I’ve had a Skyranger since 2006, 1300 hours and it is such a predicable airplane, really balanced controls, very rugged and easy to work on.

This is a superb shoot out video - lovely job. I still love the Eurostar for the fabulous view but the Skyranger does look like a lot of fun. 👍

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Rory - always lovely to hear coming from you! The eurostar is just brilliant. The skyranger (certainly the 100hp) is super fun for those short grass strips. One day next summer maybe....we'll get you in it!

Very insightful video 👌 I’m currently training in a c42, you’ve made me want to try the skyranger all the more now! Keep up the great work 😁

Loved that Ben - I'm really tempted to get into microlights but (like Harley Davidsons) I know zip all about them, so I learned a lot here....roll on next summer and you taking me flying in these puppies ;0)

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

ABSOLUTELY! Come down and we'll go up in whichever you fancy. Do some STRIPPPPPIN! Thanks for watching dude

@TheMissendenFlyer

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos defo love to do that - maybe one for next year if we can work the logisitcs....

An excellent production and very informative. Many thanks Ben 👌👍

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Very kind Kevin, thanks!

Superb video mate, very well put together and very informative!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching Joe - hopefully some use to someone!

Great video Ben! Thoroughly enjoyed it :D

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anton. Glad you did.!

Really enjoyed the video Ben. Been in all three airfracft myself.

Awesome put together video as always, can't wait to get in one of these one day!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! Yeh you must, all fantastic aircraft. Thanks for watching!

Love your videos Ben....I hope to upgrade from paramotor to microlight next year....very inspiring to see your journey

Well done Ben, another great production! Very interesting that an RV pilot would choose a Skyranger out of the three. Thanks again.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Yeh! Each have a perfect flight scenario - the skyranger is low and slow doors open and powering out of grass strips ! Think that thrilled Jonny as it’s very different to the rv he flies.

Brilliant mate

Very good comparison video Ben. I should imagine it was a bit of a nightmare to edit but you did a great job with it. Well done! I don't think you were sitting on the fence as such. You highlighted the various merits of each and commented on what you thought were the drawbacks. For the majority of us it is just nice and important to be able to get into the air. It would be interesting to hear your views on my machine and flying out of our farm strip!! :)

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Tim - I'm looking forward to seeing your latest video. Great to have your comments. I would love to come and see your farm strip, looks such fun! Difficult because I'd want the comfort of the c42 to get there...the short field capabilities of the Skyranger to get out and the eurostar's speed!! ha...can't have it all huh!

Here in Australia , the only one of the three we don’t have is the C42 , and ironically it’s the only one of the three I’ve flown , during a flying trip to the UK . I loved the C42 , for all the reasons you talked about . Loved the video , the format and editing was brilliant . Fly and keep safe .

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks David, that’s kind. Yeh the c42 is such a good, solid aircraft isn’t it! Thanks for watching

What a great video Ben. I'm glad I got a C42 :-)

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff. Superb planes. Very capable!

Really nicely done video Ben. Well done. Slick. Your sidekick was ok too. It’s be a skyranger for. If money was no object then I’d go Eurostar. Slight issue of a licence first though. Good to dream. Thanks.

Nice one Ben enjoyed watching that. Hopefully catch you up at the club sometime. By the way I passed the GST and Licence has just comeback, must think about conversion training now , I think I will go for the Sky Ranger next 😀

Really well put together mate. It was actually like watching Top Gear’s Christmas Special on microlights lol. Might have to throw a spanner in the works and bring MEGZ down for you and Jonny to take up for a play - It might change your outlook with the 100hp in the C42...🤯

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yeh I'd really like to give that a whirl - I expect it'll make it far more skyranger like - but with the knowledge its factory built and very capable and comfy. Can see why they're popular !!

Great video love the idea of a sky ranger now. Normally fly an Ikarus which is great but a cheaper plane when it comes to getting something and the feeling you can land anywhere really appeals

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Tom! All are superb aircraft but for value for money - the skyranger is superb!

Great review dude! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As a Microlight virgin this was a great watch! I’m really intrigued to get up in one. From looks alone the Eurostar does it for me. This might be an extremely stupid question, but are all Microlights 2 seaters?

Great video. I learnt to fly on PA38 and 28’s and now fly an A22 Aeroprakt. I still can’t get over how quickly it climbs and great in the cruise, however I’m still getting used to the high wing. Keep up the good work 👍👍

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian! Ha yes I can imagine - love the high wing for viz down, so so good! Thanks for watching !

