| More than a century ago, even before the Wright | | | | fixed wings on speed. |
| Brothers made their first flight, tens of other | | | | - They are safer. In general the fixed wing airplanes |
| engineers tried to make a powered and controlled | | | | are considered safer than the trikes. They are also |
| airplane. Many of their aircrafts have been weird, | | | | less piable to the wind. |
| funny or just so extraordinary that could never fly | | | | - Isolated from the atmosphere. Most fixed wing |
| even in theory. Others have been similar to the | | | | aircrafts have cabins. You can fly even if it is cold or |
| Wrights' Flyer, with fixed wings. Once the "Flyer 1" | | | | rains. In the trike you are exhibited to the |
| made the successful start in the aviation, everyone | | | | atmosphere and can catch the cold if nothing more. |
| else followed the concept. Until then, millions of fixed | | | | - It's a real airplane. Let's face it, you can't look |
| wing aircraft have been produced in the world. | | | | serious in an ultralight trike. The airplanes have fixed |
| With the raise of the ultralight aviation people | | | | wings, and everything else is just a microlight toy. |
| discovered that the fixed wings bring some weight | | | | (Does that sound like a serious argument? ;) |
| and cost-related issues and started looking for | | | | Both of these categories ultralight airplanes have also |
| alternatives. The flex wing aircraft easy won the | | | | their disadvantages. You need to consider them too |
| linkig of many engineers and pilots. Why?... | | | | when buying an aircraft. |
| --- Flex Wing Aircraft Advantages --- | | | | --- Flex Wing Aircraft Disadvantages --- |
| - They need less space. The flex wing aircrafts | | | | - Riskier. Because there is less regulation for them, |
| usually have "delta bars" which are shorter than the | | | | the risk to buy unsafe one is higher. |
| wings of the fixed wing airplanes. | | | | - Lighter. This is an advantage but also could be a |
| - Their wings can be taken off. Usually the delta bar | | | | problem. A lighter aircraft is more piable to the strong |
| can be taken off easier than the wings of an | | | | wind. |
| ordinary aircraft. With few manipulations they can be | | | | - You may need special clothes and equipment. Flying |
| stored in a car garage | | | | in the open air can require warmer clothes and |
| - They are light. The flex wing airplanes are usually | | | | glasses. Not that this is so bad, is it? |
| categorized as ultralight trikes or microlights - it's | | | | --- Fixed Wing Aircraft Disadvantages --- |
| pretty self explanatory why. | | | | - Expensive. This was said above. Even the simplest |
| - They are cheaper. A flex wing can cost 1/2 of the | | | | fixed wing aircraft costs more than an ultralight trike. |
| price of a similar class fixed wing aircraft. That's a | | | | - Need hangar. You just can't place it in your garage, |
| huge advantage. | | | | unless it is very large. You'll have to pay for |
| - Easier to take off and land. Because of their shorter | | | | hangaring. |
| delta bars and lighter construction the flex wings can | | | | - Need a runaway. The fixed wings are just too wide |
| start flying from an automobile trace and land almost | | | | to fit on the road. They need a runaway and this |
| everywhere. | | | | means airport fees. |
| - Simpler to fly. The ultralight trikes usually have | | | | - Harder to fly. Most fixed wing aircrafts have a lot |
| simpler control system and don't require high pilot | | | | of control that you need to watch. In most cases |
| skills. | | | | pilot license is required. |
| But still you see many more fixed wing aircrafts | | | | As you see both of the main categories ultralight |
| around, don't you? It's not only because of the habit. | | | | aircrafts have their positives and negatives. They are |
| They have their own very strong advantages: | | | | serving different purposes and never will one replace |
| --- Fixed Wing Aircraft Advantages --- | | | | the another. There is no better or worse type, there |
| - They are faster. The flex wing aircrafts are not so | | | | is just one that suits better to you. |
| aerodynamic, therefore they can't compete with the | | | | |