How to Learn to Fly an Ultralight

Get training from a certified ultralight flight instructor. Locate these instructors via an online ultralight community such as the EAA (see Resources below).

Join a flying club. These clubs will allow you to interact with those who fly ultralights and to observe their operation firsthand. Being a member may also allow you to learn via mentorship and educational seminars. Locate a flying club via USUA, an online ultralight community (see Resources below).

Budget your time. You'll need fewer hours of training to learn how to fly an ultralight than you would to get a pilot's license, but there's still some time investment involved. Plan on receiving 10 to 20 hours of ultralight training.

Plan your finances. Ultralights can be very expensive and as a hobby, this type of aviation can be just as costly as flying conventional aircraft.

Tap the experience of a local instructor or those in a local club before purchasing your ultralight, to get a sense of what to look for and what to avoid. For example, older ultralights may be cheaper, but they may also be obsolete--some are no longer manufactured, and parts aren't available.