Link:
Why did he not need a licence to fly this?
5
-
4$\begingroup$ Who says he didn't? $\endgroup$– WPNSGuyCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 13:16
-
1$\begingroup$ Maybe because they consider it a ground effect vehicle and nobody in their right mind would ever take it out of ground effect. $\endgroup$– John KCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 13:37
-
$\begingroup$ @WPNSGuy He hasn't mentioned any sort of licence in any of his videos at all $\endgroup$– PipseycatCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 13:52
-
1$\begingroup$ @JohnK Colin Furze lives in the UK. According to this article, the UK considers ground-effect vehicles to be airplanes. $\endgroup$– HiddenWindshieldCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 14:09
-
3$\begingroup$ Colin's been in legal trouble with a number of his builds -- what makes you think he didn't get some hassle from this one? $\endgroup$– Zeiss IkonCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 14:16
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
What I recall from the video (I only watched it once, when it first dropped), one of the challenges of this build was making the machine light enough to meet UK/EU requirements for a no-license ultralight -- the rectangle-tube aluminum frame, minimal seat and handlebars all went toward this goal.
Bottom line is, he's below the UK weight limit, below the maximum speed permitted, and has less than the maximum fuel capacity allowed, so it's legally a no-license ultralight under UK/EU regulations.
Also, this build was sponsored by a major car manufacturer (Ford Motor Company, as I recall), who might well have helped with legal research as well as funding.
answered Jul 22, 2022 at 14:18
-
$\begingroup$ I would add that this contraption, with all due respect, is pretty much certainly unable to operate outside ground effect. This may also free it from regulation. It is essentially a hovercraft of less than 1000kg mass, and as such not subject to registration in the UK. $\endgroup$– Jpe61Commented Jul 22, 2022 at 14:32
-
1$\begingroup$ FWIW, my recollection from the video is that this would also qualify as an ultralight in the US under Part 103 -- but might need to be registered as a boat like other hovercraft usually are. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 22, 2022 at 14:58
-
$\begingroup$ It could if the HP was high enough. You just wouldn't want to get it high enough that the highly probable 2 stroke engine failure turns you into a falling object. $\endgroup$– John KCommented Jul 22, 2022 at 16:02