Jump to content
The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Microlighting


SuperSupra

Recommended Posts

In all honestly I'm sure it's brilliant, I'd probably have a great time but it's just not worth even trying for the risk of that moment of "oh, I'm going to die" and then dying.

 

Pssst.....it's safer than driving on the roads....:) (and you can get "that moment" on the roads too)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, fear of dying aside it just doesn't interest me. Looks, dunno, just not for me I guess.

 

They are cheap though, you can get them for about 3k. Obviously new spanky ones are loads more.

 

Try gliding instead SG, you'll feel more secure in there. And if you go up on the winch first time it's like an elevator.....that gets your juices flowing:d

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OH YEAH!

 

I want to do that!

 

What would happen if the engine died? I mean can they glide a bit or does it just drop like a stone?

 

Dude if you're thinking like that you probably shouldn't go in one!!!! :blink: I guess if it did just 'die' then it can probably glide to a semi-safe place and land. One would hope so anyway!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dude if you're thinking like that you probably shouldn't go in one!!!!
I don't see why. Apart from a helicopter, most things have a chance of landing if the engine fails. Looking at the wanky little lawnmower engines them microlights have I'd like to know you have a fighting chance if the worse should happen.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see why. Apart from a helicopter, most things have a chance of landing if the engine fails. Looking at the wanky little lawnmower engines them microlights have I'd like to know you have a fighting chance if the worse should happen.

 

Hairy muff! Reckon you'd be pretty safe should the worst happen to be fair.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

wow! that looks amazing. can you just take off wherever you feel like if you own one & fly wherever you want? or is it restricted to airfields?

 

wonder how far you could fly on a tank of fuel...

 

Reckon you can just take off wherever so long as you have a license (assuming you need one). I was surprised we took off from the grass, rather than a strip of tarmac to be honest. The acceleration is amazing when you start going, just like being in an aeroplane!

 

Think the fuel tanks are fairly limited (as you would expect!) so probably not that far, 50 miles maybe at a guess. Sure an internet search engine will have the answer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

actually, helicopters can 'autorotate' and usually land safely (depending on your definition of safely, and noting i said 'usually' :D)

 

Never happened in a film though has it! They ALWAYS crash whenever anything happens to the blades! And stragely blow up immediately on impact, even if it has run out of fuel :search:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you do need a licience. just looking at doing mine. 2100 quid will get you 25 hours in the air and a licience at the end. cant fly at night, over towns, near airports.. apart form that you can pretty well take off anywhere you want. and some of the microlights you can buy now.. look like planes with elevators rudders and alerons. got a link somewhere where you can buy them. I was supposed to be starting this month then I bought this supra.. set it back a little bit but the car was worth it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see why. Apart from a helicopter, most things have a chance of landing if the engine fails. Looking at the wanky little lawnmower engines them microlights have I'd like to know you have a fighting chance if the worse should happen.
Ah no wanky little lawnmower engines. The things are usually Rotax's, built for big reliability. 4-stroke or 2-stroke, depends on the application. I think about 60-70bhp for most of them, lots of torque.

I went microlighting in Queensland Australia last year - top stuff ! Took my videocamera up with me too and got some good footage ! They can have total power-failure and glide down like a hang-glider. Glide-ratio isn't as good as a pure hang-glider due to the weight, but they do glide down. On my flight, the pilot had a, erm, 'sudden engine failure' ;) and did a simulated emergency landing on a beach. Came RIGHT down to, quite literally, about 3 or 4 feet off the beach (still belting along) before giving it LARGE on the throttle and going skyward in a hurry. Reason it was a, erm, 'sudden engine problem' is that technically they're not allowed to fly under 500feet unless there's a technical problem.... so.....they tend to have 'sudden engine problems' quite a bit !

 

Got some great video of that 'near-miss' beach landing. Haven't got tape with me but will try to upload it somewhere one day.

Brilliant fun! also done a lot of paragliding and also a tandem free-fall skydive (30secs free fall).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes indeed; but actually more nerve racking the second time.

Them you do 2 cross countries with 2 landings at places I had never been too in the bloody jungle. Looking back was a great experience but its 2 years now since I have flown and I guess Im retired, lol

Rich

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. You might also be interested in our Guidelines, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.