Air Creation

The average price in my experience with Aussie, English & French trikes is pretty much around the $70 to $80 per hour range. This will vary considerably depending whether you purchase a new or sechand aircraft. The later model machines IMO require less maintenance with greater TBO on engines with the four strokes..! Also, different trike manufacturers have different overhaul requirements on individual components. For instance, AFAIK P&M Aircraft have a 500 landings overhaul on undercarriage components... Air Creation have 150 hour overhaul of wing with fabric test swabs built into the wing and a lifetime warranty if performed as required, posted elsewhere Airborne have replacement of wing at 1000 hrs...!! Wings are usually around the $10 to $12 K and engine overhauls will depend on type but in the $1000 to $2000 average price with freight. At the end of the day..flying trikes is affordable, safe and heaps of fun! Smooth landings Chris

Hey Tracktop Just wondering where you got the statistics for your quote?? and which trike is the nearest competitor??? Cheers Chris :yin_yan:

Angela..actually I did attempt to send via this site but could not attach file!!?? So attempted to get it to to you via my contacts list in my email system Chris

Hi Angela..did send high rez to your email at PF..not sure if the email address was correct. Contact me direct and I can send the file. Cheers Chris

Hey ya all.. Not sure if I have it correct.. but it appears after some 15 years or more since my departure from the HGFA to the AUF (now RAAus) the argument about costs and management are still on the table. Totally understand the Nano concept with being under the HGFA, but really folks, the RAAus have the appropriate system to administer the heavier faster microlights of today. After many years with the HGFA (National Coach, Instructor of the Year BLAH! Blah) I had paid many dollars over years to find that my flying school- a 'Pty.Ltd.Company' was not eligible for the insurance that the HGFA were charging in my fees! IMO.. the trikers of the HGFA have greatly supported the Federation for at least two decades...especially with declining hang gliding & paragliding activities in this period. You may differ in thought.... Better to have one administation body that allows us to fly safely without heavy restriction and at an affordable price. IMO - A larger flying membership makes sense. Stronger support to improve standards of safety, airspace operations and the freedoms we share in flying. At the end of the day, choice is good - if the choice matters to you for a reason. Have you ever wondered why the 'T2' and '32" in rego numbering for trikes ..? I do know the true reason why we have both HGFA & RAAus governing CAO 95.32 aircraft in Australia??? But thats another thread! Good luck with the voting. Smooth Landings. Chris :yin_yan:

Flexwing snap for August Photo Comp Hello aviators.. Photo comps are a great concept. Congrats to the Pacific Flyer team. August snapshot.. Cruisin the sky in the new Tanarg 912ES with the very quick iXESS 13 wing! Smooth landings. Chris :yin_yan:

Hey Ray.. You are right! No matter how long we been flying we are always learning. You can't buy experience..it grows with dedication, patience, wisdom and good air-man-ship. Chris

Great concept.. Be sure Mick & Lee touch base with Doug & Robin Anderson from Christchurch. Doug & Robin are a good friends of ours & Doug is an experienced pilot with many credentials in NZ for promoting safe sport aviation.They can make contact with Doug on Mob-021 510 548 or Tel-03 326 5928...or they may be flying from Rangiora Airfield, North Cantebury. I am very confident our comrades will be most welcome to meet the gang from NZ..! Chris

Thats a sweet machine.. not a flexwing but very.very neat! Congrats to the shutter bug! Chris

Congratulations Biggles Jnr...your first solo is a great challenge and may you have many,many safe enjoyable and knowledge growing adventures in the air. Chris

..sudden wing drop after takeoff followered by rapid nose pitch downward is a thread of many trike accidents over the past two decades...??? cause! too many similiarities like the Beadman Accident and several others of the past. Flexwings rarely tip stall or drop a wing in my experience unless outside the design flight envelope under high vertical attitudes.... Hope we see some answers soon. Our thoughts are with the family & friends of our lost pilot.

Hi Ray..may I ask how long you been flying trikes and flight hours logged so far. Chris

There are not so many a newbee pilots that can test fly a variety of machines, because the Aussie manufacturer has had the market to themselves for so long..since about 1983.. but nobody is game to say it!! I agree in supporting Aussie products but when it involves safety..airworthiness is not a game. By the way..have you had an opportunity to fly anything else but an Aussie trike.. I appreciate to hear your opinion on the Pegasus, Mainair, DTA, Air Creation, Cosmos, Aeros or Aquilla etc for the flight characteristics & performance specs. Maybe you should investigate how importers handle quality control for each aircraft assembly, compliance and registration for operation in Australia. The manufacturer does not need to be just down the street for parts..if the machine is manufacturered under sound engineering practices then the only spare parts you should need will be for the engine and we have Flood Imports for our Rotax needs. Does your Streak pass the German DULV Aerodynamic Stability Pitch Test??? Crisp handling..smooth landings Chris :yin_yan:

Fly the Central Australian Outback Flying my Air Creation Tanarg 912 iXESS at Aileron Station over the Anmatjere Man. Here is an entry for the photo comp...an Outback for real... un-modified, un-adulterated, graphically changed by computor.. just the real true shutter shot. Enjoy. Smooth Flights Chris Brandon

