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Microlight finance: funding a microlight or ultralight aircraft
How to finance a new or used microlight in the UK, from flex-wings to 600kg three-axis aircraft: hire purchase, aircraft mortgages, deposits and what lenders check.
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- Amount
- From £10,000 to £20 millionLarger amounts through secured, property and asset-based finance
- Security
- Secured or unsecuredOptions compared for your case
- Suitable businesses
- Sole traders to limited companiesPartnerships and LLPs too
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In short
What you need to know.
Microlight finance spreads the cost of a new or used microlight, from a flex-wing trike to a modern 600kg three-axis aircraft, over an agreed term.
Aviation lenders fund them through hire purchase or a loan secured on the aircraft, usually with a deposit, once the aircraft is on the UK register with a valid permit to fly.
About microlight finance
Specialist knowledge. Better outcomes.
Modern three-axis microlights look and fly like light aircraft, and the best-equipped ones are priced like them too.
That has made finance far more common, for private owners, syndicates, flight schools and businesses using microlights for training or hire. This page covers how microlight finance works and what lenders check. For other aircraft, see our aviation finance page.
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Who microlight finance suits
- Pilots buying their own flex-wing or three-axis microlight.
- Flight schools and clubs adding training aircraft.
- Businesses offering self-fly hire or trial flights.
- Owners importing a microlight from Europe to register in the UK.
Found a microlight for sale?
Most microlights for sale in the UK are listed by dealers, brokers and private sellers on aviation marketplaces and club noticeboards. Agree your finance in principle before you commit, so you know your deposit, term and monthly payment when you make an offer. For a private sale the lender will check that the seller owns the aircraft and that any finance against it is cleared, and will usually pay the seller directly once its security is in place. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified engineer protects you and the lender.
Specialist lenders on our panel
Arkle Finance and Close Brothers are both on our panel, and both run specialist aviation teams. Arkle publishes aviation finance for light aircraft and helicopters, including a dedicated autogyro finance service, and Close Brothers Aviation & Marine funds light piston aircraft, turboprops, helicopters and vintage aircraft, according to their websites. Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker and is not part of either lender. We approach the lenders whose criteria fit your aircraft and set the offers side by side.
Imported microlights and the UK register
Many new microlights are built in Europe. Lenders generally want the aircraft imported, on the UK register and insured before they release funds, so plan the import, registration and permit work before the money is needed. If you are buying through a business, ask your accountant how VAT on the import will be handled. The Civil Aviation Authority sets the registration, permit and licence rules lenders expect an aircraft to meet.
Business use and personal use
Finance for an aircraft bought by a company, partnership or sole trader for its business is commercial lending. Finance for an individual buying an aircraft for personal or leisure flying can be regulated consumer credit, which follows different rules and protections. Tell us at the outset who will own the aircraft and how it will be used, so the right lenders and the right agreement are used.
Costs to consider
Compare the total amount payable, the fees, any balloon and the early settlement terms. Insurance, hangarage or a trailer, engine reserves and the annual permit revalidation are ongoing costs on top of the finance.
Useful sources
Before you buy, check the aircraft on G-INFO, the CAA register of UK aircraft. The British Microlight Aircraft Association and the Light Aircraft Association look after airworthiness for most UK microlights.
Underwriting
What lenders look at
01
The aircraft: type, age, hours, engine time and records, and whether it is flex-wing or three-axis.
02
Your deposit, typically 10% to 30% of the price for aircraft.
03
For a business: accounts, bank statements and the income the aircraft brings in, such as training or hire.
04
For a private buyer: income, outgoings and credit history.
05
Insurance with the lender's interest noted, and where the aircraft is kept.
Side by side
Compare your options
How the main business finance structures work. Lenders set their own terms, so treat this as a guide to the questions to ask.
| Option | How you repay | Security | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured business loan | Fixed instalments, usually monthly | No charge over assets; a personal guarantee is usually required | Growth, stock, tax bills and cash flow |
| Secured business loan | Fixed instalments, often over a longer term | A charge over property or other assets | Larger sums, property and refinancing |
| Revolving credit facility | Interest on what you draw; repay and redraw | Varies by lender and case | Recurring or uneven cash flow gaps |
| Merchant cash advance | A share of future card takings | No charge over assets | Card-taking businesses with uneven months |
| Asset finance | Regular payments over the life of the asset | The asset being financed | Equipment, vehicles and machinery |
| Invoice finance | Settled as customers pay their invoices | Your unpaid invoices | Businesses waiting on customer payment |
General information only. Every lender has its own criteria, and all finance is subject to status.
How microlight finance works
| Structure | How it works | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | Deposit, then fixed monthly payments; ownership passes at the end | Owners keeping the aircraft for years |
| Aircraft mortgage (secured loan) | A loan secured on the microlight | Private buyers and companies |
| Balloon payment | Lower monthly payments with a larger final payment | Newer aircraft with a strong resale market |
| Refinance | Borrowing against a microlight you already own | Funding an engine change, avionics or another aircraft |
The broker’s view
How we help
Tell us the aircraft, the price, your deposit and who will own it. We match it against the aviation lenders on our panel, approach the ones that fit and present the case once, with the aircraft details and your accounts or income. The lender carries out its own checks and approval is always its decision. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. To see your options now, use our instant quotes tool.
FAQs
Questions clients ask
Can I get finance on a microlight?
Yes. Aviation lenders fund new and used microlights through hire purchase or a secured loan. Most want a deposit, the aircraft on the UK register and a valid permit to fly before they pay out.
Can I finance a microlight bought abroad?
Often, yes, but lenders usually release funds only once the aircraft is in the UK, registered and insured. Plan the import and registration first, and agree the finance before you commit to the purchase.
Can a business finance a microlight for training or hire?
Yes. The lender will look at the business accounts, the income from training or hire, and the aircraft itself. A new business may be asked for a larger deposit and personal guarantees.
How much deposit does a microlight need?
Typically between 10% and 30% of the price, depending on the lender, the aircraft's age and resale market, and your circumstances.
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