page_title: Ultralight aviation
section_title: Definitions
hierarchical_section_title: Ultralight aviation / Definitions
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of FlightDesign GMBH CTSW aircraft, on taxiway at Harvey Young Airport (FAA ID: 1H6) — Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photographer is Doug Reeves, Wikipedia user Dougreeves, and licenses this under the createive commons 2.5 license.
context_page_description: Ultralight aviation is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional 3-axis control aircraft with ailerons, elevator and rudder, calling the former "microlight" and the latter "ultralight".
  During the late 1970s and early 1980s, mostly stimulated by the hang gliding movement, many people sought affordable powered flight. As a result, many aviation authorities set up definitions of lightweight, slow-flying aeroplanes that could be subject to minimum regulations. The resulting aeroplanes are commonly called "ultralight aircraft" or "microlights", although the weight and speed limits differ from country to country. In Europe, the sporting definition limits the maximum take-off weight to 450 kg and a maximum stalling speed of 65 km/h. The definition means that the aircraft has a slow landing speed and short landing roll in the event of an engine failure.
  In most affluent countries, microlights or ultralight aircraft now account for a significant percentage of the global civilian-owned aircraft.
caption: Flight Design CTSW
exif: {}