8 Airplanes you can fly Without a Pilot’s License
Introduction If you're an
airplane enthusiast or someone who has been wishing to fly a plane for the longest time,
then you just might've bumped into the correct video today! There are several airplanes in
the world that you can fly without having a pilot's license. That's right; these planes
are built with the most basic functions, which anyone with basic training can fly.
Number 8 – Sorrell Hiperlight In 1982, the Sorrell brothers
created the single-seat SNS-8 Hiperlight at the US Rotax engine distributor's request
to develop an enclosed cockpit aircraft design for the 28 horsepower Rotax 277 engine. The resulting
aircraft, with an empty weight of 247-lbs, fit into the US ultralight category as a scaled-down
version of the very successful Sorrell Hiperbipe aerobatic cabin biplane. Light control forces and
well-balanced controls make the aircraft simple to operate. Full-span ailerons on the aircraft's
bottom wing droop together when the stick is pulled back, simulating flaps in a landing flare.
The airplane has a forward fuselage made of welded steel tubes and a rear fuselage made of detachable
aluminum tubes. In 10 minutes, the rear fuselage may be removed for storage or transportation.
Aluminum tubes are also used to build the wings, and aircraft fabric covers the entire thing.
The maximum pilot weight for the SNS-8 is 230-lbs.
The 28-hp Rotax engine is especially a nice one. It helps the Hiperlight
achieve a cruise speed of 60mph, and climb at 600ft/min, with a range of 180 miles.
Number 7 - CGS Hawk 103 The CGS Hawk is one of the iconic
models in the very light aircraft category, but what surprises me is how well it flies
compared to other quote in quote: "real airplane" models. This is not a veiled compliment; it's a
full-on atta boy! The legendary Chuck Slusarczyk founded Chuck's Glider Supplies—hence the "CGS" in
CGS Hawk—and was one of the forerunners of the early powered hang gliders (think
Easy Riser)—designed the Hawk initially. The narrow, low windscreen makes the
aircraft's forward view excellent. There are tricycle and tail dragger models available.
Your choice of sailcloth or poly fiber can be used to cover any of these models;
speeds and handling characteristics are said to be similar for both covering materials.
Sailcloth wings do not have an aluminum leading edge underneath the fabric, but wings with the
Poly-Fiber coating do. The plexiglass provides excellent views of the ground from the doors,
and each occupant gets two air vents for cooling. All Hawks have an aluminum tail boom that is
curved and tubular and is bent in a massive tube bender at the factory. The doublers are fastened
to the boom before it is bent to ensure a proper fit. The CGS Hawk uses a 40hp Rotax 447 engine,
which helps it cruise at 60mph, climb at 800ft/min, and has a range of 170 miles.
Number 6 - Bensen B-8 Gyrocopter Designed back in the 1950s by Igor Benson,
it is extremely minimalist, with not much more to the aircraft than a pilot's seat,
a single tailfin, a rotor, and the powerplant. Igor Bensen designed the Gyroglider as a means
to introduce aviation enthusiasts to the thrills of flight with minimal cost. It
features a 72-horsepower McCulloch engine which was originally used in military target drones.
The McCulloch engine propels the aircraft forward, and the relative air spins the rotor blade;
this allows a gyrocopter to fly incredibly slowly and descend vertically.
These characteristics make the gyroplane safe in the event of an engine failure.
The Benson company has closed, but the plans to build a Benson gyrocopter are still available,
and there are used ones on the market as well. The Benson gyrocopter is perhaps the most compact
and unique aircraft that you can fly without a license. It uses a 72hp McCulloch Model 4318AX
engine, which helps it achieve a cruise speed of 60mph, as far as 100 miles.
Number 5 - Ekolot Elf KR-01A Introduced in 2006 by Ekolot aircraft of Poland,
the JK 01A Elf was designed by Krawczyk, based on the earlier work of American designer Alex
Strojnikun. It features cantilever wings, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble
canopy, fixed landing gear, and a single engine in a pusher configuration. The primary fuselage
component and the tail unit include vertical and horizontal stabilizers. High-grade polymers
are used to create the framework, which is reinforced with carbon and glass fabric.
Adapted and specially designed plexiglass makes up the canopy. Furthermore, it has a side-opening,
a lockable canopy made of plexiglass that is fastened by a cable when opened, and hand
grips. A customized Cabrio canopy for summertime allows flights without the prominent canopy.
A comfortable interior that has room for larger pilots Unique seat cushions allow for
the adjustment of seat position. One main wing is a section of the fuselage with two wings attached
to it. The only place the flaperons are not seen is on the extremities of the elliptical wings.
