Open Writing

I had an objective in mind when I drove down from Adelaide to the South Australian town of Strathalbyn, for it is there that the Adelaide Airsports has its headquarters for Microlight aircraft and I held an ambition to try a flight in one.

A microlight aircraft, (if 'aircraft' is a permissible name for it) is a derivative from the hanglider, in which the pilot suspends himself, face down under a large wing. The microlight, in which I flew, carries two people, seated in tandem, the pilot in front and passenger behind. They are seated in an open capsule, itself mounted on three wheels like a tricycle—hence the term 'Triking'—and suspended underneath a large wing. Thus there is no fuselage, the two flyers being in the open and exposed to the elements.

The engine is situated behind the passenger. I was in a later model with a four-stroke, propeller engine of 80 hp. Earlier models have a two-stroke engine. The maximum flying height permitted by regulation is 10,000 feet. The fuel gives seven hours of flying time while the usual flying speed is 60 knots. My first question to Larry Jones, my pilot and chief instructor, was about the gliding ratio if the engine stops. It is 10:1, meaning that for every 10 miles it glides, it loses one mile in height.

I dressed warmly and Larry explained to me the dashboard in front of the pilot and how the aircraft is flown. Everything works through adjustments to the angle of the large wing above us. This is done by a horizontal bar in front of the pilot, which he holds with both hands. Sliding the bar to the left tilts the wing downwards to the left and turns the aircraft to the left and, similarly to the right; while pushing it forward lowers the nose and, conversely, pulling the bar towards you raises the nose. It differs from an ordinary aircraft as it has no ailerons, nor flaps nor rudder, while two foot pedals are only used on the ground to steer the tricycle wheels.

After the preliminary talk, Larry placed earphones on me, followed by a helmet, then buckled me into my seat with a waistline strap. He climbed in and started the engine with a key. To me it sounded like a loud lawnmower, and being a four-stroke engine I mused that maybe it was—and hoped that it wasn't.

Slowly we start to move and bump across the rough ground towards the runway then, reaching it we pause while Larry gives radio advice of our take-off. With a throttle-pedal near his foot, Larry speeds up the rear engine behind me into a roar as we start to move; gaining speed the ground flashes past in a blur just below my legs then after a run of about fifty yards, we become airborne. At 3000 feet, Larry slides the bar to the left and we bank over in response and change direction.

The view, completely unrestricted, is superb. There is no peering through the tiny window of a jet this time; the horizon is in full view from left to right; I look straight down, below and past my legs, to see the ground 3000 feet below, changing in its appearance as we pass over a vineyard, then upwards at the wing from left to right. Larry's voice comes over my earphones.

'Ready to take over, John?'

'Sure am!'

There is no bar in front of me but by means of two large brackets extending towards me, I am able to take control of the bar.

'Larry, it just about flies itself.'

'Yes, when it is properly trimmed, it does and needs very little adjustment. Try a few banks.'

Slowly I slide the bar towards the left, the wing tilts downwards and we start to turn to the left, gently.

. . . now bring the bar back, slowly, to the center . . . the wing comes up level . . . nose is up a little . . . push the bar forward . . . down comes the nose . . . that's better . . . let's try one to the right . . . Slide the bar to the right . . . the right wing tilts downwards . . . I straighten up.

'You are doing well, John, how do you find it?'

'Wonderful; unbelievable! I'll buy one. How much?'

'Only about $50,000. Plus $2,000 fees to learn.'

But it has to end as Larry takes over for the landing; we bump on the rough surface and drive up to the hangar.

It is like being airborne in a flying Go-Kart. I recommend it to everybody.

© John Powell