh3 3triplefive or look him up in the memberslist and pm/email him

Thanks for being so helpful on the phone Morph.

I'm new to this game and only know a bit from what web browsing I've done over the last couple of weeks.

I did, about 8-9 yrs back, do a flip over Vic Falls, taking off at Vic Falls airport, in a Microlite of some type; not sure what it was. It was an open air 2 seater - side-by-side affair, with an Audi 5 cylinder engine and the prop at the front.

I'm specifically interested in the 3 Axis microlites or new light sports aircraft catagory, rather than the flying lawn-mower trike jobbies. I have in mind something such as the Bushbaby, F22 or Cheetah.

The forum is very informative to drill into, for all sorts of background gen, a reasonable 'noise to signal' ratio; so possibly the best way of gaining general info - congrats, and thanks again.

Nick wrote: with an Audi 5 cylinder engine and the prop at the front.

this is a first to me

rather than the flying lawn-mower trike jobbies.

Careful, the trike brigade will be up in arms about this, Bacardi has already responded.

Fortunately us Microlighters are more tongue-in-cheek about what we fly, so don't take them too seriously. You will always have the healthy debate as to which is better, trike or 3-axis, nose-wheel or Taildragger etc etc. They are all lekker, some just lekkerder than others

Careful, the trike brigade will be up in arms about this, Bacardi has already responded.

Sorry; no offence intended! A large part of my motivation is cross-country, I'm sure the trikes are great fun, with a fantastic view, and especially good ventilation... but suspect strongly that the 'light sports aircraft' is more the thing for a 300-500 km run, am I right?

Not sure who or what Avcom is - obviously something distinctly 'non-kosher' in these here parts; see, I'm learning already! That said... I'm with Lynne Truss on emoticons - such is the rich tapestry of life.

One question for anyone that can field it - what are the Life Insurance implications of this game - rating, exclusions, special policies etcetera?

he he he
I would love a ride in F22


Nick
What are your budget constraints? As always budget and mission will dictate. No point I using a 70mph aerie as a weekly commuter for 500nm trip.

Most of the 3 axis ml's you are after (serious X country machines) are not actually microlights at all and will hopefully shortly be classified as light sport aircraft and governed by the new part 62. If CAA get funny about it almost all 912 powered 3 axis ml's would require a PPL to fly.

On life insurance there is an aviation questionaire required. Depending on under writer some load others do not. If it is big insurance i would suggest you do not mention the word microlight, rather light aircraft. Perceptions are everything. My old man has huge life cover and his underwiter is happy that he flies less than 50hrs a year. Many that were approached though wanted to load his prem as he flies too little. Depends on underwriter, risk and well as your hrs, previous claims etc...

Graham Speller is in the insurance game and is on here and may be ableto help directly. Think Bad nav also in the game. Stick around and enjoy the ride.

PS
I drive a "meercat" which is great for getting from A to B in a hurry but not great for social flying. I say again mission & budget (and possibly life insurance if it big wnough) will dictate.

RV4ker - Well spotted on the Raptor! Oh, how many litres of kerosene per hour do those things burn?

Budget is not decided. I'm not there yet, not close. Still need to see if I like it and can hack it. At this stage just want to organise a flip in a light sports aircraft. I understand that this catagory will be introduced here in THE Regime in July this year, is this true?

My thinking is not to buy an aircraft to train; rather outsource that problem and use that time to get to know what's what.

Thanks for the gen on the Life insurance.

Nick wrote:RV4ker - Well spotted on the Raptor! Oh, how many litres of kerosene per hour do those things burn?

Budget is not decided. I'm not there yet, not close. Still need to see if I like it and can hack it. At this stage just want to organise a flip in a light sports aircraft. I understand that this catagory will be introduced here in THE Regime in July this year, is this true?

My thinking is not to buy an aircraft to train; rather outsource that problem and use that time to get to know what's what.

Thanks for the gen on the Life insurance.

Hi Nick and welcome to the forum !

