Interesting fact is that there are, since a few years, many aircraft sub-categories, at least here in CH… I spent some time looking on the EASA website (good luck searching for anything), but could not find a clear list of sub-categories as thought by them.
What we have here are 7 of them:
Unterkategorie Ecolight: ULs were banned for along time, and this was an ersatz for ULs
Unterkategorie Ultraleicht: UL or ULM
Unterkategorie Historisch: historic
Unterkategorie Eigenbau: homebuilts
Unterkategorie Limitiert: limited, basically reserved for ex military hardware
Unterkategorie Experimental: experimental, as for research aircraft, racing etc.
Unterkategorie Eingeschränkt: restricted, basically for certified aircraft having been for a special use, S&R etc.
Of course all of these sub-categories come along their own set of restrictions. All details on our NAA German page BAZL
In France we have 6 categories of ULM ranging from paramotors, to helicopters. 3 axis microlights come under category 3.
