microlight

A microlight is a very small, lightweight aircraft, something between a powered hang glider and a small airplane. It is usually made to carry one or two people and is often used for fun flying rather than regular travel. You might see one drifting over the countryside on a clear day, looking simple, light, and open to the air.

Microlights are not used for normal passenger flights. They are mostly flown by hobby pilots who enjoy the feeling of light, open-air flight. Some have a soft wing like a hang glider, while others look more like tiny airplanes, and flying one usually requires special training. Think of them as a simple, exciting way to enjoy being in the sky.

The term "microlight" refers to a class of very small, lightweight aircraft, often used for sport and leisure flying. In British English and some other varieties of English, this is the usual word for what American English often calls an "ultralight." These aircraft are built to be much lighter and simpler than standard airplanes, though the exact rules for what counts as a microlight can vary from country to country.

Microlights come in two main types: flexwing and fixed-wing. Flexwing microlights look like powered hang gliders, with a fabric wing stretched over a frame. Fixed-wing microlights look more like very small airplanes, with a solid wing and a small engine. Some have open cockpits, while others are more enclosed.

Even though they may look simple, flying a microlight still takes training and care. People use them for short trips, sightseeing, flight training, and the pure pleasure of being up in the air. Because many of them are light and partly open, they can give the pilot a strong sense of freedom and a close feeling of wind, weather, and landscape.

The word is sometimes used loosely for any very small aircraft, but in official use it usually means one that fits local legal limits for size, weight, and use. So if you see a tiny aircraft humming overhead, with one or two people aboard and a light frame beneath its wing, there is a good chance you are looking at a microlight.