Some tips on purchasing a Microlight

[David]

Hi everyone could you more experanced guys give me some tips when it comes to purchasing a microlight,the steps taken ect and if you have been tained on a Raptor can you buy a cobra for example or are there conversions involved!!! :D

[Bennie Vorster]

Hi David

You will need to do a conversion.

[David]

Thank you Bennie for your input much appricated
I am new to this hobby only got 5hrs up there, i am not quite sure of how these sort of things work!!!!!

[Morph]

The conversion is not a serious issue. An hour or two with an instructor and viola.

Buying a Microlight is a different story. The best thing to do is try to take someone eperienced with you to see the plane. Make sure you get the current owner if possible to take you for a flip. If he doesn't want to fly it then don't buy it.

Very importantly make sure that all the documentation is in order, the log book is up to date, all services have been done, incidents and accidents involving this plane must be logged in the log book, they have to be serviced every 25 hours with annual inspections every year or every 100 hours by an AP. If these have not been done, don't buy it.

[Biggles]

When buying a microlight have the seller get the aerie AP'ed. Contact the AP ask what condition its in. A test flight is a must. For the reasons Morph mentioned and some wings don't fly straight... this can be a long headache to rectify.

Take along someone experienced if you are new to the scene.

If possible get a complete package... nothing worse than waiting because you have to install a radio, ect.

[David]

Thanks guys(Morph,Biggles) for your help you guys have made thing a little clearer on the subject :D ,another question i need answered is what does the average service cost? What about finace where can that be arranged?

[Morph]

one of things you must learn as a microlighter is to service the plane yourself.

You have to become intimatly involved with your plane.

every 25 hours you have to replace spark-plugs, clean airfilters, replace fuel filters etc

so based on this an average service cost a set of plugs (no more than R80) a fuel filter (R20) and some free labour (yours). Total coast of a service R100. Now if you really want to it could cost you an addtional R250 per hour to hire somebody. It's your choice