Just came across this forum for selling used Microlight/Ultralight planes. Amazingly, they are very much affordable, cheaper than used cars, slightly above average one month's salary in US!

http://www.usedultralightplaneforsale.com/current-used-ultralight-planes-for-sale-auction/

Cant even dream of having a 50cc RC plane with average salary in India!

True, ten years back could only manage IHC balsa kits, now, though different, got used to spending sparingly on the hobby. But still the same passion and joy with these planes

http://x-air.in/html/costs.htm
This is an ultralight Indian manufacturer Raj Hamsa based in bangalore - who seems to well known for their ultralight brand X-Air around the world. Export prices seem to be around 8lacs including shipping to the US - so I guess its should be cheaper here. Anyone who has more info on ultralights or their flying regulations here, do share your valuable insights.

They cost around Rs 6 Lacks (USD 12000) Airframe alone. The link I shared above has used ones with engine, prop and avionics for as little as USD 6000.

That proves in India how every seller (rc planes or ultralight) fleece people without any guilt.

CrazyPilot,
I do not think that is an accusation with which you can paint everyone. Try importing a commercial consignment and see for yourself how things stack up. Unless you have a local mass manufacturer and masses to buy in mass, prices here in India would remain high.

Ujjwana
When you say used you are missing on the point used to what extent? A used flying machine would need a good spend on TLC/certification etc. Do add up those costs as well. And then again with everything else, the market dictates the price, higher the number of buyers, higher the production which would tend to increase competition and lower the price. See the mobile handset and tariff market for an example

 

Here in India people work in so called world class MNC for many years & buy a car on a loan.. that too a standard simple car a "maruti" but if i do the same work in the US i can afford a Benz.. & live a luxurious life as compared to India were buses & trains are mostly filled with dogs & cats..

Post removed in view of clarification posted by Sharlock below
let us all fly and have landings which are all right side up!    

I seemed to have missed that post   And yes, it is out of context, and offensive.

There are many things that are broken about our country (the same applies to any other country), but belittling oneself (be it self, or the country) is just childish.  And that too at a time when the world is looking at India as an emerging power !

There are things that are beyond money, perhaps that realization comes with wider interaction, age and life experiences.  Money can fix a lot, but not everything that is broken.

I took my words back.....

[Admin Note] Edited... absolutely no name calling, regardless of the issue. Protest... YES, argue against... ABSOLUTELY YES, calling names... NEVER

I am sorry if you take this in a negative way but in no way i mean to hurt anyone..

I myself a Indian but i have seen how people work hard here especially in the MNC industry & still live a hard life not that easy.. I am from a IT industry & to tell you what i have seen in past 8 years what this industry really is & how people work.. especially girls working for 10 to 12 hours a day to meet the US, Europe given deadlines they work every day for an average of 10 to 12 hours sometimes saturday sunday & have seen their health condition.. & above that get paid the same salary, no pay for the extra hours worked..  Now see the same branch in the US & UK they come on time & leave on time.. just try calling them after 6 & they are gone...

When the client comes from abroad I have seen how these big company officials run behind them like dogs & cats.

I am no way trying to put anyone down, I know how people work hard here but dont get paid right & bad work culture. We all have to come up & fight this so called slavery. I hope you understand

I am in the same industry, and I have seen many of my american colleagues/friends in multiple companies (and these are some of the biggest and best companies in the world) in the US work for 24 hours and sometimes 36 hours straight to meet deadlines, with no special DIRECT benefits.  Yes, there are small "considerations" for their efforts at times, but no direct benefits.

UK (and Europe in general) is more relaxed compared to the US and other places.  They seem to give more importance to "quality of life" (as they put it... not sure losing one conscience every day at a pub qualifies for that), with the direct consequence of being less productive. Work "smart" seems to only go so far, as compared to work "hard" !

In any case, India has unique issues, starting with the population. I hope I never see the day when every family has a car/Benz here !  I would much rather see a Singapore style public transport solution here !  There are realities that have to sink in, just like how many genuine LHSes are maligned.

I'll say this... put yourself on the "other side" for a moment, and life will be a lot easier !

