Ultralight Rules and Regs

[GyroRon]

Gyro basics 101 ultralight regs

I will not quote word for word FAR part 103 which is what allows us to fly Ultralights, but I will cover some of the more important basics.

First off a ultralight is just that a ultralight. It is not a airplane or a gyro or a blimp or whatever it is considered a Ultralight Vehicle. To be a LEGAL ultralight vehicle this is the limits it has to meet.

Empty weight including blades, and horizontal stabs, instruments, brakes, EVERYTHING except fluids such as gas and oil and anti freeze, MUST be 254 pounds or less. There is a provision for a additional few pounds of weight if there is a Ballistic parachute system or some type of floats installed on the machine. Some people feel the FAA will make allowances for safety equipment such as a Stab or a pre rotator, but as of now they don't, so however your gyro is set up, to be a legal ultralight is must weight under 254 pounds dry.

It must have only one seat. There is no such thing as a two seat ultralight. You may see two seat airplanes or gyroplanes that look alot like the single seat ultralights, but these are special ultralight trainers and can only be flown be a licensed instructor and only for instruction purposes. If you want two seats and to fly for pleasure you must get a Private rating and register your machine as a experimental with N numbers and fly it accordingly. But a legal ultralight will only have one seat.

It can only hold 5 US gallons of fuel. If the tank has room for 8 and you only put in 5 your still not legal. It must only be able to hold 5 gallons period.

I am not sure of the exact speeds, but to be a legal ultralight the vehicle must not be able to fly faster than somewhere around 65 MPH in straight and level full throttle flight. It must also not have a stall speed higher than somewhere around 30 mph.

A ultralight can only be flown during daylight hours, but can be flown for 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset with a flashing strobe light.

A ultralight can be used only for pleasure. No commercial use is allowed, so no towing banners or aerial photos for sale!!!

A ultralight has to stay free and clear of the clouds.

A ultralight must give right of way to ALL other forms of aircraft. Everything else that is up there flying has the right of way over a ultralight.

A ultralight does not require a license of any sort, or specifys any training requirements - although training is highly reccomended. there is also no medical required or a minimum age requirement.

There is no registration requirements for the vehicle itself, or Any required annual inspections. Basically it is up to you to maintain it and since it isn't considered a aircraft you need not to register it as a aircraft.

So in a nut shell that is it.

As for ultralight gyroplanes, there is a few to choose from.... The Gyrobee, the Butterfly, Some models of Dominators, Some models of Aircommands, Some models of Little Wing and Pit bull tractor gyros, Some models of Bandit gyroplanes, and several Gyrobee Knock offs such as the Honey bee and the Hornet. There is also several scratch built gyros that may meet the ultralight rules, you will have to look for them.

[gyropilot]

[quote author=GyroRon link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1811 date=1071020927]
Gyro basics 101 ultralight regs

First off a ultralight is just that a ultralight. It is not a airplane or a gyro or a blimp or whatever it is considered a Ultralight Vehicle.[/quote]

Regarding whether or not an aircraft being operated under FAR Part 103 is indeed an "aircraft" or a "vehicle"... something to consider:

49 United States Code - Transportation, Subtitle VIII - Aviation Programs, Part A - Air Commerce and Safety, Subpart i - General, Chapter 401, Section 40102 - Definitions (a)(6) states:

"In this part 'aircraft' means any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air."

Also, FAR Part 1 Definitions and Abbreviations, Section 1.1 General definitions states:

"As used in Subchapters A through K of this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: Aircraft means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air." (FAR Part 103 falls under Subchapter F.)

Further, FAR Part 103 does *not* state an ultralight vehicle is not an aircraft. It merely uses the term "ultralight vehicle" to describe what *might* be considered a category of aircraft. It seems the repeated use of the term "vehicle" in Part 103 would lead us all to believe an UL is something other than an "aircraft," but by strict interpretation it doesn't.

