Microlight Wings Visitor Survey Winner

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 19:35 Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 20:13

And The Winner Is......

The winner of our "Have Your Say" visitor's survey is: Steve Jones.

Congratulations to Steve who will be receiving the book of his choice from our Amazon Store. I would like to thank all those who took part in the visitr survey, your responses have been very worthwhile and will help in the direction we take in the development of content for this site.

Once again thanks to all those who took part.

Darren

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New Head of Sales For Flight Design US

Thursday, 02 July 2009 10:17 Last Updated on Thursday, 02 July 2009 10:33 Written by Darren Bardsley

Flight Design USA Select New National Sales Manager

Flight Design USA announced 1st July 2009 the appointment of John Gilmore as their new National Sales Manager for the line of Special Light-Sport Aircraft, including the CTLS and MC.

"To take Flight Design to higher sales levels, we knew we needed someone with extensive experience in larger companies," said Tom Peghiny, President of Flight Design USA. Gilmore is highly skilled in channel sales development and has worked for large computer manufacturers and was for several years Vice President of Sales for BRS Parachutes. "That strong background combines with John's enthusiasm for the use of small aircraft for both transportation and fun will help us support and expand the dealer network," added Peghiny.

A lifelong pilot, John has lead sales for fractional jet shares, components, and airframe parachute systems.

"I feel privileged to join the team representing the top-selling brand name in the Light-Sport category. The new planes have enhancements that make them even better. Flight Design has been able to establish a strong worldwide market presence. My plan is to build upon this worldwide success here in the U.S. and take advantage of opportunities that exist in both Light-Sport and GA markets," said Gilmore.

Flight Design operates from its German headquarters through a proven network of distributors and dealers throughout the globe. Its LSA models represent nearly one in five of all Special Light-Sport Aircraft in the US and enjoy high owner loyalty; many have already been repeat buyers. Gilmore will apply his expertise to enhance the efforts of the existing representative network while also seeking new sales outlets.

Recently Flight Design USA has been expanding its presence in flight schools, building the Flight Design Pilot Centre program. The brand-new Flight Design MC - created to do training and recreational flying duty - was selected by EAA to be their official Sweepstakes airplane for 2009. The airplane will be awarded at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 event July 27th –August 2nd.

Flight Design USA is the U.S. importer of the CT series from Germany and has succeeded in delivering more than 300 aircraft to its American network of distributors and dealers. One of the first Light-Sport Aircraft certified under ASTM standards, the carbon fibre CT series is the best-selling LSA in America. Approximately 1,300 CT models are flying around the globe.

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Very Lucky Escape For 2 Barton Microlight Flyers

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 14:09 Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 20:58 Written by Darren Bardsley

3-Axis Microlight Crashes Into An Eccles Garden!

A Microlight Pilot and passenger escaped with minor injuries when their Flight Design CTsw crashed into a garden in Eccles, nearby to the airfield.

CTsw in Eccles Garden It is thought they were taking off from City Airport Manchester at Barton when they plummeted into Brookhouse Avenue, Peel Green, just yards from the M60 motorway.

The two onboard, one 19, the other in his early 20s, were taken to Salford Royal Hospital by paramedics after the crash which happened around midday today. Thankfully their injuries are reported not to be life-threatening.

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Keith Brown Microlight Crash Landing At Sandwood Bay

Monday, 29 June 2009 14:01 Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 July 2009 13:19 Written by Darren Bardsley

A New Meaning For Beachcraft?

At some point in our microlighting careers, we have either done it or dreamed of that blissful low pass flight along the golden sands of an empty beach. What could be more satisfying than this particularly on a summers morning or late evening?

Keith's Microlight on The Beach

Well now imagine that dream going oh so terribly wrong when you decide to just do a touch and go, or skim those back wheels along the beautiful golden stuff. Because that’s what happened recently to Keith Brown at Sandwood Bay in remotest Sutherland when he decided that he would touch down on the bay's golden sands on a flight around the headland. As his wheels touched down they instantly got bogged down in the soft sand.

Luckily for Keith the plane was going slow into the wind when it hit the ground and he managed to walk away unscathed. The plane has now been totally dismantled and carried out from the beach, to be stored in a local crofter's shed four miles away.

The bay is between Kinlochbervie and Cape Wrath in Sutherland and is owned and protected by the conservation body the John Muir Trust, which does not normally welcome such arrivals. "The sand dunes around Sandwood are very fragile and this is a very sensitive time for breeding birds such as Skylarks and Meadow Pipits," explained conservation manager for the Sandwood estate Cathel Morrison.

It was out with the spanners for Keith as he had the labour-intensive job of having to dismantle the plane by hand and together with 13 other able-bodied men carried the fuselage, engines and wings back to a nearby car park.

The 3-Axis microlight will now be transported back to its Bedfordshire base, where it is to be re-assembled.

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Yuneec E430 – The 1st Commercially Available Electric Airplane

Monday, 29 June 2009 13:58 Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 July 2009 10:59 Written by Darren Bardsley

Electric Powered Aircraft From China

You will be forgiven for never having previously heard of Yuneec, particularly in the field of microlight and Light Sport Aircraft. But they are a young and progressive company that I believe we will all be hearing more and more of in the future.

Operating from their expansive, ne hi-tech research and manufacturing facility just outside Shanghi they have used their expertise in electric motors to develop a first of its kind, a commercially available electric aircraft; the E430.

The Yuneec E430 is a twin seat, single engine light sport aircraft (LSA) designed to be simple to use, easy to fly with virtually no vibration and with zero emissions. The E430 is stated to have an endurance of 1.5 – 3 hours flying time depending upon configuration, with charging times of around 3 hours, costing in the region of $5/£3, which makes it cheap, cheap to fly. On top of that maintenance costs should also be much lower than conventionally powered aircraft as there are only 2 major moving parts in the motor.

Making an appearance the 2009 EAA Air Venture Oshkosh prior to being mass produced, the plane will head to California for the FAA certification testing.
With a wingspan of 45.2 ft and powered by its 54hp brushless motor, it has already hit a top speed of 93mph during its initial test flights which is pleasing given the nature of its engine. Experts feel that it will not just be the electric engine, but the lack of noise and vibration coupled with low fuel and maintenance costs that will attract buyers to the Yuneec E430 at a cost of around $89,000 when it goes on sale this time next year.

The aircraft took to the skies on 20th June 2009 for its second phase of test flights. The two flights lasted around 15 minutes each obtaining a height just under 1000ft. Top speed of 150 kmh (81knots / 93mph)was reached at level flight and Yuneec’s chief test pilot Sun Xun appeared to be delighted with the way the E430 handled, commenting on how smooth and quiet the aircraft was, even at full power.

Specification:
Wing Span: 13.8 m (45.2 ft) Fuselage Length: 6.68 m (21.9 ft) Empty Weight: 178 kg (392 lbs) (No Battery) Maximum Takeoff Weight: 430 kg (946 lbs) Motor Output: 40 kw (54 hp) @ 2,450rpm Battery Type: Lithium Polymer Battery Weight: 72 kg (158.5 lbs) (6 Packs)