Challenger Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Buy New or Used? You can certainly find used ultralights for sale. However, the cheapest airplane is not always the "best deal." There have been many design changes in most models over the years, and almost all manufactures constantly upgrade and modify (if only slightly) their aircraft. For those companies who have been in business for many years (Challenger, Quicksilver, etc.) a plane that is 5 or 10 years old, is probably not the same plane as a new one. If money is the sole determining factor, then you should look at the used ones for sale. We do pre-purchase inspections for potential buyers, and I have seen far more "worn out" planes than really good ones. If cost is just one of the factors you are going to rely on to make the new or used decision, then weigh out the benefits of saving 2 or 3 thousand dollars against having a brand new airplane (with all of the latest design changes), with a zero time motor (employing all the latest technology and most likely with a warranty), all new instrumentation and paint, equipped exactly as YOU want it, having been built by you or an authorized dealer. All facts considered, that is usually a pretty easy decision to make. Click here for a complete list of design changes and history of the Challenger aircraft.

Does U-FLY-IT Take Trades? Sometimes we do. We are not in the business of dealing in used aircraft (mainly because we do not have the space to keep them here), but if you have a GOOD used airplane and are thinking of upgrading to a new airplane, we will discuss a trade. It never hurts to give us a call or send us an email telling us what you have and what you are looking for.

Can I Order My Kit in Sections? Yes. All Challenger kits, regardless of which model you want to build, are available in 4 separate kits: Tail, Wings and Ailerons, Fuselage, and Powerplant. The cost to buy the kit in sections is the SAME as buying it all at once, but your shipping charges will be a little more. If U-FLY-IT is assembling your kit for you, we require that all airframe components be ordered at the same time, but the Powerplant can be ordered after assembly begins.

How Long Will it Take Me to Assemble a Challenger? The factory lists the following approximate assembly times for each model: Challenger Single Seat: 40 to 60 hours. Challenger 2: 40 to 60 hours. Challenger single seat Special: 120 hours. Challenger 2 Special: 150 hours. These estimates do not take into consideration any options, painting, or installation of instruments, BRS parachute system, etc. We have found that a first time builder can complete the entire aircraft, including paint, and be ready to fly in approximately 100 - 200 hours. If you are able to devote 20 hours a week to the assembly process, you could be ready to fly in a month or two.

What if I have Questions When I am Assembling the Aircraft? We will answer them. We return ALL emails and ALL phone calls promptly. All of our customers are given my work, cell phone and home numbers, and your can call at any reasonable time, any day of the week, and you will get assistance. The business number rings into the workshop as well as the office, and we answer it every time it rings. We sold you the aircraft, and we will support it. You are our customer for as long as you own the plane. Not all dealers think this way, but we do. If we are going to be away for any length of time, that information will be posted on the Website. You can also direct questions directly to Quicksilver Manufacturing by phone or email.

How Long Does it Take U-FLY-IT to Assemble my Aircraft? It all depends on the options that you want on the aircraft. On average, we can complete the aircraft in about 4 - 12 weeks, including upgrades, covering, painting, engine break-in and test flight. We do all assemblies on a "first come first serve" basis. We provide all customers with an anticipated delivery date, and do everything possible to meet that deadline.

Can I help Assemble the Aircraft if U-FLY-IT is Doing the Assembly? ABSOLUTELY! All customers are encouraged to stop by anytime we are working on their aircraft. You are more than welcome to lend a hand, or just stop in and check the progress.

How Can I Meet the 51% Rule for Experimental? All of the Challenger and Quicksilver kits will meet the 51% rule and are eligible to be certified as an Experimental Aircraft by the FAA. FAA regulations prohibit the commercial assembly of Experimental aircraft, so U-FLY-IT is not able to assemble an Experimental aircraft for you. However, our local FAA office does allow you to come to our facility, assemble the aircraft under our supervision and guidance, using our equipment and tools, you will be able to meet the 51% rule, and you will be eligible for a Repairman's Certificate for the aircraft you assemble. If you choose to do the assembly at our location, you will need to be here for approximately 7-10 days initially (with sailcloth or Mylar wings, or approximately 14 days if using Stits wings). You will then need to return for approximately 2-4 days after the plane returns from the paint shop for final assembly (the 51% rules does not require that you paint the aircraft, and we have no facilities available where you can paint it yourself). It is probably quicker to assemble the aircraft here, as we have the necessary tools, upgrade materials, and experience to streamline your assembly.

How Will I Know How the Assembly is Going? We email all customers updates on their assembly progress weekly, and include progressive photos of the aircraft. You are also free to call to discuss the progress at any time.

What Factory Options Does U-FLY-IT Recommend? We recommend: Fiberglass nose cone (looks MUCH better), strut and gear leg fairings (combined will increase your cruise speed 7-10 MPH), 3 piece center section covers (looks much better), aluminum wheels, shoulder harnesses (a must for safety) and brakes (a must for engine run-up and short field operations). The other factory options are a matter of preference, and should be tailored to your personal type of flying. We also recommend many of the options/modifications that we do here at U-FLY-IT. Click here to see them.

Can I put a Radio in My Challenger? You can. Most people opt to put in a hand held radio, and mount an external antenna, for a couple reasons. First, the hand held radio is normally powered by a rechargeable battery pack, thus eliminating nearly all of the electrical interference (radio noise) associated with powering it from the Rotax electrical system. You can do some things to reduce the electrical interference if you power it from the motor's electrical system, but will cost you more (not to mention the time involved) then it will if you just buy a couple extra battery packs for your portable radio. The external antenna will greatly increase your range, and the entire package can be mounted neatly in your plane. This allows you to remove the radio in about 5 seconds, so theft becomes less of a concern.

