Historic Ultralight Documentary

[@ur_pilot_4_2day82]

it's so surreal when an old video like this pops up

[@QuadographyAustralia1965]

My Dad use to take me out to watch the guys flying these out at St Mary's in Western Sydney back in the mid seventies, absolutely classic footage, the Holden premier was the same as my Dads too and his work ute at the end, brought back some great memories thanks for putting this video together.

[@andrisford7214]

I remember the St Marys strip, not far from Frogs Hollow west of Sydney. The strip was also used by Benson Gyrocopters and others for training. When the 2 seat trainers like the Thruster T300 / T500 were registered, it made flying safer and good basic flying skills could be learned from a qualified flight instructor. I was a Factory Flight Instructor for Thruster Aircraft and flew from the Picton strip which was a major Parachute centre next to the M5 highway. The Thruster Factory also secured rights to fly out of the Oaks airfield about 20 min from the St Marys strip, the members built a club house at the Oaks and at the time it was the largest club for Ultralights in Australia. Great times and great club members.

[@GlideYNRG]

I stumbled across what appears to be one One of these for sale on gumtree over east today. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was in these clips . Awesome to see this clip.

[@robertsimmons9054]

I own and fly a GT400 Quicksilver and I would like to thank the early pioneers of our sport for giving me the freedoms that I enjoy today. Great video clip good stuff

[@neilhobson3624]

robert simmons . It must be a fantastic hobby Robert. Far too scary for me though. Good to watch. 👍👍👍.

[@mikeryan6277]

@@neilhobson3624 no doubt, these guys were flying with literally 1/2 the weight that is allowed today not to mention the reliability difference.

[@Snagglepuss1952]

Brilliant, they look marvellous. Oh for the days of less bureaucracy and more fun. But you would have to go further back to achieve that. Really enjoyed this simple video, great flying.

[@scottanthony4511]

it's still there, mate. You just have to look for it. Part 103 is alive and well in the form of ultralight flying, powered paraglider flying, and powered parachute flying. It is bigger than ever. This early model is pretty marginal in terms of longevity and long term safety, and modern ultralights have come a long way

[@OrdinaryLatvian]

@@scottanthony4511 As much as I'd like for it to be, Part 103 isn't universal. It only applies in the US. I haven't found any other countries where you can (legally) fly unregistered aircraft with no licence.

[@JenandNathan]

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.

[@lesizmor9079]

I started flying ultralights in 2001, with designs from the late 80's, so they were 'mature' designs with 40-50 HP engines. They flew fine and I always wondered why I kept hearing about how weak and dangerous they are. This video shows me what I was hearing about. Seriously underpowered and looks tail heavy. Quite unstable. No wonder those brave and crazy pioneers had so much trouble flying them.

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

Russ, Most people that get and buy UL dont get the required trng...They just think its not a "Real Plane", so They can go fly it w/ no instruction...Thats where they get themselfs in big trouble....Its like any thing else...You get trained and then go use it.....Its people that dont even know how to change a flat on thier own car. But w/ proper trng, they can be successful......Also, UL's are no more "weak and dangerous" than riding in a car.....Besides, Look at the Boeing 727 Max, all computerized and modern and it has killed numerous people and was flown by well-trained pilots. Also, most people are too lazy to maintain thier plane.....Let the maint. slip. it will mess you up...And its no different than a $2-4000.00 rifle that you never clean...Sooner or later , its gonna blow up in your face...... This vid is a perfect example of what I'm talking about..I use to fly RC planes....I'm the "Blue bird"...Well maintained and ready to fly....My buds, the "Red Bird".....Always come to the field w/ probs...Field maintenance......Big No No....Fix and repair your stuff at home, not at the field....

[@BrassLock]

Ahh! The Good Old Days 😃 Thanks for this bit of genuine Aussie history with the family Holden Kingswood doing it's job without complaint.

[@raffelfarraby5327]

dav snow mobilagiya

[@raffelfarraby5327]

Mobil agiya

[@ronhicks4671]

i used to watch them fly 1970 engine falures on take off were common so were crashes

[@kyawzayya3098]

dav snow.

[@tubergenmotorsports4193]

That was cool, great old footage! Thanks for sharing!

[@altbob]

Looks like an Alberto Santos-Dumont Demoiselle with modern materials. Love the 1970's editing and pacing. A happier time for mankind in general.

[@randall1959]

I miss the 70s. We were on the verge of discovery without going crazy.