Very interesting Ben, I do enjoy watching your videos. I'd be interested to see what you make of the Eurofox if you get a chance. So far the only microlight I've flown is the Pipistrel Alpha - which I loved. Fantastic view down and really light controls. It would be interesting to see what you make of one of those as well.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much for commenting! Would love to try a eurofox one day! The pipistrel alpha looks great too!

Great video Ben, worth the wait👍must have took you hours to edit. I love the Eurostar! But it is my training plane. Sywell have sky rangers which I will convert to when I get my license. Keep um coming mate. 🍻

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Dale, yeh - by far and away the longest edit yet. But glad it's done! Hopefully it will be useful to some in the future too. Thanks buddy, hope the training is going well...!

The EV97 feels more GA than microlight. That was a really good video and I can see why it took so long to edit. They are still all outside my price range. Nicely edited Ben.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Giles -always fun to get up and film them - less so editing!! Yep me too for now, happy renting!

@DeanHeit

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe think about a share in a microlight, costs are less and you have others to help with all the things that need doing.

@GolfFoxtrot22

3 жыл бұрын

@@DeanHeit I own a Peabee flexwing. Unless that comment was for Ben.

Nice one Ben. 10 hours into my NPPL with the C42. Maybe bump into you one day. Cheers for the videos

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Lee - yeh do say hi if you see me! Thanks for watching!

Nice comparison. One thing worth noting is that Skyranger (if built properly) is among the safest in the class. High wing configuration, truss structure and easy low speed handling (low impact energy) give us an edge when things go wrong, This is probably also true for C42 but no personal experience. The things I don't like about the Skyranger are the way it's pushed around the sky in turbulence and the fact that I must strap tightly not to hit the tube with my head during this.

I did my microlight conversion on a C42 (about 10 hours, I think) and am now in an EV97 syndicate. I much prefer the latter - fun, responsive, quicker, more conventional in terms of layout (toe-breaks rather than the bicycle lever of the C42). I disliked the C42 throttle. It kept dropping to the floor and I had to rummage around for it. I also found that you needed to have quite strong arms and be braced when working the flap lever. It could jerk your arm quite violently. And yes, I always brief passengers about the trim lever in the EV97. That was a key thing to mention. A friend is joining a Skyranger syndicate. I look forward to him giving me a demo!

Ben, are you still flying ?? Miss your you tube flying uploads . !

D'you know what Ben? I'm going to throw another STOL Microlight in to the ring....one that's not been made for over 20 years - and it's British. Not only that but it's the safest aircraft in the sky that won't stall or spin. It climbs like a rocket - although it's no speed merchant - and it's cramped and noisy but unbeatable as a purist flying machine with the visibility of a glider. It's the CFM Shadow/Streak Shadow. One fantastic aspect of it these days is that they can be bought and run for pennies - £8k will buy you a pretty good example and the 503 or 582 engine is soooo easy and cheap to maintain. They might be unsophisticated but they've been flown literally around the world with an unrivalled safety record - in any case, it's not the destination it's the journey and I love flying mine with a passion! Probably not a great training machine though, with its tandem seating....

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. I've still not managed to fly a microlight yet, but I pretty sure I would prefer the EV97 with that incredible and totally immersive view 😎

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

You must come up sometime ! Thanks for watching CJ

@CJThePilot

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I would be up for that, just let me know when!

Ben, an absolutely brilliant video 👍👌. Can’t really comment on which is best.. as only been flying c42.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ranbir. All good aircraft in their own right - thats for sure! Thanks for watching

@ranbirsingh7666

3 жыл бұрын

Ben Atkinson : think about popping into Kemble tomorrow to see the 747’s parked up if they still there 👍

Ben, this is very very good. In your videos, the skyranger always comes across maybe not noisier but has a distinctly different sound. With the A20s does that higher pitch note come through more??

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

It’s something I notice less in the aircraft I must say, and this video certainly highlights the differences. Interesting point though mike! The skyranger does have the 100hp power engine and thinner doors, the odd gap too: so I’m sure it is actually louder too.

Well done Ben, top notch video as always. Which, would you say, is the best to learn on?

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jed. Well...the C42 is a hugely popular school aircraft for its stability and fantastic crosswind capabilities, it's proven that's for sure. The skyranger was great for me as it was a little harder to fly - especially the rudder - so when it was time for me to fly the others they seemed quite easy! All 3 are popular for various reasons but hard to argue against the c42 when it comes to training.

@jedwig61

3 жыл бұрын

Ben Atkinson Agreed.

A good and fair comparison Ben. Each has its own plus points and minus points. I have a soft spot for the C42 as that is what I am learning on. One day I would like to try the EV97 but doubt I will ever have the funds to buy any of them! Oh well, happy to be a renter 😂

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks David! Yeh the C42 is excellent...and I think the new sky ranger's will be of very similar quality - but cheaper..would certainly turn my head if i was buying. Ha me too! No need to buy !! Yet anyway...long may that continue!

@DeanHeit

3 жыл бұрын

David, some good EV-97 groups out there, you'd be surprised at how affordable the costs are.

C42 is solid and stable, hard to go wrong but so far by a mile for me is the Eurostar!! It was like watching an episode of top gear haha! We should start a channel together and call it Sky Gear haha

I fly a ev97 group a. Pretty much the only difference is a fuel pump. Great aircraft!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Ah interesting! They're really very good, indeed!

I started in the Eurostar and although I loved being in it, I switched to the C42 and absolutely love that one. If (hopefully when!) I get my license I'd really like to try the Skyranger as well because I can't find anyone saying a bad thing about it.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Good assessment - factory built would be brill. Downsides to kit built is the build quality varies somewhat. I know some sky rangers built as well as factory and some that are ......draft-y!! Cheers

Hey Ben, great round up. Myself and a mate who fly together are at the early stages of looking at buying/building a plane. We've shortlisted the Skyranger or the SkyReach Bushcat. Actually, off the back of your videos and weather permitting we're up tomorrow to have a trial flight in the Skyranger at Kemble Flying Club with David and Mark.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Ah thanks Chris! Awesome - I’m chuffed you’re coming this way to sus it out. Do mention you’ve seen the skyranger on the channel! Hope you enjoy it and let me know how you get on 👏👍

@flyingwithchris2723

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos Hey Ben. We managed to get up in the SkyRanger. Quite different to the PA28, very different rudder control, sinks so quickly with power off - I thought we were way too high on approach. Now about the throttle - sooo sensitive. Good experience though. I've not flown a high wing before either and I couldn't help looking for the attitude indicator - which of course is not there!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

@@flyingwithchris2723 amazing! ahh some proper flying!! 😉 Ha sounds like you might not be a fan? It can sink quickly on a glide with some speed ....or in an engine failure hit that best glide & it’ll float for a good while up there. Throttle is definitely sensitive, with that power to weight ratio - about 400hp per tonne it works out. Can be a handful. Lovely views tho!

@flyingwithchris2723

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos It's on our shortlist to build/buy still so not too put off. Hopefully going to look at a Skyreach Bushcat in the next couple of weeks.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

@@flyingwithchris2723 amazing. The 80hp version would be slightly less twitchy on rudder, I guess that is something I missed out on the video tho, it can be a handful. But in the cruise, one it’s trimmed out (has both aileron and elevator trim) it’s a dream! Takes a bit of getting used to of course. Thanks for getting back to me and looking forward to hearing what your next thoughts are! Exciting huh!!

Another interesting and informative video Ben , well done, but you haven't been in a Jabiru yet!!!.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Ha VERY true Jason. Jabiru next time!!

Superb video Ben. Nice to see someone who can put together a professional looking video instead of some of the awful contributions on KZread!

Ben.. just another comment would you prefer to buy your own plane or be part of a syndicate .. thoughts please ? 👍

My semi long term plan (2yrs or so) is to but a skyranger nynja with uprated landing gear to hopefully take advantage of the comming 600kg weight limit. Microlighting is about to get very interesting with the new regs

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds great!

I started with B-model Ikarus C42. Easy, predictable and enjoyable ultralight. One can land Ikarus to any airfield and floats here in Finland are a great plus. Eurostar on the other hand was total turn off from the very beginning. Haven't flown a Skyranger yet.

Nice video Ben but missed one important microlight the Eurofox can you do a video please?

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

I’d love to! If I had access to one!

@davidturner4487

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos there’s lots in Kent including the factory run by Steve Williams. Let me me speak to my mates who have some nice examples. Fly over to Kent and do a video?!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidturner4487 superb sounding !! Yeh there’s some knocking about at clench common I *think* !

Have flown each of them, great aircraft all....but still prefer the Shadow, way more bang for your buck

Eurostar every day!

Nice comparison video, mate! 👍🏻 I'd love to know your opinion on my TL-96 Star, when we'd fly her together... 😉

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Jolmer! Just been watching your previous one. Very good!! Thanks mate for watching my video 👍👏

@ForFunFlyer

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos Well, my pleasure! 😉👌🏻

Great video Ben. With your SR Swift, apart from the early - drafty doors - it's a great aeroplane. Even though it's British supplied/built, isn't it French, so a Czech and German aircraft in the group too? Such a shame there's not an all British fixed wing microlight. With the SR Swift being a 100bhp and the other two 80bhp? Ive heard that the C42 with 100bhp is a rocket ship too, thus a better comparison, a 100bhp Eurostar would be awesome! But your friend makes a good point, the 80bhp Rotax maybe more robust, the shut down procedure on the 100bhp Rotax, also makes a difference to engine life, so I've read - I wonder if that's widely known. I suspect too, that the Eurostar isn't as good in a crosswind, as the others, due to the smaller ailerons and difference in tailplane/rudder? Fixed wing microlights, are still pricey to buy new, that surprised me (also the Americans get the best version of the Eurostar/Sportstar) - I wonder how long they'll last second hand etc too? There's still a few PA28s, C150/152s and even Piper Cubs about, will fixed wing microlights wear as well, they seem a bit more fragile?? I'll keep buying the lottery tickets LOL!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Yeh Nick who featured has a 100hp C42 and that would be a must for me if I was buying one - would really make the difference. Eurostar has about a 10knot cross limit before it starts running out of authority, the others can handle 15 fairly well. Yeh they are - it's the on going costs that are far cheaper than 172's and PA28's though - and now they're really not so fragile - if well looked after. The future really is in Microlights I think - for the hobby pilots!

@musoseven8218

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ben, Thanks, I missed your friend saying that about his C42 - sorry. I believe that you're right, microlights are great for hobby pilots, the 600kg ruling will help (as long as pilots have decent type/differences training and are 'aware'). I think, iirc, that the C42, although not certified, has been tested up to 20kts crosswind - good to know if returning home to find that sort of crosswind at your home airport. Three great aeroplanes nevertheless, I just wish that the UK was more hands on, not that long ago, we led the world in aviation (but that's a whole different story). It's surprising how costly it is to run a GA Aircraft, but, they are cheaper to buy and fairly robust. Okay one then needs more training, medicals etc, but, the pros and cons need to be weighed. I've even seen a Jodel with a Rotax in it - best of all worlds? It will also be interesting to see with the 600kg rule, which version of the Eurostar the UK gets, the US version really is the DBs LOL. Best start saving, itll be £100k plus, I'm guessing.

Skyranger for me on price. Have a progress-bar in my work journal Which I'm shading in as I save. Aiming for a nynja This is a good video. I think in other comments I said I'd always priced myself out of aviation assuming you would need 100-200k for an aircraft. Where as 30-50k whilst not cheap is in new car territory and is something that can be managed. Hopefully it encourages more people to get involved.

@JohnSmith-bx8zb

3 жыл бұрын

Have a look and tryout of a Rotax powered X’Air Hawk. My opinion best vfm and flyablity

@liquidusblue

3 жыл бұрын

@@JohnSmith-bx8zb have been casting my eye over a few at least on afors! Didn't know you could put a rotax in them.

@JohnSmith-bx8zb

3 жыл бұрын

@@liquidusblue it’s a bit late but have a look 👀 through the back pages of AFORS. There is a blue one that was sold in 2019 which will give you an idea of what you can get. I have flown that one when I was looking for one some years ago. Absolutely fantastic, proper a/c with a proper fuselage, non of 4 Poles with wires type. Very stable with a sick in the right place, 3 stage flap and a trim that I was told and it does; set the trim after climb out when straight and level and leave it alone!!! No need to alter it any time during the flight inc landing!!!!! Very stable, strong and forgiving, no vices.

Only problem I found with the sky ranger is the space inside. I am 6’2” tall. The C42 in the only choice for me as a result, my only real criticism with them is that they are so slooooooow! I’d love to try the Vixen or the Pipistrel Virus.

