The pioneer…
A Wizard J3 powered by a Kawasaki 440 engine, like the one shown in the photo, was the first ultralight aircraft (ULM) to be officially registered as such, receiving the registration EC-AA1 on June 27, 1983.
It featured a tube-and-fabric structure, had a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 250 kg, and a cruising speed of 56 km/h.
The innovation…
The most recently registered ultralight aircraft in Spain is a CTLS built by the German manufacturer Flight Design. Its composite-fiber structure (CT stands for Composite Technology) allows it to cruise at speeds exceeding 200 km/h, powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912 engine.
It is interesting to see how the marketing strategies of different manufacturers become established in different geographical regions. In general, the ultralight fleet tends to reflect the aircraft used by flight schools. In Spain, the most popular ultralight in recent years has continued to be the Tecnam. During 2015, eight Tecnam aircraft were registered, two of them in the amateur-built category.
Of the aircraft sold over the last ten years, 97 of the 191 ultralights currently holding active registrations are Tecnam P92s, making it by far the most popular model among Spanish ultralight flight schools—including, of course, the L’Aeroclub Ultralight Flight School.
Situation in the EEUU
Surprisingly, in the world’s leading market for general aviation, the best-selling Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) are European-designed ultralights. For more than a decade, the top-selling model has been the CTLS from the German manufacturer Flight Design, which is currently undergoing a corporate restructuring process.
While general aviation is traditionally associated with predominantly American manufacturers, the LSA segment features many successful European companies, including Tecnam, Remos, Evektor, Pipistrel, ICP, and Aeroprakt.
These aircraft are originally designed for the American LSA market, which allows a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 600 kg. They are then “slimmed down” for the European market to comply with the 450 kg maximum takeoff weight limit.
Interestingly, Flight Design is not the market leader even in its home country. In Germany, the undisputed leader in the ultralight category is the Ikarus C42, with 585 aircraft sold in 2015 alone. Together with the 229 Ikarus C22s sold that year (ranking fourth), Ikarus accounted for almost 35% of the German ultralight market.
Of the ten best-selling ultralight aircraft in Germany, nine are built by German manufacturers. Tecnam is the only foreign manufacturer to make the list, ranking eighth. The Flight Design CTLS holds third place, behind the MTO gyroplanes.
More information:
http://www.aerokurier.de/luftsport/ultraleicht-lsa/top-10-deutschlands-beliebteste-uls/560018