this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2023
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Apparently not if the mass and maximum speed are both low enough. The Jetson One (which has been taking preorders for at least a couple of years but still isn't shipping) says it won't require a license in the US.
It looks pretty impractical, produces an obnoxious amount of wind during landing and takeoff, and has a range of only 30km, but, still... it or things like it probably will actually be a reality for some rich people pretty soon.
& you are correct about airspace being regulated. Just because an ultralight doesn't require a license doesn't mean you can just fly it anywhere with no training on how to get airspace clearance either. I imagine they will eventually develop something like an automated version of the LAANC clearance process for drone pilots, but it will take a while to develop the regulations for sure, if they even get that far.