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Modern microlights essentially fall into two categories. The weightshift or flexwing type of aircraft has a trike unit suspended under a wing evolved from the hang glider. Control is by using the control bar to shift the weight of the trike (ie the combined mass of the pod, engine and occupants) relative to the wing. The 3-axis type of microlight on the other hand looks like, and some cases will outperform a traditional light aircraft. Both are covered by the basic definition:
Microlight aeroplane means an aeroplane designed to carry not more than two persons which has:
a) a maximum total weight authorised not exceeding:
300 kg for a single seat landplane
450 kg for a two seat landplane
330 kg for a single seat amphibian or floatplane, or
495 kg for a two seat amphibian or floatplane
and
(b) either a wing loading at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 25 kg per square metre or a stalling speed at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 35 knots calibrated airspeed.
