Microlighting in NZ

[Dave Homewood]

Back in the 1980's there seemed to be a huge boom in microlighting and we were forever seeing and hearing them in our skies around Cambridge. The NZ heart of the microlight community seemed to be Te Kowhai near Hamilton, and there was also quite a fraternity at Mt Maunganui.

These days we practically never see them anywhere.

What happened to curb this once blossoming hobby? Did the regulations tighten up and force people to quit? Did it get too expensive?

Is it still going anywhere in NZ?

[DragonflyDH90]

Microlight aircraft is most probably the fastest growing form of aviation in New Zealand, in fact you could almost say that a new design comes onto the market just about every week. Probably what you are used to seeing as a microlight in days gone by Dave is not what you see now. Go too airliners.net and have a search for ultralights or microlights and scroll through several pages, some you will recognise as what would be a "classic" style microlight but the majority are getting very advanced. Have a google search for Impulse ultralight, Silence ultralight, any of the Rans series, Tecnam the list goes on forever.
Keep an eye for an upcoming issue of Aviation News as I think there is going to be a special on this exploding side of aviation.
Im sure Alex will show some of his photos from an upcoming shoot when they are done.

[DragonflyDH90]

You may spot some familiar faces looking from the cockpits if all goes according to plan.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Ryan. I see. I guess they still fly around here but I was assuming these little aeroplanes were "homebuilds" and "ultralights" rather than "microlights" as I once knew them. Yes, I was thinking of the seat-of-your-pants and out-in-the-wind machines that looked like they were motorised hang gliders rather than planes, and looked like they were designed by Richard Pearse. :-)

More of this sort of NZ aviation would be welcome here as I am always willing to learn more about it, and I'm sure others are too.

[Naki]

Yes I would like to know more as well and looking forward to the next issue of Aviation News. I am confused by the large array of Microlights or LSAs that are available. I would like to think I would be able to buy one one day (if I sell the wife, kids and house).

Quite keen on the Czech Sport Crusier, Zodiac CH601 and the new Cirrus SR Sport as per their web site (its actually based on another design but looks nice) www.cirrusdesign.com/. Any ideas anyone what is the best value, best to fly out there etc etc?

[Bruce]

There is still a strong movement centred around the "classical" microlights such as the Bantam (there have been over 300 built!) but the key reason you no longer see them around is airspace. Where we are in the Waikato is all Transponder Mandatory airspace, and the Hamilton control zone takes up a good chunk of fly-able space. Whilst exemptions can be obtained or transponders fitted, this can be a lot of hassle, and as a result a lot of microlight activity occurs away from main centres. Remember as well that Microlights are not legally allowed to fly over built up areas except in the course of taking off and landing, and this rule is now more strenuously enforced than previous years. Certainly hard core microlighters do exist, and they seem to get out and about quite a bit, if you attend the right sort of fly - ins!
As Ryan mentioned however, in NZ we have a very good "microlight" category that accomodates some pretty high performeance machines - the Pulsar and Sport Cruzer for instance. These will out perform any light Cessna, and are quite mind blowing - but can be flown on a microlight license. It is definitely the fastest growing area on the aviation market, not just in NZ but globally as well. Shortly the Sport pilot licence and Light Sport Aircraft category may finally be established (its been a LOOOOOONG wait!) which will see even more options in this area.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Bruce, that airspace issue explains a lot.