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