Hi all,
I happened to have met 2 gentlemen that sort of rekindled something I have always wanted to try. That is the cheapest way to fly, on ultralight plane that is basically the lghtest plane with a motor to fly.
I learned that you can attend a 5 days course and learn from absolutely zero knowledge/experience and on day 5 you will be able to take off and fly solo. Such packages are available in JB or in Pattaya and it includes not only the training , lodging but also insurance.
Also I have heard of Boy scouts, Sea scouts but not Air scouts ? What air scouts do is the same as most scouts except they learn about flying and may also do some flying on small planes. Well if anyone has such interest or are involved or planning on such trips , I would like to learn more. Cheers.
Hi all,
Just to add the whole 5 day course till you get the RPFL, that is restricted private flying license for ultralight is $1200.
Hope to hear there is someone who know something about this.
By the way also, if anyone is keen on going up on a 4 seater small plane, that flies around the southern islands at very low level can email me.
You must ask yourself why you are in this for. I checked out flying in the US. I think it is the same here.
The license will typically allow you to fly around the club. To maintain the activity is costly. Think about the same amount every month. And still you get to fly around the club. Its much more if you think of qualifying to fly to destinations eg to Bangkok and back.
It is like joining a Yacht Club. Except in Yacht Clubs you have a full facility social club plus extensive water sport activities like canoeing, motor boating, racing, camping, travelling, white water etc. Compare this to a spartan military air hanger. Consider also the safety issues of flying a single engine aeroplane.
If you want the thrill of flying, consider handgliding, paragliding, gliding, paraskiing or parachuting. Sustainable, safer and cheaper, they are more value for adrenalin. Here at home the most viable form is launching from paraskiing.
Paragliding is the most fun. It is relatively cheap and requires no machine / fuel to launch and maintain flight. A paraglider is like a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. It is safer on landing than handgliding.
Contrary to popular thinking, it is more dangerous and costly to think of landing in water and expect to be picked up. You need to have a fast boat at your disposal. In paraskiing you shouldn’t detach yourself from the towline in the air.
But to do paragliding regularly, think of migrating first. Problem is that you need hills to launch and field to land. You also need loyal friends as you take turns to drive and pick the glider up.