Paul_Sengupta wrote:From what I remember, it was the rules. You couldn't rent out a microlight, so solo flying had to be done in your own machine or in one where you had a share. Many schools sold small shares for the duration of the course, then you had to buy a share or your own microlight to fly afterwards. The rules were then changed so that you could rent them, changing the microlight flying school ethos into more of what most of us know as a "normal" flying school where you rent the aeroplane.
Or am I going mad? Or are these two questions unrelated?
Ah, I misunderstood what you meant by
you *could only* buy your own microlight or a share therein to learn in
.
Non-equity shares in microlights were about as rare as transponders in my time.
An exemption to the ANO restriction on training in PtF was required for each aircraft and this must have covered students flying solo under supervision. Once licensed a share or ownership became necessary.
I must admit I could be wrong, as I did my GFT in my own single-seater.