[@ZacYates]

Too true. Aside from Watergate. And the winddown in Vietnam. And the Khmer Rouge. And the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And the oil crisis. And the Chilean coup. And the Iranian revolution. And Munich. And

[@tenlittleindians]

​@@ZacYates Yeah but we didn't have internet or cell phones so all that bad news wasn't in our faces 24/7 like it is today. I made far less money in the 70's but it seemed to buy me far more fun than I can afford these days.

[@innocentbystander3798]

Priceless video.

[@kalef1234]

This makes paramotors look extraordinarily safe

[@P61guy61]

Priceless, thank you for posting. Fact is better than fiction any day!

[@stationmanager9325]

Boy that high tapered aspect ratio wing would give you one heck of fright in a fully developed stall I feel.

[@electronicsafrica]

the most amusing video i've watched in ages ... love the words from "Those Magnificent Men..." which about sums up the hilariously gung ho attitude to safety... where can i get the plans so I can start building my own?

[@jimmymurphy7789]

16:31 Dig that vintage Movie Camera strapped to his Helmet. Early Go Pro ?

[@rayarthur586]

Inspiring. Great can we go back to that simpler time? Love this stuff 💓 at 69 I remember. Wow thanks.

[@hurricane7950]

Is this the 1970s? In those days I was flying a Ridge Rider and Wasp HGs were the favourite

[@standardannonymousguy]

Beautiful video, thanks for the share, I have been researching sailing into the wind, but begining of course in water (on like a surfboard) and am considering giving the craft some wings. Onward into the future of windsailing! Cheers.

[@feetfirst10001]

Great stuff Christian.

[@sking0369]

Those magnificent men in thier flying machines, they go upty up up and come down, down, down.

[@e2calero]

Awesome footage... Thanks for sharing this jewel content...

[@estevaocunha5302]

My God, this is a wonderful historical rarity. The engines were tiny, how could it lift off the ground? But it's great to remember, no cell phone, no computer, wonderful! Is anyone still alive in that club? how many are still alive, because after all, it's been almost 50 years already.

[@c150gpilot]

Inspirational!

[@guardianobserver6593]

When life was still human.

[@1944wingman]

Before those in power fucked Australia up

[@helicart]

Brilliant. thanks for posting. Life was oh so simple in those days. I noticed the presumably xxxx tallie. Drinking and flying was obviously kosher then.

[@irishguy13]

These are Aussies, Bruce. A beer is mandatory.

[@fredleonard1547]

A verry good video, I has a red one in Katherine early 80s. mine had as i think all the 2 axis ones had origonally the small modified victa engine of 9hp and in Katherine with me in it would hardly get off the ground, so I ordered the 18hp motor from Ron ?? lawler or Lawford the designer and manufacturer. with this motor I had a ball with it for a year or so till I sold it and bought an Aerofox, A really great video mate and thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories. A fact that few people know is that the Skycraft Scout built by ron Lawler? was the VERRL FIRST DELIBERATLY DESIGNED ULTRALIGHT IN THE WORLD, all the rest were modified gliders etc.

[@jackfrost2146]

The name you're after is Ron Wheeler. The Scout started out as the "Tweety" hang glider.

[@leoa4c]

How much did the engines weigh?

[@tenlittleindians]

They had many ultralights designed decades before this. They just weren't calling them ultralights. The Wright flier is a great example. The Wright brothers certainly played with gliders first but their Wright flier was built especially to go with the engine they had developed.

[@cybair9341]

I find the Skycraft Scout fascinating for its minimalist construction. And it looks great in flight. All the parts are in the right places, just like a conventional airplane.

[@fabiogala231]

Cybair ‘

[@sevtecsev]

The aircraft at left was operating in the early to mid 70's using a JLO L270 two cycle, 17 hp at 5000rpm. the field was Homestead in FL when in that age was a sleepy place, before all the Cuba activities. fl Prop drive was 2.1/1 gear drive. It predates the U S ultralight movement and that explains the N number. You can see it in flight on youtube, under sevtecsev. It had minimal climbout, like 90 feet per minute, with a 145 pound pilot aboard and an all up weight of 400lb. I limited flight angle of bank to 45 degrees and this coupled to conservative stress levels, kept me alive.

[@Bullrout]

The scout first flew and went into production in 1972,,,so it was the FIRST minimal aircraft designed as a minimal aircraft, cheers

[@michaelrussell5346]

I remember seeing a new pilot flying around in one of these. He balanced his propeller with two or three sheet metal screws screwed into the end grain of the propeller tips. ( I made sure to keep well away from the plane of the spinning prop.)

[@martinleicht5911]

Good job mate !! 🍺 😎 👍

[@frankcloskey7789]

Excellent flying .

