What ultralight manufacturer do you recommend and why?

There is so many ultralight aircraft to choose from don't let someone tell you which one to buy, do the research yourself. And there are so many variables. Do you want tandem seating or single seat, metal or fabric, also consider where your parts will be coming from and how long the company has been in business. That aside I personally would build the RV-12 from Vans Aircraft. It is far from a flying lawnmower. Aluminum construction is one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms of building an aircraft also.

www.vansaircraft.com

Also check this very active and helpful builders forum.

www.vansairforce.net

Flight Design. They offer four models, the ct2k, ctsw, ctls, and ctmc. I personally have about 30 plus hours in the ctsw. It is a great little plane. Two people can fit comfortably and it cruises at around 112 knots at only 4gph! The performance is pretty nice, and for me it feels like a sporty car...compared to a 172. The all glass cockpit is nice also, and the parts are relatively cheap compared to its counterparts. I have also flown the Evektor Sportstar. Nice airplane but not as sporty as the ctsw. Another reason I like the flight design, is the center stick instead of the traditional yoke. It's a very realiable airplane and has proven its worth to me, many times over. www.flightdesignusa.com

Zenith Aircraft are rugged, reliable, affordable and have the ability to preform stol.