eastmeg2

Come on Biggles! There are a few Convergence & Divergence theorems in calculus that you can use to give answers for that last post, provided you can scribble a formula for it.

Forget motorbikes for now, in case you hadn't noticed, poor Slarti is dangling from a rope under a pilotless Thruster in flight !!! Luckily for Slarti he remembered his kite flying and Microlight days which had taught him the secrets of . . .

"Italian and electronic don't go well together in the same sentence." Having been a motorcyclist I recall being rather concerned upon discovering that Ducati make the alternators/generators for Rotax aero engines 582 & 912 that I'm aware of. However, as I say to people about my motorcycling, "I've been lucky so far". No problems with those Ducati parts on the Rotax engines, yet. To be fair to Ducati, their more recent products seem to have improved electrically. Cheers, Glen

Hi Darren, I flew a friends trike with a 296 in it a few months back. The only issues I had were with getting used to where to look for the information I wanted, no issues with screen visibilty were noted at all. After using it for about 1/2 hour I got used to where to look and it kept getting better from there. Cheers, Glen

Intersting point Jordy. Then all you need to do is face west and face west and apply some brakes, assuming they don't melt, or just wait for your wheels to disintegrate and the resulting skid will accelerate you up to flying speed in a westerly direction, up to 500kts gauranteed. Cheers, Glen (Who also got 90 something % for HSC physics, first for physics in the school, then went and got an Engineering Degree).

Have just been told last night that the AC Racer is not being produced any more. So none of what I consider to be the "Big 3" trike manufacturers make single seaters any more.

As a Trike Pilot, I say "Roll with it baby". Singing the Tom Jones version while dancing with the control bar helps. I say "dancing" because in those turbulent situations I'm just guiding the trike in the general direction I want it to go in rather than trying to force it to stay accurately on track. I also don't worry too much about staying at a particular altitude so won't increase or decrease power unless I'm seeing more than 500ft altitude change over several minutes. I've had 1000ft/min up and down showing on the VSI in trim at cruise power from thermals & wave, but in most instances it only lasts a few seconds and the entry & exit from these bodies of air has not been as rough as I would have thought (TOUCH WOOD!!!). Though not all trike wings handle rough air as well as a Streak-III does. Cheers, Glen

What has suprised me most about this thread is that nobody has refered to the vector diagram we were probably all shown when we started our training for a pilots license/certificate. That's the one with a side-on picture of a plane with 4 arrows around it to represent the forces at play. Namely: 1. Lift pointing upwards 2. Weight pointing downwards 3. Thrust pointing forwards 4. Drag (Induced + parasitic) pointing backwards. Think about those and the answeer should be clear. Rolling restistance will add very little to #4. Cheers, Glen

Would be interested to hear the outcome from this as a single seater trike kit from the USA is still an option for me with the Aussie Dollar topping USD0.90 again, though I'd probably use sea freight since I live in Sydney and Port Botany is just 30 minutes drive away. Am just waiting for the RAA Technical Manager to get back from holidays next Monday so I can query him regarding registration. Cheers, Glen

In due course, I have taken a look at the Air Creation "Racer" single seat trike and found the Australian dealers website (www.aircreation.com.au). Hopefully I'll get something in the mail soon after some discussion. Just realised tonight that he's on this forum too. Having an Australian dealer is a positive and it will be good to have the competition in the market.

Had to read that carefully, it seems they broke quite a few rules namely having "get-there-itis", but the one that brought them unstuck was changing gears during a water crossing in the 4WD, which sounds like a lack of off-road driving experience or training. Kind of like doing your magneto checks during your take-off roll.

Yes, the property containing Somersby strip is for sale. There are some members on this forum who might be able to provide an update. With all the hangars there in addition to the strip, one would hope it will be bought by another aviaphile. Rgds, Glen

I'm so jelous, even more so because the nosewheel drumbrake in my trike self-destructed during a landing on Friday afternoon. That destroyed my plans to fly to Moruya with another trike on saturday morning. Had to ride the motorcycle there instead - but it was a good day for that too. Cheers, Glen

You can expect to be trained on introducing non-flying people to your aircraft and gauging whether each person is likely to have an adverse reaction when the wheels leave the ground. And Finally, as part of the practical exam, you can expect your previously knowledgeable instructor to stand there like a dumb sack of spuds waiting for you to tell him/her what to do.;) Cheers, Glen

I think that if you maintain glide height to land, within 20km of land, there may not not be an issue. But can't recall if you're still required to carry extra equipment like life jackets etc. . . Rgds, Glen

This thread should should have a warning attached . . DO NOT READ AFTER DINNER !!! :;)6: I think I can feel mine making a comeback right now!

Hi Jed, I agree with Dennis regarding the Streak-1&2 wings. If you're not off the ground after 200 metres, even at MTOW, ie, with passenger & full jerrys in your paniers, then there's really something wrong, even on grass. Though depending on the approaches to your strip you might want to get at least 50hrs/150 landings under your belt before using it if it's not ideal. Then you should be able to get off the grass at MTOW in still air within 150 metres and stop a with 50 metre skid mark - nose wheel braking only. Cheers, Glen

Good article John, though I'd have to ask why energy is expressed in Newton-Metres throughout the article, instead of Joules. It is noted that Newtons x Metres is numerically equivalent mechanical energy of Joules, but may confuse some readers who would normally associate Newton Metres with a measurement of torque, not knowing that both expressions may be technically correct. For clarification: For Torque, the force in Netwons is at right angles to the distance vector from the rotational axis in metres. For Energy, the force in Netwons is in the same direction as the distance in metres. Rgds, Glen

I quick look at the bulletin seems to indicate that only 912S and 914 engines are affected, not the standard flavour 80hp 912UL. Is this a correct interpretation?

The VNC does a a strip called "Stuarts" just north of Coffs Harbour. No other details though . . . could be a private strip.

Good find Damo, though I don't see the same topless strutted wings being offered as on the Gibbogear website.

I've just been advised by email that the Gibbogear single seat trike may become available as a 51% kit. "I'm working on a 51% FAA approved amatyer built kit for my wings and the BB Trike, this is going to take a couple of months, my hopes are to have it approved by Sun&Fun." Depending on pricing it could be just the ticket for anyone seeking single seater trike to take flying on occasions when the bigger 2 seater wouldn't be practical. Cheers, Glen

September through to January are not generally a good time to try to learn to fly anyway since the winds are usually stronger and the air rougher in those months. You should find that late Feb through to early August will provide the best and safest learning conditions. I'm thinking of getting a single seater trike too, for something that's easier to transport and rig to attend fly-ins. One USA manufacturer says he will have a 51% kit available in a few months, with some features I really like. Will have to wait and see, but will still be a lot more expensive than 2nd hand. Cheers, Glen

Hey Sunny, How are you progressing with the Pursuit-10? Have you taken up lessons in trikes so you can start enjoying your new toy? Cheers, Glen

Jason, If you need a nearby hangar to keep it in, away from the horses . . . hehehehe . . .