Ultralight aviation

Ultralight aviation is the design, operation, and recreational use of very light aircraft, often governed by rules distinct from those for conventional aircraft.

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Ultralight aircraft: A very light aircraft designed to meet a jurisdiction’s definition of an ultralight vehicle. These are the vehicles at the center of ultralight aviation.
Parasite drag: Aerodynamic resistance caused by an object moving through air, excluding lift-induced drag. Exposed frames and landing gear can make drag a major limit on ultralight speed.
Recreational aviation: Flying undertaken primarily for personal enjoyment rather than commercial or military purposes. Recreation is the principal setting for much ultralight flying.
FAR Part 103: A United States federal regulation defining operating limits for qualifying ultralight vehicles. It is the specific U.S. rule set that governs many single-seat ultralights.
Weight-shift control: An aircraft control method that changes direction by shifting the pilot’s weight relative to the airframe. Many ultralight trikes steer through weight shift rather than conventional control surfaces.
Stall speed: The minimum speed at which an aircraft can maintain steady flight before its wing stalls. Low mass and generous wing area can produce low stall speeds, but stalls remain hazardous.
Sport pilot: A pilot certificate category created in the United States for operating specified light aircraft. It provides a distinct licensing route relevant to some light-aircraft operations.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency: The European Union agency responsible for civil aviation safety regulation and oversight. European rules classify and regulate light aircraft differently from U.S. Part 103.
Powered hang glider: A hang glider fitted with propulsion, commonly a small engine and propeller. It is one compact form of powered ultralight aircraft.
Two-stroke engine: An internal-combustion engine that completes a power cycle in two piston strokes. Its low weight and high power-to-mass ratio have suited some ultralight aircraft.