| Buying an ultralight airplane is like buying a new car. It | | | | exceptions: - A brand new ultralight airplane with fixed |
| can be expensive or cheap, it can be great | | | | wings costs from $20,000 and can go to more than |
| experience or great failure, it can bring you a lot of joy | | | | $50,000 - Used fixed wings can be found for $10,000 |
| and happiness or unpleasant and dangerous accidents. | | | | or even less, but better don't buy cheaper than $10,000 |
| It's not like buying a hamburger, so don't do it when you | | | | - The new ultralight trikes (fixed wing airplanes) start |
| are hungry. There are many important decisions that | | | | from $10,000 and usually go up to $30,000 - You can |
| you must take before buying an ultralight aircraft. Of | | | | find used ultralight trike for $5,000 or even less - A |
| course the price is important, but there are more - | | | | powered paraglider can be built or bought for $2,500 (if |
| what model to be, used or new, fixed or flex wing, | | | | you find someone selling such - it's a rare chance). As |
| where to buy it from and so on. This article will try to | | | | you see, there are opportunities for everyone. Just |
| give you some basic directions for taking this important | | | | make sure that what you buy is safe. Your life costs |
| step. Choosing the right type If you have decided to | | | | more than any amount of money. Additional factors to |
| buy an ultralight airplane you probably have your | | | | consider Your safety is the most important and it's not |
| preferences. The main choice you'll need to make is | | | | enough to ensure that your ultralight airplane is not |
| either to buy a fixed wing or a flex wing aircraft. The | | | | broken. You do need a parachute system. This can |
| flex wings have a lot of advantages like lower cost, | | | | add $2,000 to the costs, but can save your life. |
| taking less space, being able to take off from an | | | | Sometimes (especially with the trikes or powered |
| automobile road etc. On the other hand, if you want to | | | | paragliders) you need a helmet too. When buying an |
| have a real airplane with pilot's cabine, professional | | | | ultralight aircraft, you also need to know in what license |
| devices and all that, and to use it for more than just | | | | category it falls for your country. The regulations are |
| fun, you'll have to choose a fixed wing. You can | | | | different and you need to ensure that you will be able |
| search the Web for my article Flex Wing Vs. Fixed | | | | to fly in your area. Hangaring your airplane also can |
| Wing Ultralight Airplanes if you want to learn more | | | | cost you a lot of money and nerves. If you don't have |
| about the advantages and disadvantages of these | | | | a good place on your own or there is no airport |
| two types. In addition to this, you may want to take a | | | | hangar close to you, maybe you should think about |
| look at the ultralight seaplanes, the gliders or the | | | | buying a trike which can stay in your car garage. |
| powered paragliders. You could miss something pretty | | | | Where to search? Of course the best option is to |
| cool just because you don't know about it. So, study | | | | browse the classified sites on the net. Cost-wise |
| more about the types of ultralight airplanes before | | | | however it would be much better to find a good |
| making your choice. You can find a lot of information | | | | airplane in your area, because transportation on big |
| about them at Used or New? Isn't that a dilemma | | | | distances can be an issue. Check if there are any |
| which comes to you each time when you are going to | | | | companies around you which build or resell ultralight |
| buy something big? Buying a second hand airplane has | | | | aircrafts. Often they will also offer used ones. If you |
| some advantages, but of course the main is the lower | | | | prefer to search the Web, write "ultralight airplane for |
| price. An used aircraft can cost 50% or less the price | | | | sale" in your favourite search engine and you'll get a lot |
| of a similar new one. On the other hand, you should | | | | of classifieds and company sites. If you have decided |
| not buy second hand if you don't know how to check | | | | on the type, make or model, you can narrow your |
| its quality. You need to ensure that the engine, | | | | search. Another good idea is to search for "ultralight |
| fuselage and wings are good enough and are not | | | | airplane kits" - then you will get a whole lot of results, |
| damaged. If you don't know how to do that, you need | | | | options and prices. But building plane yourself from a kit |
| either to go with a friend who knows, or just buy a | | | | is an entire different topic which I won't cover in this |
| brand new airplane. The Prices Talking about prices, | | | | article. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that |
| what can you expect? Of course, the prices vary a | | | | you spend enough time planning and researching. Your |
| lot and it's up to you to choose within a lot of models | | | | airplane can be your partner for the next 10, 20 or |
| and types depending on your budget. Here are some | | | | even 50 years. It's like a marriage except that you |
| very basic guidelines, but please note there can be big | | | | could have more than one partners. |