ultralights?

[cwillis]

I was thinking of the ultimate BOV. . .
If you had your location within say 20-40 miles, i bet it would be doable.

does anyone have any experience with ultralights?

Just nosing around i saw some for 7-8k. how much maintainence do they need?

think about it. . . no traffic. at all. you could stay super low so helicopters wouldnt be a huge problem.

you could land somewhere with NO roads going to it.

seems ideal to me.

do you need a liscence? when i was in ATC school they touched on these types of planes and the unclassified airspace they were allowed to fly in.
I imagine with the size and speed that radar wouldnt even pick these mamma jammas up. I bet it shows up like a flock of birds. I also bet CB and HAM transmissions are great fron up there.

what do you think? Viable?

http://www.quicksilverultralight.com/images/for_sale/for_sale_sport2_pod_05.jpg

[ExOp:345]

now THAT is the ultimate BOV. Great concept, but how much cargo weight can it hold?

[cwillis]

not sure.
just in light googleing i see that they have two seaters. i wonder if they have four seaters?

im sure the two seaters can hold at least 500 lbs in people, i bet a 20lb BOB strapped behind the seat wouldnt change much besides air speed and takeoff distance.

there is a video on youtube where they cut the engine @ 1000ft with two people on one. works out just fine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHDWtrXwHNY

ill have to research more, but it looks fawking fun!
god if i could find a used one for cheap i would be all over it!

this would only be good if you have a BOL and GPS/Maps to get there. i would have to practice going the route at least once a week for practice (haha)

i want one!

[chicom]

Sure, why not. It would be an option for those times when it was absolutely necessary to get out of town now and no time to pack up your gear.

A little spendy though.

[Nordic]

Last time I checked you do not need any license or training for a single seater but for two seaters you need training and a license. Don't quote me but that's how it was about 4 years ago when I was looking at getting into them. A side comment; a friend of mine that is an actual pilot says that they are dangerous, but that is just his opinion.

[ExOp:345]

those would be amazing to keep at the BOL to use as a patrol vehicle, as in my case where i have 5 sq miles of land to keep track of.and i have miles of road on the ranch to land/take off from and could easily make it the 15 miles to the main town and back. i am definetly going to look into these!

[cwillis]

there are a couple on ebay motors for 6 and 7 thousand i think.

if you take them up to a thousand feet or two and put a really nice muffler on it, i bet it would be pretty quiet.

also maybe paint the under part of the wing a light blue?

ya they sound just like alot of fun, as long as you are out of shotgun range

[alpmco]

... a friend of mine that is an actual pilot says that they are dangerous, but that is just his opinion.
Yeah, one killed John Denver! (For you young pups ... He was a famous singer.)

[BobS]

Sorry guys, UL 2 seaters (largest built) are licenced aircraft in the US (not Canada) and require a "Light Sport Pilot's Licence" to fly, just like a Cessna single engine or other light GA aircraft flown for recreational purposes. There are also laws on maximum gross weight with a pilot on board, fuel capacity (due to weight), and various other esoteric regulations such as where you can fly, etc.....to keep from having to have a licence for the a/c or pilot. There are not toys (they ARE fun though).

ADDENDUM: FAR's on ultralights: http://www.ultralightflying.com/ultralight-vehicle-regulations/ultralight-vehicle-regulations.html

[HardOver]

Yeah, one killed John Denver! (For you young pups ... He was a famous singer.)

Actually, John Denver was killed in a LongEZ, a homebuilt airplane, not an ultralight.

[HardOver]

...a friend of mine that is an actual pilot says that they are dangerous, but that is just his opinion.

They are not dangerous, just inherently unforgiving. If you fly them you have to manage risk carefully. Any flying machine must be properly maintained and inspected, and the laws of aerodynamics followed carefully. There have been many who violated these laws and wound up with rapid deceleration trauma.

If you choose to fly ultralights, get proper training, have fun and be safe.

[yugoshooter]

I would go with a Gyro copter. Shorter takeoff and landings. If you build your own it is considered an X plane so no BS license needed. http://www.sportcopter.com/gyroplanes.php

[Encato]

iv thought about this a wile ago but id need a 2 seater and at least 3 trips just for people a friend has a Gyroplane its fun would make a grate recon tool but onley if u have everything els

[doc762399]

So your up there and some one starts shooting at you. Ak could take you out. No thank you. I'd stick to a ground BOV or water BOV.

[Nordic]

I would go with a Gyro copter. Shorter takeoff and landings. If you build your own it is considered an X plane so no BS license needed. http://www.sportcopter.com/gyroplanes.php

I think you just want to play "Mad Max". :D

[ZombieHunter_EKY]

Yeah, one killed John Denver! (For you young pups ... He was a famous singer.)

Hey I know about the rocky mountain high.

[hitech_hick]

So your up there and some one starts shooting at you. Ak could take you out. No thank you. I'd stick to a ground BOV or water BOV.

That's kinda what I was thinking; low, slow, open cockpit = easy target.


hick

[Gunslinger80]

They are not exactly quiet either, I live around about 5 guys that fly often. And you can hear em coming a mile away. They might be good for recon, but as soon as someone makes your position your toast.

[Revelation]

Just don't bump into the swarms of UAVs flying over us.

[bdcochran]

Denver did not die in an ultralight. He also ran out of fuel.
Ultralights today have an integral parachute.
An ultralite should carry about 300 pounds of cargo.