Hey Ozzie..dat you NZ Graham...you trick'd me! Anyway..gr8t2c some hang gliding stuff happenin..just could resist this one on the Rec site and thought I would add my bit.! Have very fond memeories of Stanwell Park, Murdering Gully Merewether and many HG sites up down the east coast..ahh those were the days...fuel 35cents..a burger a buck and just flying..! Hav fun..its always better when you fly..no matter the problems of the world! Smooth Flights Chris :yin_yan:

Hi.. whilst in NZ recently we visited Alex & Charles flight centre the day before the tragic accident. A true gentleman and obviously a very capable pilot who I hold in high regard for their attempt to operate commercially. Many years ago I had strong vision for us to do the same here in Aus...but with so many accidents and fatalities it won't happen in my time. Its never over til the Coronial/CAA investigation is complete..then we may have some answers...! I do hope greatly the NZCAA have strong un-bias investigative powers to provide transparent accurate results of the structural nature and cause of the accident. Our regards for his wife, two daughters of Alex and the Dutch tourists loved ones.. we can pray for their santuary of peace in their tragic loss. Smooth flights Chris

Hey Michael..yes! All imported microlights operating in Australia under CAO 95.32 are required to satisfy the NAA Standards. BCAR Section S is the priority design standard recognised since 1990, but now CASA accept DGAC, DULV and a few others under inclusion with the NAA. You are very right..Airborne machines dominate the aussie market and it would do you great benefit to experience as many different certified microlights prior to purchase. Smooth flights Chris

TRIKES... is good..Any trike would be fair to share discussion, safety and other matters of interest..no need to dominate a great site with just aussie products..thats my feeling..but maybe we only fly airborne here..?? Cheers..freeeeeedom of SPEECH is a good expression for all humans...just the opinions may getttt under our skin...if we are not open to expression. Smooth flights. Chris

Hey guys.. nice topic... just a view to consider! Basically for the past two decades Australia has been dominated with Airborne machines.. with a few Pegasus, Mainair & Air Creation machines arriving upon our shores in limited numbers. The Aeros is a very good wing and I have flown most of all the wings available in my career. The choices we have as pilots is restricted by democracy mostly. Customer service, availablity of parts or many other issues in owning your own machine is not really the point - its just that the cost is the main reference we look at when buying our freedom machine. If Airborne were to Pitch Test their wings as with their hang gliders..you would see a much greater price on the Airborne trikes!! All other manufacturers DO flight test the wings on Pitch Rigs - that's the price difference. The overall handling is a personal choice if you fly and compare all that is available. Inflight stability is mandatory - no matter the price - think about it! Merry Christmas - Smooth flights Chris :yin_yan:

Thanks guys..I was aware of the PPL road. I don't have the desire to get a PPL just to fly in CTA...! Cheers

Henry..Well said! Your comments are commendable and congratulations on gaining your flying skills. Go the CTA flying for all safe pilots....GA & sports pilots. CASA are the ones that are holding us all to restricted flying. Smooth flights. :yin_yan: Chris

Brent..all good with getting the views & opinions on flying sport aircraft in CTA. Its a good post on a very important topic with many safety issues in safe airmanship. But... does anybody out there really know when we can fly in CTA? The Regs Part 103 and 149 have been happening for so long now I'll be retired with grand kids by the time it all happens!! Flying in Alice Springs is not much fun when you are unable to fly anywhere near the actual town of Alice...its a BIG Country out here and it sure would be great to fly into town and around this magic township! So..does anybody know - WHEN our RA-Aus CTA Endorsement will Happen?? Cheers :yin_yan: Smooth Flights Chris

Hi All..wanna see some flying that is XXXTREME..! dial up the The Swiss Jet Man in your Google window & click on the YouTube links..! This guy is really something, leaps out of a plane, unfolds his mechanical wings, lights the jet engines & blasts off thru the sky..won't tell you how he lands! Check it out for yourself - its mad flying at its best. Enjoy. Smooth Flights Chris :yin_yan:

Howdy all..attempted to insure my new Tanarg 912 with OAMPS with my Broker, we tried several avenues..but OAMPS would not even agree to road/trailor cover at any premium. So I have attempted similar insurance cover with WIN..should have an answer in the next week..? let you know wat occurs. Smooth flights Chris :yin_yan:

LJS Totally agree with the comments - check with HGFA &/or RAA Technical Officers to confirm compliance of make & model which will determine acceptance under CAO 95.32 for commercially manufactured machines. Single seaters will be different & may well be compliant with CAO 95.10 if not com.man..?? It has taken almost twelve years to fly Air Creation machines legally in Australia but with BCARS machines you will only require the Certificate of Conformity, Certification of Compliance & obviously the Operators Flight Manual. Should you require any assistance on importing microlight & the associated paper chase... I have two decades of experience to offer any advice you may need. REMEMBER..don't buy anything without documents to substantiate the reliable history of safe operations for the individual machine, & as said - unseen will be uncertain. Smooth flights Chris :yin_yan: