What is the C42 used for?

The Ikarus C42 is the dominant UK National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL) and microlight training airframe at British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) registered schools. It's also widely used at German LTF-UL microlight clubs and French ULM Class 3 operations. The type is purpose-built for the microlight / NPPL training scope; pilots seeking PPL CS-23 instruction transition to a Tecnam P2008 / P2010 or Cessna 152.

Can the C42 run on unleaded fuel?

Yes. The Rotax 912 ULS / iS Sport runs on unleaded EN228 mogas or 100LL avgas without modification, making the C42 naturally positioned for the unleaded-fuel transition where airport mogas infrastructure is available.

How much does the C42 cost to operate?

Hourly direct operating cost typically lands between £55 and £90 per hour at UK BMAA-registered schools, including fuel at 3.5 gph mogas plus Rotax 912 engine reserves and a fabric-inspection accrual. Wet rental rates at UK NPPL schools generally fall between £95 and £145 per hour. The C42 is significantly cheaper to operate than a PPL CS-23 trainer (Cessna 152 / 172) on a per-hour basis.

Comco Ikarus

Ikarus C42

Ultralight / microlight · ULM / microlight trainer · 1980s–1990s

Power: 100 hp
Cruise: 95 kt
MTOW: 1,212 lb
Range: 460 nm
Fuel: Unleaded mogas (EN228 / autofuel)

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)95 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)130 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)35 kt
Climb rate980 fpm
Service ceiling13,000 ft
Range460 nm
Endurance5 h
Takeoff roll410 ft
Landing roll525 ft

Weights

MTOW1,212 lb
Empty weight660 lb
Useful load552 lb
Baggage capacity33 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan31.5 ft
Length20.7 ft
Height7.5 ft
Cabin width47.2 in

Powerplant

EngineRotax 912 ULS — 100 hp · Mogas · 3.5 gph
Total horsepower100 hp
Primary fuelUnleaded mogas (EN228 / autofuel)
Unleaded pathMogas-capable (Rotax 912 / equivalent)

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeanalog
Autopilot commonly availableNo
Typical packages
- Six-pack analog with single nav/com— as-delivered
- Garmin G3X / Dynon SkyView retrofits— modern retrofit option

Certification

RegulatoryGerman LTF-UL · UK CAA NPPL · EASA UL national rules
Certified rolesMicrolight / ULM
IFRNo
Spin approvedNo
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelNo
Complex (FAR 61.31)No
High-performance (FAR 61.31)No

Why is the Ikarus C42 popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Industry network effects

Dominant UK NPPL / microlight trainer at British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) registered schools and at most UK-based microlight DTOs; very common in German LTF-UL clubs and growing in French ULM Class 3 operations.

Operating economics

Rotax 912 ULS burns roughly 3.5 gph at 95 kt cruise — comparable to the Tecnam P92 and Pipistrel Alpha Trainer on direct fuel cost, with a particularly strong operating cost position in UK NPPL / microlight training.

Fuel future-proofing

Rotax 912 ULS / iS Sport runs on unleaded EN228 mogas — naturally positioned for the unleaded-fuel transition without engine swap.

Production volume

Approximately 1,900 C42 airframes built since 1997 — one of the most-produced certified microlight trainers in Europe.

Before you buy more aircraft

The next airframe is rarely the highest-leverage move.

Flight school revenue is a function of three things — utilisation, dispatch reliability, and student progression — that multiply rather than add. Most schools running below 850 hours per aircraft per year have hidden capacity worth more than the next purchase, already paid for and sitting on the ramp.

Read: Why buying more aircraft probably won't grow your school

Operations

Record hours, no profit

Where margin actually leaks when the schedule looks full.

Strategy

The three hurdles to profitability

The structural barriers most expansion plans miss.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

UK BMAA-registered microlight schools running C42 fleets typically configure them in Aviatize with NPPL-specific licence-validation rules and mogas fuel-surcharge models. Engine reserves track against the Rotax 912 ULS / iS Sport 2,000-hour TBO; fabric inspection cycles are tracked as separate maintenance items.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebilling

Editorial confidence

Medium confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

2 primary sources cited. Spec data is partially attributed; some operating details are editorial synthesis pending additional research.

Sources

Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Comco Ikarus
https://www.comco-ikarus.de/
Comco Ikarus product pages.
Primary sourceType Club·Retrieved 2026-05-05
British Microlight Aircraft Association
https://bmaa.org/
British Microlight Aircraft Association — UK NPPL / microlight regulatory framework.
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

Related aircraft

tecnam p92 pipistrel virus alpha pipistrel velis electro

Back to the full directory Or browse by operating profile →