[@pgpete]

I used to fly a Scout Mk III with a Rotax 377 engine. Good times . oh and for the doubters in the comments I used to do wingovers, and cross wind landings - you guys dont know what you are talking about . The Scout was remarkably tough.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Damn right, the Scout was a great airplane. The trolls are just armchair internet pilots!

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

Wish I upgraded to the 277 rotax I had no coin at the time to do so

[@davejob630]

With a wing spar made of sailing components a fatigue failure was almost inevitable ....the drag wires also had to resist the turning moment of the front spar - there was no load analysis done and its fortunate most of these "aircraft" didn't accumulate many flight hours, or it's likely we would have seen more than one fatality.

[@davejob630]

Just because it didn't kill you doesn't make it a great aeroplane.

[@pgpete]

I didnt say it was a great aeroplane - it was a tough aeroplane - and it had characteristics you would expect from a 1st generation ultralight - it wasnt that comfortable to fly, it wouldnt fly "hands off" - but it was the first ultralight aircraft in Australia. I'm glad I owned and flew it. but these days I'd be looking for something more comfortable and better engineered for a minimal aircraft. eg Aeros Ant.

[@GeezerDust]

Courageous or Crazy!? Can't decide. Very interesting, entertaining clip. The added audio sounded like someone cutting their grass.

[@BlackarrowMr]

The Wheeler scout I flew had a victa lawn mower 160 cc engine. Hardly had enough power to fly, and lost a lot of height in turns. Taught myself how to fly it !

[@dagorosa2046]

BlackarrowRC

[@leoa4c]

What was your takeoff weight?

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

This is awesome 👍. Some of these look like motorized kite's. Great content 👍👍. Like the birth of flight only in ultralight 👍👍 thanks

[@flatbedtruckingsamrides.9355]

At 16:03 that Cherokee Six identifying as a Beechcraft is sadly considered acceptable these days with whatever makes you feel good. My Weedhopper sure was a whale of a lot of fun.

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

They actually fly quite nicely I liked my MK3 more than my old single surface mx quicksilver. Used to fly mine out on the broadwater on the goldcoast in the mid 80s The biggest problems they had with the robins engine was the carburettor kept coming out of its rubber inlet mount Also the damn flex exhaust pipe kept cracking and breaking all the time. Once I had the lock nut holding the exhaust baffle come free and then pop out the back it went becoming the loudest scout in the sky LOL The wing warp worked ok but was quite heavy to control The quality of the build and dacron sail used was excellent hats of to you old mate Ron Wheeler

[@Chemist1076]

Cool hippies with pipes.

[@martulda]

LOVE your music! Good times... indeed! :)

[@RobB-vz2vo]

The '70s was a time of the ultralight short shorts too.

[@ferenovacaouniao3014]

So sample so beautiful anybody can learn fly. God bless. Hugs From here Brazil.

[@rodriguezmi74]

Exelente documental.Hola Soy Cristian desde Chile y estoy buscando información sobre el ultraligero Mk3 skycraft scout para poder construir uno gracias.

[@A_Man_In_His_Van]

These guys are insane. Looks like bicycle chain and sprockets reduction and cheap moped 2strokes, nevermind the twisting and flopping around of the thing.

[@MIGASHOORAY]

I owned a Scout around 1987it was orange in colour had a Robin 2 Stoke motor the main fuselage spar had been broken in half and re welded after a heavy landing I sold this Scout in 1989 for $100. The wooden prop cost me about $270 so it cost me $170 to save my life, needless to say I,m still alive in 2017 and still living in BOWEN and alive at 74 yo. Cheers.

[@uuv6137]

привет, можешь пож. помочь найти чертежи данного самолета?

[@GreenEagleVR]

I would love to find plans to these planes!

[@ValdecirMartins-e6z]

Excelentes meus amigos . Admiro...

[@reoldxdlas7322]

Buenísimo!!! Me sorprende la sencillez de diseño y...¡¡¡funcióna!!!

[@MikeMMartinIII]

I would like to know just how a 300cc and sailcloth would work on a canard design? Any ideas?

[@margaretchriskurtz3819]

Absolute minimalist aircraft. the engines look like the gasoline two strokes on my r/c large models, even sound just like my QUADRA 50 cc engine. hell I have a Nick Ziroli SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS with a 13 ft 9 in wingspan not muck lighter than these lightweight birds. great video of the fledgling ultralight movement.

[@bugbomb8048]

awesome.....old video

[@twickersruss]

They are brave flying such light machines with those Cb storm clouds so close (5:24).

[@ROBwithaB]

11:19 None of that "bottle and throttle" nonsense back then....

[@JoseA-Divergent]

Total minimalist!

