There can be no doubt that the ultralight and microlight forms of civil aviation, have thrown out some of the most interesting and radical designs to be found, since the pioneering days of flight.

In its simplest form, a microlight aircraft might consist of a parachute, very similar to those used by paragliders, that is powered by small engine, worn in a backpack, with small propeller behind the back of the pilot. These aircraft are manually launched on foot, quite simply by running off the top of a hill or cliff.

The most common form of microlight is that of the power hanglider, using a weight shift control mechanism, identical to that used by a hanglider pilot. Some will be launched on foot; others may have a rudimentary cockpit and fuselage, with three wheels fitted, for landing and takeoff. Power is supplied by a larger engine than those used by the simple paraglider inspired models, although still of a fairly low horsepower.

A far less common variant is the gyrocopter, the rotating wings of a gyrocopter are not powered, the thrust is supplied by a standard propeller setup and the airflow through the blades causes them to spin and supply lift.

There are also several models of single seat and duel seat helicopter which fall into the weight bracket defined for ultralight and microlight craft, although these often fall under heavier licensing and certification laws.