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23.03.98

MICRO AVIATION
Micro Aviation is one of these passion-driven companies, offering simple and solid ultralights to its customers.

Nothing really planned for Jean-Louis Piguet (left on the oicture above, with Fabrice Tastet, who handles marketing and sales) to become the boss of an ultralight company... with the exception of his first flight at 12, and getting his pilot's license at 15. After a few years in the Air Force Technical School, then at Olivetti, Jean-Louis came to his flying passion at Zodiac, a company that, at that time, sold the Kolb ultralights.

At the end of the '80s, Jean-Louis had the chance to be able to buy Zodiac's stock and machines, as well as Kolb's blueprints. That is what made him an ultralight company manager, creating Micro Aviation in 1989. He as well built the assembly building, where Pulsar are still made today. Micro Aviation has been a self-financed company from the start.

Kolb's blueprints for the Ultrastar were then modified to create the Pulsar, and better fit the market.

The Pulsar, available with either classic or three wheels landing gears, was adapted to be easier to fly. The original Kolb's profile, a fast one, was stalling at 60 km/h. The changes allowed to gain 10 km/h on the stall speed, making it easier for the average ultralight pilot. Then fairings were added, from a simple windshield to full enclosure, as the customer wishes, and then flaps as an option.

These options are still available, with the advantage of allowing folding wings, a much appreciated option for transportation and storage in often crowded hangars. The choice of motors, from the Rotax 447 at that time, and today the 582 or 618, allow for good performances.

It offers an excellent visibility, and the cockpit is pretty wide. More than a 100 Pulsar fly in France, Spain, Switzerland, Chile and Guyana. Its cruise speed, with a 618 Rotax, is around 120 - 130 km/h.

The market going towards faster ultralights, Micro Aviation presented during the Blois Salon in 1996 the prototype (see below) of a new ultralight, the Zeff. Since then, the first production machine was delivered in Belgium. With the Zeff, Micro Aviation built a travel ultralight offering, with a Rotax 912 motor, a 150 km/h cruise speed (Vne 180 km/h, stall speed 60 km/h) and a climb rate at MTOW exceeding 5 m/s.

On first glance, this ultralight offers a good price/quality ratio, and we will try it as soon as possible.

Like the Pulsar, it has folding wings that require only a few minutes, and is available as a kit or ready to fly, with Rotax 582 or 912 motors.

One more advantage: its cockpit offers a 1.38 m width at elbows, what will certainly be welcome during long flights. The ready to fly Zeff costs FRF 180'000 (VAT included) with a 582, and FRF 225'500 (VAT included) with a 912 Rotax.

Contact:
Micro Aviation, Foussignac, F-16200 Jarnac

Phone: +33 5 45 35 83 60, fax: +33 5 45 35 84 07