[@neriksen]

It would be Great to form a group now days. I have a MK3 and my friend has few others. There's a bi-plane version out there too. Awesome stuff. Great Video

[@shanearkwright1691]

I'm selling my Mk 3 with the floats and all original documentation on it

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

Brings back good memories

[@neriksen]

Shane Arkwright Did you manage to sell the Scout. Where did you buy it in the first place.

[@immanuelbofomonyirenda2141]

I was looking for something like this. Congratulations. May the author whatsap me please : [phone]

[@immanuelbofomonyirenda2141]

@@shanearkwright1691 Hello

[@James-wd9ib]

What year was the helmet invented?

[@Megakoss100]

Love you Australia! Take me with you! I can do everything! Please!

[@guardianobserver6593]

Megakoss100 From where are you?

[@anniellanas793]

Megakoss100 is. Pp

[@xamdamaxamed7806]

Guardian Observevx to

[@kermets]

Very Cool. Did they use the famous Victa motor ? cheers

[@bingst2920]

This is basically the ultralight version of the early years of planes

[@samuelsmith6573]

I loved the seventies! Simple and a bit Nieve!

[@loganreuter6072]

Dang! These guys had balls! But without them we wouldn't have the best aspect of aviation

[@MUN.A1988]

What is the engion type

[@2LV855]

Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter silvered wings. sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds and done a hundred things you have not dreamed of. wheeled and soared and swung. High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft along through footless halls of air. up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace where lark or ever eagle flew. And while with silent lifting mind I've trod the high untrespassed sanctity of space put out my hand and touched the face of god.

[@57dogsbody]

What did he look like?

[@2LV855]

If I had to explain it you wouldn't understand......Google the poem high flight and find out for yourself.

[@mtsilvagt]

Charles Kurtz Your father was a great man, Charlie.

[@juvenalhernandez1111]

! Buena letra para ponerle música !

[@Cheapsexandbooze]

+Charles Kurtz, That almost made cry. Your father sounds like an awesome guy which means you're surely awesome as well, because as we all know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Thank you for sharing such a personal memory with us. Perhaps he is up there flying over my dad on his sailboat.

[@muntahambahmun]

can I buy it?

[@wendellmakilanw.researchde7312]

A lot cheaper if you have some technical know how.great source for research.thanks.

[@BasketCase]

Excellent video. 1970s....amazing !!!! Is this where Bill Moyes got inspiration for the modern day Dragonfly ?

[@jackfrost2146]

Bill was actually inspired to manufacture the Dragonfly just by the fact that it was demonstrated to be the perfect aircraft to tow hang gliders.

[@behrouzmovahed7525]

so nice and cool

[@fongmat8103]

Behrouz Movahed m

[@CoyotesRock760]

Does anyone know what these specific models are called

[@Horadepescahp]

My dream has been to build an ultralight, but it is too late, the years go by and I am afraid I will never do it, but at least I amuse myself fishing.

[@drs.ismarwotoyudhopermonom8642]

Very creative and become a role model in the future, hopefully Indonesia aeromodeller development aeromodeller Indonesia can be like that, ... .. bravo.

[@tomasclayton1166]

Micro shorts are mandatory

[@rosleydaluz]

adorei, muito legal!!!🥰🥰🥰

[@damianvisser977]

I'm amazed that more people didn't die

[@Ichibuns]

We've come a long way in Ultralight flying lol

[@HarleyFXS]

I want to make one, but not sure I have enough power. I have 2 Chrysler 5.8 Hp motors that I want to put both on it. They weigh 18 pounds each. Do you have any idea how much Hp these engines have in this video?

[@stefanm.247]

Really interesting, i like that video. Does anybody know what engines they used ? They are all the same, i think. Small engine but enough power to fly with it....

[@shanearkwright1691]

they were a Robins 18HP hahahaha and I own one of these birds that has 3 axis controls using wing warping

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

A Robins pump engine modified which with the geared reduction could pull near 50kgs static thrust

[@raffaelmartins777]

Com certeza uma cópia do Demoiselle do Brasileiro Santos Dumont. Demoiselle sem dúvidas foi o pioneiro e sua planta é usado nos dias de hoje como inspiração para os ultraleves modernos.

[@jamesturncliff5960]

I wonder what these guys would think of the paramotors nowadays

[@Lucius1958]

Dear heavens: are those *single-cylinder* engines? And what did they use for roll control?

[@johnstarkie9948]

Dihedral.

[@neriksen]

The magic 3... Lovely Banks, Spiro and an egg and bacon roll.

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

Which is the model they flew? It does look a lot like a Weedhopper.

[@christiansmith1982]

+Alejandro Irausquin it was the Skycraft Scout.

