Micro-light, what is it?

The first time I saw a micro-light if not mistaken was in 1984 at the Air Show held at Changi Airport. It was at the old section where the Upper Changi Road cuts across the taxi-way that leads to the parking bay; there was crossing-barriers to regulate flow of traffic. Also the RAF had their Control-tower at this cross-section, I was walking around with my son looking at static display when we came across a row of strange and ugly looking flying machines. Strongly urged by curiosity we went to have a closer look and discovered with a shocking effect that the construction was of aluminium tubes. It took the form of a skeletal frame built around a buggy as the fuselage and had high wings. It was like going back to the time of the Wright Brothers, who built the ‘flyer’ at Kitty Hawk in 1903.

The Mx II are manufactured by Quicksilver (USA), the buggy has an “A” frame and down-tubes that supported the root-tube above to which the wings were connected. A king-post affixed at the top of the root-tube held the wings in position by the upper wires when it is on the ground. The under-surface of the wings ran the lower wires also known as the “flying wires” and are secured to the buggy. It held the wings in flight. An under-slung 6-gallon fuel tank fixed at the forward part of the root-tube and the other end held a small two-stroke inverted engine driving a 2 bladed wooden propeller. There were two upper-booms protruding from the wing’s trailing edge, one each from port/starboard side. Together with two lower-booms port/starboard sides from the buggy supported the whole tail-plane.

The skin covering the surface of the wings and the tail-plane were of multi-coloured durable synthetic fabric used same as in sailplane or sailing boats. The seating arrangements two seated side-by-side. It had a “tricycle undercarriage” that is two main wheels and a nose-wheel in front. What shocked me was the total absence of the floor-board in the cockpit, the wrap-around front wind shield/screen and windows. It was completely naked so as to say, the absence of what I would consider normal expectation of a cockpit. It was truly bare essential, without frills and just basic.

To me it seems life-threatening and scary enough for you are practically flying by the seat of your pants. In the open-cockpit concept the wind would be blowing or beating your face as you sit there fully exposed to the mercy of the elements. For a while I just stood there wondering, my small brain went into a long search of understanding. It seems ridiculous and definitely not my idea of flying, with legs that could dangle in mid-air and the wind blasting your face to numbness.

My question was is it a circus plane purposely built for the clown to fool around entertaining the crowd or simply for the brave-hearted and stupid. The irony was that it did not occur to me at that time that I would one day end up flying it. Only much later did I realized the full potential of this simple flying machine and the impact that it would have on recreation or fun flying. By it’s simplicity in construction, the maintenance is kept low by comparison to that of General Aviation. Obviously it makes micro-light flying more appealing and affordable to the ordinary man in the street with a shoe-string budget. It is an opportunity for those seeking air adventure especially the youth to take up the challenge and soar into the skies. In order to experience the exhilarating feelings of being in flight like a bird or nearest to it. At the same time to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the scenic surroundings; this time in looking down instead of the normal norm of looking upwards from the ground. The blue skies and the white fluffy clouds floating around as far as the eye can see; the wonders of creation.

Air show at Changi Airport (This section at the Upper Changi Road side)

Today advance technology has a great influence in the micro-light industry with better material, design and performance. New models with up-rated engines could fly faster, further and safer. Some daring and adventurous pilots have flown practically around the world. Generally to-day micro-light have been proven beyond reasonable doubts to be reliable; it could fly to distant places. You can call what you may a recreation, sports or fun flying; it is a challenge more exciting and demanding than any other. However it also carries an intoxicating effect; you get one shot in the air and you will be back for another.

Another micro-light type called the ‘Flight Star’ employed the same principle, skeletal frame, high-wing and tri-cycle undercarriage. However the wing-root extended further to the front where a traction-engine is positioned. The cockpit was protected by a large windshield mounted end of the nose section.

In Malaysia, the definition for a micro-light by the Department of Civil Aviation is as follows:-

a) Empty weight must not exceed 150 kg

b) Wing loading factor at maximum must not exceed 10 kg per square meter.

c) Seating capacity restricted to 2 persons including the pilot.

Micro-light type ‘Flightstar’ (front traction-motor)

The EAA 1090 is a chapter in Malaysia under Capt. Siva who is the President with office in Kuala Lumpur. He undertakes the task of promoting and encouraging people especially the youth to participate and be part of the aviation community.

EAA means “Experimental Aircraft Association “ an organization founded in America

in 1953 to promote flying for it’s future generation. It has chapters Global catering for the enthusiasts in the fast expanding world of aviation,.

In the States the Association stage the greatest air show on earth at a place called “Oshkosh” a Mecca for the aviation lunatics like us. Some more than 12,000 aircraft of various categories assemble for the “Show”. The pilots have their opportunity to display their skill and bravado to thrill the fanatical crowd of thousands. Just imagine what a nightmare for the organizers and especially the air traffic controllers as numerous aircraft of all descriptions converge to this particular ‘hot spot’. For some of us flying had been our childhood dreams, each time we hear the sound of aircraft engine we would automatically look up to the sky. We are attracted by sight and sound; eager to know what type of aircraft, civilian or military, fighter or non-combatant. So when the opportunity did presented itself, we took the advantage to make our dreams come true.