MY PAL'S ULTRALIGHT

[Wild Will]

Please enjoy a slide show of the wondrous area where I live, thanks to my pal Bim, who is a fellow rider and loves his ultralight: I hope the link works...

http://photos.sharpcast.com/photos/user/bimpix/thumbnails?album=13766_59124519797609.sc

[JCsman]

Way cool.

An ultralight is one of my planned retirement toys. I gave up flying lessons years ago due to competing interests (like the kids eating). But the ultra light seems like a reasonable way to indulge fantasy #7.

[arkline]

The link works great. The images are absolutely fantastic. Too many favorites to pick one as the best. Great stuff.

[Optimus Prime]

Bloddy fantastic. Ultralights are something I hope to get into sometime in the next 10 years.

thanks for sharing.

[Deans BMW]

http://photos.sharpcast.com/photos/user/bimpix/image.jpg?album=13766_59124519797609.sc&photo=13766_59124519796955.sc&changeId=30067232991&photoSize=slideshow&isDownload=false&fp=Lhwjdbog0hFKWc3sGi1PVzl%2FIc%2FrlQwKjqp7%2Fr99d twmxi2nhoBW3ysMVVaS%2FrXCMDyoSE6eLQ1MbOA04l41rVMOB iI8VGfX4zzk%2FbRMA%2FY%3D

I am in absolute lust, spent years flying ultralites. Will simply fantastic, also gives a glimps of your neck o the woods.

Thanks

[DJ Down Under]

I've never had an AIRGASM.......what's it like..(a la Monty Python)..:003:

Great pics Will.....:eusa_clap:

I came across some pics the other day of when I used to go gliding with a friend...I'll try and post one or two.

It's a whole different world up there...but I'd still rather be on the ground.

DJ

[DarthRider]

Too cool!
Is your buds ultralight a solo or "family model"?
Can you get me a ride, huh? Huh?
Beautiful place where you live and ride, Willy boy...if I lived there I'd bust my ass too.

[Bones]

That is some fantastic set of photos. The one looking forward at his feet, beyond which are clouds is really something. The IDEA of ultralight flying is quite appealing. But, personally, I wouldn't go near one. Why? Because I can barely look over the railing from the second floor of our house to the first floor without my knees going weak. Funny how that is. Love going fast close to the ground. Can't get comfortable at any speed, up high. For those of you who do it, enjoy.


Jeff

[Promethean]

One of these days I'll probably learn to fly an Ultralight. That's on my list of things to do. I wonder how much those things cost.


Please enjoy a slide show of the wondrous area where I live, thanks to my pal Bim, who is a fellow rider and loves his ultralight: I hope the link works...

http://photos.sharpcast.com/photos/user/bimpix/thumbnails?album=13766_59124519797609.sc

[socalrob]

A while back I mentioned to my wife that its really not THAT much $$ to take up flying, & maybe I would.

That was when I found out she really wasn't thrilled with the bike, & over her dead body would I be flying.

Of course I decided not to point out that most likely flying is I am sure several times safer than riding.

WW - fantastik link. I too love the pix looking down past the feet.

[Wild Will]

cost $6,000. He sold his ST 1100 to buy the plane. It has a twin cylinder Rotax 2 stroke mill. They rebuild them at 350 hours, and are near indestructible. I'd love to learn as well, and may have the chance. It's pretty close to gliding like the raptor birds, as it's pretty slow. He spent around $3K for the lessons.
On another note, another acquaintence of yore lost a foot from his prop on his ultralight 10 years ago. Nothing's without risk when you break as easily as we of the flesh. Happy you've enjoyed these as much as I did. Bim's happy too!
Incidentally, he made his fortune (tongue in cheek) by re-creating the medieval ghetto in a German city in miniature in a museum; I think Koln. You see a close up photo and you think you're looking at an actual street scene. Amazing talent and patience. He no longer rides bikes.

[Ed K]

Hey Will... Link does not seem to be working at the moment at least... perhaps the server is busy now.

But... was he flying last Sat, Aug 19? I saw this guy up there on my way home from Northern Cal!

[DJ Down Under]

Has anyone seen that vid showing what happens when an ultralight runs out of fuel...OMG...click here.. http://www.fugly.com/videos/4534/ultralight-out-of-gas.html

DJ

[MidlifeMark]

Ouch! I'll bet that hurt. That thing glided like a homesick brick once he lost power. I think he would have done better if he'd gotten the nose down a little sooner, and gone for the parking lot off to his left.

[geechie]

Piss!! My at work netnanny won't let me see the damn thing.

What a major PITA this thing has become.

I'm pretty much tore up with the whole idea of ultralights. It's a dream that simply will not die.