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

+Christian Smith Thanks!

[@johncrane896]

Alejandro Irausquin

[@越智貞一-b3b]

っqAlejandro っ

[@srnunan4783]

this was before the two seat thruster or drifter, so these guys would have most likely have tought themselves to fly in these scouts by shall we say "trial and error"

[@LowCostCncRetrofits]

Gone are the days of the good old aussie pioneer spirt and innovation Today are the days of idiot latte sipping bureaucrats wanting to make a name for themselves with all there over regulation

[@billcallahan9303]

Steves Projects ......Steve, same thing in the U.S. All a bunch of pussies scared of their own shadows!

[@jamesordwayultralightpilot]

I've dreamed of owning one my whole life and built and flew tons of rc aircraft which I taught myself everything. I'm battling buying an ultralight and teaching myself. I hear so many people highly recommend training. But I know all the fundamentals of flying and landing. I'm more than confident I could hop around a field all day until the butterflies subside.

[@chrisdevers2942]

@warblesonalot Have you seen this? Thought you'd get a kick out some old Scout footage...

[@srnunan4783]

ahh real ulralighting, when ultralights were ultralights! was this pre australian ultralight federation days? and is this aircraft the wheeler scout or another similar design of the same era

[@Bullrout]

1973 when no licence required and maximum ceiling of 300 ft auf did not happen until 1986

[@Bullrout]

and yes they are all wheeler scouts

[@icarusairways6139]

I see two potential problems. That dark sky showing a storm front and the AMC automobile they drove in with.

[@mikieg5985]

There were many ultra lights in Texas in the late 70's what ended them?

[@barrygroenewald1417]

Why cant we get plans and drawings to build something more or less the same?

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

www.ebay.com/i/153098331130?chn=ps CHOTIA WOODHOPPER PART103 ULTRALIGHT - PLANS AND INFORMATION SET FOR HOMEBUILD 5 watching $50.00 Free Shipping Qty : Buy It Now Add to cart or Best Offer Make Offer Get it by Thu, May 30 - Thu, Jun 13 from Moscow, Russian Federation  • New condition  • No returns, but backed by eBay Money back guarantee It is therefore essentially a wooden Weedhopper. Both aircraft pre-dated the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, but comply with them, including the category's maximum empty weight of 254 lb (115 kg). Read full description See details Watch Sold by build_your_plane (50) 96.2% Positive feedback Contact seller CHOTIA WOODHOPPER PART103 ULTRALIGHT - PLANS AND INFORMATION SET FOR HOMEBUILD Brand New $50.00Free Shipping Add to cart Similar Items

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skycraft_Scout

[@leolee7119]

Where can I get plans for one of these? :) Much cheaper than a legal eagle

[@nitramluap]

"...adequate powa for sustained floyt"

[@we4selradio591]

I'd get rid of a weedeater if it was running like that sounded on the on-board camera.......i sure wouldn't strap my butt to it and leave ground.

[@AZdirtdog]

Couple years later the Aussies discovered gravity and nobody ever flew one of these again

[@kreativitasku5048]

What engine you use

[@BobG9638]

Where is the rubber band for the propeller? lol WOW, ultralights have come a long way since then.

[@trevormackowski9046]

Is this a specific model?

[@TheBoneyardWrangler]

Looks terrifying ! Looks like it’s about stall any second! Great bit of ultralight history but there’s good reason no one flies these flying “flying patio furniture” anymore. Long live the AUF / RAAus

[@danellsworth7102]

News Flash, We still do!

[@sunilmallik997]

Hi please suggest me the minimum requirement for a light aircraft? like:engine capacity, rmp , 2stroke eng?

[@leoa4c]

You can fly with less than 100cc. It depends on weight. If it revs too high you will need to gear it though. Propellers don't like high RPMs.

[@MickB235]

My how times have changed

[@vijayakumarkona443]

what type of engine you are using for this planes sir

[@leoa4c]

Less than 100cc engines.

[@ВиталийСухоносов-щ7ы]

Простейшая конструкция ! Я поражен увиденным ! С удовольствием приобрел бы ы такой аппарат!

[@thondupandrugtsang]

Did this start the ultralight revolution?

[@Bullrout]

Yes it did in Australia if not the world 1972 first production run of factory built aircraft

[@tenlittleindians]

​@@Bullrout It was John Moody here in the United States when he mounted a motor on a biplane tailless glider. He didn't even have wheels. He foot launched and landed in the early days.

[@travelbugse2829]

That looks like an oversized model aircraft engine. Surely not a Rotax? And inverted -single cylinder! Jeez I'd be bricking myself thinking about an oiled plug....