At my flying field (Petit, close to Bapsfontein and not far from Kempton Park) we have a school that do 3-axis training, The one instructor uses a Kitfox (Looks just like a Bush Baby) with a Rotax 912. He is also a great instructor so if you are interested send me a PM and I will give you his details. The school also does 3-axis training on a X-Air, a great training plane.

There is a lot of flying activity at Petit, from trikes to twins so pop around on a Saturday morning and come and have a look and chat with the guys. The are Bushbabies, Cheetha's, A22's and a lot more. The school also does PPL training on Diesel C172's.

Regards,
Rudi

On the life assurance side, they cant exclude your existing life cover as long as you werent taking part or intending to take part when you originally took the cover ( be careful of the exclusion on any aircraft other than a fare paying passenger though). They did however exclude my ancilliary benefits, ie disability. It is quite expensive if you take new cover with the loadings, but you have to weigh up the risks and benefits. Get an FPI accredited broker to take a good look at your portfolio's small print and make his recommendations.

And by the way, a lot of three axis are propelled by the very same lawnmowers as trikes!!

Enjoy your flying whichever you choose and welcome to the forum. Hope to see many more posts on your progress.

Eish... A 582 is not exactly a lawnmower engine. Mine is in the boot of the car and it really needs 2 people to lift it as to not damage the paintwork!

Welcome to this here motley crew Nick!

Your approach is spot on and my 2c is to try go for as many flips and intro flights in all the aeries that tickle your fancy, a few rand here and there and a hint and a "skimp" to find the machine that suits you best.

The people on this forum stand in line to give you a flip in their preferred mode of transport to convince you to buy what they have! Coz what I have is better than what he (or she) has!

Each to his own and that is what makes this crowd so amazing! Everyone just wants to share their bit of Heaven!

Good luck in your hunt, if you want to go for a flip in a "Floppy Toppie" just press my buzzer!

PS: I am training to fly a Challenger 3-axis with Phillip van Niekerk out at Bapsfontein and he calls trikes (my preferred mode of transport) Floppy Toppie's! I have so convinced him that they are safe he is willing to let his wife go up with me for a spin in one for the first time in his (and her) life!

DarkHelmet wrote:PS: I am training to fly a Challenger 3-axis with Phillip van Niekerk out at Bapsfontein and he calls trikes (my preferred mode of transport) Floppy Toppie's! I have so convinced him that they are safe he is willing to let his wife go up with me for a spin in one for the first time in his (and her) life!

Did you hear about the guy who went to the dentist and asked for discount to witch the dentist replied that it would not be possible as the price just covers the monies laid out for the procedure just about covers the cost of the different items. This gent continued to bargain the price down by dropping the anesthetic and convincing the dentist to get a first year student to perform the extraction. Eventually he got to about a third of the original price and then agreed by confirming the details “so Dr So-and-so we agree that you will get a first year student perform the extraction without anesthetic whatsoever in a small space of time in a bar stool? The doctor agreed to wich the gent said " fine Ill have my wife come in tomorrow round lunch time then"

I cant help but think that Old Phillip might know a dentist or two............

Nick wrote: I did, about 8-9 yrs back, do a flip over Vic Falls, taking off at Vic Falls airport, in a Microlite of some type; not sure what it was. It was an open air 2 seater - side-by-side affair, with an Audi 5 cylinder engine and the prop at the front.
.

Its a copy of the Thunderbird - looks like this

Drove to Petit on Saturday (with the help of Garmap and the GPS co-ords from Rudix - thanks!) about midday, had a look around - great looking airfield, but a bit of a schlep from Midrand. I tried to get Rinus, the alleged instructor on his cell a few times, no joy. Am away this weekend but will try Aviator's Paridise next time.

As an aside, I saw in the May 2007 African Pilot magazine, that there is a rather informative - but notably incomplete - synopsis of light, 3-axis kit aircraft (page 47).

With due deference borne of my newbie-and-knows-bugger-all status, I have been moved to turgidity by the Allegro, Cheetah, Kitfox and Sabre JK-05. Any comments on these, or indeed others, from the cognoscenti...good, bad, ugly... or whatever, would be pitifully appreciated; indeed, they will be ingested as mother's milk!