This is my machine from the front. It is a Pegasus XL flexwing microlight. Usually described as a hang glider with a seat and engine. The triangular bars you see coming down from the wing is known as the A Frame and is used for steering.

The thicker gold tube on the left goes from the base of the machine, up behind the seats and in front of the engine. It has the wing bolted through it at the top into the 'hang bracket' This single bolt is known as the Jesus Bolt. The lower gold tube coming away to the right is the front spar and is attached to the front of the trike at the bottom.

The pilot (or student pilot) sits in the front seat with any passenger behind and slightly higher. There is a control on each side of the seat frame, one side has a hand throttle the other the choke.

The mud and dirt is quite normal for a machine flying from a farm strip. The pilot has foot pedals which can be used for steering the nosewheel on the ground. Under the right toe is the throttle, under the left is the front wheel brake. You can also see the handle for the pull starter.

There is some suspension on the front wheel, a couple of springs help to absorb the bumps. The bar across the top of the wheel is the crude braking system. The small silver protrusion at the top of the pod is the pitot tube, this picks up air and gives you your airspeed.

You don't need lots of expensive instruments, though some microlights have them. Here we have the basics, from the left ASI (airspeed indicator), Compass, Altimeter, Revcounter / Engine Temp gauge. The velcro is used to hold on a small clock when required.

Left view of engine. A 447 cc two stroke Rotax. (the TDI was a joke by a previous owner) Most of the view of this side is taken up by the exhaust system. The wires seen at the top are the choke and throttle cables. You can now see the gold coloured tubing which goes up and has the wing bolted to it.

Right view of engine. The black lump is the air filter and the white box at the front of it with the tube going up is the carb ice system, it draws warmer air from near the engine. The fuel tank is seen underneath, this is a large 45litre capacity tank giving a maximum 4 hours flying time (up to 200 miles). The silver box between the engine and propellor is a reduction unit. If the prop turned at the speed of the engine the tips would be supersonic, This box slows it down. The prop is a 3 blade carbon fibre job, more power and less noise.