Can you thermal in a trike?

[Guest Oakilydoakily]

Hello Trikers,

 

Brand new (+19hours) and have just purchased an 582 outback Streak 2 and still learning in dual mode. Waiting for better weather to pursue solo status.

 

On summer days I have heard the comments that flying is done either early morning or late afternoons. My ignorance is going to show here...Hang gliding relishes the conditions of thermals popping off everywhere, what about trikes?

 

What do you guys (I should say us guys) do in between flying on these days. Especially when you are a distance from home (Bunbury - Perth 220k) or doing cross country trips?

 

Brett :)

 

 

[Guest MundooTriker]

Thermals make :yuk:

 

But I always yell a warning to watch out below, especially if someone is under neath:blush:

 

That's the benefit of a binnacle trike.

 

Not much to clean:laugh:

 

 

[eastmeg2]

Have experienced climb rates and sink rates in excess of 1000ft/min at trim and on cruise power in the middle of the day. So, if you can find a strong enough thermal / wave or roll cloud (a-la Morning Glory) that has enough lift to overcome your trikes power-off sink rate, then yes you can thermal in a trike. But with sink rates in excess of 500ft/min it'd be pretty challenging to stay up for any length of time other than in well known phenomena like the morning glory where an Airborne XTC-582 has apparently flown without power for more than 50km.

 

On the other hand, you might wan to look at a trike model specifically designed for soaring and can have a motor fitted as an option. Under 70kg empty weight there are no rego or certification hassles. From there up to 112kg (254lbs) empty weight is the overlap of USA FAA part103 and our CAO-95.10.

 

 

[Guest Oakilydoakily]

ah Huhhh?? So on a summers day, providing not too adverse winds are around. Do we fly or is it too uncomfortable being jostled around and stuff. Or wait until the late afternoon. Dumb question?

 

What I am getting at is ..on cross country weekends do you sit around all day at the aerodrome or what?

 

 

[eastmeg2]

Hi Brett,

 

Flying the XT with the Streak-III wing I find it tolerable to fly in the middle of the day in Summer even when inland and tend to head above the inversion layer to smooth air if going more than 20Nm x-country. With a Streak-1 wing on a Edge-X 582 the midday bumps are ather more unnerving and tiresome. Have only ever flown a Wizard wing twice, once on my TIF and again at Bunbury with Brendan Watts about 5 years ago , so cannot really comment much about flyng a Wizard wing around midday away from the coast but suspect it would be worse.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers,

 

Glen

 

 

[eastmeg2]

Ahh . . . found what I was looking for earlier.

 

Try one of these if you want to soar with a trike . . .

 

http://www.ravensoaringtrikes.com/

 

Will probably come in under 70kg empty, not having an engine. Though could be tricky to land since it seems the nosewheel would touch down first.

 

Cheers,

 

Glen

 

 

[Guest Oakilydoakily]

Hi Glen,

 

Thanks for your interest in my questions. I think Streak 2 wing is suppose to handle these conditions better than the Wizard. Yes, Brenden has had some doing in my training as well as Paul Coffey in Bunbury.

 

Geez, I didn't realise how patient you have to be waiting for favourable conditions. But when you finally get back in the seat you seem to forget all that and it becomes all worth while.

 

 

[eastmeg2]

Once you have enough PIC time under your belt to tolerate the bumpy ride (likely more than 50 or even 100hrs) for the time it takes to fly to the coast from Bunbury airport you may find that you can fly more often during the day. It seems quite common for students to be limited to the much smoother times of the day and your instructor might start introducing you to rougher conditions, depending on the instructor and your own progress.