World's Largest Aircraft Manufacturer First to Provide Full-License Training in Customer-Built Craft

By Jon Thornburgh

ANN Sponsor Quicksilver Manufacturing, Inc. has announced the creation of a special flight training opportunity available to all who purchase a Quicksilver aircraft. For a set fee, a buyer is guaranteed training--not only for his ultralight pilot's license--but also for his fully-certified FAA pilot's license.
This special program includes professional assistance for the construction of the Quicksilver homebuilt aircraft and the placement of the airplane into the FAA Experimental category. The buyer will receive training toward an FAA Recreational Pilot certificate. If the student desires, he can simultaneously achieve an Ultralight Flight Instructor's license.
This program is possible because of the special rapport that Quicksilver has developed with an FAA designated aircraft inspector and pilot examiner. The student will take his FAA flight check in his own airplane, even though the airplane is an open-cockpit, "tube and fabric" Experimental aircraft. Very few pilot examiners are willing to give a flight check in an ultralight-type airplane.
The pilot examiner who will administer the flight check was specially trained to fly Quicksilver aircraft. Although located in Southern California, the examiner is willing to travel anywhere in the United States to administer the Recreational Pilot flight exam.

Why not just ultralight?

An ultralight is limited by the FAA to specified weight, speed, and fuel restrictions. In addition, and ultralight must be flown in isolated "rural" areas, and even in those areas many airport managers will not allow ultralight operations at their facility. Liability and hull insurances are difficult to obtain for ultralights.
Once the Quicksilver buyer places his airplane into the Experimental category and obtains his FAA pilot's license, he can fly without the restrictions imposed on ultralight pilots. The FAA-licensed pilot can fly into any airport that is open to general aviation aircraft.
He can obtain the same insurance that is available for Cessnas and Pipers.
He can carry a passenger, fly cross-country, attend airshows, and equip his airplane with long-range fuel tanks and other options.
He may also fly overhead a city, and into congested airports.

Who ARE those guys?

Quicksilver has an association with professional FAA Certified Flight Instructors who specialize in training students in their own Quicksilver Experimental ultralight-type aircraft, and preparing the students for their FAA flight checks. The flight instructors are also certified ultralight instructors. The instructors are also able to offer instructional assistance in the construction of the kit aircraft.
The construction of the aircraft, complete flight training and the FAA flight check can be accomplished in three to four weeks at the Quicksilver Flight Academy in Southern California. Lodging is available. If the student is unable to travel to California, special arrangements can be made for the instruction to be given at the student's hometown.
The average time and cost to obtain an FAA pilot's license today in the United States is six months and eight to ten thousand dollars. The Quicksilver Flight Academy participant can obtain his license for the same cost and in much less time. At the conclusion of training, the student will have his own airplane to fly, and he will not have to rent an airplane at $60 to $80 per hour.

The Quicksilver program includes the following for a guaranteed package price of $9550:

1. Aircraft construction assistance and flight testing.
2. Assistance in placing the airplane into the Experimental category.
3. Flight instruction for the FAA Recreational Pilot license and an ultralight instructor's license.
4. All necessary flight instruction books and materials.
5. Services of the Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) who examines the completed homebuilt airplane and issues the Airworthiness Certificate for the Experimental category.
6. Examination by the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) who administers the flight exam and issues the FAA pilot license.
7. Examination by the ultralight examiner for the issuance of the ultralight instructor's license to the applicant.
8. The prepaid fee for the pilot flight physical.
9. The prepaid cost for the pilot written exam.
10. Experimental aircraft registration fee.
11. Cost of transporting the airplane to the DAR examination site and the flight test site.

FMI: http://www.quicksilveraircraft.com