Dream Classic Ultralight
If you talk to a dozen different ultralight aviators and ask them what they feel the best ultralight on the market is you are likely to get a dozen different answers. With so many choices to achieve the freedom that flying an ultralight affords it can be confusing for the first-time flyer to decide which to go with.
One of the key factors in making the decision is whether you have or are planning to get an actual pilot’s license. If you are not, then your choices will be limited to those aircraft that meet the FAR part 103 requirements that dictate what qualifies as an ultralight and as such can be flown without a specific license. There are still plenty of aircraft on the market that fit this bill, some of which are very well-known and others that are fairly new on the scene. If you spend some time talking with other pilots, reading magazines and blogs, and doing research, you will eventually settle on one that will work best for you.
One of the newer ones that you may want to take a look at is Airdrome Aeroplanes’ Dream Classic Ultralight which was introduced in 1996. This Holden, Missouri company sells this ultralight as a kit with all required welding and machining already completed leaving you with just 100 to 120 hours of work to build a Dream Classic for yourself. The Dream Classic is a three axis control system covered with a certified poly fiber process. It comes with a Rotax 447 engine and since Rotax is the largest engine producers out there, you can be sure you are getting performance.
This ultralight weighs in at just 241 pounds which is well below the 254 pound weight limitation set in FAR 103. This plane has a climb ratio of 850 ft/min 4 m/s and can cruise at 57 mph with a Vne of 63 mph. It requires just 200 ft for takeoff and landing. The kit can be ordered in either a wire braced version or a strut braced version.
On the other hand, if keeping within FAR103 regulations is not of concern to you, you might want to look at their Dream Fantasy twin ultralight trainer. This kit runs about $1,000 more but will seat two. It cruises at 52 mph with a top speed of 63 mph. It comes with the Rotax 503 52 hp engine.
Additionally, if you are a interested in historical aircraft, Airdrome Aeroplanes has full scale replicas of both Allies and Central Powers aircrafts, as well as ¾ scale and 80% scale of some Central Powers aircrafts. Their planes are as follows:
- Central Powers
- Fokker D-VII 80% Scale
- Fokker Dr-1 Full Scale and ¾ Scale
- Fokker E-III ¾ Scale
- Fokker D-VIII ¾ Scale
- Fokker D-VI ¾ scale
- Allies – all Full Scale
- Nieuport 16, 17, 17 bis, 23, 24, 25, 27, and 28
- Sopwith Pup
They also have the Bleriot XI Monoplane. All of their kits are complete with every nut, bolt, and whatnot you will need. Included are a photo CD and a video (either DVD or VHS). Furthermore, you can also arrange for builder’s assistance at their plant. Imagine having your plane ready with their help in just 4 days!