Microlighting
Microlighting is the process by which people fly lightweight aeroplanes that fly at a slow speed. Microlighting became very popular during the 1970s when people desired to fly for a relatively low cost. Many of the aeroplanes used for Microlighting are not subject to regulation due to their small size. However, each country will have safety regulations which are related to these planes. The United Kingdom has the most stringent of all regulations, while the United States has few, if any regulations. In wealthier nations, it has been found that microlighting accounts for around 20 percent of all the civilian aircraft.
When microlighting is performed in a country that doesn't have any regulations, the aircraft is considered to be standard aircraft, and it will have special certifications that will be needed to fly it. It should be noted that what is classified as an ultralight can vary from one country to another, and this has led to a bit of confusion when talking about the topic. In the United States, a microlight is seen as being any aircraft which is single seat, and has a weight of less than 254 pounds when it is unloaded. These places will also need to have a speed of about 55 knots to be considered a microlight.
While the United States has less restrictions than many countries, it does have some guidelines. First, these aircraft should only be flown during daylight hours, and they should always be flown over areas that are not populated. A microlight that is not powered must be about 115 pounds, and it should have parachute and amphibious landing systems. In Europe, a microlight will be designated as any aircraft that has less than two seats, which goes at a maximum speed of 35 knots, and which has a take off mass that is less than 300 kg.
It should be noted that while Microlighting became popular in the 1970s, these planes have existed as far back as 1900. There have been about three generations of these aircraft, and they will be placed in a class based on their structure. The very first generation were truly hang gliders, and small engines were added to them. The wings were usually connected with wires, and the pilot could steer the plane by shifting his weight.
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