Quicksilver Sprint ultralight aircraft, Quicksilver Sprint experimental aircraft, Quicksilver Sprint experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA), Light Sport Aircraft Pilot News newsmagazine.

The most notable of these aircraft is the latest version of the MXL Sport... quite a bird. The Rotax-powered Quicksilver MXL is a real fire-breathing performer with a heart of gold. From full power application to lift-off, you can count to five and be sure that you're clearing the deck. This can take-off in as little as 200 feet. From there on, the large single, center-mounted control stick and rudder pedals are very much in command of a responsive yet very stable ultralight style flying machine. With a standard climb speed of only 35 mph (and doing near to 1000 fpm!), the MXL really skies out. The Quicksilver has a very strong rudder that both rolls and yaws the aircraft strongly though the ailerons on this puppy are no one's fool. Pitch control is obedient in both powered and unpowered regimes. Static pitch stability is uncommonly attentive and the dynamic profile is as tight as a miser's wallet. Low speed control is outstanding as the high lift wing gives up with a small shudder and excellent control throughout the stall.

The MXL actually does very well, power-off, displaying none of the "winged brick" tendencies that many associate with this plan-form. The sink rate was a lot more conservative than I expected, and the subsequent landing required only a gentle flare with slight aileron for countering the 9 kt crosswind. Roll-out was an astonishing 150 feet... This is no speed demon... you have to push hard if you want to see 60 mph, but the wide open seating and sturdy construction make this both a pleasant as well as reassuring place to play sky-god. The aircraft really responds well in the most trying conditions...

Quicksilver, in my opinion, conducts the most arduous R&D, Engineering, and Customer Support oriented manufacturing operation in all of sport aviation. Documentation, materials, and the attention to detail are top notch. Wingspan for the Sprint is 28 feet 9 inches; for the Sport, length is 18 feet 1 inch, height 9 feet 2 inches.

Zoom Report: This is what ultralights were always supposed to be... The single surface Sprint and the double surface Sport comprise excellent lightweight cruisers with fantastic visibility and some of the most positive stability characteristics I've seen.