This classical design contains a front wheel and two main wheels. The composite material
that makes up the springy main wheel leg is one piece. A hydraulic wheel brake is
installed on the front wheel. A lever and rod mechanism on the pedal arrangement
allows for a wheel deflection of up to 15 degrees in each direction
from the long axis. The power plant comes from the French JPX D-320, which pumps out 20hp,
giving the aircraft a cruise speed of 63-mph, climbing at 490ft/min, with a range of 150 miles.
Number 4 - Earthstar Gull 2000 Earthstar Aircraft of Santa Margarita,
California, produces the Earthstar Thunder Gull series of cantilever high-wing,
tricycle gear ultralight aircraft as either a home construction kit or a finished product. To come
close to the sense and freedom of a bird, designer Mark Beierle set out to create an "airplane with
the feel of a hang glider, the agility and visibility of a helicopter, the effortless
smooth flight of a sailplane, and the utility and economy of a general aviation aircraft."
Beierle responded when Don Downie asked if that was too much: "Of course! But I nevertheless
persisted in attempting. " The kit comes complete with a jig-welded roll cage, seatbelts, and a full
cabin windscreen. Like many small ultralights, this one is trailerable for maximum versatility.
It also helps that they can build and work on them in their garage workshops, then move them to the
airport when finished. Aluminum tubing, sheet metal, and aircraft fabric are used to build
the airplane. When fitted with a light engine, the aircraft can comply with the US FAR 103 Ultralight
Vehicles category's standards, including its maximum empty weight restriction of 254 lbs.
Standard engines included the 27-horsepower Zanzottera MZ 34 and, later, the 28-hp Hirth F-33.
The best engine option is the 28-hp Rotax 277. It’s reliable and helps the plane
reach speeds of up to 55mph, with a range of 165-miles. The rate of climb is 700ft/min.
Number 3 – Carlson Sparrow
Introduced in 1987, the Carlson Sparrow is a family of highwing, strut-braced, single-engine,
ultralight aircraft built in the United States by Carlson Aircraft in East Palestine, Ohio,
and later Skyline Technologies in Salem, Ohio. Ernst W. Carlson developed it. The aircraft
features a fuselage made of 4130 steel tube, and its wings are made of twin I-beams of aluminum,
stamped aluminum wing ribs, and doped fabric. V-struts and jury struts support the wings.
Bungee cords suspend the landing gear. The Sparrow's fully enclosed cockpit allows for
flight in chilly conditions. The Sparrow was sold as a kit with pre-welded wings and a fuselage.
The initial basic engine selected was the 28-hp Rotax 277, with the 50-hp Rotax 503 as an option.
Other lightweight engines employed include the 22 hp Zenoah G-25 and the 20 hp 2si 215.
With the Rotax 277, cruise speed is 28mph,
the range is 230-miles, and you can fly as high as 10,000-ft, climbing at 700ft/min.
Number 2 – Sherwood Kub The Sherwood KUB is one of the
part 103 category planes that gives you something close to the experience of heavier traditional
planes. It is made from 4130 Chrome Moly aircraft steel tube and high-quality aircraft components
and is likely the only fully enclosed cockpit full three-axis ultralight now on the market
that is manufactured in the UK. The KUB checks all the criteria, whether you're going for a
stroll around the patch or some strip-to-strip travel. Its expansive full-size cockpit provides
excellent headroom and visibility. The KUB can be powered by engines up to 50-HP,
which makes it a sparkling performer that gets in and out of incredibly small strips and sips fuel.
Its full-size spacious cockpit has great headroom and outstanding visibility, so whether you are
just having a bimble around the patch or doing some strip-to-strip touring, the KUB
just ticks all the boxes. For pilots in the U.K, a microlight license and insurance are needed.
Number 1 - Eurofly Minifox The Eurofly Minifox is an Italian design produced
by Eurofly of Galliera Veneta. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft
or as a kit for amateur construction. The cabin is supplied as a single pre-formed
composite structure that nestles snugly over the existing Minifox frame. A hatch on the starboard
side allows access to the fuel tank and the new composite luggage shelf, which is ideal for the
storage of more bulky items such as camping gear. The cabin is completely sealed on all sides,
with a new backplate behind the pilot and fabric covering underneath—no more worrying
about dropping the map! Visibility is excellent; a 6ft tall pilot will have a lot of spare headroom.
There is also generous elbow room on either side, giving a very spacious feel to the cockpit.
Take-off and climb performance are little affected by the extra weight of the cabin.
With an electronic start, this 230-cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine weighs under
36 pounds and has a 33-horsepower rating at 7,400 rpm. It uses a Poly Vee-belt to rotate a two-blade
composite Helix prop. Behind the seat is a single, four-gallon gasoline tank for the vehicle.
The main gear is constructed from 7075-T6 and supports a small fourth wheel underneath
the tailplane and three identical plastic wheels with solid tires and drum brakes.