Ultra Light Motorized (ULM) Aircraft Global Market Report 2025

The ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $0.77 billion in 2024 to $0.84 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to increasing adoption of affordable leisure flying, rising participation in aviation clubs, growing popularity of cross-country recreational flights, expanding government support for sport aviation, and heightened interest in do-it-yourself aircraft kits.

The ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.17 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for eco-friendly aviation solutions, increasing investment in lightweight composite materials, growing interest in short-haul regional connectivity, greater integration of digital avionics in ultralight aircraft, and expanding popularity of autonomous flight technologies. Key trends in the forecast period include advancements in autonomous flight control systems, integration of artificial intelligence for navigation, adoption of real-time flight monitoring technologies, improvements in battery energy density, and developments in augmented reality pilot training.

The growing interest in air sports is expected to drive the growth of the ultra-light motorized (ULM) aircraft market. Air sports involve recreational aviation activities using lightweight aircraft for leisure, sport, or adventure. This interest is increasing due to rising leisure time, enabling people to explore activities such as skydiving, paragliding, and hot air ballooning, which offer excitement, personal challenge, and unique aerial experiences. Ultra-light motorized aircraft support air sports by facilitating aerial training, performance monitoring, and competitive events. Athletes and teams use them for observation, filming, and enhancing gameplay, making these aircraft valuable for sports applications. For example, the United States Parachute Association reported that in 2024, over 5.1 million parachute jumps were made worldwide, including 3.88 million in the United States. Consequently, growing interest in air sports is contributing to the expansion of the ULM aircraft market.

Companies in the ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market are focusing on innovations such as multi-fuel technology to enhance efficiency, performance, and versatility. Multi-fuel technology allows engines to operate on different fuel types, including mogas (automotive gasoline) and avgas (aviation gasoline), improving fuel efficiency, reducing costs, and enabling operations in regions with variable fuel availability. In March 2023, CubCrafters Inc., a US-based aircraft manufacturer, launched the Carbon Cub UL, powered by the Rotax 916iS engine. This ultralight aircraft features multi-fuel capability and FADEC (full authority digital engine control) for improved performance at high-density altitudes. Designed to meet ASTM standards, carry two adults with a full fuel load, and maintain versatility across ultralight and light-sport categories internationally, the Carbon Cub UL exemplifies the trend of integrating advanced technology to enhance operational flexibility in the ULM segment.

In April 2022, Textron Inc., a US-based manufacturer, acquired Pipistrel for approximately $235 million (€218 million). This acquisition enables Textron to accelerate the development and certification of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft by leveraging Pipistrel’s expertise in electric aviation along with Textron’s resources and regulatory capabilities. Pipistrel, based in Slovenia, specializes in ultra-light motorized aircraft, and the acquisition strengthens Textron’s portfolio of sustainable and innovative aviation solutions.

Major players in the ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market are ATEC v.o.s., Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM S.P.A., Evektor spol. s r.o., AutoGyro GmbH, Flight Design General Aviation GmbH, Aeropro s.r.o., CubCrafters Inc., BRM Aero s.r.o., JMB Aircraft s.r.o., Pivotal Aero LLC, Quicksilver Manufacturing Inc., Rans Designs Inc., Shark.Aero s.r.o., TL-Ultralight s.r.o., Zenith Aircraft Company Inc., Air Création S.A.S., Sonex Aircraft LLC, Raj Hamsa Ultralights Pvt. Ltd., Promecc S.r.l., and Aerospool spol. s r.o.

North America was the largest region in the ultra light motorized (ULM) aircraft market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

The ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market statistics, including ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market share, ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft industry. This ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

An ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft is a lightweight, powered aircraft designed mainly for recreational or sport flying. It has strict limits on maximum takeoff weight and seating capacity to ensure safety and simplicity. ULM aircraft are designed for easy handling, low operating costs, fuel efficiency, compact storage, and the ability to operate from short or unprepared airstrips.

The primary types of ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft include fixed-wing, rotary-wing, paragliders or paramotors, powered parachutes, and gyrocopters. A fixed-wing ultralight aircraft is a small, lightweight airplane with rigid wings and stable flight characteristics, making it ideal for training, recreation, and short-distance flying. These aircraft are constructed from materials such as composites, aluminum, wood and fabric, or mixed materials, and are powered by electric, fuel-based, or hybrid propulsion systems. They are used for recreation, training, sports and competition, surveillance, agriculture, and other applications, serving end-users such as individual pilots, flight schools, charter services, agricultural operators, and military and defense organizations.

The countries covered in the ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The ultralight motorized (ULM) aircraft market consists of sales of single-seat and two-seat ultralight aircraft, weight-shift control trikes, engines, avionics and navigation instruments, and propellers. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values; that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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