And while it's true the person operating an ultralight vehicle is not required to hold any particular category or class rating, FAR Part 103, Section 3(b) "Inspection Requirements" itself refers to the operator as a pilot:

"(b) The pilot or operator of an ultralight vehicle must, upon request of the Administrator, furnish satisfactory evidence that the vehicle is subject only to the provisions of this part."

[GyroRon]

Like I said I was just giving you the basics. I suggest for those who want to, to look up FAR part 103 and go over it yourself.

John would you like to copy and paste the whole part 103 here for everyone to see?

[Heron]

Why (does not need to be in depth) only 5 gallons?
. . .and (no kidding here) is there other kind of flight that is not through the air?
Thanks
Heron

[GyroRon]

Can't tell you why it is only 5 gallons. i guess to keep the overall weight down. 5 gallons of fuel is another 30 pounds of weight. Maybe it is also to limit the amount of fuel that could be ignited in a post crash fire?

And Heron just to be a smart ass, Yes some submarines fly through the water, using airfoil shaped control surfaces to control direction. So flight is possible in a medium other than air.

[ToddP]

[quote author=GyroRon link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1811 date=1071020927]
Gyrobee Knock offs such as the Honey bee and the Hornet.
[/quote]

Isn't the Gyrobee a knock-off of Martin Hollman's Honeybee? Its seems like I read that somewhere.

[ToddP]

This is great Ron, does anyone know the specifics regarding maximum speed and stall speed. Lets work together and get these polished up. I'm working on setting up a "portal" type format for the board. There will be links in the left or right column that will allow people to look at the FAQ, Downloads, Links etc. Everything is built around the discussion board, but it allows you to have information that doesn't "rotate" away such as on a discussion board.

[gyropilot]

[quote author=Heron link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1868 date=1071079598]
Why (does not need to be in depth) only 5 gallons?[/quote]

From:

Part 103-Ultralight Vehicles

Operating Requirements

Adopted: July 30,1982 Effective: October 4,1982

(Published in 47 FR 38770, September 2,1982)

"Subpart A --General

Section 103.1 Applicability (proposed §101.1(a)(3)).

This section defines the term "ultralight vehicle," The proposed rule would have limited the term to single-occupant designs weighing less than 155 pounds, color=Red]with a fuel capacity of 15 pounds or less[/color], and which had no U.S. or foreign airworthiness certificate. The final rule expands the definition to differentiate between powered and unpowered ultralight vehicles. The 155-pound weight limitation has been retained for unpowered designs and is the only criterion for those vehicles. Those ultralights equipped with powerplants must weigh less than 254 pounds empty weight. In addition, powered ultralight vehicles must have a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons and be incapable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight. The power off stall speed of a powered ultralight must not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed."

and...

"The total allowable fuel capacity was raised from the proposed 15 pounds to 5 U.S. gallons. The decision to increase the volume of fuel is a direct result of the desire by the FAA, in response to public comments, to ensure that adequate fuel reserves are available for safe flight."

[gyropilot]

[quote author=GyroRon link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1866 date=1071079292]John would you like to copy and paste the whole part 103 here for everyone to see?[/quote]

It's too big to post...

They can be read online right from the official source here:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/c...cfr103_00.html

[gyropilot]

[quote author=Todd Powell link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1871 date=1071080394]
[quote author=GyroRon link=board=5;threadid=207;start=0#msg1811 date=1071020927]
Gyrobee Knock offs such as the Honey bee and the Hornet.
[/quote]

Isn't the Gyrobee a knock-off of Martin Hollman's Honeybee? Its seems like I read that somewhere.
[/quote]
The GyroBee is a "derivative" of Martin Hollman's Bumble Bee UL gyro.

As I understand the story, Ralph Taggart and his partner Don Chubs bought a set of Martin's Bumble Bee plans and found they had to make modifications because many of the original purchased parts were no longer available. Thus the GyroBee was born.

From the GyroBee came the HoneyBee.