George

[Wild Will]

But... was he flying last Sat, Aug 19? I saw this guy up there on my way home from Northern Cal![/QUOTE]

[DarthRider]

About 15 years ago I went up for several "demo lessons" in a couple of styles of ultra lights (UL). It was a stone blast!
I had it real bad and was ready to sell a couple of bikes to buy one, get trained & go flying. You didn't need a license and it was all pretty simple. I'd had a couple of lessons in a Cessna and had the controls a number of times on skydiving trips. Figured I was all set.
Then I bought a little book on UL's and changed my mind.
I've mentioned before my philosophy of "The art of doing dangerous things safely", like skydiving and motorcycling, so I was really thinking about that.
The only way I was safe skydiving and riding was to be completely immersed in it..."ate up with it" as it were. Live it, breath it, study it, train in it, practice it, really do it right.
That was my first revelation...how could I keep riding at that level and fly UL's at that level too? Financially or commitment-wise? I really couldn't, not 100% anyway. Both of those things will kill you if given half a chance, after-all!
The little book talked about a lot of circumstances not apparent in the prefect, calm day UL flights I'd done...cross-wind landings, gusts on tale-off or landing, power failures & other potential malfunctions, rapid weather changes, etc. Lots of things.
None of that scared me, or worried me, IF I approached it with the same dedication I had applied to jumping or riding/racing.
What it finally came down to was financial...could I afford both bikes and UL's? And,
Could I maintain that degree of expertise in bikes and UL's?
No, I worked full time and had somewhat of a life aside from my dangerous pursuits.
So I reluctantly dropped the UL plan. With dangerous toys you, or at least I, need to be 100% committed with no distractions. To dabble with dangerous toys is not compatible with "The art of doing dangerous things safely".
I had the guts, the desire, and could acquire the skills for one, but not both.
I chose to remain dedicated to the bikes with no regrets.
Your results may vary but I'd urge anyone thinking about UL's to consider those things.

[Promethean]

Don't they require a license these days to fly an UL? I'm pretty sure the feds would come knocking on my door if I applied for one. :icon_redface:

[DarthRider]

Don't they require a license these days to fly an UL? I'm pretty sure the feds would come knocking on my door if I applied for one. :icon_redface:


Ab, I'm not sure if that's changed or not, on the licensing. It *should* require a license!!
Point well taken on your particular situation!

[Wild Will]

a license is now req'd.

[MidlifeMark]

I know there is a new category called Light Sport Aircraft, and they require a Sport Pilot's license (fewer requirements than the Private Pilot or Recreational Pilot), but I think you can still fly an ultralight without a license. Not that it matters to me since 1) I've already got a pilot's license and 2) I have no interest in flying an ultralight, but I'd be interested in the reference to the FAA regulation that says you need a license to fly an ultralight.

[Wild Will]

ok now:
legally you don't need a licence to fly an ultralight.
the FAA considers it an off-road vehicle (sic!).

if you want to park your UL on an airport, like cloverdale, healdsburg and such
you need proof of insurance.
insurance for ULs is only available through the
United States Ultralight Association,
and only to members.

to be admitted as a member you have to be a licensed UL pilot,
which means you have had to pass a test that was set up by the USUA.

practically the FAA has given the USUA the right to regulate itself.

the whole light sports aircraft and sports pilot license is a new thing
to reign in those ULs that are too heavy and don't really fall under the
FAA part 103.
more about that FAA part 103 at the link below



http://www.ultralighthomepage.com/FAR.part103.html

<http://www.ultralighthomepage.com/FAR.part103.html>

[MidlifeMark]

Anybody else remember Yukon Cornelius over on the other board? He was an ultralight pilot who had a bad day in a hobby that has a one-bad-day limit. Nice guy, and a nice family. I hope his family is doing OK.

[DJ Down Under]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anybody else remember Yukon Cornelius over on the other board? He was an ultralight pilot who had a bad day in a hobby that has a one-bad-day limit. Nice guy, and a nice family. I hope his family is doing OK.

Me to.....I will never forget him..:icon_cry:

DJ

[Deans BMW]

Remember him well, talked to his widow, they seem to be doing well.

Regretably, as much as I hate to say it, Pilot Error the cause.

[AZBMWRIDER]

Take a look at this web site...It shows all Airline/Aircraft Flights.
It's amazing how many aircraft are flying in our skies in a 24Hr period.

Pay close attention to the time of day...Incredible...

Animation of all flight movements tracked by FlightAware during a 24-hour period in September, 2005.

http://flightaware.com/analysis/allflights_movie.rvt

http://flightaware.com/live/

[fganger]

Now that is absolutly georgeous, the countryside, the view and the ultralight itself. I'm so jealous.

I just wonder if when your friend spotted the hot air ballon, he had the urge to straife it with a full burst? No, not for real, more like Snoopy.

Frank

[OKRider]

Man, that looks like so much fun! I think an ultralight is in my future somewhere -- probably several years from now when I really start to miss my USAF flying days.

Only problem is, I'm not exactly an ultralight guy at well over 200 pounds:icon_redface: .

[Wild Will]

is a 200 pounder! He's a German import, a swell guy, and I think he likes to play Red Baron, for sure. He's careful, methodical, and I've never see a better cure for mid life depression (which hit him hard...) than his used ultralight! Thinks he's a damned red tailed hawk!

[MidlifeMark]

If I were a little closer to ultralight myself, I might consider it. I'm reluctant to get into an aircraft that doubles in weight the moment I get in.

When I was training in the C152 and the R22, I described those aircraft as "I don't really get in; it's more like I put them on."