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

5 жыл бұрын

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.

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

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

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing.

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

6 жыл бұрын

dav snow mobilagiya

@raffelfarraby5327

6 жыл бұрын

Mobil agiya

@ronhicks4671

6 жыл бұрын

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

@kyawzayya3098

6 жыл бұрын

dav snow.

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

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

5 жыл бұрын

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

@mikeryan6277

2 жыл бұрын

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

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

2 жыл бұрын

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

@ZacYates

2 жыл бұрын

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

Ай бұрын

​@@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.

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

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.

Great stuff Christian.

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.

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

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

3 жыл бұрын

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

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

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

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

6 жыл бұрын

Cybair ‘

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

5 жыл бұрын

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....

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

4 жыл бұрын

These are Aussies, Bruce. A beer is mandatory.

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

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

This makes paramotors look extraordinarily safe

Excellent flying .

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

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

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

Good job mate !! 🍺 😎 👍

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.

awesome.....old video

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

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

When life was still human.

@1944wingman

5 жыл бұрын

Before those in power fucked Australia up

Total minimalist!

Inspirational!

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

6 жыл бұрын

BlackarrowRC

@leoarc1061

4 жыл бұрын

What was your takeoff weight?

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

so nice and cool

@fongmat8103

7 жыл бұрын

Behrouz Movahed m

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

6 жыл бұрын

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

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

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

I loved the seventies! Simple and a bit Nieve!

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

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

I would love to find plans to these planes!

Ну, очень интересное видео. Но, где это снято и какие годы. Хотелось бы знать.

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.)

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

6 жыл бұрын

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

@leoarc1061

4 жыл бұрын

How much did the engines weigh?

@tenlittleindians

Ай бұрын

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.

Bravo......

We've come a long way in Ultralight flying lol

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

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

@jackfrost2146

6 жыл бұрын

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.

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

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

7 жыл бұрын

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

@LowCostCncRetrofits

7 жыл бұрын

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

@davejob630

6 жыл бұрын

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

6 жыл бұрын

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

@pgpete

6 жыл бұрын

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

q motor se usa algen me puede decir

My how times have changed

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

7 жыл бұрын

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

@LowCostCncRetrofits

7 жыл бұрын

Brings back good memories

@neriksen

5 жыл бұрын

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

@immanuelbofomonyirenda2141

4 жыл бұрын

I was looking for something like this. Congratulations. May the author whatsap me please : +265994185591

@immanuelbofomonyirenda2141

4 жыл бұрын

@@shanearkwright1691 Hello

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

@guardianobserver6593

7 жыл бұрын

Megakoss100 From where are you?

@anniellanas793

6 жыл бұрын

Megakoss100 is. Pp

@xamdamaxamed7806

6 жыл бұрын

Guardian Observevx to

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?

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

@leoarc1061

4 жыл бұрын

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.

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

What engine you use

Excelentes meus amigos . Admiro...

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

adorei, muito legal!!!🥰🥰🥰

Ultra leve acho muito show belos protótipos 👍

What a go pro

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

what type of engine you are using for this planes sir

@leoarc1061

4 жыл бұрын

Less than 100cc engines.

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

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

6 жыл бұрын

привет, можешь пож. помочь найти чертежи данного самолета?

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.

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

can I buy it?

Cool hippies with pipes.

nothing like a scout and a HG kingswood

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

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

@johnstarkie9948

11 ай бұрын

Dihedral.

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

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

7 жыл бұрын

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

@LowCostCncRetrofits

7 жыл бұрын

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

Хороший фильм про ультралайты, спасибо.

@uuv6137

6 жыл бұрын

здравствуй. можешь пож. помочь найти чертежи данного самолета?

Micro shorts are mandatory

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.

how many cc engine sir can anyone fly if you use 222 cc

What is the engion type

What year was the helmet invented?

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

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

2 жыл бұрын

News Flash, We still do!

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....

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

"...adequate powa for sustained floyt"

@we4selradio591

4 жыл бұрын

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.

OHMigod flying with points distritubor system... look at th ose dark purple clouds

@crissd8283

7 жыл бұрын

Points are plenty reliable. I have replaced electronic with points on an engine before to get it running right.

Very much like the Weedhopper. Music was wrong for the 70's though.

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

7 жыл бұрын

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

7 жыл бұрын

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

@jamesordwayultralightpilot

2 жыл бұрын

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.

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

6 жыл бұрын

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

@Bullrout

6 жыл бұрын

and yes they are all wheeler scouts

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

@christiansmith1982

8 жыл бұрын

+Alejandro Irausquin it was the Skycraft Scout.

@AlejandroIrausquin

8 жыл бұрын

+Christian Smith Thanks!

@johncrane896

7 жыл бұрын

Alejandro Irausquin

@user-yd8ml2pz2u

7 жыл бұрын

っqAlejandro っ

I wonder how many were killed or injured?