We got a question the other day from a visitor who was totally new to Ultralight flight, and he wanted more information about the various types of Ultralight flying and aircraft that we cover here.  It got us thinking that maybe more of you are coming here as first time visitors, so we wanted to just take a second or two of your time and give you our little blurb on what we cover here:

Hang Gliders - This type of aircraft if an unpowered kite constructed of a lightweight frame that supports a fabric wing.  The pilot hangs suspended from the center of the kite, and maneuvers the aircraft by changing the orientation of his/her weight by pushing and pulling against a sort of handlebar that is directly attached to the frame.  The kite is normally launched on foot, into the wind off of a hill or mountain.  On our Hang Gliding pages you'll find links to manufacturers, flight schools and other information specific to Hang Gliders.

Paragliders - This type of aircraft is an unpowered glider that uses a parachute style airfoil.  There is no rigid framework, the pilot is attached to the airfoil with a harness, making this type of aircraft the most compact of just about any other type of aircraft.  Basically, a paraglider can be carried in the trunk of a car, easily transported by a pilot on foot, and so all you need is a hill or launching area and you can be airborne.  On our Paragliding pages you'll find links to manufacturers, flight schools and other information specific to Paragliders.

Paraplanes - This aircraft is similar in concept and construction to a Paraglider, but the pilot sits on a powered cart, usually a tri-cycle, with a small ultralight engine mounted in the rear.  This pusher engine creates forward motion on the parachute style airfoil, allowing take-offs and landings from flat land.  On our Paraplanes pages you'll find links to manufacturers, flight schools and other information specific to Paraplanes.

Balloons - Probably the oldest successful form of Ultralight flight, balloons shouldn't need much explanation.  Basically the pilot rides in some sort of a basket that is suspended from an envelope that contains air that is heated to provide lift.  There are other gases that can be placed in the envelopes to provide the lift, but hot air is the most common.  On our Balloons pages you'll find links to manufacturers, flight schools and other information specific to Balloons.

Gliders - Sometimes referred to as sailplanes, these fixed wing aircraft are very similar to a single engine airplane, without the engine.  A lightweight body and large light wings make the plane able to fly without power, however takeoff must be assisted in some manner, typically a tow from a regular airplane.  On our Gliders pages you'll find links to manufacturers, flight schools and other information specific to Gliders.

Ultralight Airplanes - Probably the most diverse portion of the Ultralight aircraft genre is the actual ultralight, powered aircraft.  The basic common theme is that these type of aircraft are typically a fixed wing configuration, with a small engine to provide the motivation.  In our Ultralights pages, you'll find information on all sorts of powered aircraft.