My dream to fly was realized in 1980 when I achieved my Private Pilot’s License in Whitehorse Yukon. Then reality kicked in. The cost to buy a certified aircraft didn’t fit into my fiscal reality. Renting, though it makes complete logical sense, is just too inconvenient and cumbersome to fly regularly. Flying school aircraft are not readily available when you are.

Over the years, I flew sporadically enough maintain my license, though not enough to feel as confident and proficient as I would like, to really enjoy flying. One day I spotted something interesting in the flying magazine section. It was a mag called KitPlanes, there was picture of very nicely finished Kit Fox flying, on the cover. IS THIS FOR REAL????

Are people actually building and flying these things? I was very skeptical. Lots of things look great in a magazine, but are very different when you actually use them. Remember those dammed X-ray glasses that promised you could see through peoples cloths……..

One day I happened to be passing through Chilliwack BC, home of Murphy Aircraft and the builder of the Rebel kit. I had read a very good article on the Rebel. I thought I would drop in and see what I could learn. As luck would have it, the Murphy test pilot/salesmen was the first person I met. He me took out to the ramp, to show me a factory built Rebel with a drop dead gorgeous paint job. Looks nice but I wonder what it feels like, when you are up in the air in these things……. Before I could think of a way to ask, he said “would you like to go for a test flight?” Let me think…Oh hell ya!!!!! Sitting in the plane I was struck by the elegant simplicity and functionality. In the air I felt more comfortable than the C172s I had trained in. I was sold. Kit planes are real!

Fast forward a few years and I have moved to Calgary, an economic refugee from the slumping Vancouver Island economy. I had found on the Interweb and in COPA magazine articles, Calgary was a hotbed for ultralight flying. The Club is really a great advocate for the sport. I looked up Wayne Winters and learned to fly again, on the Merlin. I found the Merlin to have everything on my wish list. High wing, fully enclosed, side by side tail dragger with great takeoff and landing performance. I always wanted a “Bush Plane”.

As my fiscal reality improved, I was able to ease into Merlin ownership, rescuing a taper wing Macair Merlin with a Rotax 503 out a farmer’s machine shed in Saskatchewan.

Rebuilding it, to the 912 80 horse powered one I fly today. I have about 350 hours on the Merlin. It has provided a fun, economical, reliable aircraft that has allowed me to mature as a pilot. I have done hundreds of circuits, several trips into the mountains and have been as far as Portland Oregon with Stu and Ken.

Recently an opportunity arose for me to buy a Piper Cherokee 180. Why? The Merlin was delivering a great flying experience, true, but there is another side of flying that most ultralights, mine in particular, can’t provide.

Comfortable cross country flying, pilot + 3 loading and Mode C equipment.

This allows flying to more distant places and Class C airspace. However certified aircraft have an ownership premium. Annual inspections, scheduled component inspections/replacement and certified prices on parts, i.e.: a recent battery replacement came in north of $600, LED landing light $500. Both offer great flying; Susan and I flew the Merlin into Ram Falls and Red Deer Forestry this summer. Awesome trips that I would not want to do in the Cherokee. In the Cherokee, I took in a flyin at Rocky Mountain House and Cu Nim on the same day. Also made a flight to Golden and Fairmont, easy flights at 110 kts compared to 75 kts in the Merlin. But $60 an hour vs $30 for fuel.

The Merlin is a great aircraft, and I love to fly it, it is easy and fun. It feels good to know you can land it almost anywhere. It is simple to operate, with the 912 there is no mixture control or carb heat, the Merlin does not have flaps, you turn the key and fly. The Cherokee is more challenging to operate. Flying into Class C is a bit more work, but good experience as well. It may be me, but it seems like ATC and FIC are more accommodating when you have a Foxtrot call sign as opposed to an India. All flying is great, if I have to choose one over the other, the Merlin will win. However, I will fly both as long as I possibly can.

Warren Arnholtz
Private Pilot Ultralight Flight Instructor Rating