Buying an Ultralight Aircraft - Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid

Buying an Ultralight Aircraft - Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid

Who doesn't want to fly right? With all the advantages, looking for an ultralight aircraft for sale may be a great experience or a terrible one depending on how you approach it. Knowing what you're getting into ahead of time can, at a minimum, save you some hassle, and in the long run save you time money, heartache (and possibly bodily injury).

So what is it about ultralights that seems so appealing. One of the more attractive things about them has to do with their almost non-existent barrier to entry. For instance, training can be completed in a couple of days, and in actuality, you don't need a license to fly them at all. It's not as easy as jumping in the seat and starting the engine; You should still take some lessons. Another plus is that with many of them, you can fold them up and put them in the back of your SUV, or truck, and take them anywhere. Finally, there are lots of enthusiasts to help you get the hang of reassembling and flying your ultralight.

So what exactly IS an ultralight aircraft? Ultralights are not allowed to carry more than one person or five gallons of gas. The maximum weight for the ultralight is 254 pounds. Ultralights are not allowed to go faster than 55 knots. It has a top stall speed of 24 knots. You have to fly during daylight hours and you can only fly over uninhabited areas. Finally, you have a few styles of ultralights to choose from, including weight-shift control trikes, powered parachutes, and powered paragliding.

A few things to look for when buying:

-It must only have one seat.

-Castle nuts and pins should be used to prevent vibration wear.

-Make sure the rudder and pedal mechanism is well-built and the aircraft is rust-free.

-There shouldn't be any loose parts of cables near the propeller.

-The aircraft ought to be able to fly straight without your help. It should be able to fly straight without constant pressure on the ailerons.

-How strong is the ultralight? How has it held up under the wear and tear of constant landing.

-Has it had any repair work, and what kind of regular maintenance will you need to do? Did the aircraft ever have something other than a perfect landing?

-Make sure the ultralight has no structural problems like frame cracks or dents.

-Try to inspect the craft in person. Pay special attention to the ailerons: Pay particular attention to the design of the ailerons, it should be simple to prevent any problems.