Risks in new flying craze

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 28

Risks in new flying craze

By

KEN COATES

in London Flying by the seat of your pants looks set to become a craze just as fast growing as hang-gliding or water ski-ing. It is all done in ungainly looking flying machines . called Microlight aircraft. . In Britain, you can buy one for less than $7500, fold it up to carry on the roof-rack of

your car, and then launch it from a suitable field and fly on a few gallons of ordinary petrol.. There are an estimated 500 Microlights in use throughout Britain, and another 10 taking to the air every week. For the present at least pilots need no licence or formal training, although this is to be changed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which will require craft to be registered and examined. The enthusiast, a Hampshire businessman, Mr David. Thomas, aged 40, says his Microlight, powered by a two-stroke engine, can fly at up to 105km/h and he gets about 60 miles to a gallon of petrol. Although he has had 21 engine failures in mid-air, he says the machine makes a wonderful glider. “You just float about quietly until you come to rest in a field: ideally, I like to land near a nice pub in case I have to hang about for while.” .

But flying these primitive strut-and-wire machines is not without risks. Since the sport was introduced, two Microlight pilots have died

and five have been seriously hurt in horrific crashes. The-chairman of the British Microlight Aircraft Association, Mr Stephen Hunt, says most of the injuries have occurred because of a lack of proper tuition. He says training schools have been set up and basic and advanced certificates of competence are issued.