| Question | Answer |
| Can I use my ultralight to start an aerial photography business. Is this illegal if I'm not carrying passengers? | NO. A sport pilot may not carry paying passengers and may not be compensated for piloting an aircraft. Under 14 CFR Part 61 Section 61.315, a sport pilot may not fly for compensation or hire or in the furtherance of a business. AOPA received a letter of interpretation from the FAA Office of Chief Counsel that further clarified this regulation. The FAA stated that acting as pilot in command of an aircraft while taking aerial photographs for the purpose of selling them is a commercial endeavor and is not merely incidental to the photography business. Therefore, the PIC must hold a commercial pilot certificate. For more information on this topic, read AOPA's subject report, Part 91 vs. Part 135 Operations. |
| How long does it take to learn how to fly? | Typically 15-20 hours not including ground instruction before you are ready to solo. Add another 5-10 hours of practicing by yourself before you are ready to take the practical test for your Sport Pilot certificate. |
| Do I have to have a license to fly an ultralight? | Not for Ultralights. Not if you are flying a true ultralight. A true ultralight is 254 lbs or less, carries 5 gals or less of fuel, and cannot carry a passenger (single seater). None of the AirBornes fit these criteria. Yes for AirBornes and other 2-seaters. AirBornes are built to Light Sport Aircraft standards. They are all 2-seaters, weigh 376-489 lbs, and carry 11-18 gals of gas. Consequently they all have to registered by January 08 with the FAA (N-numbered). To fly an FAA registered aircraft you must have a Sport Pilot's certificate or higher. |
| Is insurance available? | Liability insurance is currently available through First Flight Insurance, Kitty Hawk, NC. Hull insurance, except for flight schools, is not available. This will probably change with Sport Pilot but not for a couple of more years. |
| Is financing available? | Because hull insurance is not available you can't use the aircraft as collateral as you can with a car or boat. Consequently, if you want to finance a trike you are left with pursuing a signature loan or a home equity loan (by far the most popular option). |
| Can AirBornes be purchased as a kit? | Not right now. AirBornes are delivered to the customer as fully assembled and test flown aircraft. The AirBorne is shipped from Australia inside a steel framed crate and partially disassembled. The wing is in what is known as a "short-pack" and wrapped in cardboard. AirBorne requires the final assembly of both the trike and the wing to be done by one of their dealers. This includes test flying the aircraft to insure it is properly tuned. You can buy the pod and the wing seperately if you want to spread your purchase out over a period of time but that will cost you extra for shipping. Stay tuned though as this may change in the future. To allow for E-LSA registration after Jan 08 AirBorne may make their aircraft available as 90% built kits. |
| Can I order a different engine other than that specified by AirBorne for a particular model? | No. AirBorne trikes are certified aircraft. Each model/wing combination has been certified by the Australian FAA equivalent. A engine change requires re-certification. "That's a pain" you say. Yes in that you don't have quite the flexibility you have with manufacturers of non-certified trikes. HOWEVER, with AirBorne's you are certain of getting an aircraft that is optimized for the certified wing/pod/engine combinations and has been fully tested (and verified by an independent third party) to insure safety. With the non-certified manufacturers you have to take their word for the thoroughness of their testing. |
| How well do trikes fly in the wind? | The answer to this depends on the trike. However, if you click here you will see a video of an AirBorne XT-912 taking a 15 knot crosswind in stride. However, most of us fly our trikes when the wind on the ground is 10 knots or less. While the aircraft can handle higher winds the ride can be pretty rough and flying trikes is about fun -- not survival. |
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