I am not able to understand one simple THING, that why to do such thing that one has to feel sorry. your words were put in such a way that everyone thinking will land only in negative, like i thought that you hate India....thats why my words ...........
there are many other friends working in software company in US, UK who also give the same comments while travelling in train..same dogs and cats. but the only difference between them is the people and culture..we have a different culture and we have different thinking pattern....
I am born and brought up in Delhi but now working in Mumbai for the last last year 3 years, Mumbai has a totally different living pattern and now i am adjusted to this life, In Delhi i use to drive down to office in my car which was 9 KM, Here i travel by train and i think it is much comfortable then Car in Delhi, this doesn't mean that i hate Delhi and i am also traveling in train like dog and cat....
Words are like Magic sword..if you use it properly then it is GOD other wise DOG.

Alif ke her fer se Khuda bhee Juda ho Jata Hai...

Sandeep

Just a note to everyone. Sharlock has clarified that he meant no harm, and has tendered his regret publicly and in private.  Please avoid comments that causes pain to ANYONE.

  Maaf Kiya 

 
Whatever happened to the discussions on Ultralights  ........................................
 

The discussions were never on ultralights themselves, but on cost of ownership vis a vis a model airplane of large size

I Think both Martian and Captain (FLyingboxcar) got some of my point.
Things have been so unaffordable in the country for somany reason. They were much worse before the country opened up in 1990's.

My whole point was - See, many average american can buy (to begin with, notwithstanding maintenance etc) an airworthy used Ultralight with their one month's salary. On the same hand, most of average salaried Indians can't even think buying a large R/C plane with their monthly salary.

Most of my friends in US already drive cars (one even Gollardo) which I most probably would never be able to own in India in my life time.

For us, it is still earn in Rupees and spend in Dollars. Not just in RC - we pay more than the USD equivalent in India at Dominos, Pizzahut, Subway, Levis, Benetton, Sony, Samsung, Honda, et all, what it would have been costed in US!!

Please no LHS bashing. Its a general comment.
No offense against the country. Things are getting better. May be its just market dynamics. I totally agree to Anwar that we see American through Hollywood. I know many of my US teammates having better Work-Life balance, working as hard as we, in fact more productively than average Indians.

The US counterparts (most of walks of profession) earn 4 times more in 'universal' currency equivalent to Indian. But commodity items are on many account cheaper than India with same universal equivalent.

Thanks for your words Anwar you said it right.

i don't understand why people choked you for saying this and why you had to appologise for that.
After the recession most of my friends got on long term assignments to US or Canada. And in less than two years time they are driving cars like Accord V6 and Camaro. Plus they have brought 2-3 BHK flats here in Pune. I bet they can buy an ultralight if they wanted to. I was the top earner in my small friend circle and i have till now just managed to buy a Ford Ikon for my dad. And now i am not getting a decent loan to buy a flat because of loan for the car.
The truth remains the truth, no matter how much it offends someone.

thinking of Ultralights ! even microlights are cheap !
but thing is who is going fly it? in India  at least you need PPL to fly it
what about place you need to fly ? if you want to fly at aerodromes you need to pay accordingly!
getting approval ? here is the word required cats n dogs ,you need to run behind DGCA people like cats n dogs to get approval!
where are you going to park aircraft after flying ? you need to pay for that also
at last what fuel you are  going to use? it requires special gasoline meant for aero piston engine colored blue 100 octane !

at last coming to maintenance  even for tightening screw and getting COA( certificate of airworthiness) you need approved AME!

In case it is not clear

1.  The generalization about cat and dogs in trains and buses, which are exceptions rather than rules (and as if Delhi metro etc did not exist). The way that statement can be true is when you equate fellow Indians to cats and dogs, which is the big reason why people protested.

2.  The notion of slavery, without realizing that similar situation prevails everywhere, and affects not just Indians.

3.  Yes, there is difference in currency exchange rates, and living standards.  That does not mean we go about dissing everyone in the name of a majority who chose to live a life of 12 hour work days. One could argue they had little choice, but is that really the case ?

4.  There is a factor of "happiness/satisfaction", which is not entirely tied to money. To put things in perspective, what does owning a Benz really mean, as compared to any other decent car, other than "I have better/bigger toys than you" ?  In the so called luxurious life in the US/Europe with an MNC, there is just a perpetual trap of loans and bills to pay every month, and living in constant fear of losing ones job (which is often true locally too), and most of the time ending up with little to no savings ! 

Perhaps another way of wording the original post would have made it sound less offensive against the nation as a whole.

