Trying Trikes

[Guest pipross]

Hi all,

 

I am currently certified on high performance microlights, tecnam golf I trained in, but am keen on trying trikes, as they would fit into my lifestyle (farming) well, not to mention being lighter on the pocket...

 

Would welcome any comments on trike flying, peoples experiences, limits of the aircraft and anything else you can think of

 

Cheers

 

Ross

 

 

[Guest Crezzi]

Hi Ross & welcome to the forum.

 

My advice would be to go far it - I (& a lot of other pilots) manage to successfully fly both trikes & 3-axis despite the different control systems.

 

A good start point would be to have a browse through some of the threads in the Trikes & Weightshift area (Eg Recreational Flying).

 

Cheers

 

John

 

 

[Guest pipross]

Thanks John, Do you have a preference... I know everyone will be different, but I'm interested in what people prefer and why, what are trikes like in wind?

 

 

[Guest Crezzi]

Trikes are more physical in turbulence as you moving the whole wing rather than having the mechanical advantage of control surfaces operated via cables. I enjoy both but when I moved to Aus & could only afford 1 plane I bought a trike. I enjoy the technical challenges with all the different types of 3-axis and on occasions the performance of some is convenient. But nothing beats the pleasure of flying a trike IMO

 

 

[Guest roadk99]

ross ,you didnt get much responce.im new at this but am quite intrested in trikes.i found www.airborne.com.au have quite a lot of reports and write ups about trikes.i am going in an aerochute on sunday with a mate.looking forward to it.from Peter.

 

(link fixed - Ian)

 

 

[Guest Crezzi]

If you want to read about long distance triking, google Colin Bodill, Mike Blyth or Brian Milton. There are also a details of a couple of smaller trips I did a few years ago at http://www.microlightadventures.co.uk

 

Cheers

 

John

 

 

[alf jessup]

G'day Ross,

 

Not much I can fault with flying trikes other than you will be more limited with the weather in a trike, I fly a XT 912 and limit myself to about 20 kts of wind on the ground as that is where they are the most vunerable.

 

I have flown in 50kt winds at altitude with no problems. as for safety sake I might sound a bit bias but it is very hard to get yourself into trouble in a trike as you cannot spin them, the stall is a mush and they stall basically at around 35kts ias at mauw depending on the wing. the only thing you have to be conscious about is the angle of departure in the event of a engine failure, steeper than 45 deg you run the risk of tumbling if you don't play your cards right, mind you 45 deg is pretty steep and there is no need to get near it as you would be climbing like the space shuttle.

 

I have got over 400 hrs in trikes so far and have had no near misses or frights of any kind, as like any type of flying you have to treat it with respect especially the weather. there will be pros and cons with it, if you like tootling along at 60 kts and enjoying the scenery by all means give it a go, if you like riding motorbikes definetly give it a go as it is almost the same but the view is better, no cars cut you off and corners are an optional extra. I have a airborne XT 912 which cruises at 60kts and has about 7 hrs endurance (far longer than my bladder) and is a quite capable touring machine if you don't mind the speed.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers

 

Alf

 

 

[Guest pipross]

I've decided that I am going to buy one, a airbourne x - series classic that has a new engine and 2 wings, went for a fly in it a couple of days ago and it was great... completely different from the tecnam.. One thing I'm unsure about (not that it will stop me buying it) is crosswind landings. How hard are they, what the technique, what can go wrong. I enjoy cross wind landings usually but I know this is different...

 

Thanks

 

Ross

 

 

[BigPete]

Don't you just land across the strip?? :big_grin::big_grin::big_grin:

 

can't help myself.

 

regards

 

 

[Guest pipross]

That'll be the goal... some cessnas might complain tho if I'm at their place...:hittinghead:

 

 

[alf jessup]

Ross,

 

They are quite capable in crosswinds to 15 kts and more, you just have to remember when flying a trike to fly the wing and not worry where the base is pointing as the base will follow the wing anyway, they will crab like any other aircraft the only difference is you have no rudder to kick it straight but a dab on the control bar to the direction you want to go will soon straighten it up on landing.

 

I get into the habit of minamizing the crosswind component by angling my approach to the runway (right side to left ect) if I do not want to use the into the wind runways and my airport, you can pull up in under 100 metres in a trike so crosswinds dont give you too much trouble, you will find the more hrs you get the more comfortable you will feel flying them as when you first start you will feel every bump the air has to offer as they have quite a large wing for not alot of weight.

 

Cheers

 

Alf