Which Gear Box Should I Use? Challengers use a reduction drive, and no gear box. The gear boxes are not tall enough to get the prop center line up high enough to swing a 60" prop. The reduction drives supplied by Challenger are very well made and require little maintenance.

I am 6'3". Will I be Comfortable? I am 6'2" and it is comfortable for me. The front seat rudder pedals were moved forward by the factory in 1999, so if you have been in an older model it may have been a little cramped. That is not the case now. You may find that you legs get fatigued after a couple hours (but most pilots are not in them much longer then that before stopping), but you can install Temperfoam Cushions, which helps.

Can I put a 582 or a 912 in My Challenger? I have a friend who is going to put a jet engine in his Challenger. He is doing that not because he wants to go fast, but because he has so many options (weight) that he figures he will probably need it to get off the ground! Seriously, the 503 is sufficient power for a 2 seat Challenger. If you intend to put floats on, you may wish to consider the 582 (which has recently been added as a factory option, although it is considerably more expensive) but there are many Challengers on floats that use a 503 and do just fine. Anything more then that would be extra weight, more fuel consumption, and you would not really gain much cruise speed capabilities (since the VNE of the airframe on the standard wing model is 100 MPH anyway). Come fly one with the 503, you'll be satisfied.

What About Painting My Aircraft? If we are assembling your aircraft for you, we can also have it painted. The painting is done in a paint booth, using only Poly-Fiber Products. We do not do any of the painting of the aircraft in our hangars. We will transport the aircraft to the paint shop, prepare the components for painting, apply the materials according to Poly-Fiber practices and techniques, and then return the components to our location when they are done. All painting is done to your specifications and colors, and prices vary according to color(s) and complexity of the paint design you want. You have total say over the design: Send us a picture of what you want, or sketch it out and we do the rest. If you are going to assemble and paint the aircraft, we strongly suggest that you use the Poly Fiber System. Read the covering manual, and watch the video (both available from U-FLY-IT). They are INVALUABLE tools for a successful and professional paint job.

How Much Does it Cost to Have My Aircraft Painted? Painting an aircraft is not cheap. However, you should understand that the paint is one of the most important aspects of a fabric airplane. The paint will be what protects your fabric (and you) from the elements for years to come. Also keep in mind that the paint is usually the first thing that everyone notices about your aircraft, and what they remember the most. We do not do the painting of any of the aircraft components here at our facility. We use only the Poly Fiber System. Final cost depends on how many colors you want and the complexity of the design. A single color (excluding yellows, reds and oranges, which will require 2 or 3 coats of white as a base to prevent seeing the silver through the paint) on a single place ultralight with sailcloth or Mylar wings can be painted for around $2,000. A two place with Stits fabric wings, multiple colors and striping or other fancy designs can easily cost up to $4,000 or more. On average, our customers usually spend a total of $2,500 or so for materials and labor. Take a look at some of the planes we have painted and I am sure you will see that the work is first rate. We encourage all customers to sit down with a black and white drawing of the model they are buying (which we will supply you), and color it like you want it. After we see what you want, we can give you an estimate of the cost to paint your plane.

What Colors are Available? Many. We recommend and sell the Poly Fiber (Stits) paints and materials, and they are available in 50 colors. Click here to see a color chart. Keep in mind that the colors may appear slightly different on your monitor. DO NOT select a color just by looking at this page: We will send a color chart to any of our customers upon request!

What if I Do Not Like The Aircraft When You are Done? We do excellent workmanship, so we do not regard this as a real problem. However, we offer all customers a written guarantee that they will be satisfied with our workmanship, or the money they paid for the kit is refunded. Complete terms are listed in our assembly agreement, so you can order/buy with confidence.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Kit? Good Question. The delivery time from the Challenger factory varies depending on the time of year the order is placed. In general, delivery times are longer in the Spring and Summer than in the Fall and Winter. If you place an order for a kit at a peak time, you will probably have to wait 3 months or more before the kit is ready to ship. Challenger can get the wings and tail components out quicker, but you will pay a little more in shipping charges then if you had the entire kit shipped at once. Many customers view this as an acceptable cost so they can get their plane flying sooner. We usually have kits in stock or on order at all times, so we can sometimes ship a kit to you in a matter of days, or begin assembly more quickly. Call or email and let us know what you are looking for, and we will let you know if we have it in stock or on order.

How is the Kit Shipped to Me? If you purchase a kit that we have in stock, it will be shipped to you almost immediately. If you place an order for a kit that we do not have in stock, we will have it shipped to you directly from Quad City Aircraft (unless we are going to assemble it for you, in which case it will come here). The kits are shipped by truck, and the freight charges are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you Assemble the Kit, How Do I Get the Plane? Again, there are a few options for getting the completed aircraft to you. If you would like, you can come and get it and either fly it home, or trailer it back to your location. Obviously, if you intend to fly it home, we will need to do the engine break-in and test flights prior to your arrival. We also work with an excellent transport company that specialize in the cross-country transportation of light aircraft. They transport in an enclosed and secure trailer, and have insurance to cover your aircraft while in transit. Cost is approximately $1.50 a loaded mile (it fluctuates a bit with the rise and fall of fuel costs).

Does U-FLY-IT Provide Flight Training? Yes we do. We provide flight training in E-LSA aircraft. All of our instructors are FAA licensed CFI's, with experience in LSA, Ultralight, Experimental and General Aviation Aircraft. We currently have 3 CFI's to provide instruction. The rate for instruction is $95/hour, which includes the aircraft, fuel, oil, and instructor. We have an FAA computer testing facility on the airport, and also have a Pilot Examiner who will provide your Proficiency (flight) Test.

All payment information is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of liability agreement(s) of U-FLY-IT Light Sport Aircraft, LLC.