Try watching CAPITALISM-A LOVE STORY by Michael Moore

Also watch SICKO by Michael Moore.. Even though there is so much money to be made there, I wouldn't want to live there forever..

If it was intended for me then i have seen it and its nothing compared to Health services in our beloved country.

No sir, wasn't intended for anyone specifically.. Just wanted people to watch it as its a good documentary.. And the healthcare setup in Goa is pretty good so I cant really complain.. Sorry for going off topic..

Anwar sir has said this really nicely.


I'll say this... put yourself on the "other side" for a moment, and life will be a lot easier !

Tooooo much off topic comments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Truly, just compare, If u want car driving license, How much costs, and for plane flying licence specially in India, what will be the cost?

A commom term " Only Pilot's children can only be pilot" as heard from my mom.

I have born in 1977 and in 1990, I have read a writings of Durba Bannerjee (First Lady Pilot I Think) that Bengal was the cheapest to become Pilot for scholarship and for behala aerodrum, But that totally outsourced. (I remember, I saw, everyday, at least 4-6 hours of fly of cessna till 1990/93. But afterwords, No fly till date. My home is only 5.5 KM from behala.

Now in Kolkata, instead of Pilot course, Only ad seen for Aircraft Maintenance course and Air-hostess training course (this is not essential as per my knowledge but triggers the wish to fly for business).

After 12th, seeing no hope, (being a middle class family) just started engineering with Govt. sponsored University and in front of me, fees got 10 times.

Afterward, I have lead construction site life, and realized the value of time to stay with family. Perhaps, that's the reason Harry Potter is the most enjoyable cinema to me.

Money and time for family both are required and well balanced. I got chance in Power Grid (2004) beating all from India and stood first, but not joined for higher study and time to family (Home sickness? 30% i think, but 70% responsibility as  an average indian) and decided to serve my native bengal and joined WBGovt.

After spending 12K days of my life, I realized,
there should be balance between money and family, and
Think small so that you can enjoy every moment of Life.

For the low spending (in terms on money and energy)and down to earth lifestyle, Indian Economy have not crashed like others and become the honeypot to businessman, I think. Thanks to our grandma's and grandpa's who told us to
1. Learn to live with minimum requirements, from Crow.
2. Learn Loyalties from Dogs.
3. Always work, dont think for return. (I think from Gita.)
4. Savings for future (from Ants).
... Etc. etc. Dont remember all now.

therefore, though i want to be a pilot to fly only, but for surroundings, it was not possible, but I am happy. Rather, I made models and flys in dream.

Just a ambient condition. want to taste, take any person, play popular songs of the time when (s)/he was 14-18, and best song you have ever hear, feel the difference, when he was damn busy.

So, If anyone give micro-lite, absolutely free, I would sell it and purchase Advanced Radio, Cordless Stereo Camera and goggles rather.

==================================================================
I can rather predict that RC items will be flooded in India, and most of the ready made build planes will be in the range (<3K) withen Oct 2011, and there will be more demand of Micro than large plane in turms of Quantity. Only a few old guy like me, can search for emery paper, wood, Glue etc, and made 90% professional finish plane with 10 times cost. (In 1995, Cheapest Digital Multimeter was Rs.300/- and now Rs.90/-)
=========================================================
Please though I have tried to to hart, but if anyone hart, I apologize for my remark in advance.

Very well said but, I beg to differ here - I am just 1 year younger to you - born in 1978 but, I am not 'old' at all.  I believe I am a 21 year old with 11 years of experience.

I have just started aeromodelling and I'm loving it.

I guess the old adage of "The grass is always greener on the other side" is true no matter where you come from.  Yes America may look great when seen through the eyes of some movie director, but behind the scenes the gloss and glamour fades very quickly.  Many parts of America are dying, mainly due to big business finding it cheaper to manufacture overseas. Here in Australia the Chinese with their new found wealth are buying our farming land and businesses and should it continue we'll be looking at China to buy fill our stomachs in another 20 years.

Most countries are suffering the world wide downturns and money is starting to become scarce. Talk to any ordinary citizens in any country and you'll hear the negativity. Our rights are being removed, we're told what we can and can't say and laws are being made which many can't abide. Costs to live are spiralling, electricity prices have already gone through the roof and we're being told it's due to climate change. When electricity goes up everything goes up and there's no easing in sight.

