Thread: microlight licence

Good morning all long time hope you all had a merry christmas and new year.

so ive been a bookworm for the past few weeks/months but struggling big time.
ive been browsing the internet dreaming of starting my ppl but as moneys tight at the mo its again just a dream i know how chris feels wanting to be up there but moneys tight. anyway to cut a long story short ive been looking at microlight licences both fixed and flexi-wing i do perfer a fixed as it look and prob feels more like a aircraft.
Just wondering if anyone has any info/points of view on a microlight licence.
as far as i can work out from what i have read they are alot cheaper around £2800 for the whole licence inc exams and landing fees at long marsdon airfield. would it be worth doing this or not?

Originally Posted by jigglyjohnson

Just wondering if anyone has any info/points of view on a microlight licence

Yes, don't bother with one unless you value your life

I am joking of course, I just don't think they are the safest of machines buzzing around the skies. I also have to confess I know nothing about the course, however, in response to being strapped for cash I can fully sympathise- not that my sympathy helps in anyway.

We have all (or most) have struggled at some point with learning to fly, its so addictive yet so expensive. I guess just sticking at it is the key, and whether or not you decide to do a microlight course because its cheaper, then best of luck with everything.

On checking out the first page in google this website ( Microlight Pilot Training Courses, Flying lessons for microlight license ) states it costs around £5000-6000 which if that is the case then is it not perhaps best just going for an NPPL which is virtually the same price?

thanks for the reply have a look at the site below i was under the impression the course listed on this website was the average cost

Freedom Sports Flying School

has anyone ever flown/been in a microlight how does it compare to a light aircraft

Hi Jiggly
If it's the difference between flying or not then I say go for it. I spoke to someone last year who claimed you could fly a fixed wing microlight for £25 an hour! I don't know if this is bs or not though because I've never seen that. If I do I'll be flying them myself! The prices on the link you've shown don't look that great though at £120 for an hour. Another £14 puts you in a C152 Price List (admittedly last years prices)

Spotted this today in UKGA's newsletter C42 Ikarus 1/5th Share for Sale

Have to say microlights look pretty tempting!

Paul is that actually supposed to be a microlight- looks more like a fixed wing powered aircraft? Jiggly have you spoken directly with a flying school yet to get a more accurate quote?

Haha yea Microlights are starting to look like standard SEP category aircraft these days...

Hi all I haven't been down to long marsden yet never seem to get the time to blast down there have sent out an email to the flying school with various questions. Does anyone know if the trial flight counts towards the actual hours req to complete the course. I've read the course takes roughly 25 hours depending on pupil learning and you go solo if ready after about 13 hours. It says lessons are 1 to 2 hours is that to long per sessions ? As there's sure to be a lot to take in but on the plus side I suppose you would get used to being in the air and doing your manoeuvres

Originally Posted by jigglyjohnson

Does anyone know if the trial flight counts towards the actual hours req to complete the course.

Hi Jiggly. Yes! Just get a logbook first and ask your instructor to fill it in for you.

Originally Posted by jigglyjohnson

It says lessons are 1 to 2 hours is that to long per sessions ?

Not at all. I think you probably progress quickest doing that or even 3-4 hours a day (broken up with a lunch break) If you do lessons of an hour every few weeks you can end up spending the first 10 minutes of each lesson getting back to where you left off.

Yes I can see what you are saying regarding the training and taking into account it takes 25 hours to pass the course pupil dependant you could go solo in roughly 10 to 12 sessions. Just had a email response back from the training school seems quite good it's a small school which operate 7 days a week weather dependant and has good availability for training sad thing is that they have training starting in march for flexi-wing but are unable to offer training in fixed wing as it was damaged in a training flight (not good) and is not available untill further notice! So now I'm in another pickle do I try flexi-wing and then go onto fixed when available or do I look elsewhere to start training does anyone know of any other local clubs ?