Microlighting (ULMs)

COSMOS ULM

Renaud Guy has travelled the world flying his microlights in all climates, terrains and altitudes. He has crossed the Gobi desert, flown from north to south in Taiwan, travelled all over Africa and, with the addition of skis, conquered the frozen lakes of Canada. This is a world adventurer to be sure – for there are few places he hasn’t flown, marketing his machines as he goes.

Microlights were rather home grown flying machines in the early days twenty years ago, creating a lot of noise and vibration, but now they have developed into sophisticated aircraft. It owes its origin to the hang-glider which appeared in ski resorts in the French Alps in 1973. The craze caught on in a big way and a French company La Mouette quickly became a market leader. Someone then came up with the idea of adding an engine, and the microlight was born. Renaud Guy was asked to set up a production process and began manufacturing single seater ‘ultra-light motorised gliders’ in 1982.

The breakthrough in the company’s growth came with the development of the Cosmos ‘tug’, a microlight with sufficient power to tow two hang-gliders at once. 30 orders followed from the U.S.A and Cosmos became an international player from then on.

Today, using high-quality lightweight materials the microlight is being improved aerodynamically all the time. It can be quickly assembled in 10–15 minutes and the folding wings make transportation easy on a medium-sized trailer. The endurance of the machines has been increased allowing you to fly for seven or eight hours before refuelling. Shock absorption has been built-in for comfort and above all safety and the noise has been dramatically reduced. Cosmos hold world records in altitude, distance and speed and their craft have won the French, European and World Microlighting Championships.

Tested for demanding conditions and terrains, these are the perfect flying machines for the free spirited. So, if you feel like taking to the air and rallying across Morocco, Australia or even China, armed with your GPS, the sky’s the limit.

There are some 50 airstrips in Burgundy, and over twenty flying clubs offering microlighting.