Well, not quite …… but see the next post.
After our thoughts of a few months ago about the merits of an enclosed cabin compared to an open one, we decided to look around the market to see what was on offer. Well, whether it’s because of the Credit Crunch or some other reason, compared to a few months ago (let alone last year when we bought the Trike), second-hand prices for many microlights have plummeted. In particular, we found that there were several Xairs around with various engine options and at various quite attractive price levels.
We started by considering two that were on offer from the same seller ( a group who were moving onto bigger and better things), one with a Simmonini two-stroke engine and the other with a Verner four-stroke. Only trouble was, both had had engine blow-ups in flight and had dumped their owners in fields from a great height! After taking a bit of impartial technical advice, we decided to give both a miss.
After considering a very attractively priced Xair with a BMW R100 motorbike engine (not a bad choice if the installation is done well, but quite a few aren’t we learnt), we decided that the best thing would be to go for an example with a Rotax 582 two-stroke engine. Now this is not a ‘touring’ engine for getting from A to B quickly – it’s more for pootling around the sky in your local area admiring the view and having fun. But really that’s what we want to do – to just get in some cheap flying hours.
We then homed in on a lovely little red and grey Xair being sold by a group in Lancashire. My research revealed that it will need an engine overhaul and new crank in about 50 hours or so, but after negotiating a price that took that into account, the deal was done. And here she is.
It really is a delightful little machine. Ken and I both had a chance to take the controls from the right-hand seat and it really was great fun. Here’s a pic of the cockpit – two sticks unlike some models which is a nice touch.
This is the so-called wide door model but as you can see from the next shot, that’s pretty relative really and getting in and out is something of an acquired art.
Just one last shot to finish off from the left-hand side.
So as things stand, we have had to find temporary hangarage down here in Kent (not an easy thing as there’s not much around at the moment) as the hangar at Ken’s hasn’t even been started yet. Insurance cover has been transferred over from the original owners and now all that remains is to get her flown down from Lancashire (remember, we don’t have our licences yet). But there’s just one fly in the ointment
So now we come to the whole purpose of the title. Ken and I have had a bit of a falling out. At the time of writing, after finding her, researching her and negotiating a selling price for her, sadly my involvement with the Xair has now ceased. I’m going to press on again now with Our Trike and get that to Permit stage and I’ve set a personal target of end of July for that. I’m also going to go ahead with my training for my NPPL (microlight licence) and then see what the future holds at the end of it.
So you see, things are all a little bit up in the air……
English
Nederlands
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Latviešu valoda
Português
Español
You’re right there Bruce. It’s a bit sad but my old Grannie used to say that things always happen for a reason. So we’ll see how things pan out from here.
In fact it’s taken a little bit of pressure off me. Remember that neither Ken nor I, nor Ken’s brother Peter who is now also involved, can fly the Xair yet anyway and won’t be able to for some months even. Ken never got his PPL (A) and as mine is lapsed by more than 20 years (24 actually!!), the rules say I’ve got to do the full 25 hour microlight training course. Even Peter, who’s current on helis (see the earlier post about the Jetranger) has got to do a lengthy conversion course. Such is bureaucracy here in the UK – I was reading the Xair manual earlier translated from the French and there all 450kg MAUW microlights are totally unrestricted so all you need to fly them is a licence. Maintenance and airworthiness are totally up to the owner. How sensible – and I’m not aware that the level of accidents is any higher in France than it is here in the UK. We’ve got too many jobsworths who have to be paid for.
Anyway, back to the point – just lately I’ve been spending far too much time on the Xair and likely as not that would have continued if nothing had changed. The main outcome is that my training plans kept getting put back – which rather negates the whole purpose of the exercise.
But that’s already started to be rectified and I’ll have more details and pics in an upcoming posting – as hinted at the beginning of this post 😉
Sorry to read that last paragraph, Roller.
That’s one of the risks with partnerships….no matter what the reason for forming it in the first place. There’s always the chance that it won’t go full term.
Never mind….I’m sure that you will have the impetus now to get the original trike up, up and away. 🙂
Bruce