See I can be truthful ad negative as well. I'm living on a disabled war veteran's pension and if I felt like it I could tell you how hard that is.  But I wont, simply because it's better to look at the positive things. If I preach doom and gloom you'll walk away miserable as well, but if I concentrate on the positive then it won't leave you feeling sorry or bored (hopefully)

It can be hard to be smiling all day, but when someone asks you how you are, tell them you feel great and watch the reaction. We get too used to people telling us how hard their life is and how bad the Government is, be different and tell them you've never felt better, who knows it could be contagious. Even though my wife and I live on a lowly pension we have never starved and we own out own home and car.  I just ordered a Xiaomi Mi Quadcopter with all the trimmings so I'm not exactly broke. I also have a house full of RC equipment and desperately need someone to help me fly, drive and float them all, plus build the planes I don't have the room for.

Life is great when you don't talk about the negative things and as the old saying goes,"Smile and the world smiles with you" This is what everyone regardless of age, origins or beliefs should be doing, this world would be a much better place. Now altogether,  SMILE

True....

One little thing the OP may have forgotten.  It's a second hand unit and there's no knowing what it's been subjected to. An old friend of mine who used to fly me on his 2 seater ultralight sold his very cheaply, I almost bought it myself, but he refused to let me. He told me air frames are only good for so many flights and after that they start to show cracks in many places. The shocks from landings take their toll and tiny invisible cracks will form in load bearing parts especially at joints.

He told me his unit hadn't been well looked after and although the motor worked flawlessly it would be better to remove the motor and put it in a new frame. He did end up selling it, but a week after it sold the new owner nosed it into the ground and wrote it off. It was pilot error and not a problem with the frame. Luckily the owner survived with no serious damage, the ultralight was scrapped. So just maybe that "Cheap" Ultralight could well have been in constant use and not such a bargain after all.

Good insight...

married person always think to buy but problem is cost that they can't afford.When they think to buy, always a picture of his wife and children came in their mind. Then it's only dream.Salary are less in India.

Hi Taksh, you say salaries are less in India, may I ask Less than where?  Do you actually know what people are being paid in other countries and are you talking about the same job with the same number of working hours and similar extras such as overtime rates weekend and public holiday rates.  Whether a car is supplied, medical insurance and sick leave etc?

Comparing wages is rather hard to do successfully, especially with so many things to factor in. Personally I've rarely considered wages when applying for a job, I much prefer whether or not I'm going to be happy working there. If I'm not happy then no amount of money is going to keep me there. Possibly that's the reason I've spent a large percentage of my working life working for myself and it may be strange to a newcomer to the workforce, but when I have been self employed I worked 2 or 3 times harder.

I have no idea what the average wage is in India, but then in my opinion whenever I hear the term "Average Wage" I always think there must be a lot of people earning a lot of money, because I've never come close to the average. The only exception to that was working in the UK on the F15 jet fighter. After only being there for 3 weeks I was earning more than many who had been there for 5 years.

Just for interests sake I looked up the average annual wage for a factory worker in India according to your Government and it's on average Rs 168,000 or $ 2572.00 USD.  Here in Australia the same worker would be paid an annual wage of $26,580 USD or Rs 1690767.

See what I mean? it's impossible to compare. I can't believe there would be a difference of 10 fold. With the wages in India it isn't stated whether that's a flat rate and for how many hours. The Australian figures are for a 40 hour week (8 hours per day) and no weekend work, plus overtime and penalty rates aren't factored in. I can only imagine what your cost of living is and that's the big cruncher when it comes down to it.

If you're interested here's a link to the cost of living in Australia with prices for food and other normal outlays for the average Aussie.  https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Australia

I hope it's OK to post links here. Sorry, I've strayed from the original post, but perhaps it gives you some idea of how much things can differ. I just hope I haven't upset you too much.  Perhaps you will become an Aussie yourself, we have many people from India living here and I'm very proud to call one family my friends. I can't recall exactly where they came from, but one thing I keep hearing is they are all very happy to have made the move. So happy in fact they now have their entire family with them, Grandmother, Grandfather and a few uncles and Aunts as well. The front of their house looks more like a used car yard when everyone's home :-)

So if you really want to own an ultralight, perhaps living here could be one way to do so. :-) If you have ambition, like the outdoors and don't mind a beer and BBQ you'll fit right in. :-)  Stu