Having flown all 3 myself I will mix it up a bit by saying the C42 is the one I would choose as my first choice from those showcased, then I am swithering as to what to put in second place as I like the EV97's turn of speed but dislike that it can be quite easily damaged if two people try to get in at the same time ( as it sits on it's fibreglass tailskid that seems to crack too easily !!! ). The Skyranger excels over the EV97 in terms of downward visibility & a few other attributes that you mentioned. As this was a 3 aircraft comparison I put the C42 in ' pole position ' but had you done a 4 aircraft comparison & included the Aeroprakt Foxbat in the comparison the C42 would become 2nd on the grid. From a UK consumer point of view the Skyranger is the most user friendly & probably the better option as it has the best After Sales support from Paul Dewhurst & Flylight. The sales figures of Skyranger's is an accolade to the brand as consumers are voting with their wallets.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Very good comment thank you for doing so! Foxbat and eurofox are aircraft id love to try. Yeh the skyranger has so much going for it right now too

@peterkelseyferryair2396

3 жыл бұрын

I did a trip from Edinburgh to Sandown & back in a UK registered 2003 Skyranger 912ul Classic as a passenger/co-pilot & wasn't that impressed by the performance as it struggled to climb or exceed 70kts Airspeed I flew an Italian registered 2003 Skyranger 912ul Classic from Milano Italy to Northern Ireland over a few days so I got a good overview of what a 'Classic' is really like as that could achieve 75kts, I then flew a UK registered 2004 Skyranger 912ul Classic from Staverton to Eshott & actually markedly noticed a difference in those 3 Skyranger's so I think the build standard is subjective to who actually assembled the kit & how the prop is set up as the 2004 Classic was happy to achieve 80kts. I have also flown a Italian registered 2000 C42 from Brescia Italy to Northern Ireland that is a 80hp version & that was an extremely pleasant trip ( far more relaxing than the Italian Skyranger trip was ) I also flew a Greek registered 2003 C42B from Megara Greece to Southern Ireland that had the 912uls engine & I was extremely impressed by the extra performance that the extra 20hp gave, I then went on to fly a Romanian registered 2010 C42B 912uls from Brasov Romania to Budapest that I then found out that anything stored in the baggage area needs securing firmly ( I foolishly let a C42 owner who was along for the ride load the aircraft & we had a very aft CofG that only became really apparent on the extended climb out ) The very aft CofG killed our airspeed & being already airborne we flew on to the next airport with a decent length runway (Sibiu 61nm leg) Our airspeed was 120kmh #which is 65kts# which made this flight very tiring as we couldn't trim out the stick load so it was a muscle 'workout' The relevancy to the mention of the aft CofG in the C42 is because you mentioned the trim issues of the EV97 & I felt the C42 incident was worth mentioning as that could have been a potential killer. I am yet to fly a SKR Swift ( ironic really because the 2004 Skyranger owner replaced it with a 2008 Skyranger Swift in Aug 2017 but I haven't as yet been flying with him ) Surprisingly I flew a Jabiru engined 2004 Skyranger that I flew from Granard Eire to Bellevue Devon & thought that was better than any 912ul or 912uls version, however I have noticed that the latest owner has replaced the Jabiru engine with a 912uls now.

So Ben are you going to part with your cash and buy an aircraft or are you still sitting on the fence (saving up)?

Eurostar - any day

You need to try a Eurofox!

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

I really want to!

Should have tried a Rotax powered X’Air Hawk for vfm and flyablity

what is a muzzle going to do in that tiny space

@BenAtkinsonVideos

9 ай бұрын

Kevin!!!! Huge fan of your channel. Not sure what you mean by muzzle? 😂

@KevinTalbotTV

9 ай бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos haha thanks bro, small world! Im learning in a c42 at the moment :)

@BenAtkinsonVideos

9 ай бұрын

@@KevinTalbotTV amazing! You’ll love it. Come flying some time 🤟 not much space in them but they’re great fun

The right aircraft won 😃😃

You need to come have a go in a EuroFox Ben 😎 ​​​​​​​

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Would LOVE to! Marvellous looking plane....!

@ratters33

3 жыл бұрын

@@BenAtkinsonVideos Will pin you on Insta & see what we can do - dependent on this awesome weather!!!

Non of them - Alpi Pioneer 👍 😉 Btw ideally you shouldn't run the Rotax 912 at less than 5k. Max continuous is 5500rpm

On SKYRANGER seems you have more fun ?!

At the end of the day they are all aircraft. First world problems eh? Lets go flying. Come and try my 1954 Tri Pacer one day. A lot of people don't like them bit it's still a capable aircraft.

@BenAtkinsonVideos

3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! That’s pretty much my summary, there’s an aircraft out there for everyone. Tho if I jumped straight to that it would’ve been a very short video ! Ha.

For all round lookout you can't beat the EV-97. If you don't keep a good look out you shouldn't be flying.